July 19, 2018 10:55 AM UTC

Walker Stapleton Doesn't Do His Job, Capital Construction Edition

• 2 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

A press release from Colorado House Democrats calls out Treasurer Walker Stapleton for delays in funding approved construction projects, with potential negative consequences both economic and on the health and safety of Colorado residents:

Today, the Democratic members of the Capital Development Committee (CDC) sent a letter to Colorado Treasurer Walker Stapleton expressing serious concerns about his office’s delay in launching funding for capital construction needs under SB 17-267 and the impact that the delays would have on health and safety across the state.

At a meeting of the CDC last month, nonpartisan staff notified the committee that the Certificates of Participation (COPs) that will launch hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for capital construction and transportation would not to be issued at the start of the fiscal year as originally planned, but would be delayed until a date uncertain.

The letter highlights the impact of these delays on pressing needs around the state, including likely safety risks and significant escalation in costs to the taxpayers, and reiterates a call on Treasurer Stapleton to come before the CDC at the next meeting to respond to questions in person. The full committee had previously sent a letter requesting Treasurer Stapleton’s presence, but the committee agenda released yesterday showed that he did not plan to attend himself and would instead be represented by the Deputy Treasurer.

Here’s the full letter from Democrats on the Capital Development Committee to Stapleton. There’s been no real explanation for this delay offered that we’ve seen, but the most obvious explanation is that Stapleton is too busy running for governor to address these tasks related his current job as Treasurer. It’s the same assumption one could reasonably make for Stapleton’s mismanagement of the Great Colorado Payback program or his absentee oversight of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA).

Which leads to the next logical question–why Stapleton would deserve a promotion when his current job is, you know, such a hardship.