State budget passes through Senate with amendments
In the Senate last week we debated
SB17-254, also known as the 'Long Bill'. There were a few challenges with this year's budget including a $510 million shortfall. While we expect the economy to generate new revenue, there are some automatic cost drivers mandated by our Constitution contributing to this shortfall. Those restrictions include
TABOR, the Gallagher Amendment, the Hospital Provider Fee, Amendment 23, Senate Bill 09-228, and Severance taxes.
Despite these challenges, the
Joint Budget Committee (JBC) presented us with a balanced budget and recommended we address the shortfall through a number of methods including, but not limited to: reductions in the Hospital Provider fee, reductions in roads and capital construction transfers, and increasing the
Negative Factor for education.
In addition to closing the gap, this year's budget also included some positive items such as: i
ncreasing per pupil funding by $185/student, modest raises for our state employees (1.75%), increasing medicaid provider rates (1.3%), funding the Capital Development Committee's recommended list, and maintaining funding for the Senior Property Tax Exemption program.
We debated 49 proposed amendments to the budget. Most were aimed at restoring cuts or programs mentioned above. Here is a
summary of the debate. Six amend-ments passed, including two I sponsored and one that I co-sponsored. We restored cuts to the Colorado Health Exchange (co-sponsored), increased the provider rate for emergency medical transport for the elderly and disabled (sponsored), reduced pay increases for elected officials and judicial employees (sponsored), increased funding for veterans services, and restored funding for the Healthy Kids Survey.
There were a few amendments that initially failed and later passed including: increased funding for affordable housing, as well as authorization to spend the money appropriated for medical aid in dying, known as
Proposition 106.
The budget will now head over to the House and then, after they weigh in with their recommendations, onto a conference committee to iron out any differences. That conference committee is the JBC, where they will likely reject most of the changes. I am hopeful, however, that a few of our recommendations will make it into the final budget. We will just have to wait and see!
Bill Signing for SB17-123 Seal of Biliteracy with Governor Hickenlooper
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. Previously, she served in the same capacity during the 2014 legislative session. During the upcoming, 71st General Assembly, she will serve on the Senate Education Committee, Transportation Committee and the Student Safety and Youth in Crisis Committee.
'Coffee With Constituents' this coming Friday
'Coffee With Constituents' will meet this coming Friday, April 7 from 7am - 8am at Indian Tree Golf Course, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, in Arvada. We moved the date up one week due to Good Friday the following week. Please join us for a cup of coffee and some conversation before I head down to the Capitol. Hope to see you then!
Constituent Andrew Goff and children on the Senate Floor
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, I welcomed constituent
Andrew Goff and his two daughters who sat on the Senate Floor... We also welcomed the
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the
Denver Economic Development Corporation, in particular retiring CEO
Tom Clark... My office met with constituent
David McCabe to discuss bleeding disorders day at the Capitol... I welcomed
German Exchange Students from
Standley Lake High School... And my office met with
Jeff Miller from the
Council of State Governments West... Tuesday was
CU Day at the Capitol and I met with several students from the
School of Physical Therapy... Also, constituent
John Bunting met with my office...On Wednesday, I was the guest speaker for the
Business and Governmental Affairs Committee of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce... We memorialized
Sen. Bob Martinez... Then we commenced with debating the
Long Bill... Thursday, I met with officials from
Westminster... I also had my bill signing with
Governor Hickenlooper... On Friday, I welcomed constituent and former
Representative Debbie Benefield and her family to the Senate... I also met with students
Maile Harris and Alex Pearson from
Legacy High School to discuss their plans for a high school student legislative engagement program.
German exchange students and hosts from Standley Lake High School
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations
Can you help us with a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with SD19 voters. Your contribution helps us pay for brochures, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools to help make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANKS!
