With a $1 billion shortfall, these difficult decisions have to be made, and thanks to Governor Ritter’s leadership we have a thoughtful, lean, compassionate budget. The choices were not easy, and the solutions were not obvious, but we will continue to build a 21st century workforce and lead Colorado to a fast and strong recovery.
We are going to have some tough choices to make next session, but we will make those decisions in order to invest in our kids and make sure they have a better future than we had.
Posted by SenatorShaffer as Blog, Budget, Colorado Kids at 4:53 PM UTC []
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Senate President Brandon Shaffer:
Aug. 18, 2009– We have been faced with real challenges in Colorado and there are no easy answers, but it’s important to recognize that the state’s budget is merely a reflection of what is happening in households all over Colorado.
I would like to thank the Governor his leadership and for engaging the legislature in this process in an inclusive manner. While he had to make some difficult choices, we appreciate the thoughtful, responsible approach the Governor took in making these strategic cuts.
Through this process we will do the best we can to protect the most vulnerable and keep Colorado’s safety net in place—like as community based mental health and developmental disability services, programs for at-risk youth, and the Children’s Basic Health Plan. We appreciate the protection of these important programs. These cuts announced today show a compassionate fiscal restraint.
This is an unprecedented period in Colorado’s history, but I am confident that we will get through this, thanks to the strength and perseverance of everyone in this state. Last week, I traveled across Northwest Colorado and spoke with people about what was important to them. It is our responsibility as leaders of this great state to continue to make Colorado the best place in America to raise a child and to help lead Colorado to recovery.
We will continue to do this even in the face of our current budget challenges-we will continue to invest in our education system, work toward affordable health care, and make sure our economy is stable and predictable.
Posted by SenatorShaffer as Blog, Budget at 2:14 PM UTC []
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Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee,
I have a vision for Colorado. It is the vision of Colorado my grandparents had for me. It is the Colorado I want for my children.
It is a state with healthy, thriving families, where children get every advantage and have the education to contribute to the potential of our great state.
It is a Colorado with a strong, innovation-based business community, a vibrant culture and an unconstrained reach for greatness.
However, currently Colorado is constrained.
It is constrained by a Gordian knot of well-intentioned but conflicting fiscal policies. Policies that threaten its well-being; policies that choke our potential and indeed threaten the ability to protect the quality of life of our citizens.
We must abandon the notion out state budgeting process is resilient or sustainable. It is brittle, and it is breaking. It exposes our children, our elderly and our working families to the turbulent waters of a global economy. It compromises the quality of our workforce, and undermines a healthy climate for business.
There are no simple solutions. We cannot cut spending enough to solve the crisis. Eliminating TABOR is not a fix. Nor is the problem just Amendment 23. It is not too little revenue or taxing too much. While it is none of these exclusively, it is all of them collectively.
Our charge to you is to untie this is knot and release the full potential of this great state. We look to this committee to forge an enduring fiscal blueprint, one suited to the high demands of a new century. One that realizes our hope and vision for Colorado, leaving our children a rich legacy borne from wise decisions.
Posted by SenatorShaffer as Budget at 11:16 AM UTC []
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