The halls of the state Capitol are so quiet and empty during the coronavirus pandemic, some state patrol troopers have been spotted biking through the halls outside of the governor's office.
But while the building is closed to the public indefinitely and lawmakers remain away on an emergency recess that is likely to extend into April, party leaders are still waging a high-stakes political battle behind the scenes.
Democrats who control the majority in the legislature are asking the Colorado Supreme Court to rule that they can extend the legislative session past May 6 to make up the weeks they are losing during the crisis.
Such a move might allow them to more easily return this summer and pass some of their biggest legislative priorities, such as a paid family leave program.
Sen. President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, says lawmakers should not "abandon all the work (our constituents) elected us to accomplish on their behalf."
Attorney General Phil Weiser and Gov. Jared Polis are also taking the position that the legislature should be able to extend the session past May 6.
But Republican lawmakers say the 120 days of the legislative session must be consecutive, and the session should still end on May 6.
If lawmakers want more time to pass bills, Republicans say Gov. Polis can call a special session this summer.
"The Colorado Constitution is meant to limit government, and the 120-day period protects the people from overreach," said House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock. "Those 120 days can only be read as consecutive, which means that our job as a legislature is to prioritize our work to do what is most necessary, not move goalposts to try to push through non-essential legislation."
House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, told reporters earlier this month that if lawmakers had to rely on Polis calling a special session, it would give the governor the ability to set the agenda, not lawmakers.
Lawmakers would need a two thirds majority to call their own special session, a scenario that seems more unlikely with Republican lawmakers calling for the session to end May 6.
Meanwhile, it still isn't clear when lawmakers will be able to return to the Capitol to decide which of the roughly 350 bills that are still pending should move forward.
More cities in Colorado, including the Denver metro area, are adopting shelter-in-place orders and closing non-essential businesses as the virus continues to spread.
During a call with reporters last week, Democratic legislative leaders sounded resigned to the fact the recess might be extended for several more weeks.
They also were telling members that any bills to fund new programs that don't directly address the coronavirus crisis will likely not move forward.
Becker did mention paid family leave as a potential exception.
She told the Colorado Sun this week the legislature is looking to extend the recess beyond Monday, when lawmakers were originally scheduled to resume work.
Lawmakers are hoping to get a response from the Supreme Court on the length of the session as soon as next week.
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