Drizzt
Member
Kicked for his conscience
Friday, March 21, 2003 - Sen. Bob Hagedorn doesn't always vote along Democratic Party lines.
Sometimes the Aurora Democrat, heaven forbid, votes his conscience and does what he thinks is appropriate for the moderate district he represents.
Hagedorn was kicked off the Senate Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions Committee Tuesday after several disputes with fellow Democrats.
Intestinal fortitude in a politician should be celebrated, not punished.
Senate Minority Leader Joan Fitz- Gerald said there have been credibility and communication problems between Hagedorn and his fellow Democrats.
To Hagedorn, it comes down to this: In the past, he's indicated he would vote one way when Democratic caucuses were trying to get an early head count, only to change his vote after hearing testimony and learning more about a bill.
Sounds like democracy in action.
Hagedorn has unnerved Democrats this session by supporting a bill that would limit damages in construction-defect cases and by voting for a limited school voucher bill. His "no" vote last month helped kill fellow Democrat Sen. Deanna Hanna's Senate Bill 105 while it was still in committee. It would have allowed governments and utilities to finance projects together.
He also is one of the few Democrats who have voted in favor of Republican- supported bills authorizing statewide concealed-weapons standards and pre- empting many gun-control laws adopted by local governments.
"My belief is I was elected to represent people," he told The Post. "I do not think I was elected to be a rubber stamp for special-interest groups."
Coloradans, like most Americans, are tired of partisan politics. Need proof? Look at Colorado voter registration numbers: Although Republicans lead, unaffiliated voters are the second-largest bloc, ahead of the Democrats.
Colorado is a state of mostly moderates with a fierce independent streak. (We voted for President Bush in 2000, backed President Clinton in 1992, then narrowly went for Bob Dole in 1996. And before Republican Gov. Bill Owens was elected, Democrats owned the governor's mansion for the previous 24 years.)
When a lawmaker merely reflects his constituents, he shouldn't be unfairly slapped upside the head. Even Republicans admit that Hagedorn knows more about the issues before the health committee than any other legislator.
Kicking him off may appease some strong Democratic donors, such as the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the Colorado Education Association, but it doesn't seem to do anyone else any good.
We know there's always more to these insider-politics stories than meets the eye. But regardless, Democrats, again the minority party in both houses, must learn to play nice with each other.
Power exists in numbers. And since the Democrats don't have the majority numbers on their side, they need all hands on deck. That doesn't mean every Democrat needs to vote along party lines. It does mean they should support each other, including supporting each other's independent thoughts.
Disagreements arise during every session. And occasionally, some firebrand will vote against party lines.
Don't discourage it. Embrace it.
The rest of us do.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~417~1258223~,00.html
Friday, March 21, 2003 - Sen. Bob Hagedorn doesn't always vote along Democratic Party lines.
Sometimes the Aurora Democrat, heaven forbid, votes his conscience and does what he thinks is appropriate for the moderate district he represents.
Hagedorn was kicked off the Senate Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions Committee Tuesday after several disputes with fellow Democrats.
Intestinal fortitude in a politician should be celebrated, not punished.
Senate Minority Leader Joan Fitz- Gerald said there have been credibility and communication problems between Hagedorn and his fellow Democrats.
To Hagedorn, it comes down to this: In the past, he's indicated he would vote one way when Democratic caucuses were trying to get an early head count, only to change his vote after hearing testimony and learning more about a bill.
Sounds like democracy in action.
Hagedorn has unnerved Democrats this session by supporting a bill that would limit damages in construction-defect cases and by voting for a limited school voucher bill. His "no" vote last month helped kill fellow Democrat Sen. Deanna Hanna's Senate Bill 105 while it was still in committee. It would have allowed governments and utilities to finance projects together.
He also is one of the few Democrats who have voted in favor of Republican- supported bills authorizing statewide concealed-weapons standards and pre- empting many gun-control laws adopted by local governments.
"My belief is I was elected to represent people," he told The Post. "I do not think I was elected to be a rubber stamp for special-interest groups."
Coloradans, like most Americans, are tired of partisan politics. Need proof? Look at Colorado voter registration numbers: Although Republicans lead, unaffiliated voters are the second-largest bloc, ahead of the Democrats.
Colorado is a state of mostly moderates with a fierce independent streak. (We voted for President Bush in 2000, backed President Clinton in 1992, then narrowly went for Bob Dole in 1996. And before Republican Gov. Bill Owens was elected, Democrats owned the governor's mansion for the previous 24 years.)
When a lawmaker merely reflects his constituents, he shouldn't be unfairly slapped upside the head. Even Republicans admit that Hagedorn knows more about the issues before the health committee than any other legislator.
Kicking him off may appease some strong Democratic donors, such as the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the Colorado Education Association, but it doesn't seem to do anyone else any good.
We know there's always more to these insider-politics stories than meets the eye. But regardless, Democrats, again the minority party in both houses, must learn to play nice with each other.
Power exists in numbers. And since the Democrats don't have the majority numbers on their side, they need all hands on deck. That doesn't mean every Democrat needs to vote along party lines. It does mean they should support each other, including supporting each other's independent thoughts.
Disagreements arise during every session. And occasionally, some firebrand will vote against party lines.
Don't discourage it. Embrace it.
The rest of us do.
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~417~1258223~,00.html
