Budget debate turns into House ruckus over sanctuary cities

The road to next year’s state budget hit some bumps in the last 24 hours, with the House coming to a standstill twice over the issue of sanctuary cities.

Much of the commotion stemmed from the actions of first-year lawmaker Republican Rep. Dave Williams of Colorado Springs. Williams comes from the same House district as controversial Reps. Gordon Klingenschmitt, and convicted tax felon and TABOR author Doug Bruce. He seems to share their ability to stir the pot.

The House on Thursday planned to debate the $26.8 billion 2017-18 budget and then give the measure final approval on Friday. Those plans went awry early, with 93 amendments on deck for the budget bill and almost a dozen hours of debate ahead.

The House adopted 27 of those amendments, including restoring partial funding for the state’s film incentive program, $16 million for an affordable housing grant program, $9.5 million for rural broadband, and freeing up $8 million for “vulnerable” hospitals facing big budget cuts. The latter two amendments came from Republicans and their success was something of an accomplishment in a chamber where they are at a nine-seat deficit.

Read more: http://www.coloradoindependent.com/164790/budget-sanctuary-cities