We don’t need a special session; We need an intervention (Opinion)

When Gov Jared Polis revealed a special session to address a so-called budget hole he and partisan Democrats were quick to point their fingers at Washington D C blaming Republicans in Congress for our state s fiscal troubles The real predicament isn t in Washington The real issue is right here at home under the Gold Dome As a member of the Joint Budget Committee I have a front-row seat to Colorado s fiscal reality The truth is regardless of what happened in Congress the Colorado state budget was already projected to start the next fiscal year at least million in the red Why Because of years of overspending a lack of priorities and zero budgetary discipline from the majority party Over the last seven years Colorado has added more than new full-time state employees We ve created a brand-new department and several new offices That is not the behavior of a state with a revenue matter it s the behavior of a state with a priority dilemma One-party control placed more importance on growing the size of authorities and creating new programs than on funding the essentials like K- instruction physical condition care roads and constituents safety Rather than taking responsibility for their choices Polis and his allies want to raise taxes again only this time they re aiming squarely at the people who can least afford it Their plan includes options to exempt Colorado taxes from the latest federal tax breaks increasing taxes on overtime and doing the same for taxes on small businesses and job creators These aren t just wealthy corporations these are the neighborhood restaurants family-owned shops and the very workers who are already struggling with the highest inflation in a generation This approach is cynical It s shortsighted And it s wrong Right now we don t have the cash to pay our bills That s not me saying it that s from the governor s own budget director So where is the governor s plan to reduce General Fund spending and why hasn t he promptly implemented it Did he suddenly forget how to issue an executive order Past governors facing far greater economic challenges after the terrorist attacks and the Great Recession forthwith cut spending and discontinued non-essential services If Polis truly longed the legislature s help he would have given us the authority in the special session to cut spending But in spite of the governor s lack of action and unwillingness to work with Republicans my colleagues and I are introducing a bill to save million and not a single person s tax bill will go up By pausing the refund in the family affordability tax credit that sends hundreds of millions of dollars out the door each year we can close the entire budget shortfall without raising taxes on anyone It s a simple responsible step to keep our budget balanced and protect essential services Colorado s families are tightening their belts every month to make ends meet It s time their state leadership learned to do the same and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families small business owners and employees exactly where it belongs Related Articles Don t wait on buying back-to-school supplies costs only going to go up New Colorado laws taking effect Aug from AI-generated revenge porn to regulations on bad landlords Douglas County s Zebulon sports megacomplex could break ground this fall Will it be iconic or a money pit Denver s million bond package approved for November ballot Two bridges in fair condition near Burnham Yard made Denver s bond package But others are worse off We need a serious conversation about spending priorities That means reining in the out-of-control progress of state leadership and respecting the will of Colorado voters who have repeatedly announced no to higher taxes I ll say it plainly we don t need a special session we need an intervention State Sen Barb Kirkmeyer represents Senate District and serves as the ranking Republican member on both the Joint Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns editorials and more To send a letter to the editor about this article submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail