Similar to Philadelphia, Cook Country residents are avoiding the discriminatory and burdensome tax by doing their shopping outside county borders.

"I flat out refuse to pay the beverage tax," Laurie McKeown, 60, of Homewood, told Chicago Tribune. "I'm getting hit from everywhere," she said. "I don't want to pay the taxes."

This cross-border shopping is hitting businesses twice in Cook County. Stores lose revenue from beverages and also from other grocery items as shoppers do all of their shopping outside the county.

"This tax greatly increases the cost of groceries and adds yet another tax burden to local families," state Rep. Marty Moylan, a Democrat from Des Plaines, said in a statement.

Lawmakers may think raising the prices on beverages is an easy fix to a budget gap, but they should first consider the harm they cause to hardworking families, small businesses, jobs and incomes. Taxes have real consequences and Cook Country residents are finding this out the hard way.