Yesterday I wrote about the Governor vetoing a bill that would have guaranteed state workers annual pay increases if they achieved certain performance standards. For state employees who worked hard to get the legislature to pass a bill reforming how compensation is managed by the state, it was a blow.
If the federal government does not extend fiscal relief to states, Colorado’s employees and residents could be facing even more cuts.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities states, “If Congress does not extend the enhanced Medicaid matching funds in last year’s Recovery Act, most states will cut public services or raise taxes for the fiscal year that begins July 1 by even more than they are already planning – laying off tens of thousands more teachers and other public employees, cutting education funding more sharply, and further reducing payments to health care providers and other private firms. Without more federal aid, state budget-closing actions could cost the national economy 900,000 public- and private-sector jobs.”
Without this federal aid, the budget just passed by Colorado’s legislature, would need to be cut by an additional $212 million. Cuts that had been discussed, but rejected, by legislators as they were passing the budget would most likely be revisited. They include eliminating kindergarten and pre-school aid for some children, and increasing over-crowding in the juvenile prison system. They also could include eliminating the free breakfast program for low income kids at 302 schools. The most draconian cuts could be to the child welfare system which is already so stressed that 35 kids have DIED while in the program over the past three years. Even those draconian cuts will not be enough to fill the gap left by the loss of federal funds.
I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, “All you get for low taxes is a third world economy.” Kids are dead already because of cuts to state programs. And in order to balance the budget more kids may die either in the child welfare system or in the over-crowded juvenile prison system. Colorado, as a state, is on the verge of failure. Something has to give.
Homework:
States Face More Budget Cuts
Story about the death of one child in Colorado
Story about passing Senate Bill 171
If the federal government does not extend fiscal relief to states, Colorado’s employees and residents could be facing even more cuts.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities states, “If Congress does not extend the enhanced Medicaid matching funds in last year’s Recovery Act, most states will cut public services or raise taxes for the fiscal year that begins July 1 by even more than they are already planning – laying off tens of thousands more teachers and other public employees, cutting education funding more sharply, and further reducing payments to health care providers and other private firms. Without more federal aid, state budget-closing actions could cost the national economy 900,000 public- and private-sector jobs.”
Without this federal aid, the budget just passed by Colorado’s legislature, would need to be cut by an additional $212 million. Cuts that had been discussed, but rejected, by legislators as they were passing the budget would most likely be revisited. They include eliminating kindergarten and pre-school aid for some children, and increasing over-crowding in the juvenile prison system. They also could include eliminating the free breakfast program for low income kids at 302 schools. The most draconian cuts could be to the child welfare system which is already so stressed that 35 kids have DIED while in the program over the past three years. Even those draconian cuts will not be enough to fill the gap left by the loss of federal funds.
I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, “All you get for low taxes is a third world economy.” Kids are dead already because of cuts to state programs. And in order to balance the budget more kids may die either in the child welfare system or in the over-crowded juvenile prison system. Colorado, as a state, is on the verge of failure. Something has to give.
Homework:
States Face More Budget Cuts
Story about the death of one child in Colorado
Story about passing Senate Bill 171
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