STATE BILL COLORADO
The highest courts in Colorado are poised to move for three years into space that’s being vacated by Colorado’s largest newspaper at 101 W. Colfax Ave.
Just months after the State Court Administrator’s Office moved into fifth-floor space abandoned by the shuttered Rocky Mountain News comes news that the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Court of Appeals are in final discussions to temporarily move into space being vacated by The Post on the building’s eighth floor.
The news broke — where else? — in The Denver Post.
“We are in final contract discussions for that space,” Rob McCallum, spokesman for the Colorado Judicial Branch, confirmed to the newspaper. Besides taking over the eighth floor, the courts will also convert never-used retail space on the ground floor into a courtroom and a law library.
Like most U.S. newspapers, the Post has reported steep circulation losses in recent years. For the most recent six months, Sunday Denver Post circulation declined by 5.8 percent, Saturday circulation by 5.7 percent and Monday through Friday by 8.3 percent, the official monitor of newspaper circulation said.
Construction on a new building for Colorado’s courts system begins next year at the block at 14th Street and Broadway that currently houses the appellate courts and the Colorado History Museum.
In related coverage:
* You can see what the state court administrator’s office did with the News’ newsroom by clicking here. You can also read the lease agreements there.
* You can read an interview with the new judicial-center architect by clicking here.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

STATE BILL COLORADO
The legislature’s Business Personal Property Tax Commission meets at 9 a.m. today in HCR-0112 at the Capitol. This is an unstaffed commission; we haven’t heard of any snow delays. If and when the commission meets, you can listen here.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

STATE BILL COLORADO
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter’s chief of staff says on a left-leaning political blog that the cash-deprived state has “long term … serious issues” that it needs to tackle.
Jim Carpenter cited those issues as “higher ed funding, safety funding, K-12, TABOR and constitutional contradictions, etc.” He made the posting on ColoradoPols.com.
Carpenter noted the complexity and the delicacy of the most recent budget cutting round, which trims $271 million on top of cuts that now total more than $2 billion.
“The Gov. sought to do this responsibly, fairly and thoughtfully, within very limited options,” Carpenter wrote. “His goal was to keep pain to a minimum, protect the safety net, and preserve key services — demand for which actually is increasing in the recession. (Funny how some think that we can get by with fewer snowplow drivers, teachers, corrections officers, etc.).
The cuts were capped by an unexpected $28 million increase in Medicaid caseload.
Carpenter used the Medicaid increases, which he said total 45 percent since 2007-08, as “another reason for national healthcare reform.”
In the short term, Carpenter and the governor hope to derive more state revenue from economic growth.
“This month alone, two major new energy economy companies — SunRun and SMA Solar Technology — have announced plans to open their doors and hire over 700 new workers here in Colorado,” he wrote. “Our unemployment rate is at 7% (nearly 3 points lower than the national rate). There’s a long way to go, but many hopeful signs. Still, state budget revenues traditionally lag, so even with better economic news, the budget news remains challenging.”

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

STATE BILL COLORADO
Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll slammed a statement from Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry that questions the wisdom of continuing the governor’s energy office as well as the state departments of local affairs and higher education.
“Killing jobs in our fastest-growing economic sector is Penry’s answer to the serious crisis facing Colorado?” Carroll asked in response to Penry’s proposal to eliminate the energy office.
“The New Energy Economy is the single brightest light in our economy,” Carroll wrote. “In the past few weeks alone, SMA Solar Technology, SunRun Solar, Siemens Wind and RePower have all announced plans to create new jobs here. Vestas’ Colorado workforce will total 2,500 by this time next year. Xcel Energy just yesterday announced a new solar-expansion plan that will create thousands of new private-sector jobs.
Penry also encouraged the state to find “real responsibilities” for Lieutenant Governor Barbara O’Brien.
Carroll countered that O’Brien’s duties included work for Colorado’s Indians, public education, children’s health, and the pursuit of federal Race to the Top funds.
“I’m stunned: cutting green energy jobs, reducing local control, and dissing the work of a powerful woman on behalf of people of color and children? When Sen. Penry and the Republicans are ready to offer some serious solutions, we’re ready to listen.”
Carroll’s statement is published below in its entirety.

20091029_Carroll

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

STATE BILL COLORADO
This morning, we round up news coverage from yesterday’s budget cut announcement to the Joint Budget Committee.

NEWS
Associated Press: It was the second time this year Ritter has been forced to cut this year’s budget, which ends in June, and the governor’s office warned more cuts may lie ahead.
Denver Daily News: The governor addressed the bipartisan Joint Budget Committee yesterday morning, saying an “explosive” increase in Medicaid requests is fueling this latest need for cuts, which includes $145 million from higher education.
Denver Post: Even with federal stimulus money, Ritter said, higher education will be facing a still-to- be-determined net reduction in fiscal 2010-11 from its current level of $706 million.
Education News Colorado: College and university spending faces an even higher “cliff” in 2010-11, and the 2010 legislative session will face an even tougher challenge in trying to support higher ed.
Durango Herald: Now playing at the state Capitol: “Saw IV.”
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: A new round of state budget adjustments will punch higher education the hardest, but it won’t leave a bruise this year.
Pueblo Chieftain: Ritter and his budget director, Todd Saliman, said they did their best to spread the burden over all of state government, but the state’s budget laws are so restrictive it gave them few places to turn.
State Bill Colorado: “The governor directed us to look at other balancing options besides budget reductions,” Budget Director Todd Saliman told JBC members, possibly a reference to tax increases that would be created by cutting certain sales and capital-gains tax exemptions.
State Bill Colorado: Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, a gubernatorial rival to current Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, responded today to the release of Ritter’s latest budget-cutting plan by calling for a “fundamental reform of government.”
State Bill Colorado: Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll slammed a statement from Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry that questions the wisdom of continuing the governor’s energy office as well as the state departments of local affairs and higher education.
State Bill Colorado: Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter’s chief of staff says on a left-leaning political blog that the cash-deprived state has “long term … serious issues” that it needs to tackle.

COMMENTARY
Boulder Daily Camera: Colorado, and the entire nation, must come up with a long-term solution to keep state-funded institutions both truly state-funded, and affordable for their citizens who don`t — or can`t — choose a private school.
Denver Post: A grim day of reckoning awaits the state when lawmakers and the governor are forced to budget without the largess of the federal government to bail them out.
Pueblo Chieftain: Many private sector employers have had to resort to giving workers furlough days as the result of the recession. While this dents individuals’ budgets, it’s a far sight better than being laid off totally.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

The Denver Post columnist writes, “In a 4-3 decision last week, they overturned two lower court rulings and declared that, henceforth, unelected judges rather than elected legislators will determine how much money Colorado taxpayers must spend on K-12 education. The victorious plaintiffs in the case included the usual suspects: the teachers union and other educratic organizations.”

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

The buzz in political circles is that El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark is under consideration as Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis’ running mate for 2010, and Clark isn’t denying it, The Colorado Springs Independent reports.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO
Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, a gubernatorial rival to current Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, responded today to the release of Ritter’s latest budget-cutting plan by calling for a “fundamental reform of government.”
Penry, a Republican, issued a statement saying: “Is it time to abolish the Department of Local Affairs? Is it time to consolidate the bureaucracy over Higher Education? Is it time to eliminate duplicative boards and commissions? Is it time to abolish silos of patronage like the governor’s energy office? Is it time to consolidate administrative functions among the state’s 178 school districts?” The statement is published below.
Penry stopped short of advocating any one of the proposals he cited. On the stump, he’s complained that Democrat Ritter has grown government at a time it should be shrinking; media coverage has noted that Penry has sponsored some of the legislation that’s grown state employment during Ritter’s tenure.
House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, issued a more moderate statement, noting, ““I was disappointed to see that many of the governor’s proposals merely delay the inevitable.”
May’s statement is also published below.
Ritter didn’t immediately respond to either statement. Penry is vying with former congressman Scott McInnis for the Republican nomination in August 2010.

20091028_Penry

May Statement on Latest Round of Budget Cuts

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO
Colorado’s Senate Democratic leadership, overseen by Senate President Brandon Shaffer, announced committee assignments that included naming new chairs for committees on agriculture, business and the judiciary.
The new committee chairs are Sen. Mary Hodge on Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources; Sen Lois Tochtrop on Business, Labor & Technology; and Sen. Morgan Carroll on Judiciary.
Vice chair jobs went to recent senators including Pat Steadman (Judiciary), Evie Hudak (Education), Michael Johnston (Finance) and Linda Newell (Health and Human Services). Chris Romer, who had been vice chair of the education committee, was moved to become the appropriations committee vice chair.
Shaffer, who was elevated to the Senate presidency following the departure of Peter Groff to the Obama Administration, assumes the chair of the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council, which manages the General Assembly’s operations.
Virtually all the chair and vice chair changes came as a result of senators who resigned their terms early (including Groff, Jennifer Veiga and Jim Isgar) and the elevation of vice chairs to chair posts.

Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resource
Chair: Senator Mary Hodge (NEW: Succeeds Jim Isgar, who resigned.)
Vice-Chair: Senator Bruce Whitehead (NEW)
Members: Senators Dan Gibbs and Gail Schwartz

Appropriations:
Chair: Senator Abel Tapia
Vice-Chair: Senator Chris Romer (NEW: Succeeds Moe Keller)
Members: Senators Bob Bacon, Rollie Heath (NEW), Mary Hodge, Moe Keller

Business, Labor and Technology
Chair: Senator Lois Tochtrop (NEW: Succeeds Jennifer Veiga, who resigned.)
Vice-Chair: Senator Suzanne Williams (NEW: Succeeds Rollie Heath)
Members: Senators Joyce Foster, Mike Johnston (NEW)

Education
Chair: Senator Bob Bacon
Vice-Chair: Senator Evie Hudak (NEW: Succeeds Chris Romer)
Members: Senators Mike Johnston (NEW), Rollie Heath, Pat Steadman (NEW)

Finance
Chair: Senator Paula Sandoval
Vice-Chair: Senator Mike Johnston (NEW)
Members: Senators Evie Hudak, Pat Steadman (NEW)

Health and Human Services
Chair: Senator Betty Boyd
Vice-Chair: Senator Linda Newell (NEW: Succeeds Lois Tochtrop)
Members: Senators Morgan Carroll, Paula Sandoval

Judiciary
Chair: Senator Morgan Carroll (NEW: Succeeds John Morse)
Vice-Chair: Senator Pat Steadman (NEW: Succeeds Morgan Carroll, who was elevated.)
Members: Senators Linda Newell, Evie Hudak

Local Government & Energy
Chair: Senator Gail Schwartz
Vice-Chair: Senator Joyce Foster
Members: Senators Mary Hodge, Linda Newell

Transportation
Chair: Senator Dan Gibbs
Vice-Chair: Senator Suzanne Williams
Members: Senators Bruce Whitehead (NEW), Lois Tochtrop (NEW)

Joint Budget Committee
Vice-Chair: Senator Moe Keller (NEW: Was chair)
Members: Senator Abel Tapia

Executive Committee of Legislative Council:
Chair: President Brandon Shaffer (NEW)
Members: Senator John Morse (NEW)

Legal Services
Chair: Senator John Morse (NEW)
Vice-Chair: Senator Gail Schwartz
Members: Senator Morgan Carroll

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO
Colorado’s higher-education system will take the brunt of the latest budget cuts announced by the Ritter Administration in face of a continuing poor economy.
The cuts will come in 2010-2011 because the governor plans to use stimulus money to “back fill” current year cuts of $145 million. State Budget Director Todd Saliman told the Joint Budget Committee that the 2010-11 cuts to higher education will be disclosed Nov. 6.
“The governor directed us to look at other balancing options besides budget reductions,” Saliman also told JBC members, possibly a reference to tax increases that would be created by cutting certain sales and capital-gains tax exemptions.
A Colorado Supreme Court decision in March defined Colorado tax policy in a way that allows legislators to consider lifting exemptions without violating the TABOR tax-limitation amendment adopted by voters in 1992. Business groups, including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, have objected to tampering with certain business exemptions already in place.

Key elements of Ritter’s budget cut plan:
* Higher Education (with 100 percent Recovery Act backfill): $145 million
* Recovery Act State Fiscal Stabilization Fund: $45.1 million
* Severance Tax Grant Funds: $37.4 million
* Medicaid Payment Adjustment: $16.3 million
* Suspend Clean Energy Fund Transfer: $14.2 million
* Refinance Certificates of Participation: $10.8 million
* Fitzsimons Trust Fund Cash Fund Transfer: $6 million
* Medicaid Provider Rate Reduction: $3.1 million
* TANF Refinancing: $3 million
* County Tax Base Subsidy: $2.8 million
* Department of Corrections Canteen Cash Fund Refinance: $2.5 million

20091028_BudgetCutPlan

20091028_BudgetPlan

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >