Capitol Coverage

GOV. RITTER ISSUES CONTROVERSIAL LABOR BILLhttp://www.capcov.org/cgi-bin/showpost.cgi?331Governor Bill Ritter vetoed a bill that wouldmake it easier for unions to organize. Ritter sayshe agrees with the legislation but opposes the cynicalpartisan debate that surrounded it. He calledwas over-heated politics at its worst. BenteBirkeland reports from Denver.BENTE: The Business community said the bill wouldcripple economic development and accused Democrats offast-tracking the legislation and leaving them out ofdiscussions. Governor Ritter says Democratsdidnt fast-track the bill, but he says the twogroups should have tried to reach a compromise.RITTER: Were going to do business differently, and were going to do all we can when there are communities of interest that have different sentiments about a public policy we want to do all we can to search for the common good.BENTE: At present in Colorado it takes two votes in order for unions to create so-called closed shops. Thats where all employees in a workplace must join a union or at least pay dues in exchange for the union negotiating collective contracts.The bill Ritter vetoed would have required only one vote.Republicans opposed the bill. Representative David Balmer is the assistant minority leader.BALMER: Governor Ritter campaigned as amoderate and in his first test he came down on theright side. Were very excited that hes listened toour arguments on this bill.BENTE: The Governor says he doesnt agree withRepublicans or the tactics they used to try and blockthe bill. Ritter says he supports the bill and wouldconsider signing it, but that doing so now wouldsend the wrong message to the state.RITTER: There were just concerns expressedagain and again about how debates seem to get sopolarized and deeply divided and that communities ofinterest dont inform each other about how things aregoing to move forward.BENTE: Democratic state Representative Michael Garciafrom Aurora sponsored the bill. He says he understandsthe governors reasons for vetoing it, but hesdisappointed.GARCIA: At the end of the day, this iswhere it is. I dont know if any further discussionwould have changed anyones mind. I dont think itwould have.BENTE: Garcia says he will not introduce the billagain.GARCIA: I wouldve never introduced thisbill had I known the uproar it would cause.BENTE: The Governor sent the bill back to the House.Democratic leaders were tight lipped and would notsay whether a different legislator will introduce thebill at a later date.