“We have reached an impasse,” Republican House Speaker Frank
McNulty said. “It is unfortunate that there will be items that will not receive
consideration by the House tonight because of this impasse.”
Then chants of “shame on you” erupted
from gay rights supporters sitting in the Colorado House.
 |
| McNulty |
McNulty told reporters that lawmakers had reached an impasse
and civil unions would die along with several other bills, including an
overhaul of school discipline policies and setting a blood-level marijuana
limit for drivers.
The bill had already cleared a key hurdle Tuesday when
Republican Representative Cheri Gerou joined Democrats to advance the measure
out of its final committee for consideration by the full chamber.
 |
| Gerou |
Gerou said, “This
isn’t a partisan conversation. This is, in my mind, this is a basic human
rights conversation.”
Apparently, though, not all the Republicans in Colorado
fight for human rights.
So, how did this happen? I mean, enough Republicans
supported the bill to see it through to passage, and yet it died before ever
reaching the floor for a vote.
Filibuster. The GOP filibustered long and hard—because they
do love the sound of their own voices—forcing the bill to be shunted aside
without a vote.
Democrats sought to block that GOP filibuster when it became
clear that Republicans were talking at length about other measures, delaying
any action on civil unions. And how did the Repoublicans respond to that Democratic challenge? They abruptly stopped working.
They, in effect, took their ball and went home, rather than stay and discuss a bill that seemed destined to pass, easily, and was certain to be signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper.
Unfortunately, for now, Republicans control
the House by a 33-32 margin, even though enough of their members supported the
legislation to pass it.
That’s the GOP. And, hopefully, the people of Colorado will wise up and vote
those human rights obstructionists out of office.
UPDATE:
UPDATE:
It seems that Colorado Governor John
Hickenlooper has announced that he will call lawmakers into a special legislative session in order to resolve that Civil Unions bill, along
with several other bills.
Hickenlooper's announcement was sparked by what he called an
"overwhelming need" to discuss the civil unions measure. It died late
Tuesday on legislative maneuvering from the GOP. He will announce the details of the special session today.
Republican House Speaker
Frank McNulty did not immediately respond or comment. The Democrats have accused him of
refusing to call the bill for a vote, even though it had enough support to
pass.
Hickenlooper's announcement came at about the same time that President Barack Obama announced he now supports same-sex marriage.
The tide is changing.
It's the air, it's too thin in Colorado, impacts the brain cells.
ReplyDeleteGood for the Governor! Hold their feet to the fire! Make them actually do what they were elected to do.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, my father has pet names for my mother, and one of them is "Mrs. Hickenlooper". When my father met my mother's dad (my grandfather) for the first time, my grandfather could not pronounce my father's last name properly. (You know my last name and know it is quite unusual and by no means easy to pronounce). So my grandfather called him Hickenlooper or Hoodlehopper or Humperdink or any sort of long complex name beginning with an H. So that's how my mom got her pet name :-)
You know how cranky those republicans get when they miss their naps...
ReplyDeleteGovernor Hickenlooper appears to be a good guy, I applaud him.
Hey Cubby, if you think your last name is bad, think of mine.
ReplyDeleteIn any case - isn't that Musgrave woman one of Colorado's national reps? She's wing nut Repug too.
And do the Republicans really think they are currying favor with the electorate by being obstructionist?