DENVER – Democratic leadership in the Colorado House of Representatives drew a line in the sand Wednesday on what they will or will not sacrifice in the quest to resolve the state’s transportation funding crisis.
Republicans favor using existing revenue from the state’s unallocated general fund to finance projects and perhaps a bond measure. But Democrats are not willing to give up monies that should go toward education, House Speaker Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, told the media.
“We are truly at a crossroads right now, and we want to be able to invest in transportation, but that doesn’t mean that we put at risk the future of kids in this state,” Duran said.
Democrats are considering a sales tax increase, but Republicans say that is not viable.
“If Speaker Duran, or House Democrats, think a sales tax increase (as) a standalone solution is the right option, I think that similar to the hospital provider fee, that probably doesn’t have a very good chance in the Senate – especially in Senate Finance,” said Senate Majority Leader Chris Holbert, R-Parker.
A sales tax increase and the hospital provider fee are not the only options that Democrats are open to, Duran said. But anything that is revenue-neutral – that increases funding in one area but cuts it in another – is not going to gain traction in their caucus.
“I think if you make a revenue-neutral change, what’s the point?” she said.
Does this mean Coloradans should be worried that the legislative session will end with no resolution to repair the state’s crumbling transportation infrastructure?
Maybe, maybe not.
Senate President Kevin Grantham, R-Cañon City, said there are reasons for optimism, but there is a tremendous amount of work needed to find common ground.
“We’re still talking, so I’ll call that progress,” Grantham said.
The talks have revealed that Republicans are considering a tax hike.
“I think the fact that we’re hearing Republicans talk about a tax increase and a need for additional revenue, that is a very different conversation,” Duran said. “I have never heard Republicans, since I’ve served in the Legislature, in this building ever talk about the need for a tax increase.”
Holbert said the conversations are opportunities for both sides to air out what they are willing to consider.
The growing shortfall in funding for Colorado Department of Transportation to maintain roads throughout the state has been placed at roughly $1 billion a year for the next decade, Duran said. “We need to come up with a long-term solution to address these issues.”
“These are difficult issues. I mean, we have some pretty rock-solid principles on both sides that believe one way or the other on how things should be funded,” Grantham said.
One thing that is clear is that waiting to see what Washington will do in regard to transportation, or health care, is not on the Republican radar.
“Colorado has to do what Colorado has to do. We can’t sit around and wait for them,” Grantham said.
Lperkins@durangoherald.com
