Colorado House Sends Roads, Schools Spending Bill To Senate

DENVER (AP) — A bill to increase investment in Colorado's underfunded roads and schools has passed the House.

The bill would remove a multimillion-dollar Medicaid fee from Colorado's constitutional tax-and-spending limits. Those limits are known as the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

Supporters say removing the fee would free millions of dollars for roads and schools.

It also would give legislators more flexibility in crafting a state budget.

Hospitals pay the fee to get matching federal funds to care for the needy.

Republicans call the Medicaid fee a tax. They say TABOR requires that voters approve any change to the fee's status.

Five Republicans joined House Democrats in passing the bill Friday.

Its prospects in the Republican-controlled Senate are far less certain.

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