Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

(DENVER) – Gov. Bill Owens today issued the following statement on the release of the Democratic leadership-authored budget proposal:

"I am disappointed, but not deterred.

"Since the November election, I have had a number of cordial and productive conversations with Democrat leaders. Those discussions have not yet produced an agreement. But I believe an agreement is possible and should be reached.

"In December I proposed a plan that would permanently stabilize Colorado's budget. Since then, I have offered a number of compromises that moved a long way from the initial plan I proposed in December. Most recently, yesterday, I proposed that taxpayers have the chance to evaluate the Romanoff plan after five years. This, too, was rejected summarily.

"The plan proposed today spends too much and eliminates any meaningful cap on government growth going forward. It takes far too much from Colorado families. And I am very concerned that, by overreaching, it runs a real risk of being rejected at the ballot box.

"There remain 105 days in this legislative session. I am very optimistic that we can craft a common-sense compromise that all four caucuses – and I – can propose to Colorado taxpayers. But we must begin to see some real openness from Democratic leaders."

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