A ritual every legislative session–passing resolutions imploring Congress or the president to take action on some purportedly pressing matter–may serve a greater purpose for those sending the message than for the recipients. Nevertheless, at least one Colorado lawmaker as well as a Washington official say the legislative gestures are important.
Resolutions are non-binding statements that often express a desire for action by Congress on a particular issue. At the end of most resolutions a clause designates who copies of the resolution should be mailed to—the intended readers. A fair percentage of the resolutions name national political office holders, landing on the desks of Colorado’s congressional delegation, the president and vice president and congressional leadership and, on occasion, cabinet members.
During the 2010 legislative session, 105 resolutions were offered, many of them making the journey to Washington D.C. Was it mostly about scoring political points at the Capitol in Denver, or were power brokers in the nation’s capital really listening?
Asked about the disposition of the resolutions and memorials after they arrive in Washington D.C. via the U.S. Postal Service, the staff of U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R- Colorado, representing the 6th Congressional district, said the deliveries from the Colorado legislature are indeed reviewed and kept on file.
“When we receive a resolution passed through the Colorado General Assembly, the congressman and the appropriate staff member read and ultimately file them in the office,” said Coffman staffer Kyle Ennenga. “Congressman Coffman takes resolutions sent from the Colorado state house very seriously and believes that the opinions of the Colorado General Assembly regarding federal policy matters are very important.”
Another Colorado congressional delegation staffer said that the resolutions arrive and receive little fanfare other than a cursory glance, notation, and filing by staffers.
Colorado’s Senate Majority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, said thoughts of the heartfelt words falling on deaf ears and ultimately landing in a filing cabinet do not bother him. Resolutions are actually more about the sending than the receiving says Morse, allowing the legislature an opportunity to formally air their views.
“Whoever is running the resolution, if you can actually get it passed, then you get to get that off your chest and very formally notify Congress and the President of what we’re thinking,” said Morse.
Morse said firing off words on issues that are of concern to legislators is better than “street-fighting,” and he said the verbal exhortations are how we do things.
“It basically says this is how we feel, the majority of us. Talk is a big part of politics. We settle our differences with words instead of swords,” said Morse.