Capitol Coverage: Colorado Budget Signed

Governor John Hickenlooper signed the state’s roughly 26 billion dollar budget into law on Friday. Bente Birkeland has more.

The budget received widespread support — even though it didn’t put as much money into key programs as many wanted. Lawmakers were able to work around a more than a half billion dollar shortfall and avoid deep cuts to hospitals. Governor john Hickenlooper says the compromise bill to avoid the cuts was crucial to the overall budget.

A bipartisan committee crafts the budget, and lawmakers praised the model for allowing the budget to come together in time and in balance. It goes into effect July 1^st. Hickenlooper didn’t veto any parts of the budget. Healthcare makes up the largest share of spending, followed by education.