CrossFit founder will address Senate Finance Committee regarding soda tax bill

By: Sarah E. Rooney

Email: srooney@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – The founder of CrossFit will provide testimony before the Senate Finance Committee this Thursday with regards to a proposed soda tax bill.

Greg Glassman, the founder of the world’s largest gym chain CrossFit, will testify for legislation that aims to put a tiered tax on sugary drinks. He was invited by the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket, who owns a CrossFit gym in Pawtucket.

Glassman’s testimony will advocate for the bill, as well as testify against allowing the soda industry to influence health science and policy.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket, would put a tax on soda and other sugary drinks that increases proportionally to the amount of sugar in the drink. Under the proposed bill, drinks with the highest sugar content would be taxed 2 cents per ounce.

According to the bill and its proponents, the tax is intended to incentivize people to drink beverages with less sugar and, by extension, decrease sugar intake and improve health. The money collected from the tax would go towards health promotion funds.

Nick Wishart, a member of the Industrial Revolution CrossFit that completed the World Marathon Challenge in January of 2018, will also provide testimony.  

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