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The House of Representatives is currently debating the “Long Bill”
(Apr. 4) – Speaker KC Becker, Majority Leader Alec Garnett, Joint Budget Committee members Rep. Esgar, D-Pueblo and Rep. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, reached a bipartisan agreement with the leadership of all four legislative caucuses on transportation funding this afternoon.
“We heard loud and clear that Coloradans wanted to find funding for transportation without threatening the monumental investments we’re already making in this year’s budget for education and higher-ed. So we all came to the table,” said JBC Vice-chair Daneya Esgar. “The fact that we were able to fund education and transportation in a responsible manner delivers a win for all Coloradans.”
This year’s budget includes a total increased investment in K-12 education of $335.9 million, including funding for the implementation of full-day kindergarten as well as a $77 million boost in the budget stabilization factor buy-down. This budget also invests an additional $120 million in higher education to keep tuition flat for Colorado’s college students.
“After careful discussion, we were able to craft a responsible bipartisan agreement that increases funding for transportation without jeopardizing K-12 or higher-ed funding,” said Rep. Chris Hansen.
The House lawmakers are currently debating the “long bill” – the legislative budget package.
“This is a responsible way to put funding toward roads, bridges and transit,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “I thank members of the JBC, Rep. Garnett and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and in the other chamber for their bipartisan efforts.”
“This responsible agreement will keep Colorado on the right path and better fund crumbling roads, bridges and contribute more toward transit,” said Majority Leader Alec Garnett. “I thank the JBC members Esgar and Hansen, Speaker Becker and our Democratic and Republican colleagues for working together to get this done.”
Democrats at the legislature are focused on responsibly managing tax-payer dollars. CDOT $9 billion backlog of maintenance projects.