DENVER — Colorado state lawmakers work 120 days from January to May. Although, when you take out weekends (and a couple of holidays), it's really 84 days. And if Senate Democrats follow through on what they're alluding to this week, it may really be 85 or 86 days.
"We might not be able to get all the bills through the system in the next eight days. We might be coming in this weekend to make sure we get the work done," said Sen. Faith Winter (D-Westminster).
"I have no desire to work on Saturday," said Sen. Owen Hill (R-Colorado Springs).
As of Monday, there had been 584 bills introduced in the state legislature. Of those, 285 still need to be acted on by the final legislative day on May 3.
Of the remaining 285 bills, 162 of them are in the Senate.
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"I have not heard that we may have to work on Saturday. It's not uncommon for that rumor to fly around," said John Aden, director for The Colorado Channel, which broadcasts the House and Senate proceedings online and on Comcast.
When the House or Senate is in session, so is The Colorado Channel.
"Last week, I was here until 2:30 in the morning. What do they call it? 'Nature of the beast,'" said Aden. With a laugh, he added, "I don't get paid overtime."
If either the House or Senate works the weekend, non-partisan staff also must work the weekend. If bills are heard in committee, staffers who help with those committees or bills need to work as well.
According to the Legislative Council Director, legislative council staff gets comped for each hour they work. The rules are different by department.
"Obviously, I'd rather have the weekends to myself, but we, here at The Colorado Channel, are always happy to accommodate the schedule of the legislative session," Aden explained.
Why are so many bills still pending? Depends on who you ask. Republicans say that Democrats are pushing too much too fast. Democrats say that Republicans are utilizing too many stall tactics.
"The reality is, I've talked to so many folks who haven't even read the bills they're voting on, so yeah, slowing things down. This was designed in the Constitution to be a deliberative body, we're doing exactly what we're supposed to do, making sure we deliberate," said Hill. "Their mentality is, we just get to do whatever we want and y'all just have to roll over and take it. We're not going to take it. We're not going to lie down."
Hill celebrates Orthodox Easter on April 28 and has plans to be with his family this weekend.
"We have Good Friday, we have church all day on Saturday, through the night on Saturday night, and then a big Easter service at 4 o'clock in the morning on Sunday, so ideally that's where I'll be," said Hill.
Aden may be pushing buttons to keep The Colorado Channel active instead of spending time with his family.
"My sister-in-law's in town, so if I do have to work on Saturday, it would obviously mean I wouldn’t get to see her as much as I would want," said Aden.
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