“It is not uncommon for members to be on the other side of leaders on issues and votes, but this is different in that it is such a substantial and high-profile issue and one which goes to the heart of the modern Republican predisposition to ‘just say no’ to most anything which threatens their small-government, minimal-spending ideology,” said Colorado State University political science professor John Straayer, a Colorado political expert who has followed the state Legislature for more than 40 years.

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