Hickenlooper: Cutting Medicaid Not A Budget Option
DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper says waiving Medicaid spending requirements to alleviate budget pressures like Republicans suggest is not an option.
The Democratic governor told lawmakers Thursday that the majority of spending increases for next year are for Medicaid because enrollment has spiked during the economic downturn. He dismissed Republicans' proposal to explore Medicaid waivers, saying cutting Medicaid is against the law.
Hickenlooper's budget also proposes cutting spending to K-12 schools by about $89 million and higher education by about $60 million. He is asking lawmakers to eliminate a $98.6 property tax break for seniors scheduled to be reinstated next year.
Hickenlooper says the suspending the tax break is necessary to balance the budget. The governor is proposing $679 million in cuts for a general fund budget of about $7.4 billion.
By Ivan Moreno AP Writer (© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
