DENVER – Debate on a $27 billion state budget Wednesday in the Senate devolved into a referendum on federal air pollution standards.
Republicans stripped about $300,000 from the Air Pollution Control Division in an effort to block implementation of the Clean Power Plan.
The Environmental Protection Agency rule requires carbon-dioxide emissions to be reduced by 28 percent in Colorado and 32 percent nationally by 2030. The state is charged with developing a plan for Colorado.
In February, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily delayed implementation of the federal carbon-pollution standards.
Colorado is one of 29 states challenging implementation of the rule, after Republican Attorney General Cynthia Coffman joined the state in the lawsuit. She has been at odds with Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who supports implementation.
Republicans had originally stripped more than $8.4 million in funding for the Air Pollution Control Division, which would have resulted in the layoff of 95 employees at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment by June 30.
The Republican-controlled Senate backtracked on that a bit on Wednesday, passing an amendment to the budget that restored more than $8.1 million. But it left out the $300,000 for implementation of the Clean Power Plan. Two staff positions could still be cut.
“These numbers are not a punishment...” said Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling. “These numbers are what they said they spent... on the Clean Power Plan, and they continue to spend, even though the Supreme Court asked us to put it on hold.”
The effort by Republicans drew a stern rebuke from Hickenlooper earlier in the day.
“When you’re talking about... air quality, it seems the height of ridiculousness in terms of partisan politics,” Hickenlooper said. “What we want to be looking at is how do we get to cleaner air?”
The budget was expected to receive an initial vote in the Senate Wednesday evening, before a final vote on Thursday. It already passed the House on a bipartisan vote of 39-26.
Southwest Colorado Republicans in the House supported the bill, including Reps. Don Coram of Montrose and J. Paul Brown of Ignacio.
