I completely agree with the recent Feedback article in Colorado Politics from Dina Rouff (Speaker’s shun of hostages’ families a callous Colorado cold shoulder — Jan. 7). She asks: “How is it these families were not allowed to talk, yet the (pro-Palestinian) protesters are? This is an obvious form of censorship and erasure of Jewish suffering and identity.”

She also noted: “When the speaker said she was not sure members on ‘both sides of the aisle would rise to the occasion,’ she has excused their immaturity at the expense of deepening the wounds…” Indeed, Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Democrat, has allowed her chamber to become dysfunctional and antisemitic.

It is a toxic job setting, as several members have expressed frustration with the harassment tactics of their socialist colleagues. Two first-term Democrats have resigned mid-term because of the hostility. It’s amazing to me America has rightfully become highly sensitive to bullying of children in schools and online, yet workplace bullying by “adults” is excused away.

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In fairness, it’s not as though state House Democrats have a monopoly on nonsense. Their Republican counterparts have pushed a variety of far-fetched proposals, endorsed unqualified candidates for public office and engaged in unethical behavior of their own.

Perhaps the most egregious example is the recent resignation of state Rep. Mike Lynch (R-Wellington) as minority leader in the House after covering up a drunk driving arrest for more than a year. He continues to “serve” in the House while running for Congress.

Here’s an idea: It’s time to “Nebraskify” the Colorado legislature. Almost a century ago, caught in the clutches of the Great Depression, Nebraska eliminated its state House chamber and became the nation’s only state with a unicameral legislature. Today, with 49 state senators, it is the smallest legislature in the country.

Colorado can top that. Caught in the clutches of irresponsible elected — and sometimes appointed — state representatives, Colorado should establish a unicameral legislature with its 35-seat state Senate. Most citizens would either not notice the difference or consider it an improvement.

In 2020 and 2022, Colorado voters overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates while also lowering the state income tax rate in each year’s general election. Almost half of all registered voters are unaffiliated (independent). It’s not that everyone is giddy for leftists. We just don’t have much of a choice as the Colorado GOP keeps getting nuttier.

Downsizing the state legislature would be an opportunity to fight big government and for serious Republicans as well as libertarian-leaning independents to get back in the game. There is no shortage of conservative think-tanks in Colorado working to place constitutional changes on the ballot. They should start thinking about this.

Burke Scot Beu

Substitute teacher, semi-retired nonprofit worker

Commerce City

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