An amendment to the state constitution that would sharply raise the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products was rejected Tuesday night by Colorado voters opposed to the measure aimed at reducing youth smoking and channeling the revenue to a variety of health programs.
With 87 percent of the projected vote counted, opponents of the tax were leading with 1,261,890 votes, or 54 percent, to proponents’ 1,089,976 votes, or 46 percent.
“We are pleased that voters examined this deeply-flawed constitutional amendment and decided that it should be defeated,” said Michelle Balch Lyng, spokeswoman for the opponents of the measure.
Proponents, funded largely by health-related organizations from the American Heart Association to Children’s Hospital Colorado, zeroed in on the proven deterrent effect of higher prices on young smokers — and the proposed tax would add another $1.75 to a pack of cigarettes.
“By defeating Amendment 72 we have taken a step backwards in improving our health, and more tragically, we have let our kids down,” said Dr. David C. Goff Jr., dean of the Colorado School of Public Health and board president of the Denver chapter of the American Heart Association.
Opponents, financed almost entirely by Altria, which owns tobacco giant Philip Morris, framed the measure as an ill-conceived and regressive tax that had no place in the state constitution, where it couldn’t be changed without another statewide vote. With more than $16 million in cash contributions, far more than any other ballot initiative attracted, the push against the initiative held that the revenue would fund programs that hadn’t even been created.
Opponents contended the grant-making process was too vague. They also questioned the need for more anti-smoking programs and said the tax would disproportionately impact the poor.
Colorado passed a tobacco tax under Amendment 35 in 2004, with more than 61 percent of voters supporting the hike.
