Annual House Civility Resolution Takes On Added Relevance This Year

It's now official -- Colorado House members have formally resolved to be civil.

The House on Tuesday morning unanimously approved a resolution calling for civility among members.

It was the third straight year a civility resolution has passed the House, according to the Denver Post, but Tuesday's resolution carried more weight given the spat of controversies in just the first six weeks of the session. 

The resolution was co-sponsored by state Rep. Douglas Bruce (R-Colorado Springs), who was censured by the House last month for kicking a news photographer on the House floor.

Bruce has generally refused to support resolutions on the grounds that they have no legal impact and therefore are a waste of time. But he told House members on Tuesday he considered the resolution "a pledge of personal behavior." 

"I believe I've conducted myself with civility. Other people, obviously, disagree," Bruce said. "The lack of reciprocity has been stunning."

State Rep. Larry Liston (R-Colorado Springs), who landed in hot water earlier this month for calling unwed teenage parents "sluts," said when he signed the resolution earlier, he didn't realize "how true it would come for me."

"If any of you have any special words or language you want to use, I hope you'll check with me first," Liston said.