Soda Sales Tax Bill Clears First Committee

A Republican measure to eliminate state sales taxes on soft drinks has cleared the house finance committee on a party line vote.

Lawmakers got rid of the sales tax exemption for sodas last legislative session to help fill a budget shortfall. The move led to a big fracture between Republicans and Democrats. And as KUNC's State Capitol reporter Bente Birkeland reports, those divisions were just as stark this time around.