Colo. lawmaker apologizes for losing temper

By The AP
Friday, January 28, 2011

DENVER — Republican state Rep. David Balmer has apologized to Senate leaders for losing his temper while discussing congressional redistricting in the state Senate.

Balmer said today he was wrong and he quickly apologized to Sen. Gail Schwartz of Snowmass after a sergeant at arms asked Balmer to leave on Wednesday. Balmer has been temporarily banned from the Senate floor until the issue is resolved.

Democratic Senate President Brandon Schaffer is trying to determine if a complaint by the sergeant constitutes a formal complaint warranting an ethics investigation.

Balmer and Schwartz are members of a committee on congressional redistricting. Balmer says they were discussing an upcoming meeting when he lost his temper.