Let us pray, but first let us argue.
Several Democrats took exception Tuesday to a rule change that requires the House to come to order before the morning prayer instead of after.
They questioned the need for changing a procedure in place for decades.
Rep. Matt Jones, D-Louisville, is a freshman this year, but he served another stint in the House long ago.
“When I got down here 24 years ago . . . we had the prayer before we did roll call, and I thought it was a good compromise,” he said. “I don’t see any reason to change this. It blurs the separation of church and state.”
Rabbis, Catholic priests and Baptist ministers have delivered the morning prayer.
“It doesn’t prescribe the kind of prayer,” House Majority Leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument, said of the rules change. “We have a variety of beliefs that come here to this body, some of which I may personally agree or disagree with.”
Stephens said the rule change allows Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, some “discretion.”
The signal the rules change was going to easily pass came when Minority Leader Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, said he didn’t have any concerns with it. He earlier said he’s socially more conservative than some caucus members.
The rule change passed on a 40-25 vote. Republicans have a 33-32 edge over Democrats.
