Colorado Democrats outline how they'll spend $3.8B in federal aid

Colorado's Democratic leaders sketched a plan Monday to spend $3.8 billion in federal stimulus dollars, promising to sprinkle the money across all their policy priorities.

• Not one Republican lawmaker stood with them.

What's new: Specifics are sparse but Democrats outlined $2 billion that they plan to allocate over the next three weeks.

The priorities include:

• $1 billion toward the state budget, to prepay obligations and address prior cuts
• $400 million for infrastructure projects, including transportation and parks
• $100 million to address mental and behavioral health

What he's saying: The money from the American Rescue Plan Act "is a big friggin' deal," Gov. Jared Polis said, and represents "a once-in-a-generation opportunity."

• The stakes make the lack of GOP support notable, but the governor said he expects "many pieces of this will be bipartisan."

What's next: The remaining $1.8 billion is being set aside for spending after the 2021 legislative term, which ends by June 12, and additional hearings.