As a member of the Americans Against Food Taxes Coalition, AWMA recently signed onto a letter to Congress expression opposition to any initiative promoting snack food taxes as a way to help pay for expanded healthcare reform efforts.

Among the many proposals being considered in Congress is one that would implement a tax on sweetened beverages as a way to help fund healthcare reforms.  During these tough economic times it simply does not make sense to increase taxes – particularly regressive taxes.  Instead, AWMA supports expanding physical education programs in schools and promoting better nutrition education as a way of combating obesity problems in this country and improving overall healthcare.

Specifically, the open letter to Congress urges lawmakers to recognize that higher food and drink taxes will “not teach children health lifestyles or change anyone’s behavior” and will “only burden working families already struggling in this trying economy.”