February 25, 2009 09:23 PM UTC

Physician, Chortle Thyself

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Rocky Mountain News reports on the demise of an early pet project of Governor Bill Ritter’s.

Senate Republicans are positively giddy that a drug prescription bill Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter touted in his first year is now being repealed.

Senate Bill 1 in 2007 directed a state agency to negotiate discounts on generic drugs for up to 264,000 Coloradans who don’t have health insurance and whose income is less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

But only about 40 people have taken advantage of the program, Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood, said Tuesday.

“This is a red line through the Colorado Promise,” chortled Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield… [Pols emphasis]

The Senate on Tuesday gave initial approval to Senate Bill 132 by Boyd, which cuts the number of employees for the program from four full-time positions to one part-time spot. That person will answer questions about where people can get cheaper or free drugs.

Much of the money allocated for the program was never used, Boyd said.

There really wasn’t much for anybody to oppose in 2007 when this bill passed effortlessly with lots of bipartisan support. But it didn’t work out so well, the money is sitting largely unused, so pulling the plug is a smart decision for all concerned. Ritter doesn’t really lose face for having tried something on a vital issue, and even if it didn’t work it evidently didn’t cost much to try.

And by the way, Shawn Mitchell voted for SB07-001. So what’s with the, ah, “chortling,” Senator? Maybe it’s okay, though, a little trademark GOP amnesia does kind of polish this story off nicely.