Battle lines are being drawn in the House over the annual budget bill, with some of the same disagreements over priorities as was seen in the Senate last week.

The House Appropriations Committee this morning reviewed the Long Appropriations Bill, Senate Bill 15-234, and its accompanying 18 budget-balancing bills. All were approved and sent to the full House for debate.

The committee first reviewed the Long Bill and voted to reverse the Senate amendments. That included $300,000 in general funds for an adult agricultural leadership program, and $750,000 in general funds for the rural economic development initiative grant program.

Committee Republicans demonstrated they have no love for the budget package. Rep. Justin Everett, R-Littleton, voted against many of the bills, including the budget bill. He told The Colorado Statesman he views the budget as irresponsible. He said the state’s budget continues to grow each year, without the legislature making the hard choices necessary to cut spending.

The closest vote in the House is likely to come on SB 255, which takes $20 million in severance tax revenue to balance the budget. The committee voted 8-5 in favor of the bill, with Rep. Janak Joshi, R-Colorado Springs, voting with the committee’s seven Democrats. Rep. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, a member of the Joint Budget Committee, voted against the bill. It is not a JBC bill because of Rankin’s opposition.

Those who testified against SB 255 in the Senate Appropriations Committee repeated pleas for the House committee to look elsewhere for the $20 million. Kevin Bommer of the Colorado Municipal League discussed claims that severance tax revenues experienced a windfall in the 2014-15 fiscal year. He pointed out that increased revenue means increased impacts on communities with mineral extractions.

But JBC Vice-chair Rep. Millie Hamner, D-Dillon, said severance taxes contributed to the state exceeding its TABOR revenue limits. The state will have to refund that excess, and severance tax revenues must be part of that solution, she indicated.

The House split into its two caucuses this morning to discuss the budget and possible amendments. The full House is scheduled to debate the budget tomorrow with final votes on Thursday.

— Marriane@coloradostatesman.com