Colorado GOP legislature kills civil union bill just before midnight

Or declared an impasse.  Whatever.  I want to barf.

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20582571/fallout-legislative-implosion-over-colorado-civil-union-bill

 Lawmakers and legislative junkies today sifted through the aftermath of a civil-unions meltdown that killed more than 30 bills in its wake, led to talk of a special session and darkened what normally is a jovial final day of the session.

Today's focus is likely to move to the Democratic-controlled Senate to see whether some of the bills that died on the clock Tuesday can be tacked on to other measures that are still alive.

"We'll try to be the adults in the building," said Senate President Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, "but we won't be able to save everything."

Shaffer said lawmakers are particularly concerned about a bill that funds $20 million in water projects statewide and a school discipline measure.

But civil unions can't be saved, which has upset Republicans and Democrats alike. One Colorado, the largest gay-rights group in the state, immediately began soliciting donations in preparation for the November election.

Earlier Gov. John Hickenlooper said it was too early to talk about a special session for civil unions, but that was before other bills became collateral damage. It's unknown where he stands on the issue now, but some lawmakers support the idea.

House Republicans filibustered in committee and on the floor Tuesday before Speaker Frank McNulty of Highlands Ranch called a two-hour recess. When he returned around 11 p.m. it was to announce an impasse, which meant the death of the civil-union measure although the votes were there to pass it.

Supporters in the gallery were livid and chanted, "Shame on you! Shame on you!"

Both the Senate and the House have late starts today ? 10 and 11 a.m. respectively ? but by the law the session must end by midnight tonight. Bills can't be debated and voted on within the same 24-hour period, which is why civil unions needed to be heard on the House floor Tuesday.

Mario Nicolais, spokesman for Coloradans for Freedom, the GOP group formed solely to push for the passage of civil unions, watched the defeat in agony. As a Republican, and an admitted hard-core partisan, Nicolais said he is concerned about the fallout in November.

Republicans have a one-seat edge in the House and are trying to win back the Senate from Democrats.

"I'm more concerned about the Republican majority in the fall than I am about civil unions passing," Nicolais said.

"Civil unions will pass at some point. That's going to happen. But I think people are going to very upset at how this happened. I think it's going to resonate and I worry about that as a Republican."

In fact, One Colorado started a fundraising drive Tuesday night.

"Although November seems far away, our work to change the legislature starts today. And you can be a part of electing a pro-equality majority," the e-mail said. "With a gift of $25, $50, or $100 ? you can have a huge impact on electing pro-equality lawmakers in November. Click here to make your contribution."

The bill's death also infuriated Tim Gill, a Democrat gay activist who has used his immense wealth to champion gay causes and get liked-minded candidates elected to state legislatures across the country, notably in Colorado.

"It is unfortunate that Republican leaders chose to ignore the many personal stories of committed, loving couples who simply want to be treated fairly under our laws," Gill, of Denver, said today in a statement. "Using parliamentary gimmicks to kill the civil unions bill does not represent the Colorado that we all know and love."

But Alan Philp, former director of the Colorado Republican Party, said he believes the fallout will actually be against Democrats for pushing a divisive social issue instead of focusing on jobs and the economy.

He said that's what happened to Colorado Republicans in 2004 when, with Gill's help, they lost control of the legislature for the first time since 1962. Republicans won back the House in 2010.