It was a very long Friday for lawmakers. Senate Republicans balked on a labor bill designed to make it easier for unions to organize job shops, or places where employment is based on joining a union.
For hours, GOP legislators proposed amendments to the bill that were routinely killed by voting and technical decisions.
But despite the filibustering from last week, the measure passed today on a clear party line vote of 19-15. (Majority Leader Ken Gordon was excused.)
Now the legislation will go to Governor Bill Ritter, where it could become law as early as this summer. From the Rocky Mountain News:
Outraged Republicans assailed Ritter and the Democratic leadership of duping the voters and failing to ever mention the pro-union measure during the November elections.
Republicans put on a big show around 1 p.m. and delivered a letter to Ritter urging him to keep a campaign promise to strike down anti-business legislation.
…
Ritter appeared non-committal, saying he has yet to see the bill in its final form.
“We’ll see what it looks like when it comes to my desk,” he said.
