Colorado's constitutional rewrites are bitter ballot issue

DENVER (AP) -- Republican state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg wants the 91,000 voters in the 11 northeastern Colorado counties he represents to have a fair say when it comes to amending the state constitution.

So he's backing a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that would make it harder to change the constitution. Amendment 71 would require some voter support from every district to get such proposals on the ballot.

The measure has bipartisan support and big-time financial backing from the oil and gas industry.

The opposition also features foes of all political stripes who claim that only wealthy special interests could afford to get statewide support for new amendments if this one passes.