Making Health Reform Work

While the Senate Finance Committee may have crafted a health-reform bill that it pretends is fully paid for, Congress clearly will have to generate hefty new revenue to avoid adding to the deficit ["Health Reform Shell Game," editorial, Oct. 10].

The Institute of Medicine, the Brookings Institution and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities have all called for a tax on soft drinks, because soft drinks promote obesity and increase health-care costs. President Obama said in July, "I actually think it's an idea that we should be exploring. There's no doubt that our kids drink way too much soda."

A tax of seven cents per can would generate about $100 billion over 10 years while modestly reducing soda consumption. Indeed, a soda tax is one of the only measures being discussed that would both raise revenue and promote health.

MICHAEL F. JACOBSON

Executive Director

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Washington