Printed on 6/5/08
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Week 17, 2005
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
We only have one day left for the 2005 session! That is - if we finish on Monday. But there are some contentious bills left, so we may go into Tuesday or Wednesday. We must be finished by midnight on Wednesday.
Last week, we worked on the House floor until 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. During the day Friday, I noticed three legislators sleeping for a few minutes. (I won't mention their names.)
Every year, there are late bills that are permitted to go past the set deadlines. If these bills had been worked on in a timely manner, we would not have had the big backlog during the past two weeks. We could have been done with the session a few days ago and saved the taxpayers several thousands of dollars.
I was approved by House Speaker Andy Romanoff to lead a small task force. It will evaluate the way the General Assembly conducts its business to ensure it is able to meet the important public challenges it faces in the most effective and efficient manner. The task force will study matters affecting the operation of the legislative calendar and possible modifications to the current scheduling of legislative business.
The task force will consist of two members from the Senate and two members from the House of Representatives. The members appointed to serve are Senator Ron Tupa, Senator Steve Johnson, Representative Paul Weismann, and myself. The task force will meet up to four times during the 2005 legislative interim. The first meeting was on Friday, May 6, 2005. From our first meeting, we have several good ideas on how to streamline our processes. I will share them with you in a future update.
Following is my analysis of our current state overall budget and the general fund budget. It was printed in the Loveland Reporter-Herald as a guest column. One of my constituents had this to say:
"Thank you thank you---thank you! Your editorial in today's Reporter-Herald is the most clear, concise, simple explanation and evaluation of the Colorado budget I have ever seen and should become required reading by every Colorado voter before we decide to suspend TABOR. The recent history of increases of the various elements of the budget you detailed certainly does put to rest the "crisis" mentality we have heard constantly from other law makers. We appreciate your fine work."
The State's Overall and General Fund Budget:
Last month the Colorado House of Representatives passed the state's general fund budget of $6.2 billion for 2005 - 2006. This fiscal year begins July 1, 2005. The Governor signed this budget with no cuts. I voted NO on this budget for several reasons. We do not have a budget crisis and the state's economy is improving. Instead of increasing the budget in so many areas, we could have explored additional ways to trim the budget and still offer the most necessary services. The State of Colorado is capable of honoring TABOR and living within its means.
First, we need to understand that there is no budget crisis. Substantial computer and accounting errors were discovered in the state's favor in the amount of $80 million. The state was also able to keep an extra $104 million of the TABOR surplus because too much money was refunded in the past. Not only does the state no longer have a structural deficit, we also have a higher spending limit for subsequent years considering the extra $184 million.
Second, our state's economy is improving. Recent jobs numbers from the epartment of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate a decrease in unemployment and an increase in payroll numbers across the state. Colorado�s unemployment rate has dropped from 6.4% in May 2003 to 5.1% in March 2005. 75,700 jobs have been gained since 2003.
Third, there were areas that we could cut, but the Democrat-dominated legislature this year had no interest in being frugal. A simple amendment to cut � of 1% from a $6.2 billion budget did not pass.
The state's overall budget is $15.2 billion. This includes the $6.2 billion mentioned above, which are drawn primarily from our personal state income tax and some sales taxes. The remainder of the $15.2 billion is from:
-Cash funds of $5.3 billion that includes mostly college tuition,
fuel taxes devoted specifically for transportation, and various
fees that cover the costs of specific programs.
-Federal funds of $3.6 billion that the state receives to
implement federally mandated programs.
Some of these funding sources are limited by the state constitution
But others are not. For example, the Taxpayers� Bill of Rights (TABOR) Limits growth in general fund revenues and some cash funds. Other cash funds are not limited by TABOR. Federal funds do not fall under the TABOR limit, but they must be spent for a purpose specified by Congress and often require matching state funds.
The state's overall budget has never decreased from one year to the next, if its measurement includes federal funds. Only 20 years ago, our state's overall budget was $2.9 billion. Now it is $15.2 billion. The general fund budget has increased three out of the past five years but did decline twice, if measured by TABOR-related spending.
How are the funds in our 2005 - 2006 >u>general fund budget allocated?
1) This year's budget allows K-12 education to grow to $2.7 billion, up 7.3% from last year. (The overall budget for k-12 is $4.5 billion).
2) Medicaid and health care to $1.38 billion, up 8.4%.
3) Higher education to $598 million, up 1.7%.
4) Corrections at $531 million, up 7.6%.
5) Human services (child welfare, disability assistance, and seniors' programs, youth corrections) to $499 million, up 3.8%.
6) These five departments consume 92% of our budget. Seventeen other departments must share the rest.
I am concerned that the state is not spending enough on disabilities for the indigent and the blind, but is spending money in some areas that are not required. Recently, I voted for spending more on drug and alcohol treatment programs (HB05-1015). Prevention and treatment is costly. But if these individuals commit a crime while under the influence and are incarcerated, the cost to society is far greater.
It is an honor for me to represent the citizens of Loveland. I value your opinions and input. Please contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I can be reached at jim@jimwelker.com, 303-866-2947 (my office at the Capitol), or 970-667-5227 (my work phone).
Rep. Jim Welker
House District 51
We only have one day left for the 2005 session! That is - if we finish on Monday. But there are some contentious bills left, so we may go into Tuesday or Wednesday. We must be finished by midnight on Wednesday.
Last week, we worked on the House floor until 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. During the day Friday, I noticed three legislators sleeping for a few minutes. (I won't mention their names.)
Every year, there are late bills that are permitted to go past the set deadlines. If these bills had been worked on in a timely manner, we would not have had the big backlog during the past two weeks. We could have been done with the session a few days ago and saved the taxpayers several thousands of dollars.
I was approved by House Speaker Andy Romanoff to lead a small task force. It will evaluate the way the General Assembly conducts its business to ensure it is able to meet the important public challenges it faces in the most effective and efficient manner. The task force will study matters affecting the operation of the legislative calendar and possible modifications to the current scheduling of legislative business.
The task force will consist of two members from the Senate and two members from the House of Representatives. The members appointed to serve are Senator Ron Tupa, Senator Steve Johnson, Representative Paul Weismann, and myself. The task force will meet up to four times during the 2005 legislative interim. The first meeting was on Friday, May 6, 2005. From our first meeting, we have several good ideas on how to streamline our processes. I will share them with you in a future update.
Following is my analysis of our current state overall budget and the general fund budget. It was printed in the Loveland Reporter-Herald as a guest column. One of my constituents had this to say:
"Thank you thank you---thank you! Your editorial in today's Reporter-Herald is the most clear, concise, simple explanation and evaluation of the Colorado budget I have ever seen and should become required reading by every Colorado voter before we decide to suspend TABOR. The recent history of increases of the various elements of the budget you detailed certainly does put to rest the "crisis" mentality we have heard constantly from other law makers. We appreciate your fine work."
The State's Overall and General Fund Budget:
Last month the Colorado House of Representatives passed the state's general fund budget of $6.2 billion for 2005 - 2006. This fiscal year begins July 1, 2005. The Governor signed this budget with no cuts. I voted NO on this budget for several reasons. We do not have a budget crisis and the state's economy is improving. Instead of increasing the budget in so many areas, we could have explored additional ways to trim the budget and still offer the most necessary services. The State of Colorado is capable of honoring TABOR and living within its means.
First, we need to understand that there is no budget crisis. Substantial computer and accounting errors were discovered in the state's favor in the amount of $80 million. The state was also able to keep an extra $104 million of the TABOR surplus because too much money was refunded in the past. Not only does the state no longer have a structural deficit, we also have a higher spending limit for subsequent years considering the extra $184 million.
Second, our state's economy is improving. Recent jobs numbers from the epartment of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate a decrease in unemployment and an increase in payroll numbers across the state. Colorado�s unemployment rate has dropped from 6.4% in May 2003 to 5.1% in March 2005. 75,700 jobs have been gained since 2003.
Third, there were areas that we could cut, but the Democrat-dominated legislature this year had no interest in being frugal. A simple amendment to cut � of 1% from a $6.2 billion budget did not pass.
The state's overall budget is $15.2 billion. This includes the $6.2 billion mentioned above, which are drawn primarily from our personal state income tax and some sales taxes. The remainder of the $15.2 billion is from:
-Cash funds of $5.3 billion that includes mostly college tuition,
fuel taxes devoted specifically for transportation, and various
fees that cover the costs of specific programs.
-Federal funds of $3.6 billion that the state receives to
implement federally mandated programs.
Some of these funding sources are limited by the state constitution
But others are not. For example, the Taxpayers� Bill of Rights (TABOR) Limits growth in general fund revenues and some cash funds. Other cash funds are not limited by TABOR. Federal funds do not fall under the TABOR limit, but they must be spent for a purpose specified by Congress and often require matching state funds.
The state's overall budget has never decreased from one year to the next, if its measurement includes federal funds. Only 20 years ago, our state's overall budget was $2.9 billion. Now it is $15.2 billion. The general fund budget has increased three out of the past five years but did decline twice, if measured by TABOR-related spending.
How are the funds in our 2005 - 2006 >u>general fund budget allocated?
1) This year's budget allows K-12 education to grow to $2.7 billion, up 7.3% from last year. (The overall budget for k-12 is $4.5 billion).
2) Medicaid and health care to $1.38 billion, up 8.4%.
3) Higher education to $598 million, up 1.7%.
4) Corrections at $531 million, up 7.6%.
5) Human services (child welfare, disability assistance, and seniors' programs, youth corrections) to $499 million, up 3.8%.
6) These five departments consume 92% of our budget. Seventeen other departments must share the rest.
I am concerned that the state is not spending enough on disabilities for the indigent and the blind, but is spending money in some areas that are not required. Recently, I voted for spending more on drug and alcohol treatment programs (HB05-1015). Prevention and treatment is costly. But if these individuals commit a crime while under the influence and are incarcerated, the cost to society is far greater.
It is an honor for me to represent the citizens of Loveland. I value your opinions and input. Please contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I can be reached at jim@jimwelker.com, 303-866-2947 (my office at the Capitol), or 970-667-5227 (my work phone).
Rep. Jim Welker
House District 51
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