Colorado: Sen. Jennifer Veiga

In what is expected to be the last major fight in the legislature over Colorado's proposed new rules for oil and gas drilling, the state Senate gave initial approval today to the controversial regulations.

The vote, which broke along party lines, came after Republicans made an unsuccessful, last-ditch effort to sway moderate Democrats to make some changes to the rules, which are designed to protect the environment and public health from drilling side-effects. The Republicans hoped to increase certain protections for drinking water and to raise fines for some rules violations in exchange for stripping out a number of regulations.

Democrats summarily rejected the change, and, afterward, Republicans conceded the fight in the legislature is basically over.

A self-described "old lesbian" and three students urged lawmakers Monday to support a bill that would make it easier for gays and others to pass down property and handle emergency situations.

Supporters said the bill would apply to a man and a woman who lived together and weren't married or a grandparent and an adult grandchild, for example.

But critics, including Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, called House Bill 1260 "marriage light" and said it was another attempt to give more benefits to gay couples.

"You call this an estate-planning tool, but it really strikes me as a marriage replacement," he said.

The measure allows those in a relationship to file beneficiary agreements with county clerks, a boon for those who can't afford lawyers for wills and other documents, such as power of attorney, said the sponsor, Sen.

A state senator who quoted Bible verses during a debate about health benefits for same-sex couples said Thursday that he's sorry he didn't explain his views more clearly, but that he stands by his beliefs.

Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, said he didn't mean to imply that homosexuality was the same as murder during his remarks, in which he cited a line from Leviticus calling for the death of men who sleep with one another. During his six-minute, unprepared speech, Renfroe said that homosexuality is a sin but not the only one, adding that murder and adultery were other examples.

On Thursday, he said he didn't think that homosexuals should be punished and said he should have picked his words better.

A Republican legislator's remarks about sexuality sparked a bitter volley Wednesday at the state Capitol, the second time in three days such comments have created controversy.

Though unwilling to publicly discuss the issue, a number of Republicans privately expressed dismay at the brouhaha, fearing the comments may hurt their party's image.

Sen. Dave Schultheis, of Colorado Springs, on Wednesday opposed a bill requiring all pregnant women to be tested for HIV, so that if they are infected their babies can be treated to prevent the transfer of the virus.

"This stems from sexual promiscuity for the most part, and I just can't go there," he said.