FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Weld County commissioners have refused to allow Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey to use a county facility to meet with constituents about health care reform.
Markey plans to meet with groups of 15 to 20 people at a time rather than hold large-scale town hall meetings. County commissioners say that violates their rule that meetings in county facilities be open to anyone who wants to attend.
The room she requested seats 120 and the commissioners wanted her to allow it to be filled to capacity.
Markey spokesman Ben Marter said the congresswoman held a similar meeting in a Weld County facility in December without any such restrictions.
County commissioner Sean Conway said commissioners were worried about safety if several hundred people had to wait outside waiting for a chance to meet with Markey. However, he acknowledged there could be safety problems even if she filled the room to capacity.
Members of the GOP have criticized Markey for not announcing her lineup of meetings sooner and for not meeting with large crowds at town hall meetings. Some members of Congress have been shouted down by conservative activists and opponents at such meetings across the country.
All five Weld County commissioners are Republicans and Conway has donated to one of Markey’s GOP challengers, Cory Gardner. However, Conway said their decision wasn’t based on politics.
“We were making sure we did not have a disaster that would look bad next week,” Conway said.
Markey plans to have her Greeley health care meeting next Wednesday to Aims Community College instead.
—————
Information from Fort Collins Coloradoan
