(Denver, Colorado) A bill making it easier for unmarried couples in Colorado, including gays and lesbians, to make medical decision for incapacitated partners and leave property to their partners has passed the house.

Republicans attacked the measure, calling it an attempt to circumvent the state constitution which bans same-sex marriage. Rep. Bob Gardner, the chief GOP opponent, also attacked a provision making it virtually impossible to put a repeal question on the ballot.

“We ought to give people an opportunity to refer the measure to the ballot,” Gardner argued during debate.

Under the plan, couples would be able to go to their county clerk’s office and designate each other as legal beneficiaries.

During the committee stage, Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D) the bill’s sponsor, said that he had wished he could have brought in legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, but admitted to the committee this was the best he could currently hope for.

In 2006 voters passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.  The same year they rejected another ballot issue that would have given same-sex couples many of the rights of marriage including property inheritance rights and the power to make medical and funeral arrangements.

The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and opponents of LGBT rights are mounting a campaign to defeat the legislation.

Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family is sponsoring a radio ad arguing the state cannot afford partner benefits during “a global economic crisis.”

“According to Gov. Bill Ritter’s office, Colorado must shut down two prisons, cut $225 million from school funding and suspend property tax breaks for senior citizens just to keep our state afloat financially. And while the global economic crisis continues to take its toll, our Legislature is considering a bill that would use our tax dollars to fund benefits for the same-sex partners of state employees. We’re being told these benefits will cost over $100,000, but many fear that number has been grossly underestimated,” the ad says.

As the bill works its way through the legislature, a move is underway to overturn the marriage ban.

Stu Allen, 23, is promoting a measure to ask voters in 2010 to repeal the ban on same-sex marriage.

Allen, who is straight, said that gay couples should have the same rights that he and his girlfriend of seven years would have if they got married.