May 21, 2020
Representation | Legislation | Advocacy
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Governor Announces Disbursement of $1.647 billion of CARES Act Funds
On Monday, Governor Jared Polis along with legislative leadership, announced the distribution of $1.674 billion in federal funds from the CARES Act that will back Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Per an executive order that was signed Monday, more than half of the funding will be sent to K-12 school districts and higher education institutions. The remaining allocations include $275 million to local governments, $205 million set aside for the state’s response to COIVD-19, $85 million for state payroll and $70 million to the state’s General Fund.
To read the executive order, click here.
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Polis Issues Executive Order Regarding Signature Gathering
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On Saturday morning, Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order that suspends several laws, allowing signatures for ballot initiatives to be gathered via email and mail. Under the executive order, the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office will need to develop rules to allow for this new means of signature gathering. The rules are not expected to be finalized till June and until they are, signatures cannot be gathered by mail or email.
The Grand Junction Area Chamber had previously signed on to a letter urging Governor Polis not to waive requirements for in-person signature gathering. The Chamber will continue to weigh in on this issue and the threat it posses to the state’s election process.
For more information, click here.
Chamber Urges Governor and CDPHE to Approve Phase 2 for Mesa County
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Last Friday, Mesa County requested that the State approve a variance request for Phase 2 of Mesa County’s reopening plan. Among other things, Phase 2 would allow for businesses and places of worship to reopen at 50% capacity, and for post-secondary education along with indoor and outdoor recreation activities to resume fully. In order to avoid further delays, the Grand Junction Are Chamber of Commerce sent a letter urging Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment to approve the county’s variance request as soon as possible.
For more information on Mesa County’s Phase 2 Reopening plan, click here.
Legislative Council Releases Economic Forecast
Last Tuesday the Legislative Council released an updated economic forecast for the state, showing a combined budget short fall of around $3.3 billion for fiscal year 2020-21. Economists from the Legislative Council have stated that although Federal stimulus has “softened the blow”, it will take years for the economy to return to pre-Coronavirus levels. Economists also noted that Colorado’s recovery will be exacerbated by the constriction of oil and gas industry activity.
To read the complete Legislative Council economic forecast, click here.
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Governmental Affairs Committee Update:
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The Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee will be meeting via Zoom webinar next Thursday, May 28 at 7:00am. The committee will hear updates from Western Slope lawmakers as the legislature reconvenes.
Thank you to video conference sponsor: Bechtel, Santo & Severn.
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