Bruce riles GOP over veterans resolution

DENVER - Rep. Douglas Bruce’s refusal to back a resolution honoring military veterans earned the wrath of his Republican colleagues, who called his stand “deplorable” and “incomprehensible.”

The resolution, co-sponsored by the other 99 members of the Colorado Legislature, came on the annual Military Appreciation Day at the Capitol. Veterans and active military members crammed into the House and Senate chambers to receive tributes.

Bruce declined to vote and refused to be listed as a cosponsor of the resolution.

Five of the other six Republican representatives from El Paso County — as well as Assistant House Minority Leader David Balmer of Centennial and Minority Leader Mike May of Parker — were so outraged they sent a letter to The Gazette assailing Bruce for his “callous indifference” to the veterans’ sacrifices.

Balmer, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and veteran of conflicts in Bosnia and Afghanistan, called Bruce’s actions “an absolute disgrace.”

“As members of the Republican caucus, we found Rep. Bruce’s decision to oppose the resolution to be both distasteful and deplorable and that it speaks volumes in terms of his attitude toward our veterans, military personnel and members of their families,” the letter read. The only local GOP representative who did not sign it was Rep. Kent Lambert, an Air Force veteran.

Bruce also tried to abstain on a resolution urging the Legislature to give all Coloradans access to health care by 2010, but the House overruled him.

Bruce returned after discussion to vote “no,” shouting: “Are you all happy?”

Bruce, a midterm appointee, said afterward he was doing what he had done as an El Paso County commissioner in refusing to vote for symbolic measures and was not showing disrespect for veterans.

“I will vote (in the future), but I think we have better things to do than vote in symbolic, ceremonial resolutions,” Bruce said.