There’s mounting political pressure for the governor to call lawmakers back this summer to finish what some consider unfinished business.

Rumors of a special session were flying on the final day of the 2016 legislative session last week, but Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper has remained noncommittal on the idea.

“I’m trying to talk to all of the interested parties to see where we failed and if there has been an change in their positions,” Hickenlooper said Friday. “If we can define a compromise, then it makes sense. I won’t call (a special session) if we are all still in the same place.”

Several issues were left on the chopping block at Sine Die, the constitutionally required last day of a 120 day session.

But none as important to chambers of commerce, business groups, hospital associations and leaders of higher education than removing hundreds of millions of dollars out of the general fund and putting it into a separate account. The money in question is generated by a fee on hospitals that is basically a pass-through to garner matching dollars from the federal government to fund Medicaid programs. Removing the money from the general fund would allow the state to retain millions it otherwise must refund to taxpayers under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

Mike Kopp, executive director of Colorado Concern, is among those calling for a special session. His group, an alliance of top business and civic leaders throughout the state, placed an ad in the state’s five largest newspapers, including The Gazette, asking the governor to call lawmakers back.

“This is about more than simply a hospital issue,” Kopp said. “Our hope is that we can create an opportunity to find efficiencies and cost savings in programs that will continue to escalate in cost. A single-purpose legislative session will bring a laser focus to that issue.”

But Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, has been resolute in his opposition to the plan, sending a bill to implement the strategy to a committee in the final days of session that killed it.

Cadman said in the final days of session that Democrats were unwilling to address the key issue of huge increases in Medicaid spending in negotiations on the issue.

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Contact Megan Schrader

719-286-0644

Twitter: @CapitolSchrader

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Gazette reporter Wayne Heilman contributed to this story

Andy Cross