March 25, 2011 03:50 AM UTC

3 R's Help Civil Unions Clear Final Senate Hurdle

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• by: IndyNinja

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

UPDATE #2, 3-25-11: The House Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on SB 11-172 at 1:30PM on March 31. -IndyNinja

UPDATE 3-25-11: The bill was introduced in the House this morning and assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. Currently, only 5 of the committee’s 11 members have expressed support of the bill (The five D’s). However, according to House sponsor, Mark Ferrandino, There are House Republicans who have confidentially given him their support, so we’ll just have to see what happens. So far, Republican Representatives Conti, Looper, and Priola have indicated support. -IndyNinja

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Senate Bill 11-172 has passed the Senate with an overwhelming 23-12 vote. Three Republicans (Roberts, Spence, and White) voted yes, increasing the spread in the Democrat controlled Senate.

Here’s yesterday’s CPols diary about the bill

Here’s a link to CNN’s coverage.

While the statements from Senate Democrats today continued to be compelling. Sen. Linda Newell, a Democrat from Littleton, lost her composure momentarily and shed some tears while talking about her brother, who didn’t “come out” until he was 50. Her vote, she said, was for her brother.

But the real surprise of the afternoon (for me at least) was the heart-felt and powerful speeches from the Senate Republicans who voted yes on the Bill.

More after the cut…

Republican Senator Jean White of Hayden said,

“It occurred to me that if I did not come to the mic in support of this bill today, that I would be voting quietly for it but not having the courage to stand up for what is right… My vote today is for love and respect and commitment. My vote today is for my niece and my nephew.”

Reports the Grand Junction Sentinel…

“For me… I believe the moral debate about whether this is right or wrong belongs in our faith communities, not in this building and not in this chamber,” Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, said. “You need those children to know that they will be cared for. My core beliefs are that I believe strongly in protecting all people’s individuals rights, freedoms and liberties, and for me this bill advances that.”

NECN.com did a great job of capturing the tone of the debate.

I particularly appreciated the civility of Senate Republicans who opposed the bill (even if I strongly disagree with their approach to governing). Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Weld County, summed it up well during his opposition speech.

“Many times, we tragically fail in speaking truths with gentleness, with grace and with respect. I’m opposed to the civil unions bill for many reasons… I’m a follower of Jesus. And I believe following Jesus is the way through which we can run the race and finish strong. Marriage is the fundamental institution that holds our society together and my Christian beliefs.”

My favorite Senator, Morgan Carroll of Aurora, had this to say:

“Giving equal rights is not a zero-sum game,” she said. “No one loses. Your marriage is your marriage. Your marriage will not be, and no one’s marriage will be any weaker the day after this bill passes. Who you love will not be any different. Who you worship, how you think about life, the rights you enjoy, by adding equality to all of our residents – no one loses.”

The bill now heads to the House where Speaker McNulty has assured the sponsor, Rep Mark Ferrandino, as well as reporters, constituents, and… well… everybody, that the bill will have a “fair hearing”. But what that means remains to be seen.

Based on the House Republicans that have publicly expressed support for the bill, there are several committees in the House in which the bill will almost certainly pass. But there are others where it’s fate would be less certain, if not outright grim.

If the bill should reach the floor of the House, however, it will pass. With all but 3 of the House Democrats as sponsors (the other three have all commented on the record in support of the bill) and multiple Republicans on record supporting it, the only real test left is whether the House Speaker will listen to the 70+% of Coloradoans who support legal recognition for same-sex couples.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not point out the pattern in the votes. All three of the female Republicans (and the fact that there are only 3 out of 15 Senate Republicans is a story in and of itself) voted yes on the bill and all 12 male Senate Republicans voted no. I will let you all draw your own conclusions on that point.