The Colorado House of Representatives voted 45-19 today to give final approval to the $16.5 billion state budget.
The state spending plan now goes to the Senate for a weeklong review.
On Thursday, representatives spent nearly 12 hours debating 74 amendments that shifted spending priorities in the budget. Under the rules, any proposed increase in spending must include proposed cuts to other programs.
The representatives approved 24 changes – valued at about $23 million.
Including key amendments that were approved, the final bill:
Provided an additional $5 million for the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center by cutting Medicaid funding by $10 million. The transfer of $5 million in state money would result in the reduction of $5 million in federal funds.
Boosted funding for state colleges and universities by more than $7.8 million, with funding earmarked for scholarships, vocational schools and fee-for-service contracts.
Increased the amount that tuitions can increase at community colleges from 1 percent to 2.5 percent, valued at about $1.6 million.
Several approved amendments – attached as footnotes to the budget – were instructions to state departments to provide reports.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, sponsored an amendment that called for a report on recidivism rates for juveniles based on the level of drug and alcohol treatment services they had received.
Another footnote instructs state health-care officials to demand that Medicaid be the payer of last resort. State health-care officials are also ordered to report on the impact of bills passed in 2004-05, including a report on an obesity program.
Most amendments were rejected.
Rep. Mark Larson’s annual attempt to eliminate Medicaid funding for circumcision was voted down. This year, fellow lawmakers spared the Cortez Republican their usual jokes about cutting the budget.
Several Republican efforts to find funding to open more driver’s license offices were also rebuffed. One measure called for moving money from workers who care for disabled children. Another called for studying whether the state should hire a private contractor to run the office.
Several footnote requests were also dumped.
Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, wanted to require the State Patrol to submit a report by “mobility-impaired” drivers.
Rep. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, and Rep. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, were not allowed to offer a footnote that would have directed the state Division of Wildlife to make more deer and elk licenses. Such measures are not allowed on budget bills.
Rep. Alice Borodkin, D-Denver, failed to convince lawmakers to add a footnote that required the governor’s office to provide an accountability report on the Colorado Promotion program.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
