January 23, 2015 01:25 AM UTC

Civil Union-Marriage Reconciliation Torpedoed

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• by: notaskinnycook

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Sen. Pat Steadman's bill to reconcile the old civil union regulations with the new marriage law was sunk yesterday by Republicans on the Senate State Affairs Committee. There didn't seem to be a good reason for their action, other than not wanting to allow any enabling legislation of a status of which they disapprove.

As things stand, a couple who entered a civil union in Colorado and later married, would need to dissolve the civil union and the marriage separately should the relationship go sour. I suspect that this inequity in the law will be rectified by one of those "darned activist judges" the first time such a couple runs into this problem and sues the state over it. How much will this cost the state to defend?  

Also, currently, if a couple with a legal marriage from another state moves to Colorado, their relationship is recognized as a civil union; even if they have a legal marriage from another state. Sen. Steadman's bill would also have rectified this lack of full comity, which is extended to mixed-sex marriages. This will most likely go to court as well, costing the state more legal fees. And the  Republicans say Democrats are fiscally irresponsible.