The slaughter of a dozen public employees in Virginia Beach last week reminded me of the failure of HB 19-1273. The Colorado Partnership for Quality Jobs and Services Act, sponsored by House JBC member Daneya Esgar and Senate President Leroy Garcia, foundered during the closing days of this year’s legislative session.

Why that would occur after Gov. Jared Polis specifically expressed his support for collective bargaining for state employees during his January “State of the State” address seems puzzling. The legislation should have been traveling on a greased track arriving on his desk. I even penned a column in April remarking that the bill seemed to be moving swiftly beneath the radar at the Capitol.

Amidst the encomiums showered on our freshman governor for a productive first session, it was obscured that he had signaled the Democratic sponsors of HB 19-1273 that he had experienced a change of heart and would now veto their bill. In my April column I observed that, “There is an inherent tension between the executive and the state workforce, irrespective of party.” I went on to point out that Bill Ritter had “…reneged on his commitment to formalize the partnership agreements between Colorado WINS and his staff…” that he authorized through an executive order. I was in the room when he committed to supporting collective bargaining for state employees, yet my recollection apparently irritated him. A few days after that article ran in Colorado Politics I received a late night voice mail in which he railed against my desire to build my reputation as a critic of the Ritter administration. (My complaint was buried in the fifth paragraph.)

But now we have a second Democratic governor who has reneged on his publicly expressed support for state employees. It is reported Polis believes he was poorly staffed during his campaign when he first publicly committed to support collective bargaining. Upon reflection he allegedly determined this might make his tenure more difficult, so it proved easier to toss state workers under the bus – once again. It is doubtful an elected official with 10 years service in Congress and four more on the State Board of Education escaped a passing familiarity with collective bargaining and its implications. An active employee union could insist on bargaining for work conditions guaranteeing security against deranged shooters. They might even demand to receive a prevailing wage as they are guaranteed under state law. That could prove a nasty budget buster.

All the dysfunction can’t be placed on the governor, however. Colorado WINS, which is heavily influenced by its major sponsor, SEIU (Service Employees International Union), has consistently been far more attentive to national politics than Colorado issues. Rather than openly grumble about the treatment of its members by Democratic governors they have been quick to find excuses for recurring political abuse. It’s like a bad marriage, marred by spousal abuse. “We know he really loves us, he just can’t show it.” Maybe next year or the year after the partnership will improve. In the meanwhile, state employees are fleeing their jobs, morale stinks and the public is routinely shortchanged by an overworked, under-resourced and inadequately trained workforce. And we wonder why taxpayers have their doubts about the competency of government.

Colorado state employees will have to wait another year for a chance at the respect they deserve. It isn’t clear whether Esgar, who will chair the JBC in 2020, or Garcia will have the muscle, or a desire to use it, in order to force the governor to break his promise. For now their bill has been withdrawn, swept under the rug. This could foster “malicious obedience.” There is nothing more damaging than doing exactly what you are told to do, even when you know that will lead to disaster. Why speak up? There is no defense like, “I did precisely what you asked me to.” (And, I have the email to prove it.)

Miller Hudson is a public affairs consultant and a former state legislator. He can be reached at mnhwriter@msn.com.