Two GOP propose outlawing abortion in Colorado

Staff And Wire Reports

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Two Republican lawmakers announced Monday that they will sponsor legislation to ban abortion in Colorado, except in cases where the life of the mother is in question.

Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, and Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, said their bill will be similar to the abortion ban passed by the South Dakota Legislature in 2005. A key difference is that Democrats control the legislature in Colorado, and for that reason the bill is not expected to pass.

Renfroe and Lambert also said they will ask Gov. Bill Ritter to clarify his plans to restore state funds for family planning.

In his State of the State address this month, Ritter said he supports pregnancy-prevention programs and will work to restore funds that his predecessor redirected to other agencies.

Also in the legislature Monday:

• The House approved and sent to the Senate a measure that implements Amendment 42. House Bill 1001 raises the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.85 per hour, adjusted annually for inflation.

• The House gave initial approval to HB 1005, which adds people with disabilities to the Amber Alert program. Families had testified that the first few hours are critical in tracking a missing person.