Republicans Call On Owens For Special Session

**Update--Owens threatens special session if court does not overturn decision:

Gov. Bill Owens, considering a request by Republican lawmakers, said Tuesday that he will call a special session if the Colorado Supreme Court does not reverse its decision and put on the November ballot an initiative that would deny most state services to illegal immigrants. Attorney General John Suthers also said will ask the Colorado Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

"Yesterday, our State Supreme Court ignored years of legal precedent and decided that the public should not have a say in one of the most important public policy debates of our time. In my opinion, the court's decision was inconsistent, it was inappropriate, and yes, I even believe it was arrogant," Owens said.

To address the Colorado Supreme Court's usurpation of ballot access on an illegal immigration ballot proposal:

Republican lawmakers asked the governor to call a special session today in a last-ditch effort to get a proposal on the November ballot that would deny most state services to illegal immigrants.

The request to GOP Gov. Bill Owens came one day after the state Supreme Court disqualified the proposal, saying it addressed more than one topic, a violation of the state constitution.

House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said voters deserve a chance to weigh in on the issue.

''The state Supreme Court illegally denied access to the ballot on an issue I think enjoys overwhelming support. The question is access to the ballot. To have that taken away by the courts needs to be resolved,'' May said.

It would take a two-thirds vote in both houses, which are now controlled by Democrats, to get it on the ballot.

Read the GOP's letter to Gov. Owens.