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Gov. John Hickenlooper's plans to slash education funding, keep a larger portion of the state's general fund in reserve and drain more from state workers' paychecks may hit a snag: his own political party.
Democrats in the legislature say several of the governor's key proposals for the 2011-12 budget, announced Tuesday, are unlikely to fly with them. Meanwhile, one Senate Democrat says that, despite Hickenlooper's contention that Coloradans are in no mood to hike taxes, he will roll out a significant tax proposal by the end of the month.
Hickenlooper wants to impose a net total reduction to K-12 education of $332 million and to raise the state's general fund reserve — essentially the state's minimum checking balance — from 2 percent to 4 percent, prompting another $141.5 million in cuts. Also, his plan to require state employees to deduct more from their take-home pay to cover a greater portion of the state's contribution to their pensions will save an estimated $15.7 million.
Democrats still control the Senate, while Republicans control the House.
"Our goal is to reduce the cuts to education the governor is proposing," said Senate President Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont. "Education equals jobs."
Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, was more blunt.
"The governor's plan as he gives it to us is, I hope, in part, DOA (dead on arrival)," Bacon said. "It is extremely shortsighted of us to say we're going to grow the economy but we're going to shrink education."
Democrats on committee not happy
Hickenlooper's plan must first pass through the legislature's six-member Joint Budget Committee, and none of the three Democrats on the six-member panel seemed keen on the ideas.
"It'll truly be a challenge to meet that 4 percent reserve because of the other demands of the budget," said Sen. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, the chairwoman of the Joint Budget Committee. "We're going to be getting a lot of demands from K-12 and state workers asking, 'Why are you cutting us when you have such a high reserve?' "
Read more: Dems giving Gov. Hickenlooper the stink eye over budget plans - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17408405#ixzz1EFUaemXM
Democrats in the legislature say several of the governor's key proposals for the 2011-12 budget, announced Tuesday, are unlikely to fly with them. Meanwhile, one Senate Democrat says that, despite Hickenlooper's contention that Coloradans are in no mood to hike taxes, he will roll out a significant tax proposal by the end of the month.
Hickenlooper wants to impose a net total reduction to K-12 education of $332 million and to raise the state's general fund reserve — essentially the state's minimum checking balance — from 2 percent to 4 percent, prompting another $141.5 million in cuts. Also, his plan to require state employees to deduct more from their take-home pay to cover a greater portion of the state's contribution to their pensions will save an estimated $15.7 million.
Democrats still control the Senate, while Republicans control the House.
"Our goal is to reduce the cuts to education the governor is proposing," said Senate President Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont. "Education equals jobs."
Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, was more blunt.
"The governor's plan as he gives it to us is, I hope, in part, DOA (dead on arrival)," Bacon said. "It is extremely shortsighted of us to say we're going to grow the economy but we're going to shrink education."
Democrats on committee not happy
Hickenlooper's plan must first pass through the legislature's six-member Joint Budget Committee, and none of the three Democrats on the six-member panel seemed keen on the ideas.
"It'll truly be a challenge to meet that 4 percent reserve because of the other demands of the budget," said Sen. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, the chairwoman of the Joint Budget Committee. "We're going to be getting a lot of demands from K-12 and state workers asking, 'Why are you cutting us when you have such a high reserve?' "
Read more: Dems giving Gov. Hickenlooper the stink eye over budget plans - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17408405#ixzz1EFUaemXM
