Democratic Budget Passes House

Winners: Kids, People with Disabilities, College Students
Losers: Perps, Polluters, Partisans

DENVER – Today, following the House of Representative’s passage of the 2008-2009 budget on a party-line vote, House Democrats held an energetic – and at times emotional – press conference to announce the many winners in this year’s budget.   

“This week, we made significant investments for in children,” said Speaker Andrew Romanoff to a packed capitol atrium.  “We invested in our children’s health care, getting 50,000 more kids the coverage they need.  We invested in our children’s safety, keeping hardened criminals behind bars.  We invested in our children’s education so they can compete in the 21^st century economy from the time they enter preschool until they graduate college.  And we’ve invested in our kids by making sure they can get good, high-paying jobs in the new economy.”   

The Speaker was flanked by State Rep. Bernie Buescher, Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, Majority Leader Alice Madden, State Representative Jack Pommer (D-Boulder), vice-chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and a host of happy House Democrats. 

Lawmakers were also joined by this year’s biggest winners: over a dozen kids with developmental disabilities and their family members who will get long-awaited services, kids who will get the health coverage they need, and college students who will benefit from the financial aid in the state budget.

“I’m proud of so many aspects of this budget.  We created a lean and balanced budget, and we made tough choices and targeted investments,” said Rep. Buescher.  “But when I go back to Grand Junction this weekend, I will tell my wife Mary Beth this: The number one choice we made, what I am most proud of is that we helped kids with developmentally disabilities.”

Representative Buescher became emotional while speaking about the additional $8 million Democrats made available for disabled services. “By slashing the decades-long wait list people with developmental disabilities have faced, we have spoken for the voiceless and fought for the powerless.”

Majority Leader Alice Madden expressed jubilation at the 55,000 kids to which the budget extends health care coverage to.

“Think about how amazing that is for a second,” said a thrilled Madden.  “Fifty-five thousand kids, if they stood side-by-side and stretched their hands, would reach from where we are standing to Louisville, Colorado. And back!” 

In all, Colorado’s children led the way as winners: in addition to reducing the developmentally disabled services wait list and expanding health care coverage, 22,000 more 5-year-olds can attend full-day kindergarten.

Students of higher education came out well too; $63 million was made available to keep college within reach of every Coloradan who wants to attend.    $10 million in need-based aid and $53 million to expand the College Opportunity Fund to more than 30,000 Coloradans was included in the budget. 

“Colorado is near the absolute bottom in higher education spending,” said State Representative Jack Pommer.  “This is a real investment that will help more students learn the skills they need to compete in a 21^st century global economy.”

And the Losers?  No question: Hardened Criminals who will now stay behind bars; Political Partisans who tried to hijack this important process and play political games, but were rebuffed; and Old-School Polluters who will see less dirty coal and contaminated water as we move forward with clean renewable energy sources.

-- Posted by staff