'Yes! To Affordable Groceries' Still Backed By Soft Drink Heavies

SEATTLE, WA - The Yes! To Affordable Groceries campaign describes itself as "a group of citizens, businesses and community organizations." But the campaign is being funded almost entirely by large soft drink corporations like Pepsi, Red Bull, and Coca-Cola, according to campaign finance reports.

Back in May, Patch reported on the soda-industry donors to the I-1634 campaign. But I-1634 has since been certified by the Secretary of State, which means it will appear on the November ballot. The campaign has also fattened its coffers since May, having raised $8 million so far in 2018.

The initiative would prevent local governments from taxing "raw or processed foods or beverages." In Washington, food and food ingredients are already exempt from taxation. But the state Department of Revenue in August 2017 deemed that certain beverages could be subject to taxation - items like energy drinks, soda, bottled water, sports drinks, and juice containing less than 50 percent juice.

Seattle's soda tax - the only one in the state - went into effect Jan. 1. The tax has generated about $10 million in revenue over the first six months of 2018, according to the Seattle Times. If passed, I-1634 would not repeal Seattle's tax.

Here are the companies and interest groups funding the I-1634 campaign:

• Coca-Cola - $3.8 million
• Pepsi - $2.8 million
• Dr. Pepper Snapple Group - $911,021
• Dr. Pepper Keurig Group - $284,226
• Red Bull - $93,874
• Washington Food Industry Association - $20,000
• Washington Hospitality Association - $266

The campaign is also spending much of its money outside Washington. The Washington, D.C.,-based Dewey Square Group has been handling campaign operations for the initiative. The campaign has paid Dewey millions for everything from signature gathering to polling.

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images