House and Senate Republicans led by the GOP's Sen. Josh Penry unveiled a proposal today to shore up the state's backlogged transportation needs--without raising taxes, changing the constitution or staging a costly campaign for a statewide ballot issue.

Republicans say their "Plus-One Plan"--which also sets aside funding to back up the state budget in an economic downturn--is a more realistic alternative to a pending Democrat proposal that would ask voters in November to scrap the state's constitutional spending limits.

"This is a smart way to get at the same end without raising taxes and without a fall campaign," Penry, of Grand Junction, told reporters at a Capitol news conference.

Plus-One would tap into annual funding increases for schools that are currently mandated by the constitution but that are scheduled to end next year. The GOP plan would redirect those funds to transportation and a "rainy day" fund for the budget. The Republicans released data compiled by nonpartisan legislative staff showing the GOP plan will raise nearly $3.8 billion over the next decade. Some $2.5 billion of the money would go to transportation and more than $1 billion to a reserve fund.

"You take the budget freedom that (the GOP plan) creates and invest it in transportation and other needs," Penry said.

The rival Democrat proposal attempts to remove constitutional limits on the amount of tax revenue the state can keep. Republicans say that amounts to a de facto tax increase because the constitution now requires any revenue that exceeds the limits to be refunded to taxpayers.

Observers say proponents of the Democrat proposal also would have to raise millions of dollars in campaign contributions to make their pitch to the public if their proposal were placed on the November ballot.

The Republican lawmakers said their approach sidesteps the complexity and controversy of the Democrat proposal by leaving the state's constitution untouched, instead vesting budget authority over the targeted funding stream in the legislature itself. If at any point the legislature needed greater flexibility, it would be free under the GOP plan to suspend the additional funding to transportation or the rainy-day fund.

"This is a real solution for the real challenges Coloradans face," said the House's Rep. Frank McNulty, a Highlands Ranch Republican. Said Republican Sen. Greg Brophy, of Wray, "It's another example of Republicans showing that we'll come up with innovative ways to live within our means."

Added Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, of Yuma, "It preserves (constitutional spending limits), and it does it without a tax increase."

Noting that Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly, the GOP lawmakers said they will appeal to Democrat legislative leadership to embrace the new Republican alternative.

In a joint statement issued to the press, the Republicans said:

"It is late in the session, but if the leadership in the House and Senate truly wants budget reform, we've got a plan that will give them budget reform--without taxes, without repealing Amendment 23, without referendums or initiatives."