2018 Legislative Session Preview

Colorado lawmakers return to the capitol today for the annual legislative session. They’ll tackle the usual policy issues such as transportation, health care, and education – but as Bente Birkeland reports, they’ll also be working under the cloud of sexual harassment allegations against multiple members.

Not only is the split legislature heading into an election year, Democrats and Republicans are also dealing with allegations of sexual harassment. Pending investigations are currently underway for Republican Senators Randy Baumgardner and Jack Tate and Democratic Rep. Steve Lebsock. Democrats have asked Lebsock to resign after he allegedly harassed or intimidated 11 people. Five have gone public and two have filed formal complaints. One of his colleagues said he plans to introduce a resolution to try to expel him. Lebsock issued a 28 page defense that he put in the mailboxes of each house member this week. In the Senate a Democrat has switched her party affiliation to unaffiliated. And it’s also Governor John Hickenlooper’s final legislative session because he is term limited. I’m BB at the state capitol.