Despite initial failure, Weld County Commissioner plans to try again to declare Weld a ‘pro-life sanctuary’
Weld County Commissioners Mike Freeman, left, Perry Buck, Steve Moreno, Lori Saine, and Scott James pose for a photo. Courtesy photo.
By Kelly Ragan
Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine said she plans to try again to declare Weld a “pro-life sanctuary” county.
Saine recently introduced a resolution that failed, with commissioner Perry Buck voting yes and commissioners Mike Freeman, Scott James and Steve Moreno abstaining.
The resolution, even if it had passed, would have had no legal effect, according to Weld County attorney Bruce Barker.
“I will be bringing back a pro-life sanctuary resolution which is stronger,” Saine said at the board meeting Wednesday. “Mr. James, you said you wanted something that does something.”
At a previous board meeting, James criticized the resolution.
“There is no action in this resolution. It does nothing,” James said at a previous meeting. “We’re using the county’s primary instrument of action to take inaction. I find it hypocritical.”
Saine introduced the resolution following the state’s passage of the Reproductive Health Equity Act.
Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill into law April 4, cementing the right to abortion access in Colorado. The law also states a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights. While the newly passed law doesn’t change how Colorado already handled abortion, it serves to solidify the law in the event the Supreme Court overturns or weakens its Roe v. Wade decision.
Park County Commissioner Amy Mitchell also attempted to introduce a similar proclamation this month, according to a report by the Colorado Times Recorder.
Her attempt also failed when Park County commissioners voted 2-1 to remove the discussion from the agenda.
Barker, the county’s attorney, put together the previous resolution at Saine’s request.
Though it was rejected, Saine said she thought the original resolution was good and that she would still vote for it today.
“But if we want to have something stronger, I will introduce that in the next couple weeks,” Saine said.