It has become quite difficult to offer a unique perspective on Colorado’s state legislature from a conservative perspective. It becomes a rote task of reciting numbers, reminding folks of the tab run up by past General Assemblies, combined with typing the word “no” repeatedly.

During my last appearance on PBS12’s “Colorado Inside Out”, I was asked to provide my “word of the year” for Colorado in 2024. I chose “mediocre.”

Colorado has become mediocre. U.S. World and News Report tagged Colorado as the third-least safe state in the union last year, while CNBC ranked us 39th for cost of doing business and 32nd for business friendliness. Now, even UHaul’s numbers show we have fallen as a destination state, dropping from their ninth best growth state in 2023 to 40th — the largest year-over-year drop of any state in the nation.

To reverse these trends, Democrats in leadership must begin employing the word “no” more often in their caucus meetings, backroom conversations and even in committee and on the floor. Luckily for them, our state’s tightening budget may give the perfect cover for such rejection.

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The most unique change in this year’s legislature has little to do with the body itself, and that is the return of President-elect Donald Trump. Rhetorically, it is of no surprise Democratic leadership in the Colorado House and Senate want to act as a foil to a president whose new fixation is the potential annexation of Canada. After all, Colorado’s legislative “red wave” was chomping back just three seats in the lower chamber. That isn’t nothing, but it certainly doesn’t send a strong signal to Democrats that Coloradans are about ready to trust Republicans again with a gavel.

But, at some point, politics must become more than gamesmanship and campaigning. If legislators are focused on conducting studies and expanding the bureaucracy with more ridiculously-titled offices and full-time employees instead of making it easier to start a business and buy some eggs, then there should be no surprise when Democrats find themselves losing more and more ground. We shouldn’t expect Senate President James Coleman or House Speaker Julie McCluskie to put on a MAGA cap and begin making trips to Mar-a-Lago, but we should expect they set aside their hatred for Trump when possible. Partisan theatrics are great fundraising fodder, but I think we’d all like to return to telling folks how Colorado is safe, affordable and reasonably governed as we could in the past.

Ensure Colorado’s economic promise remains within reach for all | POINT

This legislative session must be focused on reversing Colorado’s trajectory, and our policymakers can do that by getting government out of the way, not expanding its influence further. Unfortunately, it seems we may see more regulatory burdens, fees, TABOR workarounds, and liberty-threatening laws introduced this session. Will leadership have the courage to say “no” when all eyes are on them? I hope so.

If Democrats fail to live up to this challenge, then Coloradans must send a message by returning Republicans to power in at least one chamber come 2026.

Sage Naumann is a conservative commentator and strategist. He operates Anthem Communications and was previously the spokesman for the Colorado Senate Republicans. Follow him on Twitter @SageNaumann.