By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
When Rose Pugliese left behind her children to begin the 75th General Assembly in Denver, as children will do she was asked why she did the job of Colorado House minority leader.
“Because the people trusted me to be there, to be their voice,” she answered. “They didn’t just do that for me, but for everyone there.”
The 75th legislative session officially opened at 10:09 a.m. Wednesday in the Colorado House. Pugliese addressed the House as the minority leader following the Speaker’s election.
“This session, the House Republicans remain steadfast in addressing the issues of importance to Coloradans,” she said. “Affordability remains at the forefront of our discussions. You will see that in our legislation.”
Among the areas where the Republican caucus is prepared to play defense against liberal-spending Democrats, Pugliese said, is on the issue of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).
“We have heard (TABOR) in the votes of the people, and when knocking at their doors,” she said. “We will continue to fight to protect the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.”
Pugliese also highlighted Republicans as the party of families and children.
“We believe that families and parents are in the best position to know what their children need,” she said. “We will continue to advocate for parents to fight for the rights of their children in whatever venue they need to.”
She highlighted a commitment to education, and to educational choice. That includes, Pugliese said, in honoring the constitutional obligation for funding.
“This is the future of our workforce,” she said.
When Democrats are not taxing Coloradans, they are side-stepping a tax by calling it a fee, Republicans complain. It is a tactic Pugliese addressed.
“We as a legislature have to recognize the role we played in making Colorado unaffordable,” she said. “Seniors are worried they will have to leave the state because they can’t afford it. We, the legislature, have done that.”
She noted specific legislation passed by the Democrat-controlled legislature which is “standing in the way of the American dream.”
The first-generation American relayed a story of her father immigrating, and the importance to him of legal immigration.
“I remain committed, as does my caucus, to a path for legal immigration,” Pugliese said. “We are advocating for public safety, for our children and families to be safe. We are advocating for illegal criminal aliens not to be in our country.”
Republicans will also be protectors of the 1st Amendment in the session, she predicted, following a 74th legislature where Democrats attempted to control the rights of free speech of the minority party.
“We should all feel welcome in the People’s House, including those who serve,” Pugliese said. “You can’t just pick and choose the parts of the 1st Amendment you support. Protecting 1st Amendment rights in the constitution should not be a partisan issue.”
To that end, she offered that those in the minority party of the legislature were “chosen”.
“The 22 of us were chosen. We were chosen to work with you and understand your perspectives. That is something we want,” Pugliese said. “We are doing what is right in our hearts for the people of Colorado. We are not here for ourselves, we are here for others.”