June 13, 2006 08:00 AM UTC

Owens Says He'll Call Special Session on Illegal Immigration

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• by: Colorado Pols

First Attorney General John Suthers said he’d petition the Colorado Supreme Court to allow the illegal immigration measure on the ballot, and now Governor Bill Owens says he’ll call a special session on illegal immigration if the courts don’t overturn the ruling. From The Denver Channel:

Gov. Bill Owens, considering a request by Republican lawmakers, said Tuesday that he will call a special session if the Colorado Supreme Court does not reconsider its decision and put on the November ballot an initiative would deny most state services to illegal immigrants. Attorney General John Suthers also said will ask the Colorado Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

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“Yesterday, our State Supreme Court ignored years of legal precedent and decided that the public should not have a say in one of the most important public policy debates of our time. In my opinion, the court’s decision was inconsistent, it was inappropriate, and yes, I even believe it was arrogant,” Owens said.

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On Monday, the state Supreme Court disqualified the proposal, saying it addressed more than one topic, a violation of the state constitution. Suthers and Owens said the court previously had accepted a similar measure…

…House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said voters deserve a chance to weigh in on the issue.

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“The state Supreme Court illegally denied access to the ballot on an issue I think enjoys overwhelming support. The question is access to the ballot. To have that taken away by the courts needs to be resolved,” May said. “If the Supreme Court will not let the voice of the people be heard through the initiative process, we are compelled to act, as the elected representatives of the people, to allow their voices to be heard through the referendum process.”

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It would take a two-thirds vote in both houses, which are now controlled by Democrats, to get it on the ballot. A group called Defend Colorado Now has been gathering petitions to put the proposed constitutional amendment — Initiative 55 — on the ballot. Supporters have said they will ask the court to reconsider. They cannot start over with a new proposal to meet the court’s objections because a key deadline has passed.