EDITORIAL: Finally, people matter more than wolves

In the shadow of Colorado’s majestic Rockies, where the balance of nature and human endeavor often clashes, the state legislature has taken a principled stand. By passing Senate Bill 25B-005 during last week’s special session, lawmakers wisely reallocated $264,268 from the beleaguered gray wolf reintroduction program to the Colorado Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise.

This modest yet meaningful shift prioritizes human welfare over a costly ecological experiment that has veered far off course. In a session marred by confused ideology and unfulfilled promises, this bill emerges as the most productive outcome — a rare beacon of bipartisan consensus in service to the people.

The wolf reintroduction, mandated by Proposition 114 in 2020, was pitched as a means of restoring ecological harmony west of the Continental Divide. The bill prohibits using general fund dollars for acquiring or releasing more wolves in fiscal year 2025-26, redirecting those funds to health care while allowing money for livestock compensation and conflict resolution.

This isn’t a wholesale abandonment of wolf reintroduction, but a necessary pause that acknowledges the program’s failures.

The wolf program’s costs have spiraled beyond projections. Colorado Parks and Wildlife estimated annual expenses around $1 million, but spending hit $3 million to relocate just 30 wolves over two years. That’s a $2.2 million overrun as reported by CBS News Colorado in June.

Another media analysis pegged costs at $4.8 million by November, including $1.6 million for staffing and $410,000 in rancher reimbursements. These figures, triple initial estimates as reported by Colorado Politics, strain a state budget facing shortfalls.

Beyond finances, the program has sown discord as livestock depredations have plagued ranchers from the start. In May, Parks and Wildlife lethally removed a wolf after chronic attacks in Pitkin County, following injuries to cows and calves. The Copper Creek pack’s repeated predation led legislators to declare the initiative “in trouble” in July, citing budget overruns and political interference.

Western Slope communities, from ranchers to environmental stewards, decry broken promises, with the Wolf Coalition highlighting failed implementation and unnecessary wolf deaths. Voters envisioned balance, not this burden on families who steward the land.

Redirecting funds to the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise aligns with the purported values of the Democratic Party — compassion for all regardless of background — that controls every component of state government.

Established in 2020, the enterprise subsidizes coverage for those lacking eligibility for federal aid by funding reinsurance with the goal of lowering premiums and expanding access.

As Mathematica’s 2023 evaluation notes, it has driven down costs for individual market enrollees, aiding working families amid rising health expenses.

In a state where affordability remains a challenge, this infusion should bolster programs that save lives, echoing our shared reverence for human dignity across faiths and ideologies.

The special session proved largely counterproductive. Efforts to amend the groundbreaking AI law collapsed amid insufficient support. Property tax bills stalled, leaving homeowners in limbo.

Yet, SB 005, initially bolder in pausing reintroductions but scaled back in compromise, sailed through with broad sponsorship from both parties. It exemplifies governance at its best: setting aside differences to put people first.

Colorado’s soul cherishes its wild heritage. It should, but never at the expense of humans who form and fund government to serve their best interests.

This reallocation honors the people of Colorado, ensuring resources nurture health over divisive ideological agendas. Let’s hope this bipartisan progress inspires future acts of legislative wisdom.

The Gazette Editorial Board

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