Ritter firm on Amendment 38. Beauprez, not so much.

In a way, I'd love to see Amendment 38 pass. Then I could finally get my own personal Constitutional amendment before the voters. (It would declare October 25 "P.J. Soles Day." And if you understand that reference, you need to quit watching so many movies.)

But on the other hand, I know that 38 would make a mockery of government in Colorado. As Democratic candidate for governor Bill Ritter wrote in an editorial:

This may be the single worst initiative that Colorado's business community will see in November. It will threaten our economic recovery. It will destroy the economic confidence gained by the passage of Referendum C. It will create instability across our political landscape and economic markets. And it will open up all actions, such as zoning and other business-related matters, by the nearly 2,500 local government agencies in Colorado, to delay and uncertainty.

Even more troubling, Amendment 38 will open the floodgates for additional state budgeting, economic and taxing decisions to be inserted into the Colorado Constitution. The state Constitution already looks like a charm bracelet for special interests.

Where does Ritter's Republican opponent, Both Ways Bob Beauprez, stand on 38? Who knows? As late as June 23, Beauprez was telling The Rocky Mountain News that he supported 38. But yesterday I received releases from both the Ritter campaign and Progress Now Action that say Both Ways Bob seems to be reversing field. Why? Because he was only supporting 38 to get the Independence Institute vote. Now that Marc Holtzman is out of the GOP primary, Beauprez can feel free to court business leaders and moderates, who are generally opposed to 38.

For instance, The Denver Business Journal is anti-38:

Business groups already are lining up in opposition to Amendment 38, because they've seen the damage done by rigid constitutional language dreamed up in the minds of political ideologues - on the right or the left - whose narrow interests ignore the public good.

And on June 19, The Denver Post reported that:

Several high-profile GOP members also have been worrying about [Beauprez's] support for Amendment 38, which could make it easier to put more issues on the ballot by allowing the state legislature to lower the number of signatures required for initiated laws.

Yes, I'm glad Both Ways Bob appears to be ready to finally listen to reason. No, I don't think his brand of political pandering counts as leadership. Yes, I appreciate Bill Ritter's consistent stand on the issue. And yes, I'm still collecting signatures for P.J. Soles Day.

Photo courtesy of the Ritter for Governor campaign.