Printed on 4/28/11
April 28, 2011
A bill by Reps. Don Beezley, R- Broomfield, and Brian DelGrosso's, R-Loveland, to reinstate the state spending limit passed the House Finance Committee yesterday. House Bill 1280 would reinstate the state spending limit that was repealed by Democrats without voter approval in 2009. It would reinstate the government spending limit that prevented the state's operating budget from growing more than six percent each year.
Denver Daily News
April 22, 2011
With 100 days down in the 2011 legislative session, Gov. John Hickenlooper yesterday touted the bipartisan successes that have happened this year.
Hickenlooper credited lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle for working together towards passing a 2011-12 budget. He said the proposed cuts that would take more than $200 million from K-12 education is "nobody's idea of a good time," but said at the end of the day Republicans came together with Democrats to pass a responsible budget. The budget has passed through the House and Senate and is expected to go to Hickenlooper's desk for a signature.
"It really does demonstrate that Colorado is a different place where, once the election is over, people are willing to put down their weapons," Hickenlooper said.
Colorado Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, echoed Hickenlooper's comments on the budget in his own press conference yesterday.
"This is something that we can all take credit for and we all should take credit for," he said. "I think it shows that Republicans and Democrats can work together to help draft a budget that works for Colorado."
However, a press release issued by House Republicans also pointed out the times when the two parties have diverged. The House Republicans said that half of the "jobs and economy" proposals touted by House Democrats at the mid-point of the session were opposed by business groups like the National Federation of Independent Business and the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
"We will do whatever it takes to get Coloradans back to work in a stable economy, but House Republicans will not do it by raising taxes or driving the state further into deficit," said a statement from Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland.
Other topics addressed by Hickenlooper in his 100-day press conference:
Ą Hickenlooper said he is optimistic, and McNulty said he is hopeful, that Democrats and Republicans will be able to come together to redraw a congressional map for Colorado. By law, states must draw new congressional maps when the new census comes out. As of yesterday, Colorado Democrat and Republican lawmakers had not reached any sort of consensus on the redistricting map;
Ą Hickenlooper reiterated his hope that federal lawmakers would pass some sort of immigration reform. He said while a proposed bill that would grant in-state college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants could be a step in the right direction, those students still would have a hard time getting a job after they graduate from college if they are not legal citizens;
Ą In regards to his relationship with Democrats and Republicans, Hickenlooper said "it seems as though I'm kind of tolerated by both sides. Each side kind of dislikes me because we've had to make an awful lot of cuts."
The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn May 11.
Coloradoan
Editorial
Mar. 22, 2011
Bipartisan state legislation that would allow local governments to create energy parks by using tax-increment financing deserves serious consideration.
House Bill 1255, sponsored by Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, and Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, would allow communities to offer tax credits much like those offered within enterprise zones to encourage alternative-energy manufacturing. The parks wouldn't likely become energy-generation areas; rather, they would encourage companies that manufacture alternative-energy equipment and technology to locate in the specific areas. The expectation is that these companies would bring high-paying jobs to the communities.
A hearing on the bill, currently in the House Finance Committee, has been delayed for about two weeks to allow lawmakers to iron out tax incentive details. The hearing is scheduled Thursday.
The bipartisan approach, particularly, is encouraging. Offering tax incentives to encourage alternative-energy parks makes sense, as long as local communities use the approach wisely. Like any other enterprise zone, the diversion of tax revenue must be done strategically.
Ft. Collins Coloradoan
March 17, 2011
Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, and Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, are teaming up on a bill designed to create hubs of economic development based on alternative energy-related manufacturing.
The 57-page House Bill 1255 would allow local governments to apply to the state to create alternative energy parks within newly created "alternative energy zones" and allow tax increment financing and bonding to be used as carrots to lure businesses to the parks.
The bill would allow various tax credits to be offered within the zones mirroring those offered within existing enterprise zones. The state or a local government would propose the creation of an alternative energy zone, and it would be approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
"We're not looking for energy-generation facilities," said DelGrosso, the bill's chief sponsor. "We're looking for manufacturing jobs - anything at all in the alternative energy field."
That field includes wind, solar, ethanol, hydroelectric, nuclear and natural gas, he said.
"The energy parks are meant to emphasize renewable energy and try to concentrate economic development focused on these issues in parks," Kefalas said.
The alternative energy parks would not likely allow actual energy production on their grounds, and they would not resemble the oil-inclusive Niobrara Energy Park proposed for northern Weld County near Carr, Kefalas said.
" 'Alternative energy park' is a fancy name, but what it is, is an enterprise zone," DelGrosso said.
The alternative energy parks would be another way for the state and municipalities to attract high-paying manufacturing jobs, he said.
"Several companies are looking to build factories." DelGrosso said. "The economy is tough in all the states, and all the states around us are vying to attract these jobs. "
Kefalas said the alternative energy park concept was not modeled after a specific existing industrial park or enterprise zone.
"I don't think there's a model like this," Kefalas said.
Kefalas said DelGrosso asked him to co-sponsor the bill.
"We were looking at something like this last session," Kefalas said.
He said he teamed up with DelGrosso because he wants to promote renewable energy and create jobs.
"It's challenging," Kefalas said, "because we're talking about tax incentives, but we're pushing it out so there's no impact on the budget."
A hearing on the bill, currently in the House Finance Committee, has been delayed for about two weeks to allow lawmakers to iron out tax incentive details. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
March 17, 2011
Denver Post
Teachers could be required to pay a greater share of their retirement costs under a bill that cleared a House committee Wednesday and that one union said was an effort to "Wisconsinize" Colorado's budget.
The battle came during a hearing before the House Finance Committee on Senate Bill 76, a crucial budget-balancing measure that would continue for another year an increased rate of pension contributions for state workers.
The state for the current 2010-11 fiscal year increased the amount that state workers were required to contribute to their pensions from 8 percent of their paychecks to 10.5 percent and decreased the state's contribution by the corresponding amount, to 7.65 percent.
Lawmakers planned to continue the increased contribution rate for the 2011-12 budget year, saving the state an estimated $61.6 million. In fact, Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, has called for increasing state workers' pension contribution rates by another 2 percentage points to save even more.
But Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, the chairman of the committee, wanted to go further still. DelGrosso offered an amendment to allow school districts to increase their employees' pension contribution rates by up to 2 percentage points, a move he said would help spare painful cuts to schools.
School district employees' contributions were not increased for 2010-11, remaining at 8 percent of their paychecks.
Hickenlooper's proposed budget would make a $332 million net reduction to K-12 schools, and DelGrosso said the money districts save by lowering their contributions to employee pensions could prevent teacher layoffs and keep class sizes smaller.
"This opens it up to allow the school districts the same options and the same tools we are using here at the Capitol to balance the budget," he said.
"This is not a mandate on school districts," he said. "If they don't want to participate, they don't have to."
But Democrats opposed the move, saying teachers and other school employees, as well as school districts themselves, hadn't been given a chance to speak on the proposal. Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, said the measure could create an actuarial nightmare for the pension plan, with 178 school districts making individual decisions about employee contributions.
"Before we institute something like this, we should consult the people we are supposedly helping," said Rep. Dan Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, saying the proposal could turn into a "poisoned chalice" for school districts.
Officials with the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association said they could not immediately calculate what the savings might be if every district decided to increase employee contribution rates by 2 percentage points. There are more than 119,000 active members in the school division of PERA.
Julie Whitacre, a lobbyist for the Colorado Education Association, said the teachers union opposed the bill because it would threaten the long-term solvency of PERA.
Since employees are allowed to cash out their money from PERA if they leave the pension system, decreasing employer contributions which aren't allowed to be taken back would mean a greater share of the contributions to the fund would be at risk of divestment, Whitacre said.
PERA participants do not receive Social Security and do not pay Social Security taxes. Changes in the contribution level require legislative approval.
She also said DelGrosso's proposal was unfair to school employees.
"This amendment completely cuts out the employee voice in the process and lets the employer, the school board decide for themselves whether they should implement the 2 percent (contribution increase)," Whitacre said.
Officials with Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools, the two largest districts in the state, said increasing employee contribution rates would save each district between $8 million and $10 million a year.
The committee approved the amendment on a 7-6 party-line vote, even though the overall bill's sponsor, Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, who does not sit on the committee, asked his fellow Republicans not to support the language. Becker, a member of the legislature's Joint Budget Committee, said the six-member panel hadn't discussed such an idea and needed to vet it.
Becker also opposed another amendment from DelGrosso that would have implemented Hickenlooper's proposed additional 2 percent contribution from state workers.
That idea also needed to first be discussed by the Joint Budget Committee, Becker said.
That amendment failed on a 6-7 vote, with one Republican, Rep.
Keith Swerdfeger of Pueblo West, joining Democrats to vote against it.
A number of state employees testified against the underlying bill to continue the increased contribution rate, citing the fact that they had not had pay raises in three years and took furloughs in 2009.
Unions were angered by DelGrosso's comment at one point in the hearing that PERA is the equivalent of a "Ponzi scheme."
Officials with Colorado WINS, the union that represents state workers, said public employees were being thrown under the budget bus.
"I think today we saw a pretty blatant attempt to Wisconsinize the Colorado budget process," said Scott Wasserman, political director for the union.
The bill passed on an 8-5 vote, with one Democrat, Rep. John Kefalas of Fort Collins, voting in favor despite voting against DelGrosso's amendments to the legislation.
The bill now must go to the House Appropriations Committee before it can move to the floor of the Republican-led House.
In any case, DelGrosso's amendment is likely to be stripped out when the bill reaches the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
As expected, state Republicans yesterday introduced legislation that would reinstate the state's 6 percent spending limit.
House Bill 1280 would also create a reserve fund for the state equal to 8 percent of the state's general fund.
"Coloradans were upset when Democrats in the legislature repealed the long-standing spending limit," said Rep. Don Beezley, R-Broomfield, sponsor of the legislation. "This proposal reinstates that limit and ensures that Colorado has a prudent spending limit in place."
Democrats in 2009 eliminated the spending limit known as Arveschoug-Bird. Democrats said at the time that the repeal was necessary to get the state's economy back on track by giving lawmakers the "flexibility to address current economic realities."
Democrats also argued that the legislation would help Colorado avoid making budget cuts permanent.
Under the previous spending limit, Colorado's general fund was only allowed to grow 6 percent from the previous year, with excess revenue going towards transportation funding.
HB 1280 will likely make its way through the Republican-controlled House, but then die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Still, Republicans appeared hopeful yesterday.
"This bill would set a more responsible course for the future and would better serve the needs of our state, particularly during difficult economic times in the future," said Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, who chairs the House Finance Committee.
Shelly Widhalm
Loveland Reporter-Herald
March 6, 2010
With coffee in hand, 20 Loveland-area residents crowded into the downtown Dazbog Coffee's conference room Saturday morning to talk politics with state Reps. B.J. Nikkel and Brian DelGrosso.
Nikkel, a Republican who represents House District 49, and DelGrosso, a District 51 Republican, conducted a town hall meeting to hear from their constituents about the legislative session the first this year for the two Loveland Republicans.
"We love to get public input on issues that are important to the people in our district," Nikkel said.
The House of Representatives has a different makeup than in recent years, with a one-vote Republican majority, DelGrosso said to start off the one-hour meeting.
"There's a lot more of the (two parties) feeling each other out about getting bills through," DelGrosso said.
DelGrosso and Nikkel summarized the bills they are working on or that already have passed through the House during the current session.
One of DelGrosso's bills, HB1014, would institute a child-care contribution income tax credit a tax credit for contributions made to youth-oriented nonprofit organizations.
Community support, DelGrosso said, sustains nonprofit programming so that government does not have to take over the services.
DelGrosso also is drafting a bill to start "a rainy day fund in Colorado" to establish reserves in the state budget and to avoid having to take drastic cuts in a down economy.
"We don't have any savings accounts," DelGrosso said.
DelGrosso has another bill in process that would make properties donated to Habitat for Humanity tax-exempt.
Nikkel discussed a few of her bills, including HB1273, the Health Care Opportunity and Patient Empowerment Act, which she introduced last week. If passed, the act would allow Colorado to join in a compact with other states so far, Arizona, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and Tennessee to opt out of federal health care reform.
"A compact like this supercedes federal law," Nikkel said.
Nikkel also proposed HB1095 to protect businesses' security and prevent corporate identity theft when they file documents online with the Secretary of State's Office.
Another of her proposed bills, HB1148, would allow for the sharing of certain information between employers to protect public safety.
Nikkel also briefly touched on congressional redistricting, which she is addressing through her seat on the bipartisan redistricting commission.
"We have to do a shuffle every 10 years to change these boundaries," Nikkel said, adding that at community meetings, people are telling her that they want to preserve "communities of interest," such as the Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley area, plus Longmont.
Nikkel and DelGrosso said they will look for a larger venue for their next town hall meeting, which will be sometime in April, they said.
"The fact we had so many people attend, that indicates a level of concern by people in our district," Nikkel said. "They're interested in what's going on at the state level."
STATE BILL COLORADO
Leaders from all parts of Colorado responded today to Gov. John Hickenlooper's 2011 budget proposal, which includes a $375 million cut to K-12 education.
House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch: "We have said that these challenging economic times call for bold leadership and an ability to make the same tough decisions that Colorado families and employers have been making. We appreciate the Governor's willingness to tackle the state budget in a way that begins to address the long-term structural issues and we look forward to working with him on specifics."
House Minority Leader Rep. Sal Pace, D-Pueblo: "My priority as a legislator and a father of two young boys is to ensure that the children of Colorado have a bright future. Providing our kids with a good education is our obligation as a state and an investment in our future. We need an educated workforce to remain competitive in the global economy. While Democrats work to protect education funding to prevent an increase in class size, the laying off of our teachers, and shorter school weeks Republicans are fixated on creating special interest tax breaks as a means of addressing our budget woes. I applaud the Governor for initiating this very difficult discussion on our budget. House Democrats remain committed to finding real, sustainable solutions for the future of this state. We're ready to sit down with the Governor and leaders from both chambers and both sides of the aisle to talk about long-term solutions for this state."
Liberal political columnist David Sirota, The Huffington Post: "Yes, it's true the new governor must propose a balanced budget and the legislature cannot raise revenues in the short-term. Thus, the education cuts. However, it is also true that this governor has been running around Colorado insisting he cares about education while simultaneously saying he opposes efforts to raise public revenues through any changes to Colorado's hideously regressive tax code."
House Joint Budget Committee member Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen: "The Governor today took the first step in moving us toward a more responsible budget that will bring Colorado's state Government in-line with our current economic conditions. Creating a budget that is responsible and respectful of taxpayer dollars will play a critical role in Colorado's economic recovery."
Carol Hedges, director, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute: "The governor's budget recommendations reflect grim reality. He has presented a balanced budget only through dramatic cuts to the education of our kids. That is not a viable path to a prosperous future, but the state is out of acceptable options for dealing with the persistent budget challenges. The governor and legislators have no good choices. Their hands are tied. But our state Constitution, through the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, gives voters in Colorado the opportunity to say no' to these kinds of devastating choices. Now is the time for a more complete conversation. Now is the time for voters to stand up for their kids and their communities."
House Joint Budget Committee member Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver: "Over the last three years we have made significant cuts across state government. We have cut the fat and reduced the waste, and increased transparency and accountability. There are no simple choices left. These newest proposed cuts will have a lasting impact on our ability to maintain the quality of life and values we expect, appreciate and uphold as Coloradans. Now is the time to look for all possible solutions to our serious budgetary problems."
House Finance Committee member Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland: "The Governor recognizes the challenges that Colorado's employers and families have been managing over the last several years. His announcement signifies a shift toward creating a more responsible budget that reflects the same hard decisions that are being made by families and business owners across the state."
Wade Buchanan, president of The Bell Policy Center: "The governor and lawmakers can balance the budget only through spending cuts. However, voters in Colorado can take a different approach. If we want to invest more in our children's education and the public services that underpin our economy, we can decide to increase revenues. The stark the reality of today's budget cuts can serve as the starting point for a conversation on a more balanced approach to addressing Colorado's budget."
Mike Cerbo, executive director, Colorado AFL-CIO: "Today is a dark day for Colorado. While we appreciate the economic and constitutional constraints that influence these decisions, nobody should be pleased with Governor Hickenlooper's proposed cuts. There is no way that Colorado's working families will not be harmed. Particularly devastating are the cuts to public schools. Certainly, we need to have a serious discussion about promoting policies that put people back to work and will jumpstart the economy. However, it is even more important for our elected officials to begin an honest conversation with the people of Colorado about what steps must be taken to stabilize the funding of our schools and critical services in the future. If we cannot have this conversation, then the people of Colorado can expect many more days like today in the years ahead."
By Tim Hoover
The Denver Post
House Democrats today lined up behind legislation that would require lawmakers who seek to restore tax exemptions or create new ones to first identify what will be cut from the budget to pay for the tax break.
Republicans called the bill a "gimmick," pointing out that the state already must pass a balanced budget and asking why House Democrats suddenly became interested in a pay-go requirement when they lost the majority.
"We should never spend more than we take in as a state," said Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Gunbarrel, the sponsor of House Bill 1052.
Under the legislation, any bill that reduces state revenue - such as those restoring tax credits and exemptions or creating new ones - could not leave an appropriations committee and go to the floor until a corresponding budget cut in the same amount had been identified.
The state has always been required to pass a balanced budget and cannot borrow money for operating expenses. Usually, questions of what ultimately gets cut to offset an expenditure are settled on the floor of the House and Senate, or in the Joint Budget Committee if the chambers can't agree.
The "pay-go" debate has really been at the federal level, where Congress can deficit spend without limit.
Republicans, back in control of the Colorado House after six years in the minority, are sponsoring bills that would restore tax credits and exemptions suspended and eliminated last year by a Democratic legislature. Democrats have repeatedly asked Republicans what they would cut in return from the state budget, which faces at least a $1.1 billion shortfall in the 2011-12 budget year.
Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, chairman of the House Finance Committee, said the budget process already allows for discussions about what must be cut to pay for new expenditures. He also questioned why Democrats, who controlled both houses of the legislature and held the governor's office for four years, are calling for pay-go legislation now.
"They could have brought this legislation forward anytime in the last four years," DelGrosso said. "We see this as kind of a gimmick."
House Minority Leader Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, said the legislation should have been brought forward before.
"We should have," Pace said, "but it's fine to put it in (law) now, too."
The bill faces a committee hearing on Thursday.
The Associated Press
DENVER (AP) If the checkbook keeps coming up red, maybe it's time to change the pen.
Colorado politicians are debating big changes to how the state spends taxes as they hunker down into their most pressing problem another year of dwindling budgets and painful spending cuts.
No one in the Capitol seems to doubt that Colorado needs to make big changes to how it manages the public pocketbook. Of course, various opinions on how to best change the budgeting process are drawing early heat.
The Republican House on Tuesday voted to ask the budget-writing committee to further ratchet back its spending plan for next year. The GOP hurried through a plan to ask the Joint Budget Committee to reduce by 2.75 percent or about $195 million what it plans to spend next fiscal year.
"It's time that we take a more honest look at building a more responsible budget," said Rep. Brian DelGrosso, a Loveland Republican who leads the Finance Committee and sponsored the change.
Democrats scoffed at the GOP's lowered budget plan, calling it window dressing to artificially lower what the state can spend. The proposed cutback, which would simply be a recommendation to budget-writers, stands little chance in the Democratic Senate.
Democrats also angrily rejected suggestions that they don't care about budget deficits because they opposed three GOP's plans. The short debate Tuesday sparked a heated exchange between Democrats and Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty, who at one point turned off a lawmaker's microphone to shut him up.
Another Democrat, Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, of Niwot, told her colleagues, "I resent the implication that because I do not support this ... that I don't care about the taxpayers."
Democrats have plans of their own to change how Colorado spends money.
House members are talking about a new pay-as-you-go budgeting plan that would force lawmakers to identify how they'd pay for spending increases or tax cuts. So-called "paygo" budgeting is common in many states and has been used intermittently in Congress.
"It's a reasonable approach," said Rep. Mark Farrandino, D-Denver. "We as a Legislature shouldn't be digging the hole deeper as we go through."
Some Democrats support paygo budgeting because it forces small-government Republicans to identify how they'd pay for tax cuts. Republicans say it won't happen, though.
"A bad idea in Washington is a bad idea in Colorado," McNulty said about paygo budgeting. "I have no interest in it."
Scott Pattison, head of the nonpartisan National Association of State Budget Officers, a Washington-based association of state finance officers, said the practice isn't uncommon.
Paygo budgeting sometimes has different names but is a popular mechanism in state legislatures to inject budget transparency, he said. However, Pattison added that Colorado and virtually all states cannot run deficits, unlike the federal government, so states have de facto paygo budgeting anyway.
"It fits so much better on a federal level," Pattison said. "On the state side, it's pretty much a zero-sum game already."
Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper has his own ideas about how to change Colorado's budgeting process. He's talking about writing the state budget less often, perhaps every other year, as some states do. The change, he says, could give Colorado officials a longer view when balancing the state checkbook.
Hickenlooper hasn't yet given lawmakers any specifics about his plan, but he hinted he wants to see longer-term budgets in his first State of the State address earlier this month.
"We propose looking at the state budget challenge from a multiyear perspective, just like any business would do," Hickenlooper said.
Lawmakers from both parties said this week they're willing to consider biannual budgets but wouldn't take positions until they see Hickenlooper's details.
Those are just the prominent ideas about how to give Colorado a financial makeover. Other ideas circulating include a Republican senator's plan to start a new reserve fund when tax receipts perk up and a House Democrat's proposal to require fiscal bills to include "poverty impact statements."
The session's just getting going, but already there's little disagreement from either party that the Legislature's biggest challenge will be overhauling how it writes budgets.
"The most pressing question for us is how we balance investments and make hard cuts," said Democratic Sen. Michael Johnston, who leads the Senate Finance Committee.
The House of Representatives today passed House Joint Resolution 1007 on a voice vote with an amendment that will reduce the budget target for next year by 2.75 percent, or approximately $195 million. The amendment, which received support from Democrats and Republicans, seeks to lower the budget target in order to account for the margin of error in previous economic forecasts.
"Lowering the budget target in these tough economic times is the more prudent and responsible course of action," Finance Committee Chair Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, said. "We look forward to working with the Senate and the Governor to make these tough, but necessary, decisions in developing a budget that protects Colorado's neediest citizens."
The lower budget target will be used by the Joint Budget Committee for the Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget as they address the merits of each spending program throughout the legislative session. Building a budget based on more realistic revenue predictions will help avoid harmful last minute cuts.
"This is a reasonable approach to building a more thoughtful and compassionate budget," Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock, said. "Reining in spending and balancing our budget is our top priority."
"Using overly optimistic revenue predictions only to cut spending at the end of the year has led to harmful budget cuts that could have been avoided," House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, concluded. "Building a more accurate budget that reflects our economic realities will put us on the responsible path toward balancing our state budget."
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NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business owners), a group of over 7,500 small business owners around the state of Colorado, has given Brian DelGrosso their endorsement. Brian scored a perfect 100% on their legislative issues this last session, and also earned their Guardian of small business award.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of CACI.
CACI (Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry), the state Chamber of commerce has given Brian DelGrosso their endorsement for the 2010 election. "CACI has chosen to support legislative incumbents who voted with us on salient business issues," said Chuck Berry, CACI President and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, "These were issues that not only had a substantial financial impact on the business community, but they also affected job creation and economic development for Colorado."
"Our endorsements and contributions are intended as a vote of confidence and an investment in those who support business," said Loren Furman, CACI Vice President of Governmental Affairs."CACI has a bipartisan membership and is governed by a bi-partisan Board of Directors," said Rob LeVine, CACI Board Chair-Elect and General Manager of the Antlers at Vail, "We support those who support us, regardless of their party affiliation, and this policy is reflected by our bi-partisan endorsements."
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of CAR.
The Colorado Association of Realtors has given Brian DelGrosso their endorsement for the 2010 election. Brian scored a perfect 100% voting record on issues that were important to the association in the last session.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of GreenCO.
The Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO) has endorsed Brian DelGrosso in the upcoming 2010 election. GreenCO contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the Colorado economy and represents more than 1,500 businesses who employee over 40,000 people
DelGrosso earns the endorsement (Friend of Farm Bureau) from the Colorado Farm Bureau.
"Friends of Farm Bureau" based on their voting average, including committee votes, bill sponsorship, and willingness to work with CFB on legislation. A Friend of Farm Bureau are those legislators that received an "A" letter grade
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of (IEC) Independent Electrical Contractors
Brian DelGrosso has earned the endorsement of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), which represents over 170 regional electrical and renewable energy businesses.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of National Rifle Association (NRA).
DelGrosso scored an "A" rating and endorsement as being a pro-gun/pro-hunting candidate, and advocate for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of the Loveland and State FOP
October 14th, the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police endorsement committee was advised of the decision of Loveland FOP Lodge 52 to endorse Brian DelGrosso for election to State House District 51.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
The Rocky Mountain Chapter represents approximately 200 merit shop construction and construction related firms across the Front Range of Colorado.
In the News
BILL TO REINSTATE STATE SPENDING LIMIT MOVES
Denver Daily NewsApril 28, 2011
A bill by Reps. Don Beezley, R- Broomfield, and Brian DelGrosso's, R-Loveland, to reinstate the state spending limit passed the House Finance Committee yesterday. House Bill 1280 would reinstate the state spending limit that was repealed by Democrats without voter approval in 2009. It would reinstate the government spending limit that prevented the state's operating budget from growing more than six percent each year.
Hick reflects on first 100 days: Touts bipartisan success on budget, says he’s ‘tolerated’ by both sides
Gene DavisDenver Daily News
April 22, 2011
With 100 days down in the 2011 legislative session, Gov. John Hickenlooper yesterday touted the bipartisan successes that have happened this year.
Hickenlooper credited lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle for working together towards passing a 2011-12 budget. He said the proposed cuts that would take more than $200 million from K-12 education is "nobody's idea of a good time," but said at the end of the day Republicans came together with Democrats to pass a responsible budget. The budget has passed through the House and Senate and is expected to go to Hickenlooper's desk for a signature.
"It really does demonstrate that Colorado is a different place where, once the election is over, people are willing to put down their weapons," Hickenlooper said.
Colorado Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, echoed Hickenlooper's comments on the budget in his own press conference yesterday.
"This is something that we can all take credit for and we all should take credit for," he said. "I think it shows that Republicans and Democrats can work together to help draft a budget that works for Colorado."
However, a press release issued by House Republicans also pointed out the times when the two parties have diverged. The House Republicans said that half of the "jobs and economy" proposals touted by House Democrats at the mid-point of the session were opposed by business groups like the National Federation of Independent Business and the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry.
"We will do whatever it takes to get Coloradans back to work in a stable economy, but House Republicans will not do it by raising taxes or driving the state further into deficit," said a statement from Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland.
Other topics addressed by Hickenlooper in his 100-day press conference:
Ą Hickenlooper said he is optimistic, and McNulty said he is hopeful, that Democrats and Republicans will be able to come together to redraw a congressional map for Colorado. By law, states must draw new congressional maps when the new census comes out. As of yesterday, Colorado Democrat and Republican lawmakers had not reached any sort of consensus on the redistricting map;
Ą Hickenlooper reiterated his hope that federal lawmakers would pass some sort of immigration reform. He said while a proposed bill that would grant in-state college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants could be a step in the right direction, those students still would have a hard time getting a job after they graduate from college if they are not legal citizens;
Ą In regards to his relationship with Democrats and Republicans, Hickenlooper said "it seems as though I'm kind of tolerated by both sides. Each side kind of dislikes me because we've had to make an awful lot of cuts."
The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn May 11.
Energy park legislation worth consideration
If done wisely, offering tax incentives makes senseColoradoan
Editorial
Mar. 22, 2011
Bipartisan state legislation that would allow local governments to create energy parks by using tax-increment financing deserves serious consideration.
House Bill 1255, sponsored by Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, and Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, would allow communities to offer tax credits much like those offered within enterprise zones to encourage alternative-energy manufacturing. The parks wouldn't likely become energy-generation areas; rather, they would encourage companies that manufacture alternative-energy equipment and technology to locate in the specific areas. The expectation is that these companies would bring high-paying jobs to the communities.
A hearing on the bill, currently in the House Finance Committee, has been delayed for about two weeks to allow lawmakers to iron out tax incentive details. The hearing is scheduled Thursday.
The bipartisan approach, particularly, is encouraging. Offering tax incentives to encourage alternative-energy parks makes sense, as long as local communities use the approach wisely. Like any other enterprise zone, the diversion of tax revenue must be done strategically.
Alternative energy focus of DelGrosso-sponsored House bill
Bobby MagillFt. Collins Coloradoan
March 17, 2011
Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, and Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, are teaming up on a bill designed to create hubs of economic development based on alternative energy-related manufacturing.
The 57-page House Bill 1255 would allow local governments to apply to the state to create alternative energy parks within newly created "alternative energy zones" and allow tax increment financing and bonding to be used as carrots to lure businesses to the parks.
The bill would allow various tax credits to be offered within the zones mirroring those offered within existing enterprise zones. The state or a local government would propose the creation of an alternative energy zone, and it would be approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
"We're not looking for energy-generation facilities," said DelGrosso, the bill's chief sponsor. "We're looking for manufacturing jobs - anything at all in the alternative energy field."
That field includes wind, solar, ethanol, hydroelectric, nuclear and natural gas, he said.
"The energy parks are meant to emphasize renewable energy and try to concentrate economic development focused on these issues in parks," Kefalas said.
The alternative energy parks would not likely allow actual energy production on their grounds, and they would not resemble the oil-inclusive Niobrara Energy Park proposed for northern Weld County near Carr, Kefalas said.
" 'Alternative energy park' is a fancy name, but what it is, is an enterprise zone," DelGrosso said.
The alternative energy parks would be another way for the state and municipalities to attract high-paying manufacturing jobs, he said.
"Several companies are looking to build factories." DelGrosso said. "The economy is tough in all the states, and all the states around us are vying to attract these jobs. "
Kefalas said the alternative energy park concept was not modeled after a specific existing industrial park or enterprise zone.
"I don't think there's a model like this," Kefalas said.
Kefalas said DelGrosso asked him to co-sponsor the bill.
"We were looking at something like this last session," Kefalas said.
He said he teamed up with DelGrosso because he wants to promote renewable energy and create jobs.
"It's challenging," Kefalas said, "because we're talking about tax incentives, but we're pushing it out so there's no impact on the budget."
A hearing on the bill, currently in the House Finance Committee, has been delayed for about two weeks to allow lawmakers to iron out tax incentive details. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
House bill allows school districts to raise teachers' PERA rates
Tim HooverMarch 17, 2011
Denver Post
Teachers could be required to pay a greater share of their retirement costs under a bill that cleared a House committee Wednesday and that one union said was an effort to "Wisconsinize" Colorado's budget.
The battle came during a hearing before the House Finance Committee on Senate Bill 76, a crucial budget-balancing measure that would continue for another year an increased rate of pension contributions for state workers.
The state for the current 2010-11 fiscal year increased the amount that state workers were required to contribute to their pensions from 8 percent of their paychecks to 10.5 percent and decreased the state's contribution by the corresponding amount, to 7.65 percent.
Lawmakers planned to continue the increased contribution rate for the 2011-12 budget year, saving the state an estimated $61.6 million. In fact, Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, has called for increasing state workers' pension contribution rates by another 2 percentage points to save even more.
But Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, the chairman of the committee, wanted to go further still. DelGrosso offered an amendment to allow school districts to increase their employees' pension contribution rates by up to 2 percentage points, a move he said would help spare painful cuts to schools.
School district employees' contributions were not increased for 2010-11, remaining at 8 percent of their paychecks.
Hickenlooper's proposed budget would make a $332 million net reduction to K-12 schools, and DelGrosso said the money districts save by lowering their contributions to employee pensions could prevent teacher layoffs and keep class sizes smaller.
"This opens it up to allow the school districts the same options and the same tools we are using here at the Capitol to balance the budget," he said.
"This is not a mandate on school districts," he said. "If they don't want to participate, they don't have to."
But Democrats opposed the move, saying teachers and other school employees, as well as school districts themselves, hadn't been given a chance to speak on the proposal. Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, said the measure could create an actuarial nightmare for the pension plan, with 178 school districts making individual decisions about employee contributions.
"Before we institute something like this, we should consult the people we are supposedly helping," said Rep. Dan Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, saying the proposal could turn into a "poisoned chalice" for school districts.
Officials with the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association said they could not immediately calculate what the savings might be if every district decided to increase employee contribution rates by 2 percentage points. There are more than 119,000 active members in the school division of PERA.
Julie Whitacre, a lobbyist for the Colorado Education Association, said the teachers union opposed the bill because it would threaten the long-term solvency of PERA.
Since employees are allowed to cash out their money from PERA if they leave the pension system, decreasing employer contributions which aren't allowed to be taken back would mean a greater share of the contributions to the fund would be at risk of divestment, Whitacre said.
PERA participants do not receive Social Security and do not pay Social Security taxes. Changes in the contribution level require legislative approval.
She also said DelGrosso's proposal was unfair to school employees.
"This amendment completely cuts out the employee voice in the process and lets the employer, the school board decide for themselves whether they should implement the 2 percent (contribution increase)," Whitacre said.
Officials with Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools, the two largest districts in the state, said increasing employee contribution rates would save each district between $8 million and $10 million a year.
The committee approved the amendment on a 7-6 party-line vote, even though the overall bill's sponsor, Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, who does not sit on the committee, asked his fellow Republicans not to support the language. Becker, a member of the legislature's Joint Budget Committee, said the six-member panel hadn't discussed such an idea and needed to vet it.
Becker also opposed another amendment from DelGrosso that would have implemented Hickenlooper's proposed additional 2 percent contribution from state workers.
That idea also needed to first be discussed by the Joint Budget Committee, Becker said.
That amendment failed on a 6-7 vote, with one Republican, Rep.
Keith Swerdfeger of Pueblo West, joining Democrats to vote against it.
A number of state employees testified against the underlying bill to continue the increased contribution rate, citing the fact that they had not had pay raises in three years and took furloughs in 2009.
Unions were angered by DelGrosso's comment at one point in the hearing that PERA is the equivalent of a "Ponzi scheme."
Officials with Colorado WINS, the union that represents state workers, said public employees were being thrown under the budget bus.
"I think today we saw a pretty blatant attempt to Wisconsinize the Colorado budget process," said Scott Wasserman, political director for the union.
The bill passed on an 8-5 vote, with one Democrat, Rep. John Kefalas of Fort Collins, voting in favor despite voting against DelGrosso's amendments to the legislation.
The bill now must go to the House Appropriations Committee before it can move to the floor of the Republican-led House.
In any case, DelGrosso's amendment is likely to be stripped out when the bill reaches the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Spending limit coming back? GOP aims to reinstate state spending limit; create rainy day fund
Peter Marcus, DDN Staff WriterThursday, March 10, 2011
As expected, state Republicans yesterday introduced legislation that would reinstate the state's 6 percent spending limit.
House Bill 1280 would also create a reserve fund for the state equal to 8 percent of the state's general fund.
"Coloradans were upset when Democrats in the legislature repealed the long-standing spending limit," said Rep. Don Beezley, R-Broomfield, sponsor of the legislation. "This proposal reinstates that limit and ensures that Colorado has a prudent spending limit in place."
Democrats in 2009 eliminated the spending limit known as Arveschoug-Bird. Democrats said at the time that the repeal was necessary to get the state's economy back on track by giving lawmakers the "flexibility to address current economic realities."
Democrats also argued that the legislation would help Colorado avoid making budget cuts permanent.
Under the previous spending limit, Colorado's general fund was only allowed to grow 6 percent from the previous year, with excess revenue going towards transportation funding.
HB 1280 will likely make its way through the Republican-controlled House, but then die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Still, Republicans appeared hopeful yesterday.
"This bill would set a more responsible course for the future and would better serve the needs of our state, particularly during difficult economic times in the future," said Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, who chairs the House Finance Committee.
Loveland town hall meeting gathers input from constituents
Shelly WidhalmLoveland Reporter-Herald
March 6, 2010
With coffee in hand, 20 Loveland-area residents crowded into the downtown Dazbog Coffee's conference room Saturday morning to talk politics with state Reps. B.J. Nikkel and Brian DelGrosso.
Nikkel, a Republican who represents House District 49, and DelGrosso, a District 51 Republican, conducted a town hall meeting to hear from their constituents about the legislative session the first this year for the two Loveland Republicans.
"We love to get public input on issues that are important to the people in our district," Nikkel said.
The House of Representatives has a different makeup than in recent years, with a one-vote Republican majority, DelGrosso said to start off the one-hour meeting.
"There's a lot more of the (two parties) feeling each other out about getting bills through," DelGrosso said.
DelGrosso and Nikkel summarized the bills they are working on or that already have passed through the House during the current session.
One of DelGrosso's bills, HB1014, would institute a child-care contribution income tax credit a tax credit for contributions made to youth-oriented nonprofit organizations.
Community support, DelGrosso said, sustains nonprofit programming so that government does not have to take over the services.
DelGrosso also is drafting a bill to start "a rainy day fund in Colorado" to establish reserves in the state budget and to avoid having to take drastic cuts in a down economy.
"We don't have any savings accounts," DelGrosso said.
DelGrosso has another bill in process that would make properties donated to Habitat for Humanity tax-exempt.
Nikkel discussed a few of her bills, including HB1273, the Health Care Opportunity and Patient Empowerment Act, which she introduced last week. If passed, the act would allow Colorado to join in a compact with other states so far, Arizona, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and Tennessee to opt out of federal health care reform.
"A compact like this supercedes federal law," Nikkel said.
Nikkel also proposed HB1095 to protect businesses' security and prevent corporate identity theft when they file documents online with the Secretary of State's Office.
Another of her proposed bills, HB1148, would allow for the sharing of certain information between employers to protect public safety.
Nikkel also briefly touched on congressional redistricting, which she is addressing through her seat on the bipartisan redistricting commission.
"We have to do a shuffle every 10 years to change these boundaries," Nikkel said, adding that at community meetings, people are telling her that they want to preserve "communities of interest," such as the Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley area, plus Longmont.
Nikkel and DelGrosso said they will look for a larger venue for their next town hall meeting, which will be sometime in April, they said.
"The fact we had so many people attend, that indicates a level of concern by people in our district," Nikkel said. "They're interested in what's going on at the state level."
Reaction To Today's Historic Budget Cuts
February 15, 2011STATE BILL COLORADO
Leaders from all parts of Colorado responded today to Gov. John Hickenlooper's 2011 budget proposal, which includes a $375 million cut to K-12 education.
House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch: "We have said that these challenging economic times call for bold leadership and an ability to make the same tough decisions that Colorado families and employers have been making. We appreciate the Governor's willingness to tackle the state budget in a way that begins to address the long-term structural issues and we look forward to working with him on specifics."
House Minority Leader Rep. Sal Pace, D-Pueblo: "My priority as a legislator and a father of two young boys is to ensure that the children of Colorado have a bright future. Providing our kids with a good education is our obligation as a state and an investment in our future. We need an educated workforce to remain competitive in the global economy. While Democrats work to protect education funding to prevent an increase in class size, the laying off of our teachers, and shorter school weeks Republicans are fixated on creating special interest tax breaks as a means of addressing our budget woes. I applaud the Governor for initiating this very difficult discussion on our budget. House Democrats remain committed to finding real, sustainable solutions for the future of this state. We're ready to sit down with the Governor and leaders from both chambers and both sides of the aisle to talk about long-term solutions for this state."
Liberal political columnist David Sirota, The Huffington Post: "Yes, it's true the new governor must propose a balanced budget and the legislature cannot raise revenues in the short-term. Thus, the education cuts. However, it is also true that this governor has been running around Colorado insisting he cares about education while simultaneously saying he opposes efforts to raise public revenues through any changes to Colorado's hideously regressive tax code."
House Joint Budget Committee member Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen: "The Governor today took the first step in moving us toward a more responsible budget that will bring Colorado's state Government in-line with our current economic conditions. Creating a budget that is responsible and respectful of taxpayer dollars will play a critical role in Colorado's economic recovery."
Carol Hedges, director, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute: "The governor's budget recommendations reflect grim reality. He has presented a balanced budget only through dramatic cuts to the education of our kids. That is not a viable path to a prosperous future, but the state is out of acceptable options for dealing with the persistent budget challenges. The governor and legislators have no good choices. Their hands are tied. But our state Constitution, through the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, gives voters in Colorado the opportunity to say no' to these kinds of devastating choices. Now is the time for a more complete conversation. Now is the time for voters to stand up for their kids and their communities."
House Joint Budget Committee member Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver: "Over the last three years we have made significant cuts across state government. We have cut the fat and reduced the waste, and increased transparency and accountability. There are no simple choices left. These newest proposed cuts will have a lasting impact on our ability to maintain the quality of life and values we expect, appreciate and uphold as Coloradans. Now is the time to look for all possible solutions to our serious budgetary problems."
House Finance Committee member Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland: "The Governor recognizes the challenges that Colorado's employers and families have been managing over the last several years. His announcement signifies a shift toward creating a more responsible budget that reflects the same hard decisions that are being made by families and business owners across the state."
Wade Buchanan, president of The Bell Policy Center: "The governor and lawmakers can balance the budget only through spending cuts. However, voters in Colorado can take a different approach. If we want to invest more in our children's education and the public services that underpin our economy, we can decide to increase revenues. The stark the reality of today's budget cuts can serve as the starting point for a conversation on a more balanced approach to addressing Colorado's budget."
Mike Cerbo, executive director, Colorado AFL-CIO: "Today is a dark day for Colorado. While we appreciate the economic and constitutional constraints that influence these decisions, nobody should be pleased with Governor Hickenlooper's proposed cuts. There is no way that Colorado's working families will not be harmed. Particularly devastating are the cuts to public schools. Certainly, we need to have a serious discussion about promoting policies that put people back to work and will jumpstart the economy. However, it is even more important for our elected officials to begin an honest conversation with the people of Colorado about what steps must be taken to stabilize the funding of our schools and critical services in the future. If we cannot have this conversation, then the people of Colorado can expect many more days like today in the years ahead."
Statehouse Dems push
By Tim Hoover The Denver Post
House Democrats today lined up behind legislation that would require lawmakers who seek to restore tax exemptions or create new ones to first identify what will be cut from the budget to pay for the tax break.
Republicans called the bill a "gimmick," pointing out that the state already must pass a balanced budget and asking why House Democrats suddenly became interested in a pay-go requirement when they lost the majority.
"We should never spend more than we take in as a state," said Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Gunbarrel, the sponsor of House Bill 1052.
Under the legislation, any bill that reduces state revenue - such as those restoring tax credits and exemptions or creating new ones - could not leave an appropriations committee and go to the floor until a corresponding budget cut in the same amount had been identified.
The state has always been required to pass a balanced budget and cannot borrow money for operating expenses. Usually, questions of what ultimately gets cut to offset an expenditure are settled on the floor of the House and Senate, or in the Joint Budget Committee if the chambers can't agree.
The "pay-go" debate has really been at the federal level, where Congress can deficit spend without limit.
Republicans, back in control of the Colorado House after six years in the minority, are sponsoring bills that would restore tax credits and exemptions suspended and eliminated last year by a Democratic legislature. Democrats have repeatedly asked Republicans what they would cut in return from the state budget, which faces at least a $1.1 billion shortfall in the 2011-12 budget year.
Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, chairman of the House Finance Committee, said the budget process already allows for discussions about what must be cut to pay for new expenditures. He also questioned why Democrats, who controlled both houses of the legislature and held the governor's office for four years, are calling for pay-go legislation now.
"They could have brought this legislation forward anytime in the last four years," DelGrosso said. "We see this as kind of a gimmick."
House Minority Leader Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, said the legislation should have been brought forward before.
"We should have," Pace said, "but it's fine to put it in (law) now, too."
The bill faces a committee hearing on Thursday.
Loveland Rep Inspires New Debate Over How to Spend Taxes
By Kristen WyattThe Associated Press
DENVER (AP) If the checkbook keeps coming up red, maybe it's time to change the pen.
Colorado politicians are debating big changes to how the state spends taxes as they hunker down into their most pressing problem another year of dwindling budgets and painful spending cuts.
No one in the Capitol seems to doubt that Colorado needs to make big changes to how it manages the public pocketbook. Of course, various opinions on how to best change the budgeting process are drawing early heat.
The Republican House on Tuesday voted to ask the budget-writing committee to further ratchet back its spending plan for next year. The GOP hurried through a plan to ask the Joint Budget Committee to reduce by 2.75 percent or about $195 million what it plans to spend next fiscal year.
"It's time that we take a more honest look at building a more responsible budget," said Rep. Brian DelGrosso, a Loveland Republican who leads the Finance Committee and sponsored the change.
Democrats scoffed at the GOP's lowered budget plan, calling it window dressing to artificially lower what the state can spend. The proposed cutback, which would simply be a recommendation to budget-writers, stands little chance in the Democratic Senate.
Democrats also angrily rejected suggestions that they don't care about budget deficits because they opposed three GOP's plans. The short debate Tuesday sparked a heated exchange between Democrats and Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty, who at one point turned off a lawmaker's microphone to shut him up.
Another Democrat, Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, of Niwot, told her colleagues, "I resent the implication that because I do not support this ... that I don't care about the taxpayers."
Democrats have plans of their own to change how Colorado spends money.
House members are talking about a new pay-as-you-go budgeting plan that would force lawmakers to identify how they'd pay for spending increases or tax cuts. So-called "paygo" budgeting is common in many states and has been used intermittently in Congress.
"It's a reasonable approach," said Rep. Mark Farrandino, D-Denver. "We as a Legislature shouldn't be digging the hole deeper as we go through."
Some Democrats support paygo budgeting because it forces small-government Republicans to identify how they'd pay for tax cuts. Republicans say it won't happen, though.
"A bad idea in Washington is a bad idea in Colorado," McNulty said about paygo budgeting. "I have no interest in it."
Scott Pattison, head of the nonpartisan National Association of State Budget Officers, a Washington-based association of state finance officers, said the practice isn't uncommon.
Paygo budgeting sometimes has different names but is a popular mechanism in state legislatures to inject budget transparency, he said. However, Pattison added that Colorado and virtually all states cannot run deficits, unlike the federal government, so states have de facto paygo budgeting anyway.
"It fits so much better on a federal level," Pattison said. "On the state side, it's pretty much a zero-sum game already."
Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper has his own ideas about how to change Colorado's budgeting process. He's talking about writing the state budget less often, perhaps every other year, as some states do. The change, he says, could give Colorado officials a longer view when balancing the state checkbook.
Hickenlooper hasn't yet given lawmakers any specifics about his plan, but he hinted he wants to see longer-term budgets in his first State of the State address earlier this month.
"We propose looking at the state budget challenge from a multiyear perspective, just like any business would do," Hickenlooper said.
Lawmakers from both parties said this week they're willing to consider biannual budgets but wouldn't take positions until they see Hickenlooper's details.
Those are just the prominent ideas about how to give Colorado a financial makeover. Other ideas circulating include a Republican senator's plan to start a new reserve fund when tax receipts perk up and a House Democrat's proposal to require fiscal bills to include "poverty impact statements."
The session's just getting going, but already there's little disagreement from either party that the Legislature's biggest challenge will be overhauling how it writes budgets.
"The most pressing question for us is how we balance investments and make hard cuts," said Democratic Sen. Michael Johnston, who leads the Senate Finance Committee.
Revenue Resolution Clears House
House Approves Measure to Direct JBC to Reduce Budget Target by 2.75%The House of Representatives today passed House Joint Resolution 1007 on a voice vote with an amendment that will reduce the budget target for next year by 2.75 percent, or approximately $195 million. The amendment, which received support from Democrats and Republicans, seeks to lower the budget target in order to account for the margin of error in previous economic forecasts.
"Lowering the budget target in these tough economic times is the more prudent and responsible course of action," Finance Committee Chair Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, said. "We look forward to working with the Senate and the Governor to make these tough, but necessary, decisions in developing a budget that protects Colorado's neediest citizens."
The lower budget target will be used by the Joint Budget Committee for the Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget as they address the merits of each spending program throughout the legislative session. Building a budget based on more realistic revenue predictions will help avoid harmful last minute cuts.
"This is a reasonable approach to building a more thoughtful and compassionate budget," Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock, said. "Reining in spending and balancing our budget is our top priority."
"Using overly optimistic revenue predictions only to cut spending at the end of the year has led to harmful budget cuts that could have been avoided," House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, concluded. "Building a more accurate budget that reflects our economic realities will put us on the responsible path toward balancing our state budget."
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DelGrosso earns endorsements
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of NFIB.NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business owners), a group of over 7,500 small business owners around the state of Colorado, has given Brian DelGrosso their endorsement. Brian scored a perfect 100% on their legislative issues this last session, and also earned their Guardian of small business award.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of CACI.
CACI (Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry), the state Chamber of commerce has given Brian DelGrosso their endorsement for the 2010 election. "CACI has chosen to support legislative incumbents who voted with us on salient business issues," said Chuck Berry, CACI President and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, "These were issues that not only had a substantial financial impact on the business community, but they also affected job creation and economic development for Colorado."
"Our endorsements and contributions are intended as a vote of confidence and an investment in those who support business," said Loren Furman, CACI Vice President of Governmental Affairs."CACI has a bipartisan membership and is governed by a bi-partisan Board of Directors," said Rob LeVine, CACI Board Chair-Elect and General Manager of the Antlers at Vail, "We support those who support us, regardless of their party affiliation, and this policy is reflected by our bi-partisan endorsements."
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of CAR.
The Colorado Association of Realtors has given Brian DelGrosso their endorsement for the 2010 election. Brian scored a perfect 100% voting record on issues that were important to the association in the last session.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of GreenCO.
The Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO) has endorsed Brian DelGrosso in the upcoming 2010 election. GreenCO contributes nearly $2 billion annually to the Colorado economy and represents more than 1,500 businesses who employee over 40,000 people
DelGrosso earns the endorsement (Friend of Farm Bureau) from the Colorado Farm Bureau.
"Friends of Farm Bureau" based on their voting average, including committee votes, bill sponsorship, and willingness to work with CFB on legislation. A Friend of Farm Bureau are those legislators that received an "A" letter grade
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of (IEC) Independent Electrical Contractors
Brian DelGrosso has earned the endorsement of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), which represents over 170 regional electrical and renewable energy businesses.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of National Rifle Association (NRA).
DelGrosso scored an "A" rating and endorsement as being a pro-gun/pro-hunting candidate, and advocate for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of the Loveland and State FOP
October 14th, the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police endorsement committee was advised of the decision of Loveland FOP Lodge 52 to endorse Brian DelGrosso for election to State House District 51.
DelGrosso earns the endorsement of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
The Rocky Mountain Chapter represents approximately 200 merit shop construction and construction related firms across the Front Range of Colorado.
