After Governor Bill Ritter directed Colorado's governmental department heads to cut money wherever they can to address the $384 million budget shortfall, House Speaker Terrance Carroll fretted yesterday: "We've cut to the bone. What we're talking about is cutting into the bone marrow." Ritter's budget director issued a memo telling department heads to cut 10 percent from their 2009-10 budgets, the fiscal year that begins just days from now, on July 1, notes The Denver Post [2]. Cuts should focus on "eliminating the least efficient and effective programs, rather than continuing to shave resources from existing programs." And in a press conference, Ritter admitted that state employees could lose jobs or be forced to take additional days of unpaid leave. House Minority Leader Mike May, a Republican, called Ritter's actions "a good first step" toward addressing the state's multi-year budget crisis, but Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, a Republican who is considering a campaign for governor in 2010, accused Ritter of "putting off making tough decisions" for political reasons, according to Fox31 [3]. The state won't eliminate sales-tax exemptions, writes the Denver Business Journal [4], of the state's money problems. Ritter says he will have a final budget put together later this summer, according to The Pueblo Chieftain [5].