The legislative session hasn’t even started yet and newly appointed Rep. Douglas Bruce is already vexing House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.
Bruce, who was selected by El Paso County Republicans this month to fill a vacant House seat, is refusing to officially take office until Jan. 14 — not on Jan. 9 when the legislature convenes.
For missing the first few days of the session, the Republican anti-tax crusader will serve less than half a term. That distinction means Bruce can seek re-election for an additional two years.
“Two days of ceremonies will cost me two years at the back end,” Bruce said this week. “Democrats are frustrated that I figured that out. Everybody that wishes I weren’t there at all and would like to try to figure out a way to minimize my stay.”
Romanoff, D-Denver, said he is “urging” Bruce to take a seat with his colleagues Jan. 9.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for him to try and game the system,” he said.
The half-term precedent was set by former Democratic Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald — ironic since Republicans sued over it and now Bruce is using it to his advantage.
Republicans tried to block Fitz-Gerald from seeking re-election in 2006. She took office in 2000 to fill the unfinished four-year term of Sen. Tony Grampsas, who had died, and was re-elected in 2002.
The constitution limits state senators to two four-year terms and the Republican lawsuit focused on whether Fitz-Gerald had served more than half of Grampsas’ unfinished term. In 1990, when Colorado voters added term limits to the constitution, they said half a term counts as a full term.
A Denver district judge ruled in Fitz-Gerald’s favor in 2006 and she was re-elected.
Jennifer Brown: 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com
