Ald. George Cardenas (12) told Aldertrack yesterday that he won't put his controversial penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks up for a vote in the City Council and will instead look to Springfield to pass the tax. 

Cardenas says he and the Mayor have agreed it would be better to get Springfield to pass the tax than push it through the City Council, which could expose the City to a costly lawsuit from the beverage industry. “Can we go forward with [the tax plan]? Yeah. Can it be challenged in Court? Yeah,” he said.

A similar proposal to add a penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks has already been introduced in Springfield. But Cardenas said the sweetened beverage plan will be part be a "whole laundry list" of tax proposals that would need state approval, such as a congestion pricing tax and a profession services tax, according to Cardenas.