By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice
In his William B. Travis moment Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen symbolically drew a line in the sand and asked members of both legislative chambers to join him in a cessation of out-of-control spending.
“We have a clear and present danger,” Lundeen said.
The state faces a budget deficit of more than $1 billion, but bills continue to flow through both chambers with tens and hundreds of thousands in spending requests, and more. One of those is Senate Bill 25-024, which he identified as a worthwhile cause, but one he could not support.
The bill asks for an estimated $3.9 million in first-year spending and the addition of 24.9 full-time equivalent employees in the state’s judiciary and public defender offices. In the second year, the bill would call for $12.2 million in expense, and a similar third-year expense.
“Having an adequate number of judges and an adequate number of public defenders, so that people can get quick, speedy, appropriate access to justice, is incredibly important,” Lundeen said. “And yet, I find myself in this incredibly awkward spot of saying I’m going to vote no, because I haven’t seen the appetite, or the intention, or the desire within the policy offerings to cut the budget elsewhere.”
He is calling for members of both chambers to prioritize fiscal conservatism to reign in Colorado’s spending problem.
“This vote is a communication of dire consequences,” Lundeen said. “We find ourselves in a situation where we need to define and identify priorities. Senate Bill 24 is one I would argue the financing of it ranks high, in the [areas] we should prioritize.”
His vote on the bill is a “marker and a statement” to reign in spending, he says, no matter the value of the expense.
“I’ve already, as a member of leadership, cast several very uncomfortable votes trying to demonstrate leadership, trying to put down markers, trying to engage everyone in this chamber, everyone in the General Assembly broadly,” Lundeen said.
Six members of the Republican caucus — Sens. Mark Baisley, Scott Bright, Barb Kirkmeyer, Byron Pelton, Rod Pelton and Janice Rich — joined Lundeen in opposition to the bill. It advances to the Colorado House on a 26-7 vote of support in the Senate.