Joe Rice, Senate Democrats get GOP’s solution to Colorado’s budget crisis

When Joe Rice (D-Littleton) recently replied to my e-mail that asked him to vote against the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases going through the House, he sent back a snarky, arrogant suggestion that I sit down with him and figure out an alternative to the tax increases. Since I’m not in the Colorado General Assembly, that’s not my job. That’s his. But, of course, he wants to increase spending and raise taxes as he did with the car tax last year. He doesn’t want to cut spending. Ultimately, I considered asking him to go talk to the Republicans in the House. They know where to cut.

House Republicans didn’t come up with cuts, but Republicans in the Colorado Senate this afternoon announced their alternative plan, which I recommend to my spend and tax Rep. Rice and to my state Senator, Linda Newell. It’s time for Rice and Newell, who wants to have a commission of business leaders figure out a solution to the state’s bloated budget, to quit playing games with their constituents and focus on solving the budget crisis without enacting job-killing tax increases. The letter and press release follow:

 COLORADO SENATE REPUBLICANS

Republican Plan: Cut State Bureaucracy, Not Business Tax Hikes

Republicans in the Colorado Senate today unveiled a proposal to reduce government spending as an alternative to the Democrats’ plan to raise taxes on the businesses and citizens of Colorado.

“Democrats keep saying that in order to balance the budget ‘everything is on the table,’” said Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud.  “Republicans want to make sure that a reduction in government spending is on the table and thoroughly debated before we raise taxes.”

The GOP proposal includes a 0.25 percent reduction in state payroll spending for the current fiscal year, and a 4.4 percent reduction for next fiscal year.  If the state government made these small sacrifices it would eliminate the need for a laundry list of Democrat proposed taxes on everything from soda pop, to napkins, fertilizer and Internet sales.

“The spending reductions we are asking for are less drastic than to the 5 percent across the board cuts asked for by Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer or the thousands of layoffs asked for by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick,” said Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands.  “Both those guys are Democrats, and they realize the need to reduce the size and scope of government during these tough times.”

The Republican plan would require Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter to cut the state’s $3.2 billion state payroll budget by $17.8 million for the current fiscal year.  The savings would be found through the elimination of non-essential or unfilled government jobs and through salary reductions to state employees primarily making more than $100,000 a year.

For next fiscal year, the GOP plan would require an across the board spending cut of approximately 4.4 percent.  First priority would be given to eliminating non-essential or unfilled government jobs and through salary reductions to employees primarily making over $100,000 a year.  This would also allow the state to restore the senior homestead exemption and vendor fee.

“This is a chance for the Democrats to recognize the changing mood of America,” said Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction.  “By cutting budgets one quarter of a percent this year and just over 4 percent next year, we can stave off job-killing, recovery-slowing tax increases.  This one’s an economic no-brainer.”

The spending reductions will save $17.8 million in the current year and $306.5 million in the next year, eliminating the need for Democrat proposals to increase taxes by those same amounts.

Teachers would not be subject to pay cuts or firings under the bill.

Joe Rice wrote

Thank you for your kind words about my public service.  It is an honor to

serve our nation in the military and our state in the legislature.

 

I appreciate your email and am happy to discuss these matters with you.  I

voted for some of the measures and against others.  I wish that the best

answer was to vote all one way or the other, but I believe the best (I

should say, the least-worst) solution to our budget challenges is a

combination of budget cuts and suspending or modifying some tax exemptions.

 

 

Almost 2 million dollars has been reduced from state spending, including

drastic reductions or the complete elimination of many programs and

services.  With about 90% of the state general fund going to education,

health and human services, and public safety, our options are limited.

 

I would be very happy to sit with you and go through the budget line by line

to get your thoughts on how we can bring the budget into balance.  In

addition to addressing our immediate challenges, I would also be interested

in discussing ideas for creating, funding, and protecting, a rainy day fund.

 

Thank you again for contacting me.  Please feel free to contact me to

discuss this topic further or if you have any questions, ideas, or feedback

on this or any other state related issue.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joe

 

 

Joe Rice, State Representative

Colorado State House District 38

 

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.

<< Back to main