A measure asking voters to make it harder to amend the state constitution easily passed the House Friday, despite earlier concerns from Republicans that labor leaders were trying to peel off votes.
The measure passed 52-12 with two Democrats — Dan Pabon and Crisanta Duran, both of Denver — joining 10 Republicans in opposing what has been dubbed “Son of Ref O.”
Under the measure, voters in 2012 would decide whether to increase the threshold for passing constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60 percent.
Pabon said he believes the timing is wrong for a 2012 vote.
“I think there’s still a lot of anger out there against government,” he said.
The measure received the support of 23 of the House’s 33 Republicans, including Rep. Spencer Swalm, of Centennial. He provided a historical context of the petition process and lamented the current situation.
“What we’re doing now is designing our constitution by 30-second TV commercials,” he said. “It’s preposterous.”
Colorado has the lowest minimum threshold to change its constitution among the states.
The Republicans who voted against Senate Concurrent Resolution 1: David Balmer, Centennial; Don Beezley, Broomfield; Brian Del Grosso, Loveland; Chris Holbert, Parker; Janak Joshi, Colorado Springs; Marsha Looper, Calhan; B.J. Nikkel, Loveland; Robert Ramirez, Westminster; Amy Stephens, Monument; and Libby Szabo, Arvada.
“I think we need to recognize the level of freedom and liberty that we have allowed the electorate in Colorado to have,” Holbert said.
Before the House convened Friday, Minority Leader Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, verbally tussled with Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. Pace was upset that McNulty had shared with The Denver Post conversations they had regarding labor’s concerns about the bill.
Those concerns, that the measure needs work, are why Duran said she opposed it.
The measure must return to the Senate for reconsideration as it was amended in the House, but that’s not expected to be a problem as the Senate on Monday approved the measure 25-9. Six of the 15 Republicans joined with the 19 Democrats present to support it.
The measure does not require the governor’s signature because it is being referred to the ballot by the legislature.
Backers of a higher threshold point to conflicting measures dealing with finances and taxation that have been put in the constitution. And some measures, on pig farms and bear hunting, for example, shouldn’t be in the constitution but are, said Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton.
The legislature in 2008 sent a similar measure to the ballot. But Referendum O failed, in part because there was little money put up behind it. Business groups that year were occupied with labor issues.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
