Senate Democrats Shut Down "Colorado Blunt Amendment"

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by: Colorado Pols

“I appreciate how women feel about this but this is about religious freedom,” [GOP Sen. Ellen] Roberts said, venting about the tenor of the debate that, in her view, has been “twisted” into a partisan fight…

“This issue is important in accommodating religious liberty in health care. Government has moved into the health care industry. And the question now is how to do we continue to recognize the freedom of religion?”

Roberts also noted that the 12 Republican men in the chamber were “super-glued to their seats”, admitting that the party had decided to let only its women speak on the memorial. [Pols emphasis]

If you’re curious why Republicans didn’t let the men speak about this, watch them invoking the Nazis over the same resolution a few weeks ago. You won’t be curious anymore.

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In dramatic style, a photo from earlier this morning:

Tempers and props ruled the Colorado Senate during a debate urging Congress to adopt the failed Blunt Amendment that would allow insurance plans to deny contraception coverage on moral and religious grounds.

Republicans were furious that Democratic women unfurled a banner in front of the podium spanning nearly the length of the Senate chamber showing several stop signs to indicate instances in which birth control could be denied. The symbolic measure has no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate but was surprisingly let out of committee.

We can confirm this report that Republicans are apoplectic, even calling for the firing of legislative staffers who were involved in the production of the banner or who helped display it.

That seems kind of silly. In fact, we’d say the biggest reason Senate Memorial 12-003 made it out of committee at all, instead of quietly meeting its end, was a desire on the part of Democrats to make this resolution a very public “war on women” embarrassment for its GOP supporters.

Pictures being worth a thousand words, we declare this mission accomplished.

13 thoughts on “Senate Democrats Shut Down “Colorado Blunt Amendment””

Konola says:

April 27, 2012 at 9:39 pm

Thank you for standing up for all of the women of Colorado, Senate Democrats!

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1. ArapaGOP says:
  
  April 27, 2012 at 9:49 pm
  
  For turning every debate of conscience into character assassination!
  
  Pray tell, why didn’t the three women Republicans go along? Be careful, they just supported you on civil unions! You can’t just demonize them like you would normally…
  
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  1. JeffcoBlue says:
    
    April 27, 2012 at 11:07 pm
    
    They can’t make the Republican men look like assholes every day. They have to pick their battles.
    
    You, on the other hand, manage to make the GOP look bad every time.
    
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  2. ajb says:
    
    April 27, 2012 at 11:13 pm
    
    You might be careful where this stand takes you. It provides a powerful argument for a government-run health care system that doesn’t discriminate based on religion.
    
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  3. Gilpin Guy says:
    
    April 27, 2012 at 11:40 pm
    
    Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant accused Democrats of having one mission in life: “to abort children.”
    
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    1. Colorado Pols says:
      
      April 28, 2012 at 12:11 am
      
      Democrats also want to kill old people with their death panels.
      
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      1. JeffcoBlue says:
        
        April 28, 2012 at 12:28 am
        
        Don’t forget the Islam.
        
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        nancycronk says:
        
        April 28, 2012 at 6:01 am
        
        Just can’t keep up with the memos.
        
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      2. thiokuutoo says:
        
        April 28, 2012 at 11:36 am
        
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  4. MADCO says:
    
    April 28, 2012 at 12:10 am
    
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2. nancycronk says:
  
  April 28, 2012 at 5:54 am
  
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morgancarroll says:

April 28, 2012 at 4:24 pm

The Senate GOP definitely put their best face forward that they could on the measure, but people should just realize that what this measure does is allow any insurance company, any employer, any health care provider to deny any health care service for any (undefined) moral or religious belief without notice or disclosure to patients. While the bill is spun as respecting religious freedom it actually encroaches on personal and religious freedoms. And 100% of the public examples of the care that might be denied are those impacting women, even though it really could impact anyone and everyone. I am glad I live in a state that respects women, privacy and religious liberty and defeats extreme measures like this.

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1. DavidThi808 says:
  
  April 28, 2012 at 10:34 pm
  
  They could then say no healthcare.
  
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