The legislative session is over and its time for a little reflection. It wasnt an easy year with the deep budgets cuts that needed to be made and the many different proposals on how to go about doing that. Number crunching and talking about state finances can put many to sleep, yet its the budget that reflects the priorities of the state, since funding drives the ability of government to operate or not.
Because of the immediate budget shortfall, the essential question we had to confront wasnt whether state government has grown too big to be supported, as clearly the answer to that question is yes. We simply didnt have the revenue to support all of the obligations we had committed to in the prior years budget. Instead, the essential question we faced was, where do we cut back on state employees, programs and financial support in the many areas the states involved in?
It wasnt pretty or easy. I maintain we didnt really balance the budget as we should have because we took $125 million of severance tax funds, intended for energy impacted communities by existing law, to arrive at a balanced budget. However, we did begin confronting the hard choices that many households have already faced in this recession where do we cut back?
Before adjourning in mid-May, the legislature hadnt passed my resolution stating our commitment to not pass along unfunded mandates to the local level. The resolution also had a strong message to our government in Washington, D.C., to undo and not pass further unfunded mandates to the states as the feds grapple with the immense national budget deficit.
Politics and personalities, on both sides of the aisle, doomed the resolution this year, but Ill be back with it next year. The resolution reinforces a Colorado law already on the books, its bipartisan and common sense in content, and it provides a mental framework in the legislators minds, both state and federal, to exercise true fiscal discipline and responsibility in the tough times still ahead.
Despite the disappointments noted above, a number of the bills I sponsored passed and were signed by the governor. Along with constituent work and meetings, Ill be busy this summer and fall as a member of the interim water committee and the legislative legal services committee. The water committee will be traveling around the state getting informed on our states water resources and challenges, and I look forward to that.
Ill also continue working with the Colorado Youth Advisory Council as they recruit statewide for new members for next year and we raise awareness and funds to support its purpose at the Capitol. Weve had terrific participation from youths in the southwest corner of the state. I know the students who helped me a few years ago in writing the bill creating the council would also be incredibly pleased and proud of the work the young people who have come after them have done in bringing the invaluable youth voice to the state legislature.
Ellen Roberts represents Senate District 6 in Colorados General Assembly. The district encompasses Montezuma, Dolores, La Plata, Archuleta, Montrose, San Miguel, San Juan and Ouray counties. Contact Sen. Roberts by e-mail [email protected].
