Advocates Get a "Taste of Advocacy"

Thank you to our advocates who were able to come out for a Taste of Advocacy last week in Denver. It was a great opportunity to hear from a Denver council member, as well as meet other advocates. 

There were almost 20 folks at the "Taste of Advocacy" event at Town Hall Collaborative on Oct. 17. Advocates had the chance to hear from Denver City Council Member Flor Alvidrez about support for a flavored tobacco restriction in Denver. Additionally, there was an opportunity to learn about what the AHA is supporting right now, including voting YES on II and a chance to support Access to AEDs at the federal level. There were several more folks who met up with Grassroots Manager Chris Turner the following day for a coffee and another chance to learn what the AHA is doing.

Also, you've probably already received your Blue Book explaining ballot initiatives for 2023. Don't forget to vote “YES on II," which is dubbed the “Preschool for ALL Coloradans,” campaign. It will fix a complicated hiccup from the tobacco tax that voters passed in 2020. Because of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) in Colorado, an estimate of taxes collected must be published on ballots. 

If the estimate is low, the excess funds need to either be refunded to the taxpayer (tobacco wholesalers and distributors), or a new ballot question can ask for the state to keep the excess and remove any cap on the tax. Note that this tax overage does not go back to constituents. Instead, if this initiative is voted down, the $23 million in excess would go back to tobacco wholesalers and distributors. 

Voting yes means the overage would continue to help fund free preschool, which was first approved with a yes vote on Prop EE. 

The American Heart Association supports early care and education. Additionally, a no vote would be detrimental to funding tobacco prevention and cessation statewide.

You can find more information on the campaign website: www.preschoolforallcoloradans.com.