SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A proposal to tax soft drinks appears to be losing support in the Illinois legislature, the Associated Press reports. The measures were offered by two Chicago-area lawmakers to promote healthy living and they remain in committee. However, they haven’t been called for any hearings.

Timothy Bramlet, executive director of the Illinois Beverage Association, said he believes the measures are "effectively dead."

The legislation seeks to add a penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks that are sold in sealed containers, increasing the price of a 12-ounce can of soda by 12 cents.

It has been estimated that such a tax would generate as much as $600 million in revenue, money that would be allocated to pay for Medicaid programs and other health services and educational efforts.