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The Budget Steps Over Its First Hurdle, But We Saw 'Some Election Messaging'

Stephen Butler
/
Flickr - Creative Commons

The Democratic-controlled House passed the state budget Friday with five Republicans backing it. The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate. What can we expect from the debate in that chamber?

Capitol Conversation with Bente Birkeland

Highlights From Capitol Conversation

On House Budget Amendments

Ed Sealover, Denver Business Journal: "It's not unusual to not see a lot amendments pass, but what I think was interesting this year [2016], was even the ones up for debate were relatively minor in nature. I think that this, the reality of what the [Joint Budget Committee] had to do to balance this $27 billion budget."

John Frank, The Denver Post: "There were a few battles, but not maybe as many as last year, but what we saw were some election messaging here — with let's put more money to roads, let's put more money to education. The Republicans hammered that over and over. I think we'll see that again as we get closer to November."

On The Budget Heading To The State Senate

Frank: "Now the debate moves over to the Senate and that's going to be interesting because it's a Republican controlled chamber. Whether the fight ramps up or not is the story line we'll be really looking for."

Sealover: "One of the few areas where we're going to see some possible changes is the funding of the state's air quality division. When the budget was conceived there was no Republican support for actually funding $8.5 million that goes to the division that funds all kinds of permitting and inspections... The Democrats put it back in, in the House. It's likely the Republicans will try to take something back out in the Senate."

Copyright 2016 KUNC

Bente Birkeland
Bente Birkeland has been reporting on state legislative issues for KUNC and Rocky Mountain Community Radio since 2006. Originally, from Minnesota, Bente likes to hike and ski in her spare time. She keeps track of state politics throughout the year but is especially busy during the annual legislative session from January through early May.
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