Colorado Lawmaker Delays State Budget Over Ethics Grievance

Republican state representative demands entire 600-page bill be read aloud to protest 'broken' ethics process

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:06pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of the Colorado state capitol building, its grand architecture and columns bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of political divisions.The Colorado state capitol building stands alone in the fading light, a symbol of the partisan tensions and ethical concerns that have disrupted the legislative process.Wheat Ridge Today

A Republican Colorado state representative, Brandi Bradley, has delayed the passage of the state's $35 billion budget bill by requesting that the entire 600-page document be read aloud on the House floor. Bradley says she made the request in protest of the chamber's 'broken' ethics complaint process, which she claims has 'victimized' her and others.

Why it matters

The delay tactic, rarely used for budget bills, highlights the partisan tensions and dysfunction within the Colorado legislature. Bradley's grievances over the handling of her ethics complaint against a fellow Republican lawmaker have now brought the state's crucial budget process to a standstill, potentially impacting funding for key government services and programs.

The details

On Wednesday, Bradley asked for the budget bill to be read in full, a request any member can make during floor debate. She said this was prompted by her objections to how the chamber handled an ethics complaint she filed earlier this year against Republican state Rep. Ron Weinberg. The bipartisan House Ethics Committee found probable cause for two of the six claims in Bradley's complaint, including one regarding a pattern of alleged inappropriate sexual comments and behavior by Weinberg. The committee recommended Weinberg receive a letter of admonishment and undergo sexual harassment training, but Bradley says the process was unjust and 'ripe with abuse'.

  • On Wednesday night, Bradley requested the 600-page budget bill be read aloud.
  • The reading of the bill began on Thursday morning and was expected to take around 15 hours, putting an end time around 9:30 a.m. Friday.

The players

Brandi Bradley

A Republican state representative from Littleton, Colorado who filed an ethics complaint against a fellow GOP lawmaker and is now delaying the state budget bill in protest of the 'broken' ethics process.

Ron Weinberg

A Republican state representative who was the subject of an ethics complaint filed by Bradley, which the House Ethics Committee found probable cause for two of the six claims, including a pattern of alleged inappropriate sexual comments and behavior.

Monica Duran

The Democratic House Majority Leader from Wheat Ridge, Colorado who moved to delay the reading of the budget bill on Wednesday night.

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What they’re saying

“'Our own ethical complaint process is broken. It is ripe with abuse, and it must be fixed. I have been personally victimized both by a member here and by our so-called ethical process.'”

— Brandi Bradley, Republican State Representative

“'There has to be a change in culture that is in the state building.'”

— Brandi Bradley, Republican State Representative

What’s next

If House leadership 'would like to follow the rule as to read the ethics recommendation regarding Ron Weinberg to the House body … I would withdraw my request,' Bradley said in a text message.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the deep partisan divisions and dysfunction within the Colorado legislature, where a lawmaker's personal grievances over the ethics process have now brought the state's crucial budget process to a standstill. It raises questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the legislature's internal disciplinary mechanisms and the need for reforms to restore public trust.