Spring Break
Colo. Senate begins debating controversial budget
Colleen Slevin The Associated Press
Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: News
DENVER (AP) - The Senate began debating a package of bills Thursday aimed at balancing next year's budget after the Joint Budget Committee refused to make any additional cuts.
The package includes a $300 million cut to higher education, which some fear could lead to the closure of some colleges, although the budget committee hopes to make up for that cut by taking $500 million from the state-created Pinnacol Assurance.
Earlier in the day, Senate leaders asked the committee to go back to the drawing board to come up with other possible cuts in case the Pinnacol money doesn't materialize. Frustrated committee members met for about 40 minutes but didn't consider cuts proposed by other lawmakers, including furloughs for state employees, many of which committee members had previously considered and rejected.
Both Democratic Senate President Peter Groff and Minority Leader Josh Penry wanted the committee to consider those other options to avoid the higher education cut in case the Pinnacol issue lands in court. Normally, budget changes are considered once the budget bill is debated by either the full House or Senate. But Groff said he couldn't vote for the bill as it was because there was a chance the higher education cut would stand.
"If we continue to do that, we will have schools that will close," Groff said.
Budget committee member Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, said the budget already included some drastic cuts, such as not opening a new prison in Canon City. He said the budget committee had done its job and it was up to senators to offer any changes they want to.
He also criticized Penry, whom he said was driving the push for more cuts, saying he should "jump in a lake."
"Tell him to go first and all the lemmings will follow," said Marostica, who has often been at odds with other Republicans on budget issues.
Budget committee members have been meeting since November to develop a budget for this year and the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. They twice delayed the introduction of next year's budget as they waited for and then responded to a gloomy economic forecast. Legislative economists now predict a deeper and longer recession than originally expected and say tax revenue will decline by $900 million between this year and next year.
The package includes a $300 million cut to higher education, which some fear could lead to the closure of some colleges, although the budget committee hopes to make up for that cut by taking $500 million from the state-created Pinnacol Assurance.
Earlier in the day, Senate leaders asked the committee to go back to the drawing board to come up with other possible cuts in case the Pinnacol money doesn't materialize. Frustrated committee members met for about 40 minutes but didn't consider cuts proposed by other lawmakers, including furloughs for state employees, many of which committee members had previously considered and rejected.
Both Democratic Senate President Peter Groff and Minority Leader Josh Penry wanted the committee to consider those other options to avoid the higher education cut in case the Pinnacol issue lands in court. Normally, budget changes are considered once the budget bill is debated by either the full House or Senate. But Groff said he couldn't vote for the bill as it was because there was a chance the higher education cut would stand.
"If we continue to do that, we will have schools that will close," Groff said.
Budget committee member Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, said the budget already included some drastic cuts, such as not opening a new prison in Canon City. He said the budget committee had done its job and it was up to senators to offer any changes they want to.
He also criticized Penry, whom he said was driving the push for more cuts, saying he should "jump in a lake."
"Tell him to go first and all the lemmings will follow," said Marostica, who has often been at odds with other Republicans on budget issues.
Budget committee members have been meeting since November to develop a budget for this year and the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. They twice delayed the introduction of next year's budget as they waited for and then responded to a gloomy economic forecast. Legislative economists now predict a deeper and longer recession than originally expected and say tax revenue will decline by $900 million between this year and next year.
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