Colorado Greens call for legislators to recite Bill of Rights at the start of each day’s legislative session.
DENVER, CO (September 4, 2003)– The Green Party of Colorado today announced a proposal to require all legislative members of the State Assembly to recite the entire Bill of Rights at the start of each day’s session.
“The recent attempt by Colorado leaders to force teachers and school children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each morning has stunned Colorado citizens into the realization that these leaders need a fundamental understanding of the restraints on government power enshrined in the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution,” said Alison Maynard, Colorado Green Party co-chair.
Green Party officers suggested that, when the Colorado Legislature meets again to revamp this law, it impose a requirement on its own members to recite the Bill of Rights every morning. “Legislators who know the Bill of Rights. Now that would be something!” Maynard continued.
The Green Party of Colorado supports the ruling of United States District Court Judge, The Hon. Lewis Babcock, temporarily enjoining the Colorado law mandating that the Pledge of Allegiance be said by every student and teacher in Colorado public schools. “The civics lesson here is that the United States Constitution protects the right of dissent,” stated Colorado Green Party co-chair Bill McCormick.
The public vows by Governor Owens and Senate President John Andrews to try again after revising the law in the next legislative session have Coloradoans wondering if ‘We the People’ should require our representatives to demonstrate competence by passing a Civics 101 test. “Legislators should be held accountable and demonstrate their competence, just as teachers are being held to account in Colorado,” noted Maynard.
The focus on this law, during the present budget crisis is irresponsible, say Greens. Senator Andrews is quoted in the Rocky Mountain News (“State looks to Illinois for Pledge guidance” 9/2/03) as saying a legal fight would cost over $100,000. Colorado Greens are concerned about services that would be cut for Colorado citizens to pay for these legal fees. “Surely, there are more pressing matters in this economy and with current homeland security threats than implementing state-imposed allegiance,” added McCormick.
