Colorado Budget Passed. Has Your Life Improved?

The Denver Gazette reports that Colorado lawmakers have finalized a $46.8 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, resolving differences between House and Senate versions through a conference committee and passing the measure largely along party lines.

The budget includes adjustments across a wide range of areas, from corrections staffing and health care programs to wolf management and funding tied to the state’s new artificial intelligence law. Lawmakers had to close a roughly $1.5 billion shortfall, making targeted cuts and reallocations while still expanding or maintaining funding in key areas.

The Bullet Point Brief

• Lawmakers passed a $46.8 billion budget after working through a $1.5 billion gap. A little trimming around the edges of a very big tree.
• The vote was mostly along party lines, with only a couple of crossovers. Unity is overrated, apparently.
• Funding tweaks include corrections staffing, health care programs, and even compliance money for the state’s new AI law. Because of course it does.
• Lawmakers shifted dollars around on issues like wolf management, caregiver programs, and competency services. Lots of moving pieces, same pile of money.
• The budget now heads to Gov. Polis, who can line-item veto pieces, though that is rarely used. The final polish before the ribbon cutting.

My Bottom Line

Hey everybody, look.

Our betters under the gold dome passed a budget.

After much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth over a $1.5 billion shortfall, they managed to land the plane. And now $46.8 billion of your money gets doled out for state operations and programs.

I get it.

Government does stuff.

Lots of stuff.

But here is the question more people should be asking.

Should it be doing all of this stuff?

Because while the headlines celebrate the process, the real question never gets asked. Not by the folks under the dome, and certainly not by the Great Suburban Normie who is too busy talking sports and watching Netflix to care.

Self-governance requires attention.

And attention is in short supply.

Yes, we all benefit from some of what government does. The roads we drive on get us to work. The systems exist. The services function.

But take a look around.

Those same roads are more congested than ever and beating the hell out of your vehicle. Gas is expensive. The cost of living is through the roof. Businesses are leaving. Paychecks are not exactly keeping up.

So I will ask the question nobody under the gold dome seems interested in answering.

How has your life improved?

Not in theory. Not in a press release. Not in a budget document.

In reality.

Has your business climate improved? Has your commute improved? Has your paycheck improved?

All this pomp and circumstance “on your behalf,” and yet most people cannot point to a single, tangible way their life is better because of it.

That should bother you.

A lot.

Source: The Denver Gazette