Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Monday September 28th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. Today, our focus is on Proposition EE, which would increase the price of cigarettes and all other nicotine and tobacco products gradually over the next seven years.

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:
Today, we take you back to September 28th, 1719, when a massive expedition of Spaniards, Puebloans, and Apaches endured an early winter storm and feared for whether they had enough food. It’s little wonder that this beleaguered company at its camp near present day Trinidad Colorado, referred to a nearby river as the River of Lost Souls in Purgatory.

Now, our feature story.

Cigarettes and tobacco products are taxed in Colorado. Vaping devices and vaping fuel are not.

A question on the November ballot -- Proposition EE -- would change that system, increasing the price of cigarettes and all other nicotine and tobacco products gradually over the next seven years.

If this passes, it would be the first tobacco tax increase in Colorado since 2004.

So how exactly would Proposition EE raise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco and nicotine products?

Here’s Colorado Sun Reporter Jesse Paul with the details.

As Jesse mentioned, a part of this proposition includes a minimum-price provision that would require a pack of cigarettes to be sold for no less than $7 and a carton to be sold for no less than $70 starting in January.

Senator Owen Hill discussed the proposed price floor and how he thinks it could be problematic.

The two main groups that generally oppose Proposition EE are conservatives and companies that make and sell cigarettes and other nicotine products.

They often argue that raising taxes on tobacco products disproportionately impacts minorities and people with lower incomes who are addicted to cigarettes or other products containing nicotine. Raising tobacco taxes simply forces them to pay more.

But, backers of Proposition EE, including Polis and Democrats in the state legislature, say increasing the cost of cigarettes and nicotine products is a way to cut down on tobacco use and pave a future for expanded early childhood education in Colorado.

In its first six months, Proposition EE is expected to generate an extra $87.4 million in tax revenue. By fiscal year 2024-25, that jumps to $222.8 million.

And after 2023 or 2024, the vast majority of the money would be allocated to preschool programs.

The idea is to collect enough money to provide at least 10 hours per week of free preschool for every Colorado child in the year before entering kindergarten.

Thank you for listening. Now, a few other stories you should know about today:

A substitute teacher shortage worsened by the pandemic could force some Colorado schools to close. Districts are now finding creative ways to fill the gap, leaning on their own teachers, administrators and even parents to sub.
Rhetoric from Washington, D.C., has people worried about the U.S. Postal Service's ability to deliver mail-in ballots. But, an unscientific assessment of delivery times in Colorado shows the system works pretty well.

With winter travel to Colorado resort communities very unclear, airlines are showing “unprecedented” flexibility

Thousands of unemployed Coloradans found financial relief in the past week, but not because the first Lost Wages Assistance payments were issued. Rather, the months-long holds on their unemployment claims were finally lifted.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com.

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Monday September 28th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we&rsquo;re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. Today, our focus is on Proposition EE, which would increase the price of cigarettes and all other nicotine and tobacco products gradually over the next seven years. But before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;: Today, we take you back to September 28th, 1719, when a massive expedition of Spaniards, Puebloans, and Apaches endured an early winter storm and feared for whether they had enough food. It&rsquo;s little wonder that this beleaguered company at its camp near present day Trinidad Colorado, referred to a nearby river as the River of Lost Souls in Purgatory. Now, our feature story. Cigarettes and tobacco products are taxed in Colorado. Vaping devices and vaping fuel are not. A question on the November ballot -- Proposition EE -- would change that system, increasing the price of cigarettes and all other nicotine and tobacco products gradually over the next seven years. If this passes, it would be the first tobacco tax increase in Colorado since 2004. So how exactly would Proposition EE raise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco and nicotine products? Here&rsquo;s Colorado Sun Reporter Jesse Paul with the details. As Jesse mentioned, a part of this proposition includes a minimum-price provision that would require a pack of cigarettes to be sold for no less than $7 and a carton to be sold for no less than $70 starting in January. Senator Owen Hill discussed the proposed price floor and how he thinks it could be problematic. The two main groups that generally oppose Proposition EE are conservatives and companies that make and sell cigarettes and other nicotine products. They often argue that raising taxes on tobacco products disproportionately impacts minorities and people with lower incomes who are addicted to cigarettes or other products containing nicotine. Raising tobacco taxes simply forces them to pay more. But, backers of Proposition EE, including Polis and Democrats in the state legislature, say increasing the cost of cigarettes and nicotine products is a way to cut down on tobacco use and pave a future for expanded early childhood education in Colorado. In its first six months, Proposition EE is expected to generate an extra $87.4 million in tax revenue. By fiscal year 2024-25, that jumps to $222.8 million. And after 2023 or 2024, the vast majority of the money would be allocated to preschool programs. The idea is to collect enough money to provide at least 10 hours per week of free preschool for every Colorado child in the year before entering kindergarten. Thank you for listening. Now, a few other stories you should know about today: A substitute teacher shortage worsened by the pandemic could force some Colorado schools to close. Districts are now finding creative ways to fill the gap, leaning on their own teachers, administrators and even parents to sub. Rhetoric from Washington, D.C., has people worried about the U.S. Postal Service's ability to deliver mail-in ballots. But, an unscientific assessment of delivery times in Colorado shows the system works pretty well. With winter travel to Colorado resort communities very unclear, airlines are showing &ldquo;unprecedented&rdquo; flexibility Thousands of unemployed Coloradans found financial relief in the past week, but not because the first Lost Wages Assistance payments were issued. Rather, the months-long holds on their unemployment claims were finally lifted. For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.coloradosun.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1601349887210000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFj7FcMAR_7LQ74MLhwI-RCvqBFVA">www.coloradosun.com</a>. The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you. Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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