In the News...

Politicians Arrive Here Bearing Checks

Friday, April 16 2010

Leadville Herald Democrat
By:Ann E. Wibbenmeyer
April 16th, 2010

Representative Christine Scanlan and Senator Dan Gibbs visited Leadville Friday to update the community on state legislation as well as hand out checks from the El Pomar Foundation.

The checks went to Lake County Human Services, Lake County Advocates, St. George Episcopal Church, Holy Family Parish and First Presbyterian Church to help with the services these entities already provide to the community.

The first update given by Scanlan, state representative for Lake, Eagle and Summit counties, was on the state budget, or what is called the long bill.

Every state agency and department was cut, she said.

According to Gibbs, whose district does not include Lake County, education is 43 percent of the entire budget. The rest of the budget is made up of twenty-one percent for Medicaid, nine percent for human services, nine percent for college education and the rest for prisons.

Other programs, such as the departments of wildlife and transportation, are cash funded with existing programs.

Bills that both Scanlan and Gibbs are working on together include a rafting bill. This bill attempts to clarify ownership of the river versus the shoreline in response to a landowner from Texas threatening to close down a rafting company in Gunnison.

A second bill would allow Colorado Mountain College to offer four year degrees. The bill has been called the bright spot for education in Colorado.

CMC would offer the program without any extra funding from the state and within the current structure of the college. This would be done on the campuses that offer housing, which includes Timberline Campus in Leadville.