Face The State Staff Report
Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, presented his 2009-10 fiscal plans to the Joint Budget Committee,with statehouse Republicans cautioning Ritter to tighten the state’s budgetary belt.
Ritter offered his $19.2 billion spending plan to the JBC Thursday. Just after he presented it, he also revealed plans to spend $12 million on an economic stimulus plan aimed at keeping Colorado’s economy afloat during the looming recession.
Ritter’s plan includes several measures that he says will help “protect the jobs we have and create new ones," with a primary focus on job creation within the renewable energy sector. He also plans to host a series of state-sponsored job fairs.
But Republican leaders say the move neglects vital parts of Colorado’s economy, including the traditional energy sector and transportation needs.
“The best thing we could do for economic development in this state is to stop this administration’s full frontal assault on the oil and gas industry, and stop neglecting our transportation infrastructure,” House GOP leader Mike May, of Parker, said.
Ritter’s spokesman, Evan Dreyer, fired back and defended the not only the budget he submitted this year, but also the one he proposed for 2008-09, saying both were lean and frugal in preparation for the down-turning economy.
“For the current 08-09 budget, Gov. Ritter has enacted a number of belt-tightening measures: hiring freeze, construction freeze, delay in grants for building full-day kindergarten classrooms, and restrictions on supplemental spending requests,” Dreyer said. “For the 09-10 fiscal year, Gov. Ritter has submitted a budget proposal that continues this frugal approach because of the economic uncertainties we’re facing. It’s a conservative budget that protects taxpayer dollars, maintains essential services and makes key investments in the people, businesses, institutions and infrastructure that make Colorado strong."
Sen. Josh Penry, of Grand Junction, who was recently elected leader of the Senate Republicans, acknowledged Ritter’s efforts to save state dollars by creating a “rainy day” fund, but says the government should be more cautious with taxpayer’s money. He pointed out that Ritter and Democrats in the legislature do not have a great track record of tightening the state budget. He says they should not rely on overly optimistic budget forecasts as they have in the past.
"Last spring, a majority of lawmakers adopted our current budget over objections that it spent more revenue than our declining economy was likely to produce, and now we're paying for it with emergency measures the governor had to take," said Penry said. "Let's resolve not to make that mistake again."
In March, the vast majority of Republican lawmakers voted against that budget. Even after it was approved, the GOP continually urged Ritter to make budget cuts in preparation of the faltering economy.
Ritter seemed to heed the Republican’s advice at least on one occasion. In late September, Republicans called on Ritter to freeze state hiring. A day later, Ritter announced that the executive branch would not make any new hires starting in October.