What Colorado Leaders Are Saying About the 2025 Special Legislative Session

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DENVER - Today, members of Colorado's congressional delegation, in addition to leaders in education, health care, and finance, weighed in on the success of Colorado's 2025 special legislative session.

"Washington Republicans passed a reckless budget bill that destroyed our state budget and stuck Coloradans with the tab. Their plan would likely strip health care from 15 million Americans, shutter rural hospitals, and pile on debt – all to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. Coloradans are left to fix the mess," said Senator John Hickenlooper.

"Republicans blew a hole in our state's budget and are making Colorado sicker and poorer. The Republican budget takes away health care from millions of Americans, will close rural hospitals, and increase health care premiums for Coloradans in order to give massive tax breaks to the rich. The wealthy get more handouts and working Coloradans will pay the price," said Congressman Jason Crow.

"The policies embedded in the Republican budget bill will have devastating consequences for families in every corner of our state — slashing healthcare for many, cutting federal food assistance, and imposing a dramatic reduction in state revenue for core services. I commend Governor Polis and the state legislature for returning to the Capitol and taking action to soften the blow of this reckless bill and help our communities navigate its impacts," said Congressman Joe Neguse.

"Trump's disastrous budget is already forcing Colorado to address a billion-dollar shortfall and we know this is only just the beginning," said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. "Just today, the governor had to bring forward a proposal to address an additional $750 million shortfall for next year because of the Republicans' disastrous budget bill that prioritizes billionaires over working-class families in Colorado. Because of them, we're going to see hospitals and nursing homes shutter, frontline health care workers fired to hire bureaucrats, and some families go without the care they need to survive. I'm grateful to the governor and the legislature for doing what they can to mitigate the damage of the pain and suffering our communities are going to face but we're in this crisis because of Donald Trump and the Republicans who blindly followed him."

"Colorado Democrats have responsibly picked up the pieces from Trump and Washington Republicans' big ugly budget, which any one of the GOP members of our Congressional delegation could have stopped," said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. "Their bill gave corporations massive tax cuts that blew a billion-dollar hole in our budget. We took a balanced approach that closed corporate tax loopholes, established a process to cut some spending, and used some of our rainy-day savings to protect funding for health care, roads, and education. I'm especially proud that we were able to blunt some of the massive health care premium increases we expect to see on the Western Slope as a result of the Congress's failure to act."

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"The GOP's federal budget handed out a billion dollars of corporate tax breaks while making life more expensive for everyone else through higher health costs, energy costs, and grocery costs," said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. "That's why we returned to the Capitol: to stand up for Colorado families, listen to those on the frontlines of providing services, and work to maximize every dollar. I'm proud that we're leaving this special session having achieved a balanced, responsible response to the budget shortfall that closes corporate tax loopholes and protects services that Coloradans rely on rather than the interests of corporations."

"We are very grateful to the governor and the democratic caucus for recognizing the urgency of this need for our patients and for their support during the session. In the days after July 4th, we were forced to cancel 991 patient appointments under a new federal Medicaid ban. Now, these state protections will ensure that despite federal targeting of Planned Parenthood and our patients, over 11,000 Coloradans insured through Medicaid will be able to continue seeing their trusted primary care providers at Planned Parenthood," said Jack Teter, VP of Government Affairs at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

"Our Republican representatives in DC let their constituents down when they voted for H.R.1, but our state and local leaders have quickly stepped up to cushion the blow. HB25B-1006 is a meaningful first step to limit health insurance premium increases and help Coloradans keep their coverage. Now, we must continue the momentum to find long-term solutions that ensure quality health care is accessible and affordable across the state," said Jake Williams, CEO of Healthier Colorado.

"HR1 created a budget gap that put Colorado kids' access to health care, food, and quality education at risk. We are grateful to the Governor and our legislators for coming together to find immediate solutions to begin to protect children from its impact," said Heather Tritten, President and CEO of the Colorado Children's Campaign. "We look forward to working with policymakers to find long-term approaches to support kids' health and well-being."

"We want to thank Colorado legislators and the governor for prioritizing our students and communities during this special session by protecting education funding," said Kevin Vick, president of CEA and educator of 20-plus years. "Educators know firsthand the impact that every dollar has in the classroom, from smaller class sizes to updated materials to the extra support services our students depend on. At a time when schools are already stretched thin, this commitment from our lawmakers helps ensure that students continue to have the resources they need to learn and thrive, and that educators can stay focused on what matters most, supporting every child in every classroom."

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"Hospitals in Colorado's rural communities are already seeing the real-world consequences when patients lose access to affordable health coverage — worse health outcomes, crowded emergency departments, and rising costs across the entire system. Recent federal cuts only threaten to make these challenges worse. By investing in the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise, the state is taking an important step to help stabilize premiums and preserve access to coverage. Colorado's hospitals are grateful for the Governor and lawmakers' leadership during this special session, and we remain committed to working together on long-term solutions," said Jennifer Riley MHA, FACHE

Chief Executive Officer at Memorial Regional Health.

"After H.R. 1 blew a hole in Colorado's previously balanced budget, our elected leaders had no choice but to come together to fix the problems that Republican majorities in Congress foisted on our state. Thankfully, Governor Polis and legislative majorities were able to close big business and corporate tax loopholes from the federal bill to make headway toward rebalancing our budget. Without these actions, our state would have seen even more budget cuts that could have led to higher health care costs, a reduction in funding for K-12 education, and further pain for Colorado residents. We commend the legislature and the governor for making the tough choices necessary to reduce the pain for Coloradans, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that Congress and the current administration cannot further erode the progress that has been made to make Colorado a place where everyone can thrive," said Joshua Mantell, Director of Government Affairs for The Bell Policy Center.

"Gary Community Ventures was proud to see the legislature stand up for the priorities of children and families during the special session. We know the State will continue to see budget pressures over the next year and hope to see a continued emphasis on protecting programs that support families struggling to afford life in Colorado," said Santhosh Ramdoss, President and CEO of Gary Community Ventures.

"This session, lawmakers put people first. Within tight constitutional limits, they closed ineffective tax giveaways and softened the blow of painful budget cuts that would harm all Coloradans. It's one piece of a much bigger problem, but protecting nearly $300 million for schools, health care, and essential services is a responsible step toward keeping working families ahead of profitable corporations," said Kathy White, executive director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI).

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