State senator faces backlash for comments during bill hearing

A state senator on Saturday faced backlash after he said a bill about debt collection limits would allow the government to “step in, and step on the neck” of people.

The remarks by Sen. Rob Woodward, R-loveland, come as protesters gathered outside the Capitol for another day of demonstrations after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed after a white police officer pressed a knee to his neck in Minneapolis.

Woodward caught himself in the middle of the comment and said, “I don’t want to lean on other events going on outside right now.” But the statement, along with a reference to “colored people” during his remarks about the prevalence of debt collection among black Coloradans, drew the ire of his colleagues.

“We just had a colleague (speaking) about debt collection, use the phrase ‘step on the neck,’ ” said Sen. Faith Winter, D-westminster. “And that is so hurtful and so problematic right now.”

Woodward apologized on Facebook for his comments.

In an interview, he said the phrase “step on the neck” is one often used by both parties on the Senate floor and that he cut himself off. “Even though that phrase has been used in the past, it certainly is not appropriate in today’s environment based on what happened in Minneapolis,” Woodward said.

He also said that during his speech he read a transcript of previous comments made by Sen. Julie Gonzales, a sponsor of the bill, and that there was an error that included the phrase “colored people.” Gonzales did not use the phrase, and Woodward said he plans to apologize to her Monday.

“Of course that’s not something I would ever say, but I didn’t want to misquote her,” he said. “I should probably have skipped over those words if I was concerned about them, but I thought I was reading word for word.”

Under the proposed bill, people would not have their wages or bank account garnished for 180 days if they are able to show they are struggling financially because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview, Winter said it was the second time this week that she’s asked Republican lawmakers to be careful with their language after another legislator used the word “thug.”