State Legislature Begins Session
Budget, Water And Health Top Agenda
POSTED: 5:41 a.m. MST January 8, 2003
UPDATED: 7:59 p.m. MST January 8, 2003
DENVER -- The 2003 Colorado Legislature opened Wednesday and lawmakers first will have to try to find out how to cut $850 million from the state's budget.
Legislative leaders warned that tough times are ahead as they try to cope with the biggest budget deficit in nearly 60 years, the drought and a struggling economy.
It was a historic day in Colorado as Lola Spradley, R-Beulah, was sworn in as the state's first female speaker of the House, replacing Doug Dean.
Spradley is one of 34 women serving in the State House and Senate this year.
Senate Minority Leader Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, also began her first term on Wednesday.
Fitz-Gerald said the Capitol has had a glass ceiling for women,
and congratulated her colleagues for putting more women in power.
In her opening day speech, Spradley told colleagues that the budget, the drought, affordable health and automobile insurance will dominate this year's session.
"We face a projected state budget deficit this year of $850
million. That's the largest shortfall since World War II," she said. "Over the last year, every time we've received a new revenue budget forecast, the news has gotten worse."
Democrats said they will try to make sure the cuts are fair.
"To choose between maintaining the integrity of our education
fund or purchasing new textbooks will not be easy. We must be
creative when we make those choices," House Minority Leader
Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, said in opening remarks. "There are going to be some sharp differences, I suspect, but we all must bound together in trying to cut the budget."
The Joint Budget Committee planned later Wednesday to consider
the first round of cuts.
"This is where the rubber hits the road. The earlier we get
this done, the better off the state is going to be to know where
the government is going to be slowing down," Sen. Dave Owen,
R-Greeley, said Tuesday.
Lawmakers also began introducing bills, including one that would
set a statewide policy for issuing concealed weapons permits, one
that would cut mandates for health insurance and one to increase
access to water to cope with the drought.
Legislative leaders warned that tough times are ahead as they try to cope with the biggest budget deficit in nearly 60 years, the drought and a struggling economy.
It was a historic day in Colorado as Lola Spradley, R-Beulah, was sworn in as the state's first female speaker of the House, replacing Doug Dean.
Spradley is one of 34 women serving in the State House and Senate this year.
Senate Minority Leader Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden, also began her first term on Wednesday.
Fitz-Gerald said the Capitol has had a glass ceiling for women,
and congratulated her colleagues for putting more women in power.
In her opening day speech, Spradley told colleagues that the budget, the drought, affordable health and automobile insurance will dominate this year's session.
"We face a projected state budget deficit this year of $850
million. That's the largest shortfall since World War II," she said. "Over the last year, every time we've received a new revenue budget forecast, the news has gotten worse."
Democrats said they will try to make sure the cuts are fair.
"To choose between maintaining the integrity of our education
fund or purchasing new textbooks will not be easy. We must be
creative when we make those choices," House Minority Leader
Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, said in opening remarks. "There are going to be some sharp differences, I suspect, but we all must bound together in trying to cut the budget."
The Joint Budget Committee planned later Wednesday to consider
the first round of cuts.
"This is where the rubber hits the road. The earlier we get
this done, the better off the state is going to be to know where
the government is going to be slowing down," Sen. Dave Owen,
R-Greeley, said Tuesday.
Lawmakers also began introducing bills, including one that would
set a statewide policy for issuing concealed weapons permits, one
that would cut mandates for health insurance and one to increase
access to water to cope with the drought.
Drought Plans
In all, state lawmakers plan to propose some 80 bills to tackle the drought, 7NEWS reported. Although Colorado has been experiencing some beautiful weather recently, the spring-like temperatures and cloudless skies are not helping the state pull out of a record drought. State reservoirs are still too low, 7NEWS reported. Cheesman Reservoir is only at 63 percent capacity, Dillon Reservoir is at 54 percent, and Gross Reservoir is at 41 percent, said a Denver Water spokeswoman. Overall, the state's reservoirs are currently 45 percent full, but it should be about 80 percent for this time of the year. Some of the bill proposals will impact how the state deals with the drought 15 to 20 years from now, but some will impact people's lifestyles and watering habits this summer, 7NEWS reported. Other bills would crack down on people who evade tolls, license abortion clinics and provide a tax credit for seniors for prescription drugs. The 120-day session convened with Republicans in control of both chambers and the governor's office for the first time in two years. Gov. Bill Owens will give his state of the state speech Jan. 16, following his inauguration on Jan. 14.Copyright 2003 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
