NOREEN: DUI stop sobering for GOP leaders
A blizzard shut down the Colorado General Assembly Friday, and one local lawmaker was happy to see it.
“This was just what the doctor ordered,” said Rep. Mark Waller, the Colorado Springs Republican who serves as assistant majority leader in the House.
Waller loves his job and normally hates to lose a day. But he and other House Republicans lately have been dealing with a much worse storm and Waller was glad to be insulated from it.
That heavy weather — sun spots and lightning coupled with gale force winds and hail — comes courtesy of Rep. Laura Bradford, a Mesa County Republican who was stopped by Denver police in January on suspicion of drunk driving. At first, police said Bradford invoked a provision in the Colorado Constitution that exempts lawmakers from traffic citations when they are traveling on legislative business.
Bradford had just left a Colfax Avenue bar where lawmakers, lobbyists and staffers were drinking. She reportedly told police she planned to be at the Capitol the next morning, so technically, it could be construed that she was “on her way” to the Legislature.
GOP House leaders, including Waller, didn’t see it that way. They launched an ethics investigation into whether Bradford had abused her status to get out of a DUI ticket.
A day later, Denver police said they got it wrong; that Bradford had not used her legislative privilege. Ok, but the reversal had the distinct feel of an official version being changed after pressure was applied.
To complicate matters further, it turns out Bradford had a concealed handgun with her when she was stopped, and although she has a permit, it is a no-no for concealed-carry permit holders to be drunk when carrying the weapon.
Now Bradford wants the ethics probe ended. She is threatening to leave the GOP, which would have dire consequences, because Republicans hold a thin 33-32 margin in the House. If Bradford agreed to support a Democrat takeover, it would be disastrous for the GOP.
What to do? Waller says the ethics investigation should continue.
“It would really stink if we lost our majority,” Waller said, “but at the end of the day you have to do the right thing.”
He’s right. If the GOP leadership caves in to Bradford, it would appear as if the GOP is willing to negotiate with terrorists. They should call Bradford’s bluff — if she leaves the party she’ll have no chance of being re-elected.
Democrats shouldn’t be snickering at this, either. They didn’t even blink when one of their own, Sen. Suzanne Williams, was cited in Texas in an accident last year that killed a young woman.
If Bradford finds herself without a party, maybe that’s appropriate.
—
Listen to Barry Noreen on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM and 1240 AM at 6:35 a.m. on Fridays. Look for blog updates at gazette.comblogs, barrysblog
