DENVER – Colorado House Republicans have benefited from a one-vote advantage for a year and have made good use of it, blocking Democrats’ ideas and getting huge concessions on the state budget.

The GOP has been disciplined in keeping the party together and protecting that lead – until now.

Republican Rep. Laura Bradford, in the aftermath of a traffic stop that raised questions regarding legislative privilege, is considering leaving her party in a move that could change the balance of power in the Colorado House.

Bradford’s revelation Wednesday comes after a decision supported by her party to convene an ethics committee, even though the Denver Police Department apologized for mischaracterizing her traffic stop last week.

At issue was whether Bradford invoked a “legislative privilege” clause after police said they had reason to think she was driving drunk.

Bradford, from Grand Junction, maintained she didn’t abuse her position and asked to be treated like everyone else. Police confirmed that account Tuesday.

But that hasn’t spared Bradford the ire of her party.

“I’m frustrated and disappointed in the speaker of the House,” she said, referring to Republican Rep. Frank McNulty. “When last Friday on the phone, when we were discussing this and it had just come to light, he said, and I quote, ‘You’re toast.’”

McNulty responded that, “It is quite possible that I said that if she’s not honest about what happened, and she doesn’t show remorse for what happened, that she would be toast.”

He said Bradford’s comments about possibly leaving the party are “unfortunate and unproductive.” He said the forming of an ethics committee shows “the seriousness of the allegations that have been put in play here.”

Bradford said she disagrees with having an ethics committee look at her actions – and potentially dole out punishment ranging from censure to expulsion – because the question of whether she abused her power has been settled. She said she’s deciding Friday whether to leave the GOP and switch to unaffiliated or Democrat, even though she’s been a lifelong Republican.

The makeup of the House is currently 33-32. A switch could mean that Democrats, with Bradford’s vote, can elect a member of their party to be speaker of the House and have control of the committees.

It would also give Democrats a better chance at passing their legislation, including a civil-unions bill, which Republicans killed in the House last year, and a tuition bill for illegal immigrants. They could also pass the economic-development bills they’ve touted this session.

Republicans on the other hand could lose some control of over critical budget negotiations. They’ve repeatedly said they would not pass a bill to eliminate a senior property-tax break for another year, like the one Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper has called for to balance the budget. The GOP’s anti-regulation driven economic agenda would also be put into jeopardy.