![Political Spending on Santa Fe Soda Tax Tops $163 Per Vote](http://townsquare.media/site/113/files/2014/08/452534952.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Political Spending on Santa Fe Soda Tax Tops $163 Per Vote
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Political action committees spent at least $163 per vote to influence the outcome of a soda-tax initiative that was resoundingly rejected in a special election in New Mexico's state capital city.
The soft drink industry and a variety of health and community advocacy groups spent at least $3.25 million on Tuesday's vote in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The city was blanketed with fliers, yard signs, radio spots and social media ads for and against the tax, as professional canvassers knocked on the same doors repeatedly.
Election officials counted 19,915 ballots, with about 58 percent of voters rejecting the tax for early childhood education.
Campaign finance reports show New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg contributed $1.1 million to a pro-tax committee. The American Beverage Association spent $1.3 million against the tax.
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