Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper on Wednesday said he would call lawmakers back to Denver to finish work on civil unions.

Hickenlooper announced his decision during an emotional press conference.

The governor explained that some of the people he knew from his time in the restaurant business “didn't have the same rights as everyone else.”

“I had a call yesterday from one of them and just asked, 'If not now when?'” Hickenlooper told reporters. “Everyone deserves the same legal rights in this country. We are depriving people of their civil rights without reason.”

The measure died in the House on Tuesday as floor debate for the legislative session came to an end. Democrats accused Republican leaders of a filibuster on civil unions.

Republicans denied the charge, saying the bill came up too late in the session.

Republican Rep. Mark Waller told reporters that Democrats had created the circumstance “so they can increase their chances of taking a majority back in the state House next year.”

The impasse also killed several other critical bills.

Democratic Rep. Mark Ferrandino, who sponsored the civil unions bill in the House, said he was skeptical about the bill's chances in a special session.

“I think where things are going, given the difference of a day, or a couple of days, I don't know that I see a different outcome,” he told the AP.

At least five Republicans had indicated support for civil unions in the House, where Republicans enjoy a 1 seat majority. The Senate earlier approved the measure.