By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics
The Colorado legislature’s budget drafting body, stung by criticism from the governor over hiking Medicaid provider rates last spring higher than what he wanted, bit back when Gov. Jared Polis met with the committee last week to discuss his 2025-26 budget proposal.
Gov. Jared Polis and members of the Joint Budget Committee sparred over the size of his proposed cuts. Polis effectively argued that his proposal responsibly makes budget reductions, while lawmakers questioned his decision to fund projects or services — such as landscaping for the governor’s mansion — when the state is practically in “recession” mode when it comes to budgeting.
A veteran legislator said the governor’s budget proposal is not serious; the governor’s budget chief argued that the proposed budget reduces or eliminates programs that aren’t the “best use of dollars.”