DENVER – Tempers flared in the state House of Representatives last week as Democrats pushed through a pair of resolutions aimed to send a message to the Trump administration regarding Colorado values.
House Joint Resolution 1013 called for a rescission of Trump’s immigration ban, and House Resolution 1005 reaffirmed Democratic support for reproductive rights.
“We are hearing about those things constantly right now. The emotions outside the building, the fear, are very, very high, and we felt it was worthwhile as state legislators to be making a statement as elected officials,” said House Majority Leader KC Becker, D-Boulder.
But motives from both sides were questioned, and accusations leveled that legislators’ time should be devoted to resolving Colorado issues.
“If they have issues and they want to fix them, they can run a bill and go through the process, but this is just partisan gamesmanship,” said House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, R-Franktown.
But for Democrats, the resolutions represent their constituents’ concerns and make a stand in the face of threats from the GOP in the federal government and at the state Capitol.
“They’re always saying they’re about liberty and the Constitution, well, only when it pertains to the rights that they want. Everybody else – they’re good about destroying their constitutional rights to reproductive choice for example, and I think that we need to call a spade a spade when we have too,” said Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton.
In many ways, the resolutions, which are presented to the whole chamber, are more impactful than rallies or news conferences they allow for discussion and debate, Becker said.
But the debate can devolve into mudslinging, which many Republicans felt happened last Tuesday when Democrats took a stand on immigration.
“Some of the comments that were made were just so outlandish, and quite frankly out of line,” Neville said.
This led representatives from both parties to make statements trying to bridge the divide
Rep. Yeulin Willett, R-Grand Junction, said, “These are tough issues, but folks, let’s not call out and personalize because we differ on some of these issues.”
On the Democratic side, Rep. Johnathan Singer, D-Longmont, said, “I heard some things from my side of the aisle today (Tuesday) that were awfully close to something I’m very concerned about in this body, and that’s that we do not impugn each other’s motives.”
The political displays have spilled onto the steps of the Capitol in the past two weeks as demonstrators rallied for women’s rights, the Affordable Care Act and the Colorado Health Exchange.
For the Democrats, that represents a display of solidarity in the face of a threat to values they hold precious.
“People are shocked in terms of what’s happened in our country. Americans are good people, and America is something we treasure, and we are not going to let the America we know, we’ve strived for, be belittled and worn down to a place where it’s a country of inclusivity for a few and not all,” said Senate Minority Leader Lucía Guzmán, D-Denver.
The sentiment was echoed in the House.
“(Presidential Donald) Trump is forging a new attitude that is not inclusive, is not one that seeks input and analysis, and that’s dangerous, and I think we have a responsibility to be speaking out,” Becker said.
Republicans, in the House at least, believe the fears are overblown.
“I think you’re seeing a bit of some fear-mongering coming from the other side as a way to try to get in the way of any advancements that the president actually wants to do to improve people’s lives, but that’s all that it is, is fear-mongering,” Neville said.
Regardless, both sides agree the concern comes from activity at the federal level and it is influencing politics in Colorado.
Gov. John Hickenlooper told news media on Wednesday that he is worried about what is going on at the nation’s Capitol and how it is influencing the General Assembly.
“We’ve got some really difficult issues to find common ground on in Colorado, and having the model in Washington be so divisive isn’t going to help,” he said.