DENVER—Colorado Republican lawmakers say they won’t be bound by bond-paid projects approved by Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter as part of his transportation program, even though state officials warned Monday that any last-minute changes could endanger the state’s credit rating.
Sen.-elect Kent Lambert of Colorado Springs, a member of the Legislature’s Joint Budget Committee that sets state spending priorities, said Republicans have a right to review the projects, a sentiment echoed by other party members and several Democrats who agreed lawmakers have that right.
The state planned to sell $300 million in bonds by the end of the week, but Sen. Kevin Lundberg, a Berthoud Republican, said that “to further obligate us to debt without a vote of the people, I don’t support.”
A transportation funding law backed by Ritter and signed in 2009—dubbed FASTER for Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation & Economic Recovery—requires vehicle owners to pay about $100 million a year for bonds for bridge safety projects and another $100 million for a road safety surcharge, car rental fees and late registration fees to pay for transportation projects not covered by bonds.
Republicans say they have little chance of repealing the law because Democrats control the state Senate and the governor’s office, but they have more control over funding now that they control the House.
Rep. Mark Ferrandino, a Denver Democrat who also sits on the budget committee, said it would be irresponsible to try to cut funding to repair dangerous roads and bridges.
“What are they going to do when a bridge collapses, like in Minnesota? Do they want to be responsible for that?” Ferrandino asked, referring to a fatal Minnesota bridge collapse in 2007.
Lambert said the bridge repair bonds are being sold to an enterprise fund and the state has no obligation to pay for them.
“The enterprise is entering into the contracts, and they are responsible for meeting those contracts,” Lambert said.
Les Gruen, chairman of the Colorado Transportation Commission that sets priorities on road projects, said commissioners disagreed with some of the projects, but were told they were required by the FASTER legislation, including questionable projects like bike paths in Fremont County and Internet cables in several other counties.
“We share a lot of concerns,” he told the budget committee.
Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, said the projects address legitimate safety issues.
“If they have alternate plans that address these safety issues, we have yet to hear them,” Dreyer said.
Ben Stein, chief financial officer for the state Department of Transportation in charge of carrying out transportation projects, said if lawmakers tamper with funding for the bond projects, the result could be catastrophic for the state’s credit rating and other state agencies that need credit.
“There would be some consternation in the financial markets for the state of Colorado,” he told lawmakers.
