Colorado lawmakers object to governor's new budget
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Colorado lawmakers are casting a skeptical eye on Gov. Jared Polis' $48 billion budget proposal, which would cut health care funding for some of the state's most vulnerable residents.
Why it matters: The Medicaid cuts are emerging as a flash point in the annual state budget draft, raising the specter of tense negotiations in the months to come.
Driving the news: The majority of the Democratic-led legislative Joint Budget Committee questioned why the governor is underfunding Medicaid — which provides health care to 1.2 million residents — by $333 million in the forthcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.
What they're saying: State Sen. Jeff Bridges (D-Greenwood Village) expressed concern that the cuts will impact program accessibility.
- State Sen. Judy Amabile (D-Boulder) said the cuts would hit populations that would "literally not be able to survive" without the services.
- State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-Greeley) added the reduced spending would hurt children with autism, dental care, maternal health and mental health therapy. "I just think this is appalling," she told the governor.
The intrigue: State Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat and the committee's chairperson, took issue with the governor's plan to sell Pinnacol, the state's insurer of last resort — a proposal state lawmakers rejected earlier this year.
- Without a Pinnacol sale, the state budget has a $400 million hole, Sirota contended. "I take a lot of issue with balancing our budget [on] a thing that …the legislature is not even sure it would do," she added.
Between the lines: The governor's budget is a placeholder for lawmakers who write the annual spending plan.
The other side: Polis defended his plan, saying the out-of-control increases in Medicaid spending could limit funding for roads, public safety and education.
- The Pinnacol sale would allow the state to boost its reserve fund and provide property tax exemptions to senior residents.
What he's saying: "We want to look at [Medicaid] with a magnifying glass, make sure every dollar is directed to the best possible patient outcomes," he told lawmakers Wednesday.