TOUGH ON TOBACCO—CoPIRG Consumer Advocate Benjamin Davis appeared on Denver Channel 8 this past fall to discuss the Amendment 35 tobacco tax revenues and how they should best be appropriated in the public interest.

Armed with strong support from Colorado voters, CoPIRG continues to work to ensure that the new revenue generated by the Amendment 35 tobacco tax will reach the intended health care programs as planned.

CoPIRG is moving forward on this issue as a coalition member of Citizens for a Healthier Colorado, a group of public health and consumer advocates that includes Colorado Children’s Campaign, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association.

Amendment 35 was passed with more than 60 percent support last November and raises the price by 64 cents per pack.

The additional revenue generated is dedicated to tobacco cessation and education programs, community health clinics, cancer prevention programs and the expansion of state-funded health programs like Medicaid and the Child Health Plan.

“Amendment 35 is a step forward on a number of fronts,” said CoPIRG’s Benjamin Davis. “Finally, we’re appropriately taxing tobacco products, which cost our state over a billion dollars in health care costs each year.”

Davis added, “Now our biggest challenge is ensuring that our legislators direct the state to spend this new revenue stream on programs that will reach the highest number of citizens in need of health care and tobacco education.”

During the most recent legislative session, CoPIRG and its allies worked to implement these new funds and expand the health coverage available to our neediest citizens.