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Friday, September 15, 2006
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Rocky Mountain News: "Three state religious organizations endorsed a ballot measure Thursday that would grant gay couples many of the legal rights and responsibilities of married couples. Among the groups backing Referendum I is the Colorado Council of Churches. It is the largest Christian coalition in the state, representing a dozen Protestant denominations and close to 1,000 churches, including the United Methodists, American Baptists and the United Church of Christ, according to Council executive the Rev. Jim Ryan. The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado and Colorado Clergy for Equality in Marriage, representing about 200 clergy statewide, also announced support for Referendum I during a news conference on the steps of the Denver City and County Building. The endorsements add new religious voices to the debate. Until now, the highest profile group has been Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, which has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the effort to defeat Referendum I and win passage of a marriage amendment. The pro Ref I clergy members said they are backing the initiative because it supports the view that gay couples should be treated as equals under God...
"On Nov. 7, voters will decide on Referendum I and a related measure, Amendment 43, which would define marriage in the Colorado Constitution as a union only between a man and a woman. The Council of Churches will not take a stand on Amendment 43 because of disagreement on the issue, Ryan said. The Interfaith Alliance and the Clergy for Equality in Marriage oppose Amendment 43. Amendment 43 is sponsored by Coloradans for Marriage, a coalition of Christian organizations, including the Colorado Catholic Conference, National Association of Evangelicals and Focus on the Family. While Focus on the Family has been the most vocal opponent of Referendum I, other major religious organizations, including the Catholic conference and Evangelical association, have not yet officially announced their position on the measure. Supporters of Referendum I said religious community support is crucial."
"denver 2006"
6:50:04 AM 
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Denver Post: "Ignoring threats and warnings from President Bush, a defiant Senate committee approved legislation Thursday that would ban abusive CIA interrogations and make it easier for terrorist suspects to defend themselves at trial. The Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee voted 15-9 to send the legislation to the full Senate. Four Republicans, including Sen. John Warner of Virginia, the committee's chairman, backed the bill over Bush's objections, as did the panel's 11 Democrats. The split in Republican ranks widened as former Secretary of State Colin Powell joined the dissidents against his former boss. 'The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism,' Powell wrote in a letter to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has teamed up with Warner and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in opposing Bush."
"2008 pres"
6:28:27 AM
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The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to build 700 miles of fence on the border, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Lawmakers voted 283-138 for the double-layer fences. The legislation is almost identical to part of a larger House border-security bill that passed last December. Opponents decried the vote as a pre-election stunt by Republicans who've refused to negotiate immigration reform with the Senate, which passed its own legislation in May. Even proponents of the fences agreed that part of the motivation for Thursday's vote was to please voters. 'It's absolutely political, and I'm all for it,' said Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., head of the House immigration caucus that wants tough enforcement of immigration laws. While attempting to show voters they are strong on border security, Republicans also hope to paint Democrats as weak.
"The bill passed with 64 Democrats joining 219 Republicans. That gave the bill a much wider margin of approval than the broader House measure that passed in December on a 239-182 vote. That bill included many provisions Democrats found objectionable, including making it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally. That offense is now a civil violation. House Republicans plan to force votes on other border-security issues in the next two weeks. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., announced a long list of measures planned for action, including adding 1,200 Border Patrol and 1,212 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, expediting the deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes, and criminalizing the construction of tunnels under the border to smuggle immigrants...
"The House bill approved Thursday proposes fences along a stretch of border mostly in Arizona. Currently there is 75 miles of double fencing in Southern California. The bill does not allocate money for the fences, which Republicans say would cost $2 billion and Democrats charge would cost closer to $7 billion. Colorado's U.S. House delegation split along party lines on the vote. Republicans Tancredo, of Littleton; Marilyn Musgrave of Fort Morgan; Joel Hefley of Colorado Springs; and Bob Beauprez of Arvada voted for the bill. Democrats Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs, John Salazar of Manassa and Diana DeGette of Denver voted against."
"2008 pres"
6:26:11 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/15/09; 11:58:11 AM.
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