March 27, 2008 7:01 PM

Dems: Budget plan "invests in Colorado's children." GOP: Where's savings for tough times?

Democrats said House passage of a $17.6 billion state budget bill Thursday means a brighter future for Colorado’s children but Republicans warned that inadequate reserves cloud that promise.

After fiery debate, the House voted 40-24 for the bill that now goes to the Senate where Republicans said they will press their case that more money needs to be set aside in these tough economic times.

House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said Democrats are risking the programs they championed by not trimming spending below the 6 percent maximum growth limit and putting more into a “rainy day” fund.

“If this economy sours ... the damage to children, the damage to schools, will be (budget cuts) with a meat cleaver,” May said.

Democrats celebrated their budget victory at a press conference with a line of little girls holding up signs emblazoned with a trophy and “2008 Budget Winner.”

Democrats defended their spending plan as providing health care coverage to 55,000 uninsured children, making up for some of the neglected spending on higher education and reducing what is now a years-long waiting list disabled Coloradans endure for services.

“We’re investing in the future of this state, because we care - not just about the kids who are here today — but the kids who are going to be here tomorrow,” said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver.

He added that the budget also keeps streets safe by boosting judicial staff and adding prison guards to ensure dangerous criminals remain behind bars.

But Republicans blasted Democrats for adding 1,334 state jobs as a recession looms, Coloradans tighten their belts and analysts predict a $700 million drop in state revenues over five years.

“In times of rising energy prices and record foreclosure rates, this budget hits the gas while the economy is hitting the brakes,” said Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma.

At the same time, Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, said Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter’s efforts to increase environmental oversight over the oil and gas industry threatens a “stranglehold” of regulation on one of the few economic sectors that’s growing and providing jobs.

Democrats said they are advancing smart solutions for critical state problems while Republicans unleash election-year bogeymen and scary sound bites.

By investing $30 million in a 2-for-1 federal matching program, the state will reap $90 million to provide health insurance for 55,000 kids, Democrats said. “We literally triple our investment,” said Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder. When parents can take a child to the doctor, “rather than waiting until their child is really sick and going to the emergency room,” it saves taxpayers and keeps everyone’s insurance premiums down, she said.

Democrats also touted an $8 million effort to cut a backlog that has 12,000 developmentally disabled adults and children waiting decades for support services.

John Haley stood with his 21-year-old Anne, who has Down Syndrome, and told how she’s been waiting more than five years for services.

The Fort Collins father told how the local agency that administers support services said “somebody on the list would either have to die or move before she would ever receive services.”

“We want to make Anne’s life as enjoyable as possible,” he said. “The reality is if ...we passed away, what support would she have?”

The Haley’s story, Romanoff said, “remind us that this budget is not just a matter of math. It’s a matter of life and death and, in many cases, the quality of life.”

Next week, the Senate takes up the budget battle where Republicans vow to question why higher education needs 524 new full-time employees.

But Senate Minority Leader Sen. Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, is realistic about chances for a budget reduction.

“The budget’s written by the majority party and they usually defend it totally,” he said.

--Alan Gathright

Posted by Alan Gathright at 7:01 PM | Comments (0)