On Saturday, the Colorado House of Representatives passed six bills during a special session aimed at closing the state’s $1.2 billion budget shortfall caused by changes in tax laws under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Democrats said the new bills are designed to fix an unnecessary gap in the budget, while Republicans criticized the process, arguing they were not given enough time to debate the measures.
Rep. Yara Zokaie defended the legislation, saying:
“We passed a revenue package that closes corporate tax loopholes, which I think is the most responsible way to address the shortfall that we are experiencing.”
However, Rep. Jarvis Caldwell expressed concerns that the bills would negatively impact taxpayers:
“Every single bill we’ve seen here come through during the special session has increased taxes on small businesses and on taxpayers.”
Republicans also voiced frustration over Democrats’ use of procedural rules that limited debate to one hour per bill, giving each of the 65 representatives less than a minute to speak. Another rule eliminated a separate discussion period altogether, pushing the House directly to a vote.
Zokaie defended the move, stating that Democrats acted after feeling Republicans were not “engaging in meaningful debate.”
Despite partisan disagreements, all six bills will now move to the Colorado Senate for approval.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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