The Polls and the MSM can say what they want. Gay Marriage still loses at State level.
Civil Unions Bill Dies in Colorado By DAN FROSCH
DENVER — A bill that would have allowed civil unions for same-sex couples in Colorado died late Tuesday night after lawmakers reached an impasse on whether it would be heard on the floor of the House of Representatives before the legislative session concluded on Wednesday.
The dramatic end to the civil unions legislation was a blow to its supporters, who had likely mustered enough votes, including those of several Republicans, to pass the bill, which Gov. John W. Hickenlooper had said he intended to sign.
Supporters accused Republican leadership of purposefully stalling by taking too much time to discuss other legislation Tuesday, rather than bringing civil unions up for debate. The bill, which had already passed the State Senate, needed to be heard on the House floor before midnight.
“Although a clear majority of Colorado voters support civil unions — and a clear majority of our Representatives agree with them — House leadership killed the bill, proving just how out of touch they are with everyday Coloradans,” said Brad Clark, executive director of One Colorado, a statewide gay and lesbian advocacy group that supported the bill.
Members of the Republican Legislative leadership in Colorado, who are opposed to civil unions, argued that Democrats had forced a political showdown by waiting until the end of the session to push the legislation through. And in the session’s final days, the House speaker, Frank McNulty, a Republican from Highlands Ranch, warned that the bill might not be brought up in time for a full hearing.
At one point on Tuesday night, Democratic lawmakers tried through a procedural motion to halt the debate on other bills after it seemed that Republicans were drawing out their comments. Legislators appealed to reporters to plead their case.
“I’ll tell you why this bill moved at a different pace. Because the Democrats were playing politics with it,” said Representative Mark Waller, a Republican from Colorado Springs. “If this bill had come over two months ago, or even one month ago, we would not be in this circumstance right now. Civil unions would have its hearing”
Representative Mark Ferrandino of Denver, one of four openly gay state legislators here, and a sponsor of the bill, then turned toward Mr. Waller, saying: “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.”
But Republicans responded by calling a recess, and the impasse was unresolved when the midnight deadline arrived. Several other pieces of legislation were also not heard in time.
The demise of the civil union bill came at the end of an emotionally charged day, after it cleared a final legislative committee with the vote of a key Republican lawmaker. Earlier Tuesday, supporters had rallied on the steps of the capitol, urging Republicans to schedule civil unions for a full debate on the House floor.
“What is in question is not time, but courage,” said State Senator Michael Johnston, a Democrat from Denver.
Also on Tuesday, North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriages, partnerships and civil unions.
nytimes.com |
