A March 8 article in the Rocky Mountain News about Senate Bill 83, which would “boost the state's oversight of vote centers and elections,” uncritically repeated the comments of two Republican state officeholders who said that "[l]egislative Democrats have hijacked" the bill. The News did not explain how Democrats “hijacked” the measure, but parroted the accusation of Attorney General John Suthers and Secretary of State Mike Coffman. In fact, the article noted that SB 83 was sponsored by a Democrat, Sen. Ron Tupa (Boulder), and amended by another Democrat, Sen. Peter Groff (Denver). It further quoted Tupa as supportive of Groff's amendment.

According to the News article by April M. Washington:

Legislative Democrats have hijacked what was intended as a simple bill to boost the state's oversight of vote centers and elections, Attorney General John Suthers and Secretary of State Mike Coffman said Wednesday.

Both GOP leaders said they will oppose a change to Senate Bill 83 that would allow parolees the right to vote, saying that it would violate the state constitution.

However, the same article reported:

The measure by Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, would require the Secretary of State to set guidelines for vote centers and to increase supervision of how counties conduct elections.

Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, amended the measure to allow parolees to vote upon release from prison.

The News also noted that "[t]he two sides have a different view of the state constitution. Groff and Tupa contend that state law bans anyone still confined behind bars from voting." Furthermore, the article quoted Tupa as agreeing with Groff's amendment:

“When you're trying to make individuals coming out of prison feel integrated into society, voting is one of the rights we should want to extend to them,” Tupa said.

A March 7 News article reported similar criticisms of SB 83 by Suthers, who stated in a speech to the Republican State Central Committee on March 3 that Democrats “are not as interested as Republicans are in your public safety.” As the News noted:

Suthers' remarks came during an address to the Republican State Central Committee on Saturday, in which he referred to recent votes by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee.

“They voted to abolish the death penalty. They voted to let parolees vote, despite my belief it is unconstitutional in the state of Colorado. They have voted to allow people to seal their criminal records after 10 years ... ” Suthers said.

“Folks there are not as interested as Republicans are in your public safety.”

The same article quoted House Judiciary Committee Chairman Terrance Carroll (D-Denver) as calling Suthers' remarks “unprofessional” and a “cheap political potshot.”

From the March 8 Rocky Mountain News article “Parolee debate trips up election oversight,” by April M. Washington:

Legislative Democrats have hijacked what was intended as a simple bill to boost the state's oversight of vote centers and elections, Attorney General John Suthers and Secretary of State Mike Coffman said Wednesday.

Both GOP leaders said they will oppose a change to Senate Bill 83 that would allow parolees the right to vote, saying that it would violate the state constitution.

“We're obviously monitoring this bill closely and trying to work with senators to remove the controversial issues we feel are worthy of debate, but not on this bill,” said Jonathan Tee, spokesman for Coffman.

The Senate delayed a final vote on the measure Wednesday in the wake of a growing backlash.

The measure by Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, would require the Secretary of State to set guidelines for vote centers and to increase supervision of how counties conduct elections.

Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, amended the measure to allow parolees to vote upon release from prison.

He chided Suthers, in particular, for making political hay out of the bill.

“It's grandstanding,” Groff said. “I find it ironic that someone who claims he's trying to support the rights of individuals is now trying to take them away. If he (Suthers) wants to affect legislation, he should run to become a member of the legislature.”

[...]

“When you're trying to make individuals coming out of prison feel integrated into society, voting is one of the rights we should want to extend to them,” Tupa said.