Live-chatting Philadelphia’s soda tax debate
Update: Tom MacDonald send this report from City Hall at 1 p.m.
Sources within Philadelphia City Council say a deal is in the works to fund the School District. A combination of a one-sent soda tax, a parking fee increase, real estate tax hike and money from the prison system would result in as much as $75 million for the schools if approved.
The pact is seeking an eighth and ninth vote and is looking to Republican Councilman-at-large Frank Rizzo and Democratic 7th District Councilwoman Maria Quionnes- Sanchez to put them over the top
Original report: Things are getting a ugly at City Hall, where Council is debating issuing a soda tax in Philadelphia to help support the School District. If you can’t swing by, then you can live chat with our partner, Philadelphia Weekly.
Reporter Matt Petrillo is at the hearing, along with our Tom MacDonald. Follow Matt’s updates on Twitter and look for the full story later from Tom.
Disclosure: WHYY receives grant funds from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to produce content and hold forums related to healthy living. The department is an advocate of the soda tax.
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