Kirkmeyer To Replace Rankin On Colorado Legislature's Budget-Writing Committee

By Sara Wilson, Colorado Newsline

December 9, 2022

State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, a Republican from Brighton, will replace Sen. Bob Rankin on the Joint Budget Committee following Rankin’s resignation in the new year.

Senate Republicans elected Kirkmeyer to the position by acclamation on Friday. She was the only nominee for the position.

“I deeply appreciate your support and your vote of confidence that I can handle this job,” Kirkmeyer said Friday. “To all my colleagues … There are areas that I know you are all experts in and I would appreciate it if you would attend JBC meetings. Give me information and tell me what’s going on.”

Kirkmeyer will be one of six members on the JBC, which is in charge of crafting the state budget. The group has already started work on the upcoming budget for the next fiscal year.

Kirkmeyer ran this year to represent Colorado’s 8th Congressional District but was defeated by Democrat Yadira Caraveo. Her current term in the state Senate ends in 2025.

She will replace Rankin after he resigns from his position on Jan. 10. Rankin has served in the Legislature since 2012 and on the JBC since 2014. He was not present during Friday’s election.

“We all owe a debt of gratitude to him for his service. He has served with distinction and honorably for many years in the House and the Senate and, most notably, on the Joint Budget Committee,” Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said. “We as a caucus have been fortunate for those services.”

The Republican caucus also elected Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa to serve as minority whip.

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