House Censures Bruce

The state House of Representatives voted 62-1 this morning to censure state Rep. Douglas Bruce (R-Colorado Springs) for kicking a Rocky Mountain News photographer on the House floor on Jan. 14.

The vote appears to be the end of the issue -- for now.

House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker) said he would not take any further action to punish Bruce -- such as revoking his committee appointments, as had been rumored.

But May insinuated that if Bruce gets in hot water again, he would be swift to act.

"We’ll see how things go," May told PolitickerCO. "There are other options available to us."

State Rep. Kevin Lundberg (R-Berthoud) was the lone representative to vote against the censure resolution, which was introduced yesterday by six members of a bipartisan special committee convened to investigate the kicking. Bruce was excused from voting.

Lundberg moved to add a seven-page rebuttal by Bruce defending his actions into the House record; that motion was defeated 56-7. 

Bruce remained unapologetic for his actions.

"This resolution is the real overreaction to the nudge of a unruly photographer ... who broke his promise that he would not interrupt my participation in the prayer," Bruce said, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

The vote is considered to be the end of the issue; Bruce will not stand in the well of the House as the resolution is read, as was rumored.

*CORRECTION: The story originally stated, in error, that the Bruce censure resolution passed the House 56-1. The story now states the correct vote, 62-1.

- Jeremy Pelzer, Jan. 25, 3:48 p.m.