(Denver, CO – January 8, 2024) – Minority Leader Pugliese today delivered remarks to open the First Session of the 75th General Assembly. 

“Good morning, colleagues, friends, and most importantly, the people of Colorado who have sent us here to do your business. We are eternally grateful and honored to be here today. As we open the 75th General Assembly, we are reminded of the tremendous responsibility placed upon us as representatives.

I was talking to my children this morning, and they asked, “Mommy, why do you keep doing this job?” Using my outside voice, I said, “Because the people trusted me to be here, to be their voice.”

They did not do that for just me. They did that for every single one of us in this chamber today. It is a privilege and an honor to serve our communities—all of our communities throughout the state—whether in the Western Slope, the Eastern Plains, Southern Colorado, Northern Colorado, Denver, or Colorado Springs, which I am incredibly privileged to represent. I was so blessed this summer to be the Minority Leader and travel into all of your communities, talk to people at the doors, and truly understand the issues they felt were most important for us to bring back to the legislature. I appreciate all of my members, especially those who opened their homes and doors to me so that I could meet your constituents. That was an incredible honor.

This session, the House Republicans remain steadfast in our commitment to addressing the issues that matter to Colorado families. Again, these are the issues we heard at the doors. Together, we aim to make life more affordable, protect our children and families, and expand opportunities for every Coloradan to make our state strong and vibrant.

Affordability remains at the forefront of our legislative priorities. You will hear a lot about that this session. You will see us going to the microphone to talk about the conversations we had and the work we can do together—and I do believe we can do this work together—to meaningfully improve the lives of Coloradans in all our communities.

With the rising costs of living, housing, and essentials making our families struggle, we can be champions. My caucus and I have been committed, as I am sure many of you will be this session with a budget deficit as large as ours, to protecting the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. We have all heard this, not just at our doors but in the votes of the people who have consistently chosen to protect the Taxpayer Bill of Rights in Colorado. It is our responsibility to honor the people’s vote and continue to fight to protect it.

As we talk about families, we are committed—and you will hear us continuously fight—to protect Colorado’s children and families. Whether advocating for safer communities, promoting parental choice in education, or ensuring parents are in control of their children’s medical decisions—an issue that is very near and dear to my heart—we believe that families, whether parents, grandparents, or others raising children, are in the best position to know what their children need. We will continue to fight for the right of parents to advocate for their children in whatever setting they need to.

In our schools, we will continue to work on an education system that empowers both parents and children, strengthens our public education system, expands school choice, and ensures transparency and accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent. Education is a constitutional obligation for this body. We have a duty to protect public education funding, which includes charter schools. Several of us are also deeply invested in higher education and protecting that funding because it represents the future of our workforce and the key to keeping our children here in Colorado.

Regarding fees, we have had many conversations about affordability. I hope we can find bipartisan support for some of this legislation, but as a legislature, we must acknowledge the role we have played in making Colorado less affordable. It is critical to have honest discussions about fees. People are telling us at the doors that they cannot afford to raise their families here. Seniors are afraid they must leave the state because they cannot live on fixed incomes. The legislature contributed to this.

When we talk about affordable and attainable housing, the broader legislature has played a role. While I support construction defect legislation because I believe it is important, it is not the only area where the legislature impacts housing. Everyone in Colorado should have the opportunity to achieve their American dream, and yet laws we have passed are standing in their way. We will continue to propose ideas to improve the lives of people across the state.

The immigration conversation is difficult, as returning members know. These are hard conversations. On this topic, as a first-generation American, I want to share something personal. Many of you know my father came to this country at 18 with 50 cents in his pocket and a dream for a new life. He built a beautiful family and a restaurant and was committed to ensuring that immigrants could come to this country legally and be welcomed. This was a cause he championed throughout his life here.

I remain committed, as does my caucus, to ensuring a path to legal immigration so we can build a strong workforce and thriving families. It hurts my heart to hear some of the rhetoric we may encounter in this chamber because that is not the American dream.

On public safety, we are united in advocating for safer communities. We support the removal of violent illegal immigrants who harm people in our communities. This should be a bipartisan issue, and I am eager to understand differing perspectives.

When it comes to constitutional rights, I am so pleased we recently had the opportunity to discuss protecting the First Amendment with a broader audience. Protecting First Amendment rights—of every chamber member and every constituent—is a core principle. Even in difficult conversations, that is what our country was founded on. This house, the people’s house, must be welcoming to all.

We reaffirm our commitment to protecting the First Amendment and the Constitution. Supporting the First Amendment means protecting it in its entirety, not selectively. We took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and Colorado. I know we are all committed to that, and I look forward to these conversations.

In closing, while we may have differences on both sides of the aisle, I believe every one of us has worked hard to be here. We are not here because it is easy. We are here because we have been chosen to serve.

Let us find a path forward, working together to deliver real results for the people of Colorado. The work will be hard, but I know we can succeed together. I am excited about this opportunity and grateful to be here with all of you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and let us get to work for the people of Colorado.”