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Tuesday, June 13, 2006 · Last updated 4:17 p.m. PT

Colo. governor threatens special session

By STEVEN K. PAULSON
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

DENVER -- Colorado's governor threatened Tuesday to call a special legislative session unless the state Supreme Court reverses its "arrogant" decision to kill a November ballot measure that would ask voters to deny most state services to illegal immigrants.

Gov. Bill Owens, a term-limited Republican, said the court's decision on Monday is an attempt to impose its views on the immigration debate.

"In my opinion, the court's decision was inconsistent, it was inappropriate, and yes, I even believe it was arrogant," Owens said.

The governor asked the court to rehear the case and reverse its decision, but acknowledged there is little chance that will happen. He said he will give the court about two weeks before calling for the special session.

The proposed constitutional amendment would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving welfare and in-state college tuition, supporters say. They have declined to list all the services that would be affected, saying the list would be "almost endless."

The state would continue to provide illegal immigrants federally mandated services such as public education or emergency medical care.

In a 4-2 ruling with one justice abstaining, the court said the measure cannot appear on the Nov. 7 ballot because it violates a constitutional requirement that initiatives address only one subject.

It would take a two-thirds vote in both houses, controlled by Democrats, to get it on the ballot.

The top Democrat in the state Senate, Joan Fitz-Gerald of Golden, said no special session is needed because lawmakers dealt with illegal immigration during this year's regular session, passing laws that crack down on human smuggling and counterfeiting documents.