House Votes 62-1 for Bruce Censure

Jan 24, 07:09 PM

Jan. 24--DENVER -- The House of Representatives voted 62-1 to censure Rep. Douglas Bruce. The House has no record of a member being censured in its history.

Bruce kicked Rocky Mountain News photographer Javier Manzano on Jan. 14 during a morning prayer.

The vote followed a statement by Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, in which he again defended his actions as being meant to preserve order. Bruce also said he did not kick Manzano but nudged him, that the House was not in order at the time of the incident and that he was a private citizen. Bruce was sworn into office later that day.

The lone dissenting vote was from Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud. Lundberg said he deplored Bruce's act, but he voted against the censure because he believed it was excessive. Bruce was excused from voting.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, cut Bruce's speech short, citing House rules that limit a speaker to 10 minutes. Bruce also asked that a seven-page statement be read into the House journal.

Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, asked the House to reject Bruce's request because it contained a lengthy discussion of past actions that were not censured. May said that portion of the statement was based on rumors, and he suggested Bruce submit a shorter statement. Bruce's request was defeated 56-7.

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