In the clearest sign yet that the Colorado Legislature is nearing a temporary shutdown in response to the new coronavirus, top lawmakers on Thursday rushed toward votes on legislation they say must pass before a recess.
The stoppage, which legislative leaders say is imminent, could come as soon as this weekend after the General Assembly ties off loose ends.
A new bill introduced Thursday would allow the state’s political parties to delay assemblies and conventions – scheduled to begin Saturday – because of the coronavirus. The measure also gives them leeway to consider remote voting methods in order to avoid convening large crowds with populations vulnerable to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
The House planned to rush the measure – House Bill 1359 – through its first two votes hours after introduction Thursday afternoon and allow for final passage in the Senate as soon as Saturday. Leadership says it must pass before they break.
“We are on the fastest track that we can be,” House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver, told reporters.
The major outstanding item is the state budget – the only bill that lawmakers are required by the state constitution to approve each year – but lawmakers have until the end of June to finalize it. The legislative budget bill is separate and nearing approval, and leaders are considering whether to add provisions to continue paying themselves and staffers who are put out of work because of the stoppage.
Any recess is expected to be temporary, said House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, but it’s not clear when the Legislature would return and pick back up the work.
The quick drafting and introduction of the bipartisan bill to change the county assembly and convention dates came after a flurry of meetings with the Democratic and Republican party leaders.
The county assemblies are crucial because it’s one way candidates – including in the marquee U.S. Senate race – can qualify for the June primary ballot. The other method is collecting signatures from voters. The process cannot be altered without the passage of a law.
Under legislative rules, lawmakers can approve a bill in as little as three days with a suspension of the rules, and it’s now likely they will work through the weekend to do so.
House Bill 1359 allows the parties to delay county assemblies and conventions – which typically draw hundreds of party members and skew older – until April 11. The statewide meetings, set now for April 18, would need to take place by April 25. The remote voting, if approved by the party, could include email, mobile application or other means, conducted over a seven-day period.
Beyond the new bill, there are several other measures legislative leadership is considering before they hit the pause button, including:
A resolution asking the Colorado Supreme Court for clarity on whether they can extend the lawmaking term past May 6, when it is set to end, if they take a break.A bill that addresses state rules and regulations, which is already nearing passage.A resolution that defines when the recess begins and how long it would last.The question for the Colorado Supreme Court is crucial because there is a massive slate of legislation – including some of Democrats’ and Polis’ biggest priorities – either waiting for passage or introduction.
Some Republicans are suggesting a halt to lawmaking is the way to stop the legislation, but Democrats are committed to pressing their agenda forward.
While the Legislature’s rules say the General Assembly can pause and continue past its end date when the governor declares an emergency, state Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, argued this week that doing so would be unconstitutional.
But it’s unlikely the Supreme Court would offer an opinion before lawmakers are forced to take a coronavirus recess. “I don’t think that the answer to that question will be back before we decide (to recess),” Garnett said.
Legislative leadership – with a commitment from the Capitol’s top Republicans not to take political advantage of the situation to limit what bills Democrats can pass – say they don’t plan to wait for the court’s answer because public safety is paramount.
Garnett floated the option of Polis calling a special legislative session after May 6 if the Supreme Court rules that lawmakers can’t continue past that date. “The governor can always call a special session and bring us back in,” he said.
Conor Cahill, a spokesman for Polis, indicated that the governor may do just that.
“At this point, the General Assembly is still conducting business as part of its regular session,” Cahill said in a written statement. “The governor would contemplate a special session if it is necessary to do so following the conclusion of the current regular session.”
Virus at a glance
Colorado total:
The virus had infected at least 49 people in Colorado through midday Thursday. Gov. Jared Polis earlier this week declared a state of emergency and warned Wednesday that the situation will worsen.
The new China:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called Europe “the new China,” noting that the vast majority of new cases of COVID-19 are linked to the continent. Deaths in Italy topped 1,000, and more than 15,000 tested positive.
Wall Street:
The coronavirus crisis extended a sell-off that has wiped out most of the big run-up on Wall Street since President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 2,352 points, or 9.99%.
Campaign trail:
President Donald Trump canceled a trip to Colorado and Nevada but holds out hope for Florida in two weeks.
Boys of late spring:
Major League Baseball delayed the start of its season – March 26 – by at least two weeks and suspended its spring training schedule.
Empty arenas:
CarsIndyCar and NASCAR will race this weekend without spectators.
March Madness:
The NCAA canceled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, ending the season less than a month before champions were to be crowned.
