Give state Sen. Kevin Lundberg credit for having the good sense to kill a bad bill — even if he didn’t have the sense to know it was a disaster from the get-go.
Earlier this week, the Berthoud Republican said he intended to introduce a bill that would require parents with minor children to attend counseling and then wait through a “cooling-off period” before filing for divorce.
Not surprisingly, the measure drew scorn from people on the left and the right.
A similar measure, dubbed the “Dr. Laura bill” after it drew support from the radio talk-show host, was killed by Republicans 10 years ago.
“I didn’t support it then, and I don’t support it now,” Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, told us Friday.
Given the lack of support from party leadership, it was not surprising when, later Friday, Lundberg told The Post’s Lynn Bartels that he would not be introducing his bill after all.
Empty symbolism. Sen. Mark Udall’s intentions are laudable in promoting for a second year the idea of Democrats and Republicans sitting together during the State of the Union speech this month. The Colorado Democrat wants to “create an environment to work together” in order to undermine the gridlock that so frustrates many Americans.
But those same Americans are also frustrated by symbolic gestures of bipartisanship that never seem to bear fruit. Congress is no closer today to forging a long-term budget deal that reduces this nation’s burgeoning debt, for example, than it was a year ago at the time of the first State of the Union “date night.” Nor is it clear that this nation can afford to wait until growing political friendships somehow trump dogmatic ideology.
After all, shouldn’t the national interest be enough motivation for politicians to compromise?
A generous gesture. Bill Ritter’s decision to donate leftover campaign money to various charities was a generous final chapter to his gubernatorial tenure. After one term in office, Ritter announced in January 2010 that he would not run for re-election. When all was said and done, he had $300,000 left in his campaign coffers. He asked donors whether they’d like the money returned or given to charities. Most agreed to the latter option. The result was that more than $300,000 went to organizations focused on the homeless, hungry and education. His philanthropy is a breath of fresh air in the cynical world of politics.
Short Takes is compiled by Denver Post editorial writers and expresses the view of the newspaper’s editorial board.
