By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics
While agricultural organizations did not succeed in their efforts to halt the reintroduction of more wolves, they found a more sympathetic ear among policymakers at the state Capitol.
In their work on “footnotes,” which are directions to state departments on administering appropriations, the Joint Budget Committee adopted two items related to the wolf reintroduction program. Footnotes do not have the force of law, although state agencies comply. Even when the governor vetoes a footnote, usually due to a separation of powers issue, he often directs the agencies to comply anyway.
The first said the annual $2.1 million general fund appropriation should be used to implement Proposition 114, the narrowly-adopted 2020 ballot measure that resulted in the introduction of 20 wolves in Colorado. The wolves have been preying on livestock, frustrating livestock growers.
That standard footnote has been included in the budget bill for several years.