May 12, 2025 11:12 AM UTC

Rebecca Keltie Doubles Down on Burning Colorado to the Ground

• 3 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

We wrote last week in our “Losers” section from the 2025 Colorado legislative session about Colorado Springs freshman Republican Rep. Rebecca Keltie, who appeared on a Libertarian podcast a few days before the end of the session and declared that all of her Democratic colleagues at the State Capitol building were corrupt and that “the State of Colorado needs to be burned to the ground and built from the top up.”

Keltie’s comments were first reported by the Colorado Times Recorder. On Friday, Tyler Cunnington of KRDO News in Colorado Springs reported on repeated efforts to get Keltie to clarify her fiery statements — or perhaps come to her senses and use different language.

KRDO13 had been in contact with Representative Keltie since early Wednesday afternoon while asking to speak on camera with her. She explained that she was in the thick of multiple rounds of voting within the House chambers, but that she did want to answer our questions, but did not have the time to.

On Thursday morning, as we continued to offer her time to speak with us, she instead offered this statement by text:

“I came to the Capitol to tell the truth, fight for transparency, and protect the people of this state. I will not apologize for using strong words to describe the dysfunction I have witnessed firsthand. I will always choose honesty over political speak, no matter how uncomfortable that may be.” [Pols emphasis]

On Friday morning, after another offer to schedule a time to speak with her on camera, Representative Keltie offered a lengthier statement by text, once again addressing her comments, but also referring to another article that was published earlier this week about her.

“The article that Maulbech [sic] wrote was ok. Except I said “we will rise from the ashes like a phoenix. And by We I meant all Conservatives. Not just Republicans. Especially those that care about where their money is going and being wasted. I stand by my statement I sent. Along with that I was disappointed in the clickbait style headline. I will not apologize for telling the truth. There are around a dozen Democrats I do work with. [Pols emphasis]

Only awful people justify saying awful things under the guise of “telling the truth.”

In response to Keltie’s remarks, State Sen. Marc Snyder told KRDO:

“There’s absolutely no redeeming qualities to that approach. And I’m really ashamed for Representative Keltie.”

Keltie fired back, of course:

As for Sen. Snyder, maybe the people of Colorado and his district need to look at the bills he has sponsored, voted on and voted for. Especially the fiscal notes. I believe they will be very shocked and disappointed.

I believe the Committee meetings we sit on should also be video recorded along with audio and posted for public viewing like the Colorado Channel is on YouTube for the Floor debates so the people of Colorado can get a real look at what’s really happening from the real inside of these horrific bills and behaviors happening. Then they will understand fully. Transparency is a must.”

Colorado already makes audio recordings of committee hearings available. But Keltie, who is always worried about “fiscal notes,” apparently wants to spend more money to put video cameras in committee rooms. The number of people who would be interested in watching committee hearings online is probably closer to zero than any other figure.

Keltie is not exactly in a good political position heading into the 2026 election cycle given that she only defeated Democrat Stephanie Vigil by THREE VOTES in 2024. It’s a safe bet that at least four residents of Keltie’s HD-16 are going to find these comments distasteful when voters are reminded of them in the fall of 2026.

The only “ashes” left at that point will be the remains of Keltie’s political career.