Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It is Colorado's Morning News. Marty Lenz, Gina Gondick at Morning.
A couple hot days of the state capital over the weekend,
as state lawmakers continue with their special session today, working
to address a nearly eight hundred million dollars dollar budget
deficit and shortfall.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Four bills have already received final approval and are now
before the governor. However, some Republican lawmakers say the budget
is not being fixed with any of these bills. Joining
us on the Kywa Commons Spirit Health Hotline as Republican
state senator for the twenty third district, it's Barbara Kirkmeyer.
Senator Kirkmeyer, thank you so much for your time. As always,
do we have Senator Kirkmeyer there?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Oh hi, I am there we go.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I am Senator Kirkmeyer. I want to start with a
statement that you gave earlier when talking about the bills
that have already passed in the special legislative session so
far and before the governor, you said, quote, all we're
doing is making it harder for small businesses to survive.
Why is that?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Quite frankly, because that bill speaking to specifically was essentially
taking away a vendor fee so we pay a fee
to local businesses, retailers, small businesses, thinks, restaurants, mechanics, shops,
you know, the coffee shop, you know, small clothing businesses,
those types of things. Retailers, we pay them a small
(01:17):
fee one thousand dollars per filing, which they do about
once a month, and to collect sales tax on behalf
of the state. Now this const them like four times
that amount. It cost them about four thousand dollars a month.
According to the folks who came and testified, it cost
them about four thousand dollars a month. But we pay
them one thousand dollars to do that. Yesterday the Democrats
(01:38):
passed a bill that took away those months. That took
away in this first half year about twenty seven million dollars,
double that for a full year fifty six fifty seven
million dollars away from small businesses who are just trying
to survive through twenty twenty five. That's what I mean
by that. So instead of actually trying to fix the budget,
(02:00):
here's the real kicker. In the second year, in our
fiscal year twenty six twenty seven, when we start that
next budget year, all the money that we are taking
away from these small retailers, these small businesses will be
going towards the tabor surplus, it will be above the cap.
So we are taking this money away from them that
(02:22):
they're using to survive, keep costs down, so that we
can just refund it to somebody else a year from now.
That's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Republicans have been arguing at length at least that's what
we're hearing against a number of these bills. Democrats are
accusing your side of the aisle of filibustering it. What's
your reaction to that?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Your response, absolutely, I'm going to filibuster every time that
they say we're going to increase taxes and they won't
take it to a vote of the people. They're circumventing
the constitution. They're a side stepping the constitution and disregarding
the voters. Our constitution is very clear when you pass
anything or attempt to pass anything that is a net
revenue gain. So in other words, you're increased taxes and
(03:01):
it's a change in tax policy, which all these bills are.
You're supposed to go to the voters and ask for
their approval, and these Democrats won't do that. That's what
happens when you have one party control.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Senator Kirkmeyer, do you see all these bills, the four
that have already been passed signed by the governor, and
will legal action stop them in any way?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Absolutely? I see all of these bills being signed by
the governor. He's the one who put the call out.
He's the one who gave us our agenda for the
special session. And the agenda was basically not to cut spending,
but to increase taxes on individuals, on small businesses, hardworking
folks in the state of Colorado. And that's what's passing. Obviously,
(03:44):
again one party control, and so obviously, yes, the governor
is going to sign these this is what his agenda is.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
When it comes to what the blame is, and it
doesn't matter, we're in this spot. You got to find
to solve it. But I am curious with the big
beautiful bill because it is cutting tax But that's the
debate of who's it's cutting taxes for average people? Are
the more affluent people? Are We learning in real time
and we will find out soon if actual tax cuts
do pay for themselves in the long run.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I think we'll find out in the long run if
tax cuts actually do pay for themselves, but or you know,
help our economy to start really thriving and kicking off
our economy. I think it's been shown in the past
that that's exactly what happened. But hr one, yes, it
cuts taxes on individuals, non corporate and corporate businesses. And
(04:33):
if you go back and look and see what our
Legislative Council Services staff told us, about eight hundred and
fifty million is on a tax cut for individuals and
for non corporate businesses so you're small businesses. And then
about a three hundred I think it's three hundred and
forty million is approximately for corporate businesses, So for larger
(04:54):
businesses in our state. That's that's what it is. At
the state level. When the federal government it cuts taxes,
our tax policy is adjoined. It's called rolling conformity with
the federal tax cuts. So when the federal government cuts
taxes at the federal level, it's an automatic cut to
taxes for taxes at the state for individuals, small businesses,
(05:18):
and corporations. And I just gave you the numbers how
we got to one point two billion dollar tax cut
in our state. Senator Court, all the Democrats can think
to do is to go back and try and add
those all back on and increase taxes.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Sorry for cutting you off there real quick. Curious about
the next steps when it comes to the possible pausing
of the wolf reintroduction program redirecting some of those funds.
Curious where you stood on that in your opinion of that,
if that helps in any way, or if we're just
back to this constant wheel of just moving money from
one to the next.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I did vote for it, and yes, we are just
back to or we're continuing, not really back to we're
continuing just moving money around. For a second, that the
governor is going to stop any introduction of wolves, I
think he'll just find money someplace else in the Department
of Natural Resources or in funds that he has over
in his office that we don't appropriate. They're called custodial funds,
(06:14):
and I think he'll just keep introducing more wolves, even
though people in Colorado, especially on the western slope, our
answers are saying, look, you're not doing your job. You
didn't follow the plan. You know enough enough?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Final question from us, how much longer does the special
session last? And from your vantage point, has it really
accomplished much, if anything, from your perch, it's.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Going to last too much longer. I have no idea.
I'm not in charge. The Democrats are in charge, and
I think we've basically basically wasted a bunch of time.
And what we're doing down there is increasing well, not me,
but what the Democrats in our one party ConTroll are
doing is just increasing more taxes on individuals and small businesses.
(06:57):
Do it's not going to fix our budget. Basically, they're
increasing taxes on people so a year from now we
can turn around and refund it to somebody else. Is
not going to fix our budget issue. And we have
done nothing to cut spending in our budgets and cut
the overspending. Nothing. The call doesn't allow for us to
do it. The governor said, Nope, you don't get to
(07:18):
do that. All you can do is raise taxes down there,
and the Democrats are plowing forward to meet his agenda.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Republican state senator for the twenty third district, it's Barbara Kirkmeyer.
We've also reached out to the Democratic side with Representative
Shannon Burg. She will likely be joining us tomorrow morning
hun Colorado's Morning News
It is Colorado's Morning News. Marty Lenz, Gina Gondick at Morning.
A couple hot days of the state capital over the weekend,
as state lawmakers continue with their special session today, working
to address a nearly eight hundred million dollars dollar budget
deficit and shortfall.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Four bills have already received final approval and are now
before the governor. However, some Republican lawmakers say the budget
is not being fixed with any of these bills. Joining
us on the Kywa Commons Spirit Health Hotline as Republican
state senator for the twenty third district, it's Barbara Kirkmeyer.
Senator Kirkmeyer, thank you so much for your time. As always,
do we have Senator Kirkmeyer there?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Oh hi, I am there we go.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I am Senator Kirkmeyer. I want to start with a
statement that you gave earlier when talking about the bills
that have already passed in the special legislative session so
far and before the governor, you said, quote, all we're
doing is making it harder for small businesses to survive.
Why is that?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Quite frankly, because that bill speaking to specifically was essentially
taking away a vendor fee so we pay a fee
to local businesses, retailers, small businesses, thinks, restaurants, mechanics, shops,
you know, the coffee shop, you know, small clothing businesses,
those types of things. Retailers, we pay them a small
(01:17):
fee one thousand dollars per filing, which they do about
once a month, and to collect sales tax on behalf
of the state. Now this const them like four times
that amount. It cost them about four thousand dollars a month.
According to the folks who came and testified, it cost
them about four thousand dollars a month. But we pay
them one thousand dollars to do that. Yesterday the Democrats
(01:38):
passed a bill that took away those months. That took
away in this first half year about twenty seven million dollars,
double that for a full year fifty six fifty seven
million dollars away from small businesses who are just trying
to survive through twenty twenty five. That's what I mean
by that. So instead of actually trying to fix the budget,
(02:00):
here's the real kicker. In the second year, in our
fiscal year twenty six twenty seven, when we start that
next budget year, all the money that we are taking
away from these small retailers, these small businesses will be
going towards the tabor surplus, it will be above the cap.
So we are taking this money away from them that
(02:22):
they're using to survive, keep costs down, so that we
can just refund it to somebody else a year from now.
That's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Republicans have been arguing at length at least that's what
we're hearing against a number of these bills. Democrats are
accusing your side of the aisle of filibustering it. What's
your reaction to that?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Your response, absolutely, I'm going to filibuster every time that
they say we're going to increase taxes and they won't
take it to a vote of the people. They're circumventing
the constitution. They're a side stepping the constitution and disregarding
the voters. Our constitution is very clear when you pass
anything or attempt to pass anything that is a net
revenue gain. So in other words, you're increased taxes and
(03:01):
it's a change in tax policy, which all these bills are.
You're supposed to go to the voters and ask for
their approval, and these Democrats won't do that. That's what
happens when you have one party control.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Senator Kirkmeyer, do you see all these bills, the four
that have already been passed signed by the governor, and
will legal action stop them in any way?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Absolutely? I see all of these bills being signed by
the governor. He's the one who put the call out.
He's the one who gave us our agenda for the
special session. And the agenda was basically not to cut spending,
but to increase taxes on individuals, on small businesses, hardworking
folks in the state of Colorado. And that's what's passing. Obviously,
(03:44):
again one party control, and so obviously, yes, the governor
is going to sign these this is what his agenda is.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
When it comes to what the blame is, and it
doesn't matter, we're in this spot. You got to find
to solve it. But I am curious with the big
beautiful bill because it is cutting tax But that's the
debate of who's it's cutting taxes for average people? Are
the more affluent people? Are We learning in real time
and we will find out soon if actual tax cuts
do pay for themselves in the long run.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I think we'll find out in the long run if
tax cuts actually do pay for themselves, but or you know,
help our economy to start really thriving and kicking off
our economy. I think it's been shown in the past
that that's exactly what happened. But hr one, yes, it
cuts taxes on individuals, non corporate and corporate businesses. And
(04:33):
if you go back and look and see what our
Legislative Council Services staff told us, about eight hundred and
fifty million is on a tax cut for individuals and
for non corporate businesses so you're small businesses. And then
about a three hundred I think it's three hundred and
forty million is approximately for corporate businesses, So for larger
(04:54):
businesses in our state. That's that's what it is. At
the state level. When the federal government it cuts taxes,
our tax policy is adjoined. It's called rolling conformity with
the federal tax cuts. So when the federal government cuts
taxes at the federal level, it's an automatic cut to
taxes for taxes at the state for individuals, small businesses,
(05:18):
and corporations. And I just gave you the numbers how
we got to one point two billion dollar tax cut
in our state. Senator Court, all the Democrats can think
to do is to go back and try and add
those all back on and increase taxes.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Sorry for cutting you off there real quick. Curious about
the next steps when it comes to the possible pausing
of the wolf reintroduction program redirecting some of those funds.
Curious where you stood on that in your opinion of that,
if that helps in any way, or if we're just
back to this constant wheel of just moving money from
one to the next.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I did vote for it, and yes, we are just
back to or we're continuing, not really back to we're
continuing just moving money around. For a second, that the
governor is going to stop any introduction of wolves, I
think he'll just find money someplace else in the Department
of Natural Resources or in funds that he has over
in his office that we don't appropriate. They're called custodial funds,
(06:14):
and I think he'll just keep introducing more wolves, even
though people in Colorado, especially on the western slope, our
answers are saying, look, you're not doing your job. You
didn't follow the plan. You know enough enough?
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Final question from us, how much longer does the special
session last? And from your vantage point, has it really
accomplished much, if anything, from your perch, it's.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Going to last too much longer. I have no idea.
I'm not in charge. The Democrats are in charge, and
I think we've basically basically wasted a bunch of time.
And what we're doing down there is increasing well, not me,
but what the Democrats in our one party ConTroll are
doing is just increasing more taxes on individuals and small businesses.
(06:57):
Do it's not going to fix our budget. Basically, they're
increasing taxes on people so a year from now we
can turn around and refund it to somebody else. Is
not going to fix our budget issue. And we have
done nothing to cut spending in our budgets and cut
the overspending. Nothing. The call doesn't allow for us to
do it. The governor said, Nope, you don't get to
(07:18):
do that. All you can do is raise taxes down there,
and the Democrats are plowing forward to meet his agenda.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Republican state senator for the twenty third district, it's Barbara Kirkmeyer.
We've also reached out to the Democratic side with Representative
Shannon Burg. She will likely be joining us tomorrow morning
hun Colorado's Morning News
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.