Governor Owens opened a special legislative session Thursday with a call for legislators to set aside their differences in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks.

The session opened with the singing of "God Bless America." The Owens told lawmakers the time for posturing is past and now it's time to everyone involved to work together in good faith.

Owens has a 14-point agenda for the session but Senate Democrats say they aren't obligated to follow that plan. Owens says no one expects legislators to fully agree on issues such as growth.

Senate Democrats plan to introduce their own measures to counter those offered by Gov. Bill Owens. They include school impact fees to control growth and breast cancer treatment funding sources that are alternatives to Owens' plan to use tobacco settlement funds.

The Democrats' plan is a departure from the long-held tradition of the governor setting a special session agenda. Deputy Attorney General Ken Lane said his staff believes Owens can define the subject, but not limit legislation. He said a legal issue would arise only if Owens signed a bill outside the limits he set.

Dick Wadhams, Owens' spokesman, criticized Democrats for setting their own agenda. He said Owens believes the other proposals could wait until the regular session convenes in January, noting that the special session will cost $14,000 a day.

Owens has set a 14-item agenda for the session, the second time this year he has called lawmakers back to work. Other key topics include growth management, congressional redistricting and transportation funding.

Representatives of both parties have said they hope to reach a compromise on growth but they expect the congressional district boundaries to be finalized in court.

"There's a much different tone than I've heard in the past. I'm optimistic," said Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland. "We're not going to agree on everything, but maybe we can actually compromise on some issues."

Owens has proposed bills to resolve jurisdictional disputes over growth, require comprehensive plans, prohibit "leapfrog" annexation, provide grants to encourage so-called smart growth and require regional planning. He also added local government impact fees, but excluded school districts.

Democrats plan to propose impact fees for school districts, state funding for cancer treatment and long-range transportation planning.

Sen. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, said the governor's growth bills dealing with comprehensive planning, jurisdictional disputes, grants and leapfrog annexation will probably pass, even though Democrats do not believe they will solve growth problems.

Perlmutter said there will be a stiff debate over congressional redistricting, including where to put a new seventh congressional seat. He said the issue will probably end up in the courts, unless Republicans back down on their plans for five Republican seats, leaving Democrats with the two seats they have now in Denver and Boulder.

Growth management remains a top priority among voters.

During a town-hall forum on growth earlier this week, Adeline McConnell, a 77-year-old retired school teacher, said she does not think lawmakers will take action that will have much of an impact on growth.

"I think they're dominated by special interests. I think it's small groups like this that will have a bigger impact," she said.

Owens first called lawmakers into special session on growth issues in May after the regular session ended. They disbanded without reaching a consensus.

Previous Stories:

• September 18, 2001: Special Session To Tackle Cancer Treatment For Uninsured Women
• August 31, 2001: Transportation Funding Added To Special Session
• July 13, 2001: Owens Calls Another Special Session
• May 22, 2001: Special Session On Growth Ends Without Compromise
• May 18, 2001: Still No Growth Bill In Special Session
• May 15, 2001: Gov. Owens Addresses Special Session Monday
• May 11, 2001: Special Session Moves Into Day Two
• May 10, 2001: Legislative Special Session Begins Thursday