A special legislative session could resurrect Colorado’s proposed civil union law. Alleged Republican feet-dragging doomed the legislation Tuesday.
Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper supported the concept enough to call for the special session Wednesday. Hickenlooper stressed the “overwhelming need” to consider civil unions, the Washington Post reported.
Gay rights supporters said the proposal has enough support to survive the state House. That support, the New York Times reported, included several Republicans. It had already gotten through the state Senate.
The bill died as lawmakers argued about whether the legislation would be debated on the House floor before Republican Speaker Frank McNulty acknowledged there was an impasse and abruptly called for a recess.
Republicans accused Democrats of forcing a showdown by waiting until the last minute. The tension led to one memorable exchange between Colorado state Rep. Mark Waller, a Republican, and bill co-sponsor, state Rep. Mark Ferradino, a Democrat. Ferradino is also one of four openly gay lawmakers.
“I’ll tell you why this bill moved at a different pace. [It’s] Because the Democrats were playing politics with it,” Waller said.
“We’re willing to work with you to figure out a way to make sure that every bill, tonight, gets an up-or-down vote on it,” Ferradino responded.
The state’s Democrats want a bill that grants same-sex couples similar rights and protections straight couples enjoy. Hickenlooper hinted that he agrees with them. Had the legislation passed Tuesday, he planned to sign it. Personal experiences, in part, prompt Hickenlooper’s commitment to marriage equality.
According to Hickenlooper’s staff, the special session could begin as early as Friday, but might begin on Monday.
“I spent a long time in the restaurant business,” he said during a news conference, where he announced the planned special legislative session. “A lot of people that helped us create that business didn’t have the same rights as everybody else. I had a call yesterday from one of them just to ask, ‘If not now, when?’”
Photo: colorado.gov
