14 Chapter 14: The Soda Tax (1/2)

”Mrs. Cortez, we have a problem.”

Maria's trusted aide, Paul, ran into her office. He was a nervous little fellow, a brown noser, but he did his job.

”You've been spending too much money! Sure, school funding is important. But renovating parks? Fixing potholes? Not to mention lowering parking ticket fines. That's the bread and butter of our county!”

”Calm down, Paul. The people are happy. I've been getting letters from nice old grandmas and grandpas about how nice the parks look. They love those benches.”

”Mrs. Cortez, we're running a deficit! The conservative party is going to have a field day with this. You're going to lose the next election, for sure, if things go on like this.”

”Besides, the budget is important. People are already expressing concern. Budgeting is no joke.”

”Wow, Paul, you're sounding like a conservative.”

”It's just realpolitik, Maria!”

”Cool it with your poli-sci major, Paul.” Maria laughed.

Maria was worried though. Not because of her looming defeat in the horizon. Although, she did like the respect people showed her, especially her fellow statesmen. Or, statespeople, rather. They even feared her. Things seemed to bend to her will. People on the other side of the aisle were whispering about how she made a pact with the devil. ”The Demon”, is what they called her. It made it worse that their party members were being rocked by scandals left and right.

Her party loved her. Obviously. She was a rising star. But the more established party elites were concerned. It was too much spending, for sure.

Maria didn't let power get to her head. But she felt she had gone a little overboard. She had to deal with the budget.

Then, she got a crazy idea. Real crazy.

”How about a new tax?”

”What?!” Paul screamed. ”Mrs. COrtez. Are you listening to yourself? That's political suicide!”

”I don't care. I can do good in office, and taxes are a necessary evil. It's a part of life. Realpolitik.”

”I got it! A soda tax! Helps public health. And people love soda. It'll generate a lot of revenue.”

Paul looked aghast. But, he pondered for a bit. She was right. It would generate revenue. And help public health. Maybe.

Besides, Paul was afraid of Maria, too. He saw how everything just seemed to work out for her. It was abnormal. And he was a sycophant, at heart, and he was glad to ride on her coattails. Maybe things will go her way this time, too.

”Alright, Mrs. Cortez. What do you propose?”