House Minority Leaders Vision for 2024 Session

(Colorado State Capitol, January 10, 2024) -- Today, leaders of the House Minority Caucus announced their vision at the start of the 2nd Regular Session of the 74th General Assembly.

“Coloradans want freedom from more government; they want their communities to be safe; and they expect the Legislature to adhere to the Constitution, we plan to make sure these happen,” said Minority Leader Mike Lynch (R-Wellington). “We plan to work with the majority party on our shared goals but expect them to listen, collaborate, and share that willingness to work together,” added Lynch. 

“While this is the start of a new year and a new legislative session, the issues faced by Coloradans are not,” said Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese (R-Colorado Springs). “We are willing to work alongside the majority to tackle the ongoing cost of living battle and help our Colorado families not just survive but to thrive,” Pugliese noted.

During the 2023 legislative session and the November special session, tension between the Republican caucus and the majority often flared including the repeated use of Rules 14 & 16 which limited debate on hyper-partisan legislation. The Republican caucus has worked hard to mend these bridges and work toward more bipartisanship.

Bipartisan solutions will only be possible if the majority can overcome their inter-party organizational crisis and allow for those who share in the desire for civility and decorum to prevail throughout the chamber. The majority must also acknowledge there are sixty-five members of the Colorado House of Representatives who come from all corners of the state; the policies coming out of Denver need to be beneficial to all Coloradans, not just the front range.

Republicans' focus will be on security. This includes security with our pocketbooks by tackling the persistent affordability crisis, which remains unaddressed despite being the primary concern for Coloradans. Security at home and on the streets ensures the rule of law is followed and security with property taxes so hard-working Coloradans are not priced out of their own homes.

The Colorado House Republicans have rolled up their sleeves and come to work this legislative session. We call on the majority to make room at their table and not shut us out of the process to push through partisan agendas as we saw last session.