By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO
Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, a gubernatorial rival to current Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, responded today to the release of Ritter’s latest budget-cutting plan by calling for a “fundamental reform of government.”
Penry, a Republican, issued a statement saying: “Is it time to abolish the Department of Local Affairs? Is it time to consolidate the bureaucracy over Higher Education? Is it time to eliminate duplicative boards and commissions? Is it time to abolish silos of patronage like the governor’s energy office? Is it time to consolidate administrative functions among the state’s 178 school districts?” The statement is published below.
Penry stopped short of advocating any one of the proposals he cited. On the stump, he’s complained that Democrat Ritter has grown government at a time it should be shrinking; media coverage has noted that Penry has sponsored some of the legislation that’s grown state employment during Ritter’s tenure.
House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, issued a more moderate statement, noting, ““I was disappointed to see that many of the governor’s proposals merely delay the inevitable.”
May’s statement is also published below.
Ritter didn’t immediately respond to either statement. Penry is vying with former congressman Scott McInnis for the Republican nomination in August 2010.

20091028_Penry

May Statement on Latest Round of Budget Cuts