While state Rep. Doug Bruce, R-Colo. Springs, now notorious for kicking a Rocky Mountain News photographer on the House floor earlier this week, is not exactly a public relations dream for the GOP, good government watchers should be taking seriously his continued effort to bring greater access to the legislative process to ordinary voters.
Under Colorado law, legislators are allowed to attach "safety" clauses to bills. While the clauses are only to be invoked when "necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety", the clauses are now attached to nearly every bill that makes it to the governor's desk.
The effect of the clause is two-fold: The bill becomes law more quickly than it would otherwise, and more concerning, it allows the bill to bypass the citizen petition process that allows voters to repeal laws or portions of them—an important check on government power here.
At a Tuesday press conference, Bruce wore a pin reading "Vote No" while proclaiming that he would not vote for any non-emergency bill passed with a clause unjustifiably attached.
But alas, this crusade promises to go nowhere...Maybe, however, if Bruce's pin instead read "Vote Yes," his cause against the clause would have a shot.
No matter whether...
On January 25th, 2008 ffusmucker says:
It won't matter one whit whether Doug `goes along with "the program"' or not. The so-called `powers that be (PTB)' on *both* `sides of the aisle' are scared to death that he'll be right and have translated that worry directly into hate without even bothering to stop and take the time to `take a good look around'.
Doug is, most of the time, a very ascerbic person who has gotten very fed up with government running slipshod over the `common' person(s). He is more likely to call `a spade a spade' rather than an `manual earth moving tool' like the `PC Police' types would prefer. Whilst this definitely raises hackles hither and yon it also makes him actually a great breath of fresh air compared to the recycled hay we get in overwhelming amounts from PTB that like to think that they know everything and know how to supposedly `protect us from ourselves'. Quite frankly *this* `Olde Fart' wishes there were a few more Doug Bruces around.
As for this current kerfuffle... It is most likely that we haven't gotten, and most likley won't get, the whole story. As `She Who Must Be Obeyed', AKA my wife, said when the `story' first broke, "This whole thing is a `set up' and `stinks to high heaven'. They are *very* afraid of him and are going to be trying every / anything they can to neuter him. We are going to be seeing a *lot* more of this type of re-cycled hay from now on and anything that is actually newsworthy / important is going down the dumper. Sheeple!" If anything, *if* it *was* *our* family Bible that had been stepped upon, something we `caught in passing' that *may* have been slipped by the censors, *I* am certain that *my* response wouldn't have been quite as `nice' as Doug's. Heck! *If* it had been *any* `family book' of importance I'd `respond'. We have gotten so cavalier about people's `personal sphere' that it should make us all sick about it all.
Oh, well... Just this `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth.
Doleo ergo sum,
Fred
Anything Doug Bruce tries to do
On January 18th, 2008 cologeek says:
will be completely overshadowed by his out-of-control antics. If he can't control himself on the first day that he shows up at the Statehouse, he most likely will be giving us more headlines in the year to come.
A truly bad messenger with a really necessary message.