Republicans to Ritter: Cut government, don’t raise taxes

DENVER (AP) - Republican lawmakers are calling on the governor to cut about $320 million from the state’s budget instead of raising taxes on businesses.

GOP senators said Thursday they’ll introduce a bill calling for $17.8 million in cuts this year - about 0.24 percent of the budget. Next year they want $306.5 million in cuts - 4.4 percent of the budget.

They’re not detailing where the cuts should come from and want Gov. Bill Ritter to work out the details. They say he should focus on cutting payroll by lowering salaries or even laying off workers. But they say teachers should be off-limits.

Democrats dismissed the proposal as political theater and ridiculed Republicans for not coming up with a list of cuts themselves.