joint budget committee
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Pinnacol privatization plan gets cool reception from Colorado legislators
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Should Colorado allow Pinnacol Assurance, the quasi-governmental workers’ compensation company, to go private? The proposal, expected to be on the agenda for the 2026 state legislative session, got its first review on Wednesday from a mostly skeptical Joint Budget Committee. But the proposal did get a thumbs-up – or at least “it makes sense,” according…
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Colorado’s government spending has outpaced inflation, analysis finds
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Colorado’s per-person spending has increased by 31% over the last two decades, despite slowed population growth, according to a new analysis by the Common Sense Institute. The annual report compares state spending by department over the last 20 years, tracking appropriations trends, comparing growth relative to inflation and population, and determining whether Coloradans are likely…
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Colorado legislators review wolf program as funding challenges persist
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Wolves took center stage during a Tuesday review by Colorado legislators of the budget proposal from the Department of Natural Resources, which includes the division that manages the reintroduction program. The Joint Budget Committee reviewed the budget proposal for 2026-27 from the department, with an eye toward potential cuts. The annual budget briefing is an…
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Lawmakers, Gov. Jared Polis clash on Medicaid provider rates
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Colorado legislators on Tuesday heard from an advisory committee, which proposed making several adjustments to the state’s reimbursement rates for health care facilities that provide services to Medicaid patients. The proposal from the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee diverged from Gov. Jared Polis’ own proposed changes outlined in his budget proposal for the next…
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Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal faces backlash over Medicaid and Pinnacol deal
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Gov. Jared Polis’ proposed state budget for 2026-27 drew sharp criticism Wednesday from the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, as lawmakers from both parties criticized plans to slow Medicaid spending growth and rely on a deal to privatize Pinnacol Assurance to generate revenue. Pinnacol, a quasi-state agency, is the state’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance.…
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Colorado figured out how to load state money onto EBT cards, officials say
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Colorado officials said they figured out a way to load state funds onto the electronic cards of food stamp recipients. Officials from the Department of Human Services told Colorado Politics they had spoken “extensively” with the vendor for the Electronic Benefits Transfer card. The EBT card is called Colorado Quest. A legislative Joint Budget Committee…
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Gov. Polis proposes privatizing Pinnacol Assurance to address next year’s budget deficit
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Gov. Jared Polis is hoping for a windfall from the privatization of Colorado’s quasi-public workers’ compensation insurance division to cover some of the anticipated deficits in next year’s operating budget. The 2026-27 state budget, as proposed by the governor, amounts to $47.9 billion, which translates to a 5.2% increase over the current budget. That’s twice…
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Gov. Jared Polis abruptly cancels unpublicized meeting with Joint Budget Committee
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Gov. Jared Polis was scheduled to talk to reporters at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at the Governor’s Mansion to discuss his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, which he is required to submit to the Joint Budget Committee on Nov. 1. Before addressing the media, Polis had planned to meet with the Joint Budget…
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Colorado lawmakers sign off on $10 million for food assistance as SNAP benefits are poised to run out
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A panel of Colorado legislators on Thursday approved a $10 million cash infusion into food assistance for residents who are expected to lose food stamp benefits starting on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown. But state policymakers and budget staffers said they fear that the plan is riddled with “holes,” describing it as akin to…
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Colorado allocates $7.5M for food assistance program for women and children amid federal shutdown
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The federal government shutdown prompted the Colorado General Assembly’s budget writers to take action on Tuesday, allocating additional funds to the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) food program. The state portion of the federal program falls under the Department of Public Health and Environment. Last week, the department requested an emergency funding addition of $7.5…
