Progressive Spending Comes Due as Colorado Faces Billion Dollar Shortfall

By Brandon Richard | Denver7 News

State lawmakers will likely return to the Colorado Capitol for a special session to address the budget shortfall.

DENVER — For the second time this year, Colorado is facing a massive budget shortfall, and the legislature’s top Democratic leaders blame President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”

State budget officials released new projections on Wednesday, showing the current budget is suddenly $1.2 billion in the red.

“Right now, we don’t have the cash to pay our bills,” Colorado budget director Mark Ferrandino told lawmakers. “We are talking about a budget and a revenue shortfall equivalent or greater than what we saw during the Great Recession.”

Some lawmakers were left shell-shocked and worried for Coloradans struggling to make it.

“They are about to get whacked in a way that I don’t think they really understand,” said State Sen. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder.

Colorado’s constitution requires the state budget to be balanced. Lawmakers told Denver7 that’s going to require them to make painful cuts to programs people depend on.

“It is going to be hard, and there will be cuts,” said Amabile. “There’s no way we’re doing this without cutting programs.”

Democrats blame Trump and Congressional Republicans who voted for the president’s “big, beautiful bill.” Because of the tax changes made in the bill, the state is collecting less revenue than lawmakers expected when they approved the budget in May, according to Colorado Democrats.

“Coloradans didn’t choose this. Congressional Republicans — including Lauren Boebert, Jeff Hurd, and Gabe Evans — chose tax giveaways for billionaires and blind loyalty to President Trump over the needs of their own constituents,”said Colorado Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver.

• Below is the state’s estimated revenue impact

Republicans at the state and federal levels pushed back on that narrative. The four Republican members of the state’s congressional delegation — U.S. Reps. Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd, Lauren Boebert, and Jeff Crank — issued a joint statement on Wednesday.

“Colorado Democrats are scrambling to clean up the mess they created, and now they’re trying to shift blame for the consequences of their own failed policies. While Democrats find new ways to increase taxes and fees, Republicans are protecting Medicaid for those who truly need it, removing tax on tips and overtime, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly,” the statement read. “Colorado Republicans are proud to deliver real, lasting reforms to ensure our state is a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”

State Sen. Cleave Simpson, a Republican from Alamosa and the Senate minority leader, said Colorado has a….

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