Defend Colorado Now campaign will continue
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(Note by John Andrews) Multiple subjects can’t be addressed in one initiated constitutional amendment or statute to come before Colorado voters, and on Monday, June 12, the state Supreme Court ruled 4-2 that the proposal called Defend Colorado Now — ensuring tax-paid services go to legal residents only — violates that requirement. So barring a reversal of the decision, the measure is dead for 2006. There is not time to start over with a narrower petition(assuming any such thing could be devised). As a proponent of sweeping judicial reform, I have my own personal thoughts about all this. But as co-chairman of the Defend Colorado Now campaign, I issued the following press statement Monday afternoon. A followup press statement, after Gov. Owens entered the fray on Tuesday, is found in comments below.
Today’s decision by the Colorado Supreme Court against our ballot issue strains common sense and conflicts with prior rulings on the single-subject requirement. We will move for the court to reconsider, in hope of a more just decision next time.
This setback on a legal technicality cannot diminish the tremendous grassroots support for voters saying “enough” on the flood of illegal immigration in our state. Defend Colorado Now will continue full speed ahead with our petition campaign, already gathering signatures by the tens of thousands. Citizens want this issue on the November ballot.
Cutting off tax-paid services to illegal aliens, except in emergencies or when federally mandated, is obviously a single subject. Not only that, it is the single most urgent subject on Coloradans’ mind in this election year. The will of the people won’t be denied forever.
The author can be reached at John@BackBoneAmerica.net
Mr. Andrews, thank you very much for your stand on illegals. I wish you were here in NC, we desperately need someone like you.
Keep up the good work.
by Susan Williams | Wednesday, Jun 14, 2006 | 5:27 amSTATEMENT BY JOHN ANDREWS
Former President, Colorado Senate
Co-Chairman, Defend Colorado Now
Tuesday, June 13
Our nonpartisan grassroots campaign, with over 30,000 petition signers already, thanks Gov. Bill Owens for denouncing the Supreme Court decision as bad law, irresponsible and arrogant. It was all of that — a shocking abuse of power.
We applaud the Governor’s support for a motion to have the Supreme Court reconsider, which will be filed soon by our campaign and Attorney General John Suthers.
We call on legislators of both parties, if the court fails to act and a special session is convened, to pass a measure with the same effect as our initiative — cutting off tax-paid services to illegal aliens except under emergency conditions or federal mandate.
In hope of prevailing one way or another, our headquarters today is buzzing with continued petition activity and with citizens calling to voice their outrage at the court decision. We will hold a rally for our supporters at 1030am Thursday on the west steps of the State Capitol.
It’s time for Colorado to stop welcoming immigration lawbreakers, and time for our courts to stop bending the constitution. Today’s forceful stand by Gov. Owens is a step toward both of those goals.
by John Andrews | Friday, Jun 16, 2006 | 4:48 pm