Amid Battles, Colorado House Gives $17.6B Budget Initial OK

DALLAS - The Colorado House yesterday gave the state's proposed $17.6 billion budget initial approval as battles continued over funding for transportation, education, and renewable energy.

With state revenues expected to fall $700 million over five years, Republicans leveled charges that the majority Democrats were unrealistic in adding 1,334 full-time state jobs.

GOP leaders also proposed shifting more revenue toward transportation, introducing unsuccessful amendments to strip funding from renewable energy, health care, and education programs.

Rep. Amy Stephens, who heads the Republican caucus in the House, said Democrats are crowding the state's 6% cap on budget growth as taxpayers brace for a recession.

Of 77 proposed amendments to the budget bill, only three were approved. After second approval in the House, the budget bill will move to the Senate.

The spending plan adds $1.2 billion in appropriations over the current fiscal year that ends June 31.

Education receives an increase of $152 million, or 5%, over the current fiscal year's allotment. Most of the increase goes to per-pupil funding.

Higher education gets an additional $64.6 million, or 8.6% more, including $10 million more for scholarships and financial aid. Tuition increases would be capped at 9.5% for the largest universities.

State health programs would gain $68.1 million, a 4.7% increase, for Medicaid, the Child Health Plan Plus program, and to increase Medicaid fees paid to health care providers.

The budget increases prison spending by $51.7 million, an 8.3% rise, for the growing inmate population. Colorado had 22,870 inmates as of December.

The proposed increase of 1,334 state employees follows a similar rise in the current fiscal year. The governor's office, treasurer's office, and education department would grow the fastest if the budget passes without amendments. Higher education, corrections, and the courts would add 1,013 employees, representing the bulk of the hiring. Overall state government employment would grow 2.7% to 50,823.

As the House was taking action on the budget, the Senate debated a partial toll levy on congested Interstate 70 that traverses the mountains to the major ski areas. Two proposals are seeking to levy tolls at the Eisenhower Tunnel that crosses the Continental Divide near Silverthorne. In addition to raising revenue, tolling would reduce congestion, according to Senate backers.

Colorado has already pre-qualified for federal authority to impose tolls, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

State Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, introduced a high-occupancy vehicle bill that would require tolls from any car with fewer than three people during the weekend rush hour. Critics said the bill would make I-70 the nation's first "HOV Highway."

Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, led a protest against the toll proposal on the west steps of the capitol as the measure was introduced. Gibbs said tolling would hurt tourism throughout the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Joining Gibbs in the protest was former Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, a Coal Creek Canyon Democrat seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Mark Udall in the 2nd Congressional District. Udall is running for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Wayne Allard.

Rep. ChristineScanlan, D-Dillon, also spoke against the bill at the rally, along with representatives from the trucking industry and a coalition working on a long-term plan for the Interstate.

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