In the wake of congressional turmoil, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has voiced strong opposition against the recently passed legislation known as the One Big Budget-Busting Bureaucracy-Building Act. According to the Colorado Governor's Office, Polis condemns the act for its severe repercussions, including stripping hundreds of thousands of individuals of their health care, raising living costs, and eliminating job opportunities. "The One Big Budget-Busting Bureaucracy-Building Act will raise health care costs for everyone, raise our deficit and national debt, hurt kids who need access to food, and increase costs on Coloradans," said Governor Polis.
Despite efforts to rally against the bill's passage, involving Colorado representatives and senators, alongside advocates from the health care and clean energy sectors, the act was narrowly pushed through the House with a vote of 218-214. Governor Polis had previously tried to directly appeal to the Colorado Congressional Delegation, warning them of the potential damage, particularly to the state's burgeoning clean-energy industry and the financial strain it could impose on already vulnerable populations. The criticism comes as the Republicans, including Congresswoman Boebert, Congressman Hurd, Congressman Evans, and Congressman Crank, voted in favor of the bill, contrasting the opposition from Congress members Neguse, Crow, DeGette, Pettersen, and Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet.
The governor's administration has been consistently against several components of this legislation. Among the most contentious issues is the cut in Medicaid funding, which Polis argues "will kick Coloradans and families off health care, while raising costs for everyone else." His stance was further solidified by a letter earlier this year, co-authored with Lt. Governor Primavera, pleading with the state's delegation to protect Medicaid from reductions. Additionally, Polis and aligned health care advocates vocally opposed the jeopardization of SNAP funding, warning of food insecurity risks for children and families.
