Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So we have a budget shortfall. We need to plug
the hole. And so what are they going to do.
They're going to raise those most billion dollars in taxes.
That is comments from State Representative Rose Piglicia, Republican, as
state lawmakers continue with their special session today, the priority
of course being working to address a nearly eight hundred
million dollar budget deficit, among other issues.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
In joining us now on the KWA Common Spirit Health
Hotline is Democratic state Representative for the twenty ninth district
and vice chair of the Joint Budget Committee. It's Shannon Bird,
Representative Bird. Thank you so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Of course, good morning, thank you for the invitation.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Let's start first with laying out a little bit of
what we've seen so far in this special session. How
much of the gap and the nearly eight hundred million
dollar deficit has already been filled, and how much more
still needs to be cut.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I think that we are in the process of filling
that big gap. So I know that you've had several
of my colleagues join your show. But the way that
this gap will be filled will be through a mixture
of three large mechanisms. One will be making very modest
use of the state's rainy day fund, ultimately a series
(01:07):
of significant cuts to the state spending, and then a
few other measures to close different tax breaks that the
state had previously created and put into place. So so
far where we are, we are approaching what I hope
to be is the very last day of our special
session coming up. The House will gabble in at noon,
(01:28):
I think the Senate starts at ten thirty, where we
will finish up passing just the last very few bills.
But one of those bills was a bill that would
enhance the collaboration between the legislature and the governor's office
in that process of making many more cuts to state spending.
And then also some of the changes that we made
(01:51):
during special session included, I think I mentioned cutting some
of the previous tax breaks that had been offered to
businesses in the state.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Representative Bird, what do you say is misunderstood about the
budget shortfall or maybe is misrepresented at least from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Well, what I think is important for people to understand
is that the way Colorado looks at taxable income is
entirely defined at a federal level. So Colorado is one
of only four states that uses federal taxable income to
determine how much of a business or an individual's income
is taxed here at a state level. Most other states
(02:30):
look at a different number, something that is before standard
deductions and other major deductions are taken. So when major
changes made were made at the federal level to reduce
what constitutes federal taxable income, all of that flowed through
to the state of Colorado immediately and impacted how much
(02:53):
revenue would be coming into the state based upon Colorado's
current state tax.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Code, only one of four states that do it this way.
Are there, ever, any plans on decoupling Colorado law from
the federal tax law changes in the future, so we
could avoid similar situations that we're seeing like what we're
seeing right now.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I think that there are some who have asked that question.
I think that a drawback of that, however, is that
that would make Colorado's taxes harder to comply with. Taxpayers
would be filing one set of tax documents to comply
at a federal level and then have to turn around
and deal with another complex tax code on a state level.
(03:34):
And here in Colorado, we like to work with people
and not make that so difficult, So ideally we wouldn't
be too terribly different, although you know, there's discussion to
be had about Colorado and the people of our state
defining what should constitute taxable income. So I think times
like this you'll see the state making some changes to
(03:56):
make sure that we are protecting valuable services that the
people of our state expect Colorado to provide.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Your side of the aisle, they have a stranglehold, if
you will, on the legislature. I'm assuming, though, you need
some bipartisan work on this to make it work and
at least feel like everybody has heard. But that's the
question I want to ask, is Republicans saying that their
ideas are being ignored. What's your response to that.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well, I would say that we don't have a stranglehold
on our state government. I would say that the people
of Colorado voted for a majority of Democrats to serve
in the state legislature. So we are a democracy and
the legislature reflects the choice of the people of our state.
We have been working together and robust debate has happened
(04:39):
on the House floor, and I'm confident also on the
Senate flor although I'm not spending my days there. You know,
this is its democracy and action, and a majority vote
wins on these tax policies, and that's what we've been
working through.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
There's been some allegations that some of the budget measures
violate TABOR and they should actually be approved by the
voters and thatd of just being signed by the governor.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Is that the case.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
No, if there was something that required a vote of
the people, we would refer that measure, And one of
those which stands as a good example is the proposed
change to the Healthy School Meals for All ballot measure
that has been referred already to the people for this
upcoming election, we've referred a change to that measure to
help create some additional funding for the SNAP program, which
(05:26):
we saw through the One Big Beautiful Bill received the
biggest cut to food assistants in our nation's history. So
we did refer a measure to the people of our
state to see if they would be willing to make
changes to that previously referred measure to help fund a
little bit more to that program and thereby help some
(05:47):
broader food assistants throughout our state as well.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
There's going to be some pain with this gap and
that you're addressing, right, there's going to be some services
in some things that are cut that maybe people rely on.
Is that just the reality?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I believe that is, yes, what we can only fund
what we can pay for, and when there are fewer
dollars coming in, that will mean fewer services being provided
to the people of our state.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Is there any specifics on what we can expect when
we talk about those services.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I would invite you all to listen in to the
Joint Budget Committees hearing on Thursday. That will be the
first presentation that we'll hear from the Governor's office about
some proposed cuts that they will be bringing to the table.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
And is anybody going to be satisfied with any of
this going on? Or is it just going to be
where everybody is not going to agree, but something at
least is going to get pulled forth that helps to
fill the shortfall.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
You know, it's hard to predict. We'll all have to
see what is coming forward. I expect that nobody is
going to be happy. You know, I'll reiterate. I'm certain
that you've had other people talk about this, but when
we finished the legislative session this last year, we had
a balanced budget. It was presented and prepared by a
group of bipartisan legislators and voted on by the old
(07:00):
General Assembly. And so that was after we had already
cut nearly well over a billion dollars out of the
budget at that point. So now we are cutting from
spending that had largely been agreed to I agreed to
us on a state level by Microcus and the Republicans,
(07:20):
and now we're cutting further from there. So I do
believe we will see some things that are disappointing too
many people in our state.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And wrapping up with you, Representative Bert, also, aside from
the budget deficits, there's a delay when it comes to
addressing the Artificial Intelligence Regulations Bill until twenty twenty six.
Why was that made or why did it kind of
fall apart and have to be delayed?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, I think it's important this this state. It's my understanding.
Colorado was the first state to enact very sweeping artificial
intelligence regulation. And in light of how that technology is
used by so many sectors of our economy, we had
heard from nearly universally that those who would be using
(08:03):
artificial intelligence, we're going to have significant challenges and expense
in complying and implementation of the law. We want to
make sure that if Colorado is a leader, that we
get it right, and consensus is is that a delay
until June of next year would give Colorado, those deployers,
and the developers of artificial intelligence more time to work
(08:25):
together to make sure that what we do is responsible,
that it protects the public with respect to use of
artificial intelligence, but also that it can be successfully deployed
and doesn't create unnecessary litigation and expense for those who
use AI technology. We're always looking to make sure we
are protecting people and implementing passing laws that are done
(08:48):
in a way that people can actually implement and comply
with them.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
State Representative Vice Shared Joint Budget Committee at Shannon Byrd.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Thank you absolutely thank you for having me on and
I hope everybody has a great rest of their day
So we have a budget shortfall. We need to plug
the hole. And so what are they going to do.
They're going to raise those most billion dollars in taxes.
That is comments from State Representative Rose Piglicia, Republican, as
state lawmakers continue with their special session today, the priority
of course being working to address a nearly eight hundred
million dollar budget deficit, among other issues.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
In joining us now on the KWA Common Spirit Health
Hotline is Democratic state Representative for the twenty ninth district
and vice chair of the Joint Budget Committee. It's Shannon Bird,
Representative Bird. Thank you so much for your time this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Of course, good morning, thank you for the invitation.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Let's start first with laying out a little bit of
what we've seen so far in this special session. How
much of the gap and the nearly eight hundred million
dollar deficit has already been filled, and how much more
still needs to be cut.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
I think that we are in the process of filling
that big gap. So I know that you've had several
of my colleagues join your show. But the way that
this gap will be filled will be through a mixture
of three large mechanisms. One will be making very modest
use of the state's rainy day fund, ultimately a series
(01:07):
of significant cuts to the state spending, and then a
few other measures to close different tax breaks that the
state had previously created and put into place. So so
far where we are, we are approaching what I hope
to be is the very last day of our special
session coming up. The House will gabble in at noon,
(01:28):
I think the Senate starts at ten thirty, where we
will finish up passing just the last very few bills.
But one of those bills was a bill that would
enhance the collaboration between the legislature and the governor's office
in that process of making many more cuts to state spending.
And then also some of the changes that we made
(01:51):
during special session included, I think I mentioned cutting some
of the previous tax breaks that had been offered to
businesses in the state.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Representative Bird, what do you say is misunderstood about the
budget shortfall or maybe is misrepresented at least from your perspective.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Well, what I think is important for people to understand
is that the way Colorado looks at taxable income is
entirely defined at a federal level. So Colorado is one
of only four states that uses federal taxable income to
determine how much of a business or an individual's income
is taxed here at a state level. Most other states
(02:30):
look at a different number, something that is before standard
deductions and other major deductions are taken. So when major
changes made were made at the federal level to reduce
what constitutes federal taxable income, all of that flowed through
to the state of Colorado immediately and impacted how much
(02:53):
revenue would be coming into the state based upon Colorado's
current state tax.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Code, only one of four states that do it this way.
Are there, ever, any plans on decoupling Colorado law from
the federal tax law changes in the future, so we
could avoid similar situations that we're seeing like what we're
seeing right now.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I think that there are some who have asked that question.
I think that a drawback of that, however, is that
that would make Colorado's taxes harder to comply with. Taxpayers
would be filing one set of tax documents to comply
at a federal level and then have to turn around
and deal with another complex tax code on a state level.
(03:34):
And here in Colorado, we like to work with people
and not make that so difficult, So ideally we wouldn't
be too terribly different, although you know, there's discussion to
be had about Colorado and the people of our state
defining what should constitute taxable income. So I think times
like this you'll see the state making some changes to
(03:56):
make sure that we are protecting valuable services that the
people of our state expect Colorado to provide.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Your side of the aisle, they have a stranglehold, if
you will, on the legislature. I'm assuming, though, you need
some bipartisan work on this to make it work and
at least feel like everybody has heard. But that's the
question I want to ask, is Republicans saying that their
ideas are being ignored. What's your response to that.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well, I would say that we don't have a stranglehold
on our state government. I would say that the people
of Colorado voted for a majority of Democrats to serve
in the state legislature. So we are a democracy and
the legislature reflects the choice of the people of our state.
We have been working together and robust debate has happened
(04:39):
on the House floor, and I'm confident also on the
Senate flor although I'm not spending my days there. You know,
this is its democracy and action, and a majority vote
wins on these tax policies, and that's what we've been
working through.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
There's been some allegations that some of the budget measures
violate TABOR and they should actually be approved by the
voters and thatd of just being signed by the governor.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Is that the case.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
No, if there was something that required a vote of
the people, we would refer that measure, And one of
those which stands as a good example is the proposed
change to the Healthy School Meals for All ballot measure
that has been referred already to the people for this
upcoming election, we've referred a change to that measure to
help create some additional funding for the SNAP program, which
(05:26):
we saw through the One Big Beautiful Bill received the
biggest cut to food assistants in our nation's history. So
we did refer a measure to the people of our
state to see if they would be willing to make
changes to that previously referred measure to help fund a
little bit more to that program and thereby help some
(05:47):
broader food assistants throughout our state as well.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
There's going to be some pain with this gap and
that you're addressing, right, there's going to be some services
in some things that are cut that maybe people rely on.
Is that just the reality?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I believe that is, yes, what we can only fund
what we can pay for, and when there are fewer
dollars coming in, that will mean fewer services being provided
to the people of our state.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Is there any specifics on what we can expect when
we talk about those services.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
I would invite you all to listen in to the
Joint Budget Committees hearing on Thursday. That will be the
first presentation that we'll hear from the Governor's office about
some proposed cuts that they will be bringing to the table.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
And is anybody going to be satisfied with any of
this going on? Or is it just going to be
where everybody is not going to agree, but something at
least is going to get pulled forth that helps to
fill the shortfall.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
You know, it's hard to predict. We'll all have to
see what is coming forward. I expect that nobody is
going to be happy. You know, I'll reiterate. I'm certain
that you've had other people talk about this, but when
we finished the legislative session this last year, we had
a balanced budget. It was presented and prepared by a
group of bipartisan legislators and voted on by the old
(07:00):
General Assembly. And so that was after we had already
cut nearly well over a billion dollars out of the
budget at that point. So now we are cutting from
spending that had largely been agreed to I agreed to
us on a state level by Microcus and the Republicans,
(07:20):
and now we're cutting further from there. So I do
believe we will see some things that are disappointing too
many people in our state.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And wrapping up with you, Representative Bert, also, aside from
the budget deficits, there's a delay when it comes to
addressing the Artificial Intelligence Regulations Bill until twenty twenty six.
Why was that made or why did it kind of
fall apart and have to be delayed?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, I think it's important this this state. It's my understanding.
Colorado was the first state to enact very sweeping artificial
intelligence regulation. And in light of how that technology is
used by so many sectors of our economy, we had
heard from nearly universally that those who would be using
(08:03):
artificial intelligence, we're going to have significant challenges and expense
in complying and implementation of the law. We want to
make sure that if Colorado is a leader, that we
get it right, and consensus is is that a delay
until June of next year would give Colorado, those deployers,
and the developers of artificial intelligence more time to work
(08:25):
together to make sure that what we do is responsible,
that it protects the public with respect to use of
artificial intelligence, but also that it can be successfully deployed
and doesn't create unnecessary litigation and expense for those who
use AI technology. We're always looking to make sure we
are protecting people and implementing passing laws that are done
(08:48):
in a way that people can actually implement and comply
with them.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
State Representative Vice Shared Joint Budget Committee at Shannon Byrd.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Thank you absolutely thank you for having me on and
I hope everybody has a great rest of their day
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