DENVER – Today, Democrats in the Colorado State Senate killed two pieces of legislation that would have helped save Coloradans money, expand government transparency, and further expand the voice of voters. 

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Senate Bill 22-084, by Senator Bob Gardner (R-Colorado Springs), was killed in the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee. This bill would have helped fight rising student loan debt by allowing 529 accounts to be used to pay for student loans, putting Colorado law in line with federal law.

“I was disappointed that the committee killed this bill today,” said Senator Gardner. “This bill was a modest change to the state tax code that would allow parents to use 529 plans to pay their children’s student loans. There was very little impact to the state treasury, yet Democrats voted it down, once again proving they won’t do the simplest thing to help Colorado’s families.”

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Senate Bill 22-016, by Senator Ray Scott (R-Grand Junction), was killed in the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. This bill would have allowed the Department of Transportation Commission to be elected by the people of Colorado instead of appointed by the Governor, pending a ballot measure in 2022. (Translation: They disenfranchised 6 million Coloradans by not allowing them to vote to elect those who oversee billions in their tax dollars.)

“The majority party decided to side against the people today,” said Senator Scott. “They sided with the establishment, they sided with special interests, and they sided with the status quo. This bill would have empowered every Colorado voter with the ability to choose their own transportation commissioner and I’m extremely disappointed that it was killed today.”

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Both bills were part of the “Republican Commitment to Colorado” that was revealed in January.

We just want to know, if a good bill dies in a committee and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?