An April 26 article by Ed Sealover in The Gazette of Colorado Springs uncritically repeated Republican criticism of Senate Bill 222, which would transfer $30 million to college building-repair projects from a fund used primarily for road projects. The newspaper failed to provide any perspective from the bill's supporters, including sponsor Sen. Sue Windels (D-Arvada).

The Gazette began the article with the leading question, “Would you trade several million dollars in Interstate 25 improvements for a half-million-dollar repair of water lines at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs [UCCS]?” The article then stated, “That is what a bill that received final Senate approval Wednesday would do.”

The article also reported that “to get that money to UCCS, the state had to remove $20 million of the roughly $34 million that was expected to be distributed among the six Colorado Department of Transportation regions for road maintenance.” It further noted that "[t]he measure, which heads to the House, passed [in the Senate] over objections of Republicans who argued that it steals from desperately needed road funding." However, the newspaper failed to note the rationale behind SB 222 or provide any comment from its supporters, including Republican co-sponsors Sen. Joshua Penry (Fruita) and Rep. Robert Witwer (Golden).

In contrast, the Rocky Mountain News reported on April 25 that Windels responded to Republican criticism of the bill by explaining, “This money isn't to build nice buildings; it's to repair unsafe buildings ... Higher education has had to assess fees on students to pay for buildings. We need to accept our responsibility to take care of our state buildings and take it off the backs of our students.” The News further noted:

The fight over transferring money from roads to colleges has simmered throughout the legislative session. Attempts to do so in the budget for next year failed, prompting Windels to introduce a separate bill.

Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, suggested that Democrats are being greedy. He noted that the state's $17.8 billion spending plan for next year includes $700 million for capital construction.

“People in my district care more about the inadequate roads in this state than a few state buildings that aren't as nice as everyone would like them to be,” he said.

Windels countered that most of the $700 million is federal money already earmarked for specific capital projects.

She said that about $1 billion will go to highway projects next year. SB 222 would not touch that baseline funding, she said.

From the April 26 Gazette article “Senate passes bill moving funds: Dollars go from roads to buildings,” by Ed Sealover:

Would you trade several million dollars in Interstate 25 improvements for a half-million-dollar repair of water lines at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs?

That is what a bill that received final Senate approval Wednesday would do.

Senate Bill 222 moves $30 million into capital construction from a fund that gives twothirds of its total to roads and one-third to buildings. The measure, which heads to the House, passed over objections of Republicans who argued that it steals from desperately needed road funding.

Only one Pikes Peak-area project is included in the list that will receive the additional capital funding -- a $467,995 repair to water lines in the vicinity of Cragmor Hall on the UCCS campus.

The cast-iron lines, installed about the same time the building was constructed as a sanatorium about 70 years ago, have an accumulation of residue and have been cut off in some areas where they ran to houses. They will be replaced by plastic piping to ensure the water supply does not become contaminated, said Dave Schnabel, UCCS director of facilities services.

But to get that money to UCCS, the state had to remove $20 million of the roughly $34 million that was expected to be distributed among the six Colorado Department of Transportation regions for road maintenance.