During my two decades in elected office, I always believed the Republicans in Colorado’s Legislature were principled people, even though I frequently and vehemently disagreed with them. I respected them for having their own principles and for acting on them. That is true no longer.

While I’m sure there are Republican legislators who still respect American values, their behavior on the issue of redistricting Colorado’s Congressional districts is nothing short of revolting. This is scumbag behavior, not principled action. And, it appears to be instigated by the White House, which wants to make sure that President Bush maintains a majority in Congress. Speaking about unprincipled, demagogic behavior!

It’s already all too clear what the Republicans have done. They have flagrantly ignored the state’s constitution and laws. They have decided that Congressional districts should be redrawn every two years, instead of every ten years, after the national census. That, of course, depends on whether such biannual redistricting benefits them, not Democrats. If it’s not to their advantage, these Republican legislators would never consider changing Congressional districts.

What’s really astonishing about all this is that Bob Beauprez won the new 7th Congressional District. Are his fellow Republicans so afraid that he will fail to meet voters’ expectations that he needs a redrawn, illegal and safe district for himself? Why doesn’t he simply prove to the voters of the 7th district that he is the Congressman they want, rather than being forced on them?

Across the United States, the census is taken every ten years. After the census, each state is reassigned its appropriate number of Congressional districts, depending on population changes. Each state is then required to redraw its district boundaries based on population changes in that state. Voters know they reside in a specific district for that decade.

In Colorado, the law has stated for twenty years that, if the Legislature cannot agree on new boundaries, a judge will make the decision. Last year, Colorado’s Legislature battled for most of the legislative session over how those boundaries should be drawn. When the Legislature failed to agree, Judge John Coughlin was required by law to set those boundaries. This he did, but the Republicans in the Legislature didn’t like his decision. So, they are trying to overturn a legal decision by an illegal power grab.

And, what’s even more cynical, they didn’t make this effort until the last three days of the legislative session. They didn’t want to give the public an opportunity to comment on their sordid behavior because the public wouldn’t have endorsed it. Instead, they proposed their redistricting so late that no one could comment, no one could object, no voter could be heard. They want to set a precedent without letting anyone know what they are doing. And, they call this democracy at work.

Well, it isn’t democracy. It isn’t principled. It isn’t honest. It is despicable behavior that every Coloradan should resent and abhor. This is an example of minimal brainpower and maximum arrogance. The Republicans are stiffing Colorado’s voters and gloating over it. These Republicans are acting like minor potentates with grossly inflated egos and pitifully deflated values.

One of Colorado’s most successful and revered politicians once said to me, “In politics, all you really have is your integrity.” Principles and integrity are one and the same. Senate President John Andrews, who claims to have the moral lock on values and always wants to tell us how we should behave, according to his view of the world, has demonstrated his complete lack of principles and integrity. But, then, so have all the other Republicans who joined him in this shameful episode. That includes our invisible governor, other Republican leaders who are happy to let their legislative colleagues carry this dishonorable burden and the bunch of sheep who follow the lead of their unprincipled legislative leaders.

What a sorry time for Colorado. What a pathetic end to a distasteful legislative session where morals, values and principles barely raised their heads. What a disappointing revelation for all of us who care about Colorado politics, who have respected our fellow politicians, to discover that our respect has been sadly misplaced.