Colorado Republicans Vote to Kill Civil Unions Bill in House Panel
House panel kills bill on civil unions on 6-5 party-line vote
By Lynn Bartels
A state House committee Thursday night killed a civil-unions bill that would have given gay couples many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.
The bill failed, as expected, on a party-line vote, with six Republicans voting against sending the measure to another committee and five Democrats voting in favor.
Dozens of Coloradans packed the Old Supreme Court Chambers for the hearing, which began shortly before 2 p.m, while others listened in other rooms set up for the overflow.
The testimony on Senate Bill 172 — at times, part gay group therapy, part Bible study — continued until 8:30 p.m., when the committee began debating the bill’s merits.
Parents, partners and pastors testified infavor of the bill, which was sponsored by two Denver Democrats who are gay, Rep. Mark Ferrandino and Sen. Pat Steadman.
“This is not a radical concept,” Ferrandino said. “It’s a mainstream concept… . This does not end marriage.”