Union bill survives filibuster

Senate Democrats advance measure after GOP attack

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Democrats steamrolled a controversial pro-union bill through the Senate on Friday, but Republicans made them work overtime for it.

For eight hours Republicans staged a filibuster, denouncing the labor measure as un-American and anti-business.

The bill passed 19-13, but not until Republicans had read and debated an astounding 73 amendments - down from the 300 that were drafted - to try to dilute or kill the bill.

"This is an issue of freedom of liberty," said Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch. "We're talking about rogue labor unions trying to take money (from) the paychecks of workers who may not want to belong (to a union)."

But Democrats shot back, saying the bill is a minor change to outdated provisions in Colorado labor law.

"This doesn't set up a closed shop in Colorado," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver. "You're not required to join the union. All this does is get government out of the middle of private contractual agreements between management and labor."

A final vote is expected Monday, and then the bill heads to the governor.

House Bill 1072 strikes a provision in the 1943 Labor Peace Act that requires a second vote by a supermajority before a workplace can become a union shop.

In union shops, employees must join the union - or at least pay the costs of union representation - or risk being fired.

The debate, which began around 9:40 a.m., continued until Senate Democrats shut down the filibuster on a procedural ruling shortly after 6 p.m.

Colorado businesses have mobilized against the bill, arguing it will hurt the state's ability to attract new companies.

They've pointed out that Gov. Bill Ritter campaigned as a pro-business moderate, and Republican lawmakers repeated it during their debate.

Friday, Ritter's spokesman was taking a wait-and-see attitude.

"The governor certainly understands why this has become such an emotional issue for a great number of people," Evan Dreyer said. "He is listening and will take a close look at whatever lands on his desk."

Republicans weren't buying it.

"Is he that out of touch with his own party?" said Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock. "Even I know what this bill is going to look like."

Republicans repeatedly argued the issue should go to the voters, a tactic they've adopted on most controversial issues since losing the majority in 2004.

"Voters approved the Colorado Promise when they voted in this regime," said Sen. Steve Ward, R-Littleton, referring to the name Ritter gave to his own campaign mantra. "This (union bill) was nowhere in the Colorado Promise."

Republicans accused Democrats of ramrodding the bill through the process at the bidding of the big labor unions, who pumped $5 million into Democrats' campaigns last fall.

"This is just a payback deal, and we've got to stop it," Wiens said.

Democrats scoffed at that.

Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald pointed out the sudden about-face by Republicans and the business lobby, who worked for years to undo the Labor Peace Act and create a right-to-work state.

"I'm surprised that the same people who brought the right-to-work legislation every year are now talking about the Labor Peace Act as if it's now the savior of the state," she said.

How filibusters work

In the Colorado General Assembly, a time-chewing debate is more of an amendment marathon than the true filibusters once legendary in the U.S. Senate.

From the 1850s, and particularly during the 1960s debate over civil rights legislation, U.S. senators have used the filibuster to delay or block a vote by holding the Senate floor with long-winded speeches, according to a U.S. Senate history.

But in Colorado, Senate Rule 11 allows lawmakers to dispense with the reading of a bill in full "unless a member shall request the reading of a bill in full when the bill is being considered by the (full Senate)."

This rule - and a similar one in the House - gives the minority party a chance to string out debate by introducing a raft of amendments and demanding a full reading of each one.

A closer look

• WHAT IS HOUSE BILL 1072?

It strikes a provision of the Colorado Labor Peace Act that requires a second, supermajority election before a workplace can become a "union shop." In union shops, employees must join the union - or at least pay the costs of representation - or risk being fired.

• ACTION SO FAR

The bill passed the Colorado House Jan. 22 and a Senate committee on Tuesday before heading to the full Senate on Friday, where the GOP staged a filibuster and introduced dozens of amendments, including one that would have sent the issue to voters. All the amendments failed, and the issue passed 19-13 in an initial vote, with senators voting along party lines.

• WHAT'S NEXT

A final vote in the Senate could come as early as Monday.

washingtonam@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5086