Monday, March 29, 2010

During Budget Republicans Lead Bipartisan Reform of Broken System

May: State Ship Must be Righted

As the state House of Representatives readies to take up the state budget, House Republican Leader Mike May, R-Parker, today says that leading on government reform will be the House GOP’s top priority this year.

“House Republicans are interested in tackling some of the big picture problems in state government,” May said. “With the recession comes the opportunity to rethink, reshape, and retool areas of government that are simply not working and improve on aspects that are. House Republicans are ready to step up and provide the leadership necessary.”

May says that Republicans are working with Democrats to push for reforming the way that state government funds Colorado’s system of higher education, the state transportation system, and correctional facilities.

“Year after year we continue to see the same problems in the same areas yet we have not taken the opportunity to address these issues,” May said. “We can’t continue to push these problems off to be dealt with by future lawmakers. We can’t continue to govern by crisis.”

Specifically, May says that Republicans will push for an evaluation of the Department of Corrections to determine how Colorado can better utilize assets and increase efficiency. Another effort will focus on reforming Colorado’s higher education system to eliminate duplication between schools and increase efficiency. May says Republicans are also working on a proposal to re-evaluate our transportation system so that the state can fulfill obligations and eliminate roadblocks that prevent local communities from investing in their own roads.

The House is set to take up House Bill 1376, the state budget bill, later this week. May says that Republicans will offer constructive amendments to the state budget but most of the proposals he is backing will be introduced as separate bills in the coming days.