Hickenlooper may call lawmakers back to work
The Colorado governor isn’t happy with what didn’t get done on some issues.
By JAMES ANDERSON and KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s governor isn’t happy with the modest advancements lawmakers made this year on road funding, energy and health care.
And Gov. John Hickenlooper is thinking about calling them back to Denver to take another crack.
The Legislature concluded work for the year late Wednesday. They made agreements to increase school funding, spend nearly $2 billion to improve roads and highways, and to give business owners a tax break.
But not everything went according to plan.
Colorado has another $7 billion in highway needs that aren’t paid for, even after the transportation deal that includes mortgaging state buildings. It’s a backlog the governor calls unacceptable.
Lawmakers also failed to agree on funding the Colorado Energy Office.
And Hickenlooper is criticizing lawmakers for not taking up more plans to lower health-care costs.
