Colorado's congressional delegation tells state lawmakers about economic stimulus package.
By CHARLES ASHBY CHIEFTAIN DENVER BUREAU
January 24, 2009 03:06 am
DENVER - Millions of dollars will be coming Colorado's way, the state's congressional delegation told legislators Friday.
Although the money won't eliminate the state's $600 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, it has the potential to do so in the next fiscal year, which begins in July.
The economic stimulus plan, which has passed the House Appropriations Committee, offers up to $850 billion for the states, Congressman John Salazar told lawmakers who had gathered to hear him, U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis, along with representatives for U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet.
Though the state could see more than $2 billion in the next two years, the representatives warned state lawmakers to be aware that it's a one-time-only deal. It's intended to get them through the hardest of the recession, but it won't solve all the problems, Polis said.
"One thing to keep in mind as you're looking at these figures is this is over the next two years," Polis said. "You should make sure to consider in your three-year and five-year planning, a plan for not relying on this money. The federal government does not have the sustainability to do this on an on-going basis. We're doing this because of the fiscal emergency."
Under the package, Colorado could receive $565 million the first year and another $500 million the second, most of which would go to highway construction, said Salazar, a newly appointed member of the appropriations committee.
"The objective here is to create jobs, and we are hoping that we can create jobs within the first year," Salazar said. "There's over $200 billion in projects that the states have submitted to the federal government, saying these are shovel-ready projects. That's what we want to address. For every billion dollars that we invest in building America's infrastructure, our congressional research service tell us that we create 47,500 new jobs."
Salazar said about $413 million would go to Colorado roads, $94 million to transit and $46 million to water projects.
He also listed other possible funding for all states, including $32 billion in tax cuts, $16 billion for public housing and $41 billion for education.
That money includes more than $35 million for Southern Colorado school districts in the form of construction and No Child Left Behind funds. For Pueblo City Schools, that means about $17 million, and for Pueblo County Schools, $3.5 million.
He said there also will be money to extend power transmission lines, broadband Internet lines, health-care money, law enforcement funds and more money for college scholarships.
Salazar said the money the states are likely to receive in the stimulus package won't come with many strings as long as they are used to boost jobs and the economy.
"We're trying to get money to the states in the form that doesn't require matching funds so that you can do whatever you need to do to get your economy going and our economy going," Salazar said. "I know that is Barack Obama's promise, to try to create these jobs and we want to do this quickly. There's not been any new restrictions put on except the issue of accountability and transparency so we know these funds aren't just being thrown out the window or utilized to pay back debt, but they actually create jobs."
He said the numbers are likely to change because the stimulus package still must pass through the rest of the House and receive approval in the Senate before heading off to Obama's desk.
State lawmakers also brought up a host of other topics, including what is likely to happen with the U.S. Army's plans to expand its Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.
Salazar answered that question by reminding legislators of what committee he now sits on.
"Keep in mind that I am now appointed to the very subcommittee, which is Mil-Con-VA (military construction and veterans), which authorizes and appropriates the money for military construction," he said to laughs in the room. "That's all I'm going to say about that."
