On the April 5 broadcast of KCNC's CBS4 News at 6 p.m., co-anchor Molly Hughes introduced a report by political specialist Terry Jessup about a state House resolution regarding the Iraq war by falsely stating that the resolution “criticiz[es] President Bush.” Similarly, Jessup's April 5 article about the resolution posted on KCNC's website reported, “House lawmakers at the State Capitol are unhappy with the way the Iraq war is going and Thursday they passed a resolution criticizing President Bush.” In fact, despite protest from the resolution's Senate co-sponsor, Ron Tupa (D-Boulder), House members removed the language that some lawmakers considered critical of Bush before giving final approval to the resolution.

The Denver Post reported on March 30 (an online version appeared March 29) that the state Senate “approved a resolution opposing the escalation of the war in Iraq.” This amended version of the resolution took specific issue with Bush's escalation strategy:

George W. Bush announced an escalation of the war in Iraq on January 10, 2007, by sending an additional 21,500 United States troops to Iraq without an accompanying change in overall strategy

The Colorado General Assembly expects a cohesive strategy from our national leadership before, not after, putting the lives of our brave service members in harm's way

While the final version of the resolution the House approved on April 5 does not include language directly critical of Bush, it continues to express opposition to an escalation of troop levels in Iraq. Stating, “Current efforts to escalate the war in Iraq do not reflect [the strategy recommended by the Iraq Study Group],” the resolution “urge[s] Congress and the President to protect our armed forces and secure the interests of both the American and the Iraqi people by bringing an end to the escalation of the war in Iraq.”

In contrast to CBS4's account, an Associated Press article published April 5 on the Post's website noted that in approving the resolution, “The House removed stronger language approved by the state Senate, which criticized Bush and said lawmakers expected a cohesive strategy from national leaders 'before, not after, putting the lives of our brave service members in harm's way.' ”

From the April 5 broadcast of KCNC's CBS4 News at 6 p.m.:

ED GREENE (co-anchor): House lawmakers are at the State Capitol, and they're unhappy with the way the war is going in Iraq.

HUGHES: And they've passed a resolution criticizing President Bush. CBS4 political specialist Terry Jessup was there for that, and he joins us now live. Terry, I understand this was actually a really emotional debate.

JESSUP: It certainly was that, Molly. With more than one lawmaker fighting back tears as the resolution designed to send a message to Washington took up several hours of the House floor business.

From the April 5 article “House Passes Resolution Criticizing President,” on KCNC CBS4's website:

House lawmakers at the State Capitol are unhappy with the way the Iraq war is going and Thursday they passed a resolution criticizing President Bush.

More than one lawmaker was fighting back tears as the resolution designed to send a message to Washington took up the majority of Thursday's House floor business.

“I don't want to pull out of Iraq,” Rep. Joe Rice of Littleton said, “But I don't want to blindly plot ahead either.”

Rice, who served two tours in Iraq, discounted those who said the resolution criticizing the war is a disservice to our troops and a comfort to their enemies.