Fort Collins Coloradoan from Fort Collins, Colorado • Page 8

State www.coloradoan.com A8, The Coloradoan, Saturday, September 5, 2009 Health care remains on minds of lawmakers Most agree town hall, public meetings were helpful BY KRISTEN WYATT The Associated Press ESTES PARK The boos Authorities blast early 1 prison release By The Associated Press GREELEY Three of Weld County's top law enforcement officials oppose plans to release some statel prisoners early to savej money. i Gov. Bill Ritter has announced plans for the early release of 3,500 of the 23,000 inmates in state prisons within two years to save about $45 million. It's part of an effort to slash $320 million from the budget. Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner said crime will rise prisoners are released.

Weld County Sheriff John) Cooke suggested cutting social programs instead. And Weld County District Ken Buck said releasing people early from prison and parole will shift the burden to local communities. Buck is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. Some inmates, such as sex offenders, wouldn't be eligible for early release.

Huffman opposes the health-care proposals backed by leading Democrats in Congress, but she was glad for the town halls that grabbed the public's attention. If nothing else, she said, politicians will return to Washington knowing constituents are watching closely. "They don't get a blank slate to do whatever they want. Not anymore," Huffman said. It was a tumultuous month for Colorado's delegation.

Hundreds jammed sidewalks outside a downtown Denver health clinic when Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited. The crowd was many times bigger in Grand Junction a week later when President Barack Obama talked about health and cheers are quieting down for Colorado members of Congress who have spent the past month facing spirited crowds about proposals to overhaul health care. As Congress returns to work next week, a big question is: What did the rocky August recess mean for Colorado's delegation? "It definitely brought a lot of people, all ages, out to think about how our system works and what is going on," said Pam Huffman, 48, a nurse who attended a meeting with Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey on Thursday. The meeting in the mountain resort town drew about 100 people.

It was divided into two sessions, with some jeers and applause but a mostly orderly crowd. eliciting howls from left-leaning bloggers. The Bennet campaign released a video montage of the senator telling crowds he supports the public option. Colorado's two Republicans have had town hall meetings, too, but have a much clearer line. Reps.

Doug Lamborn and Mike Coffman both oppose the proposed overhauls, calling them too expensive and meddlesome. Coffman said last week the health debate would be a "blue-on-blue" fight. "I think Republicans will be on the sidelines, and Democrats will fight it out," he said. So did Colorado's Democrats hone a strategy for health-care changes over the recess? At least one Markey said leaders in Congress likely will make changes based on the recess meetings. She wouldn't guess publicly what those changes might be.

"I believe that what well come up with will look very different than it does right now," Markey said. charged with collecting votes in that chamber. Not all Colorado Democrats appear to agree. Perlmutter has said he's not sure he would vote for the public option. Also undecided is Democratic Rep.

John Salazar of the Western Slope, who attended Obama's meeting in Grand Junction but has voiced doubts the public option would pass. Salazar also questioned the value of the rowdy town halls because neither chamber of Congress has yet decided what bill to consider. "We don't even know what we're commenting on," Salazar said. In the Senate, freshman Democrat Michael Bennet has held perhaps the most talks on health care, keeping a breakneck recess schedule of sometimes three or four meetings a day. But even Bennet has had to clarify his position.

Bennet has said he doubted the public option could pass, insurance at a high school. Members of Congress saw crowds in public libraries and coffee shops even a parking lot where Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter talked health care at a King Soopers. Delegates insisted the meetings and protests, e-mail campaigns and radio call-in shows have been helpful. "It's messy, it's painful, but it's the American way, and I'm proud of how we're handling this," Democratic Rep.

Diana DeGette of Denver told about 250 people at National Jewish Health hospital in Denver. DeGette, the senior member of Colorado's delegation, told the crowd the House is certain to approve a bill setting up a "public option" for people unhappy with private insurers or whose employers don't provide coverage. "I can guarantee you a bill will not pass out of the House without a public option or a robust alternative," said Degette, one of the Democrats Grand Prix Quilted Ve VERY FLUTTEIIiriG Slightly longer in back I suede fabric 1 fiV Flattering style jtfe LABI(0MU9AW AW 950 Loand'co'16' SONNY. STEAK.HOU6E Downtown Fort Collins 10 Flat Screen TVs Happy Hour All Day The place for Sunday Football LSSIHIDlS'S 1 1 5 South College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-9200 Into the Summer thru 1 "Crystal Clear Windows" Professional Window Cleaning Please call for a free estimate. "Clearly The Right Choice!" CALL NOW! Crystal Clear Windows 970-691-9248 BondedInsured ResidentialCommercial fCim'pteMfr Discontinued Factory Overstocks SytcA vT Hill ROOFING, SIDING GUTTERS If I.

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