February 27, 2011 09:01 PM UTC

Ayn Rand Made Me Vote Against Colorado Jobs

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• by: Colorado Pols

Last week, we talked about a bill headed for the House Finance Committee, House Bill 1129, which would have tipped bidding preference in state contracts to bids that use domestic materials and labor, as well as veteran-owned companies. The latest version of the “Buy American” bills we’ve seen a few times in recent years, HB11-1129 was designed with previous objections removed–this version was written to be compatible with free trade treaties, for example, a big (and valid) objection lodged against the bill in prior years. But the latest version died just the same last week in the GOP-controlled House Finance Committee.

If you’re looking for a good reason why this latest bill was killed by Republicans on the House Finance Committee, though, we’re sorry to tell you you won’t find it in the audio of the hearing. Go ahead and try to figure out what Rep. Kevin Priola’s objection was from this audio clip:

Can’t see the audio player? Click here.

Or, tell us what Rep. Libby Szabo is talking about, um, at all:

Can’t see the audio player? Click here.

Both Rep. Priola and Rep. Szabo say that “the government” should not be “picking winners and losers.” Neither of them seem to want to articulate what that actually means. Rep. Szabo says “the market” should pick the winners and losers. Rep. Priola has a really awesome point to make about Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, but sadly, we don’t get to hear it.

We’re going to get forced Atlas Shrugged comparisons in every House legislative hearing for the rest of the year, aren’t we? No chance they’ll stop if we promise to watch the movie?

Bad fiction aside, both of them seem untroubled by the fact that this bill was about the awarding of state government contracts. It was about “picking winners and losers,” because that’s what happens with contract bids. What’s more, the main provision of the bill, preference for Colorado workers, kicked in in the event of a tied low bid–“the market” was still very much in control. Once you get past one or two very simple questions, it becomes painfully obvious that they are simply not offering a rational basis for opposing this bill. It’s just a bunch of mindless jargon.

But we can tell you that House Bill 1129 will live on in the form of attacks next year on legislators who opposed it, especially top targets like Priola and Szabo. The weak minded talking points they relied on to kill the bill might not work against mailers charging they voted “against Colorado jobs” in clear terms. And the fact checkers won’t be able to call it untrue.

Better hope that’s a really great movie.