Face the State

In a lively debate packed with a live studio audience of reporters and cameramen, panelists duked it out over the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, a proposed constitutional amendment titled Amendment 46 for this November's ballot.

On Colorado Decides, a televised debate co-sponsored by KBDI 12, CBS 4, and the Rocky Mountain News, members of media joined political commentators and representatives of the campaign to hash out the pros and cons of the controversial ballot initiative, which if passed, would probhit the government from discriminating or granting preferential treatment on the basis of race or gender in public hiring, public contracting, and public education.

Jessica Peck Corry, executive director for the initiative engaged in a spirited debate with Jessie Ulibarri, the Colorado Progressive Coalition’s Campaign for Economic Justice director over the amendment’s intent, language, and potential outcomes if voted into law.

A counter-proposal, Initiative 82, did not have enough signatures to make it to the ballot last week.

Hosting the debate was Denver political analyst Eric Sondermann, who facilitated questions from Terry Jessup of CBS 4 and Kevin Flynn of the Rocky Mountain News.

Every Monday in September, ballot initiatives will be debated on the show, which airs on KDBI 12 at 8 PM.