Minority Leader Rose Pugliese Owes Colorado Springs An Explanation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
CONTACT: Sara Loflin, Executive Director at [email protected]

COLORADO SPRINGS: After far-right state Rep. Rebecca Keltie of Colorado Springs unapologetically doubled down on her expressed desire to see the state of Colorado “burned to the ground” following an interview last week in which Rep. Keltie also suggested that her colleagues in the Colorado General Assembly do not “even have a soul,” [1] ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest multi-issue progressive advocacy organization, called on House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese to apologize to residents of Colorado Springs whose lives have been disrupted by wildfires in recent years on Rep. Keltie’s behalf.

“Waldo Canyon. The Black Forest Fire. The Meridian Fire just last March. To the people of Colorado Springs and El Paso County, wildfire is no laughing matter,” said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Sara Loflin. “After winning her state house seat by only three votes, Rep. Rebecca Keltie should be far more sensitive to the experience of the residents she represents in the Colorado General Assembly, and more respectful of her colleagues than to suggest they have no soul. At a moment when we need cooler heads to prevail in public office more than ever, Rep. Keltie’s escalating rhetoric divides and hurts everyone, including her constituents.”

“If Rep. Keltie refuses to apologize for hoping Colorado is ‘burned to the ground,’ it falls to her Colorado Springs neighbor and House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese to make it clear that Rebecca Keltie does not speak for all Colorado Republicans,” said Loflin. “This isn’t about censorship, it’s about common decency and a basic sense of mutual respect among lawmakers. If Rep. Keltie really can’t look her colleagues in the eye without suspecting they have no soul, elected office may not be the best place for her. Rep. Keltie should instead be in therapy.”

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