Wording approved by Legislative Council
Today, proponents from Colorado for Equal Rights appeared before the Legislative Council and answered several questions about the intent and the legal ramifications of their pro-life constitutional amendment. In attendance were Mr. Meuser and Miss Burton from Colorado for Equal Rights as well as four members of the Legislative Council. Also observing the meeting were eight anti-life advocates taking vigorous notes on the discussion of the amendment.
A recurring theme in our answers to the Council was that the intent of this amendment is to protect all human beings. The Legislative Council asked why the term fertilization was used rather than conception. Mr. Meuser responded that fertilization is a well-defined term used to refer to the moment the sperm and the egg unite, whereas conception is a term currently used when implantation takes place. He states, “Our purpose is to protect all life and thus, we want to start at the moment life actually begins.”
The Legislative Council also asked what the effect of the amendment would be on the “undue burden” test as established in Roe v. Wade. Mr. Meuser responded that, in Roe, the Court created the “undue burden” test because they could not find that “person” was defined for state or national Constitutional purposes. Because our amendment defines life as beginning at fertilization, it makes the “undue burden” test a moot issue.
Also, immediately after the Legislative Council hearing, Colorado for Equal Rights filed the amendment with the Secretary of State’s office. A meeting was scheduled for July 18th. At that meeting, Colorado for Equal Rights will work with the Titling Board to select the amendment’s proper title for the November ’08 ballot.