On the opening day of Colorado’s legislative session, tensions ran high as a Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Elisabeth Epps, took to social media to troll her own party leader, House Speaker Julie McCluskie.
While McCluskie stressed the importance of civility and respectful dialogue in her opening-day speech, Epps chose to engage in a public feud on social media, highlighting the deep divisions within their Democrat caucus.
The contradiction between McCluskie’s call for civility and Epps’ online behavior reveals the troubling state of discourse at the state Capitol. With a progressive split within the Democratic Party and objections from Republicans — the decorum and effectiveness of lawmaking in the next 120 days are anything but certain.
“We can engage on tough issues without disregarding the humanity and the dignity of our colleagues in this institution or accusing each other of poor motives,” McCluskie said.
House Republican leader State Rep. Mike Lynch also used part of his opening-day speech to call for more civility and urged lawmakers to talk to each other, instead of posting about one another on social media.
“The actions and interactions of us will be judged by those who expect us to remain civil and above the fray of a petty tweet,” Lynch said. “If you have something to say about another member, they are only a few steps away.”
Both Democratic and Republican leaders emphasized the need for conversation and discouraged resorting to social media quips. However, their appeals did little to stop the discord within the General Assembly or online from Rep. Epps.
McCluskie, determined to ensure that all lawmakers are treated with respect, has even created a panel to establish guidelines for acceptable speech on the legislative floor.
The public feud between McCluskie and Epps continued throughout the day. Epps, appearing remotely via video, took the opportunity during McCluskie’s opening remarks to accuse her of dishonesty and shamefulness. This display of animosity was further fueled by over a dozen pro-Palestinian protesters, who disrupted the proceedings while Epps cheered them on.
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- DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED COLORADO LEGISLATURE FAILS TO ADDRESS SKYROCKETING PROPERTY TAXES, OFFERS LOANS INSTEAD
- COLORADO STATE REP. ELISABETH EPPS RECEIVES OFFICIAL REPRIMAND FOR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
One online critic noted of Epps, “It takes real bravery to talk sh*t at home, instead of going into work and facing her.”
Despite the divisive atmosphere, Colorado’s House lawmakers introduced their first 86 bills of the 2024 legislative session by the end of the first day. It remains to be seen how the lingering tensions and internal conflicts will impact the ability of lawmakers to effectively address the needs of the state and its residents.