Governor Again Pushes Privatization as Budget Fix

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday pitched lawmakers on spending less for Medicaid and privatizing Pinnacol Assurance as solutions for an expected $850 million budget deficit, just as he did last year when the state was facing a $1 billion shortfall. The budget proposal the governor's office released Wednesday assumes that Pinnacol will pay the state $400 million "in recognition of the state's contribution to creating Pinnacol's current economic value." The governor's budget would direct $193 million for property tax relief and $109 million for maintenance o...