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House committee kills bills to furlough state workers, shorten session

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 19, 2009 at 5:24 p.m.

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The furlough bill has been furloughed.

A House committee on Thursday unanimously killed a bill that would have furloughed state employees for one to two days a month for the next two years.

The sponsor, Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, pointed out that businesses are doing furloughs, forcing employees to take off unpaid days to keep their companies afloat. Colorado needs to do the same, he said.

"We have yet to see, I believe, the full extent of the downturn in Colorado," King told the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

He said some state employees support the measure because they're recent hires and fear they will be laid off. Furloughs, King said, are a better option for employees than being laid off.

But some lawmakers questioned whether already-strained workers could absorb their colleagues' duties. If so, said Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, it's time to look at a work force reduction.

Kathy Zamperini, who works for the Department of Labor and Employment, told lawmakers the agency's staff already is struggling to handle all of the unemployment claims.

"We need every person we can to answer the phones," she said.

King modeled his proposal after the state of Maryland's, which was handled through an executive order by the governor.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter also has the authority to furlough workers if revenues continue their downward spiral.

In other action, the committee killed a bill that would have limited the 120-day legislative session to 90 days, although a number of lawmakers said the idea was worth discussing.

Majority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said he proposed the limit for several reasons, including the savings of more than $730,000 a year.

Voters in 1988 approved a constitutional amendment that requires the legislature to begin its session by the second Wednesday in January. The session must be over within 120 days, which includes weekends.

Under May's proposal, lawmakers would meet for 45 days, adjourn for 30 days, and then return for the final 45 days.

Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver, suggested an interim committee review the idea.

Comments

  • February 19, 2009

    8:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DakotaPlainsman writes:

    Maybe if Gov't workers (and legislators) are not needed all the time, they should be done away with. Reduced. Eliminated. Bye-Bye!