The Colorado House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $16.5 billion state budget plan after a marathon of mini- debates on several hot-button issues shaping this year’s legislative session.
Lawmakers spent nearly 12 hours poring over more than 70 amendments to the 680-page budget bill, making minor adjustments to the total spending plan.
In the end, 24 changes – valued at about $23 million – were approved.
Under the rules, lawmakers who wanted to spend money on pet programs had to cut spending on other programs in the budget, so no new spending on top of the proposed budget was approved.
Still, lawmakers used the lengthy debate to score political points.
Republicans forced a vote on a measure that would prohibit the state from spending state funds on prisoners who want gender- transition operations. Lawmakers approved that prohibition on a 37-26 vote.
Some Democrats brought home the bacon for key constituents. Rep. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, successfully sponsored an amendment to provide $5 million for the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, which is constructing a new campus in Aurora.
Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, wanted to prohibit the state Medicaid program from buying Plan B emergency contraception. His amendment failed.
Often the debate showed the tough choices for lawmakers in crafting a spending plan that covers schools, hospitals, road crews, prison guards and the array of other services the state provides.
Rep. Lauri Clapp, R-Centennial, and Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, tried to switch funding from after-hours pay for certain workers so that the state would have money to open more driver’s license offices.
But Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, argued that their plan would hurt needy children by cutting the pay for state workers who care for them.
“Remember where they’re taking this from,” Buescher said. “They’re taking it from disabled kids.”
The Clapp-Lundberg amendment was rejected.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, the lawmakers made changes to the budget. They shifted funding into programs for education and to provide more workers to process Medicaid applications.
An effort to force universities to report on their post-tenure review policies for professors was ruled out of order, so lawmakers didn’t vote on it.
To break up the monotony of debate, some lawmakers played pranks. Rep. Mark Cloer, R-Colorado Springs, spiked the candy bowl with earwax-flavored jelly beans.
But some hijinks were put to a quick end. When one amendment headed toward certain death, a lawmaker made a whistling noise that sounded like a plane falling from the sky. He was quickly chided by House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, to show “respect for the dignity of the chamber.”
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
