Colorado lawmakers reach impasse on civil unions

McNulty told reporters that lawmakers had reached an impasse and civil unions would die along with several other bills, including an overhaul of school discipline policies and setting a blood-level marijuana limit for drivers.

"We have reached an impasse," McNulty said. "It is unfortunate that there will be items that will not receive consideration by the House tonight because of this impasse."

Colorado's debate came as gay rights are in the national spotlight.

North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday defining marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman, and also barring civil unions. Also, Vice President Joe Biden said over the weekend that he was "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex married couples getting the same rights at heterosexual married couples.

Colorado's bill had cleared a key hurdle Tuesday when Republican Rep. Cheri Gerou joined Democrats to advance the measure out of its final committee for consideration by the full chamber.

"This isn't a partisan conversation," Gerou said. "This is, in my mind, this is a basic human rights conversation."

Republicans in two other House committees had also joined Democrats.

Supporters gathered at a rally outside the Capitol earlier Tuesday to pressure the GOP to take action on the bill, chanting "Let them vote!" to Republican lawmakers who control the House.

Gay rights advocates had been nervous that Republican opponents would use procedural tactics to run out the clock and kill the bill.

Tuesday night's announcement that the bill wouldn't get a vote came hours after Democrats sought to block a GOP filibuster on civil unions. Republicans control the House on a 33-32 margin but enough members of their party supported the legislation to pass it.

Democrats used a procedural move to try to stop debate on other bills when it became clear Republicans were talking at length about other measures, delaying any action on civil unions.