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Lawmaker seeks state holiday to mark Sept. 11

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 29, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Casso said he has the support of several veterans groups.

Photo by Special to the Rocky

Casso said he has the support of several veterans groups.

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A Thornton lawmaker thinks Sept. 11 is such a monumental date it should be a state holiday.

But Rep. Edward Casso said he knows that the state's budget crunch might make his proposal a financial improbability.

He plans to introduce his holiday bill in next year's session. The details are being worked out.

"To me, if it's not the most important day in American history, it's the second or third most important," said Casso, a Democrat.

Colorado has 10 official state holidays, including Memorial Day and Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

Casso said he has the support of several veterans groups.

If his bill passes, Colorado would be the first state to make the anni- versary of the 9/11 terror attacks a holiday. But the financial impact could doom the bill. Casso has been told the cost could run from $2 million to $3 million. Operations such as corrections and public safety would have to pay overtime on those days, for example.

Casso said he is considering an alternative bill that would recognize Sept. 11. State workers could take off the day without pay, but state offices would stay open.

Lawmakers passed a similar bill in 2001 honoring the late farmworkers activist Cesar Chavez on his birthday, March 31. Supporters who wanted to see March 31 become an official state holiday put it on the ballot the next year, and voters overwhelmingly defeated it.

Comments

  • December 29, 2008

    6:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SanctuaryCity writes:

    He needs to be working on some real issues. You wonder why the economy is screwed up

  • December 29, 2008

    7:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Superstar writes:

    How ridiculous! Surely, our lawmakers have more important things to do than something like this. Without question, 9/11 is an important day for America to honor, but it shouldn't be a state holiday. We don't even have Presidents' Day as a state holiday and many organizations don't even honor that day and our fore fathers who founded this great country. That should come before a 9/11 holiday. But honestly, get something real done during your session. Like the state's budget, like keeping our economy from imploding, things like that. Amazing we vote people into office to then have them suit their own frivolous agendas.

  • December 29, 2008

    7:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Art writes:

    Mike May has suggested that the legislative calendar could be reduced to just 90 days by doing away with these frivolous issues. This is a good example of how our lawmakers have lost touch with what they are elected to do. The time spent on debating more "holidays" or enacting resolutions saying that the state likes cute puppies has gotten out of hand.

  • December 29, 2008

    7:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dub writes:

    Surely nobody is saying that 9/11 isn't a turning point for the nation, not just Colorado, but we have other turning points that haven't warranted holiday status, such as Pearl Harbor Day, VE Day, VJ Day, and it goes on. Of course, state employees would be the beneficiaries, while the rest of us would have to work so we can pay for it. Oh, am I forgetting the UNIONS, school closing so you have to make arraignments for the precious snowflakes that would be out of school?These are the things to address AFTER we solve the budget issues and cure cancer.

  • December 29, 2008

    8:22 a.m.

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    DougH writes:

    Great events in American History that should be celebrated with a State Holiday:

    1. Dec 6,1941 – Pearl Harbor bombed by Japanese
    2. April 12,1861 Ft. Sumter attacked by confederate soldiers,
    3. September 11, 2001 Gang of terrorists blows up New York office building
    4. August 24,1814 British troops invade and burn down nations capitol.
    These days should all be celebrated as great moments in American History.

  • December 29, 2008

    1:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HopiMedicineMan writes:

    Art
    Prior to paid legislators, the legislative calendar was much shorter, more was accomplished and government was far more responsive. Those who ran for office were very accomplished because they owned successful businesses, or were retired and had plenty of experience and they kept their seats long enough to learn how to get things done. Most bills were written by industry lobbyists to enable industry. When the left, migrating west, found out how good things were in Colorado, they introduced salaries, and Sunshine. All state headquartered business empires sold out within a decade. Now we have special interests of the left making fortunes from the taxpayers in environmental scams.
    We were better off with the robber barrons.