Colorado Lawmakers Return To Work Monday For Special Session
DENVER (CBS4) - Colorado lawmakers will return to work Monday for a special session ordered by Gov. John Hickenlooper.
The civil unions bill will take center stage but lawmakers will also consider six other bills.
The special session was sparked by House's inability to take a vote on the civil unions measure before the regular session ended last Wednesday night.
"It's important for folks to understand that this is reset. We have a reset on bill titles; people get to introduce bills perhaps that weren't introduced during regular session as long as they fit underneath the call," Republican Speaker of the House Frank McNulty said. "And there's also a reset on where bills are assigned and what committees look like."
"He knows the members in his caucus that support civil unions, and if he stacks a committee of members that are all opposed to civil unions, and then sends civil unions to that committee for a hearing, I don't think that lives up to the idea that when he says, 'This bill going to get fair hearing,' " said Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.
Among the other bills the governor asked lawmakers to address is one to fund 14 water conservation projects worth $55 million. Another would set limits for driving under the influence of marijuana.
