Editor’s note: Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter faces Republicans Scott McInnis and Dan Maes in next year’s gubernatorial election. The Post asked the three candidates this question: “The state has a $1 billion shortfall. What would you cut?” To read the other candidates’ answers, see the links at right.
Building a new future for Colorado, where jobs are growing, the economy is expanding and our youth see bright opportunities to build their lives and careers here, will take innovative leadership and a strong break from the anti-jobs, outdated approach we’ve seen from Gov. Bill Ritter.
Restoring our budget to health requires placing job growth as the top priority to ensure that Colorado becomes a magnet for business and entrepreneurs. While Colorado has been losing jobs, fully 70 percent of all the jobs created in the U.S. last year were created in Texas — in the same tough economy that our state is facing — by fostering a tax- and-regulatory climate that draws companies to the state.
I will couple this focus with a fresh approach to our troubled budget. The governor’s policies are old school, unimaginative and anti-taxpayer. I will govern differently. First, let’s restore respect for Colorado taxpayers. Unlike Gov. Ritter, I’m not looking to judges to validate ways to raise your taxes, and slap you with higher fees, which is the Ritter record. He’s raised your property taxes, hit you with massive car registration fees, put new taxes on vending machine sales and now wants to tax candy and soda. A tax is a tax. I will strongly defend your right to vote on taxes, and will propose that major fee increases be put before voters.
Secondly, the governor eliminated the common sense, 6 percent cap on state spending. That’s the business-as-usual, spend-it-if-you-have-it approach that’s wrecked states like California. I will propose legislation to restore the cap and, until it is restored, I will govern as if the cap is in place and veto spending above 6 percent growth.
It’s not a proper goal of government to spend every dollar that comes in, and I will also work to create a “rainy day fund,” a state savings account that helps shore up the budget during tough times, but one that politicians can’t get their hands on just to boost pet programs.
Reducing personnel costs through across-the-board furloughs regardless of what employees do is the old-fashioned, easy way. Instead, we must focus government on its essential functions and improve program performance. That’s why I will look at entire programs, eliminating the obsolete and poorly performing.
Smart, effective budgeting takes hard work, and strong leadership. It requires innovative ways of thinking through problems. Coloradans expect a leaner, smarter and more efficient government and, as governor, that’s what I will give them.
Scott McInnis is a Republican candidate for governor.
