Senate GOP Says Dems Violated Open Meetings Act By Kicking Out Staffer

Colorado Senate Republicans are accusing the Senate Democratic Caucus of violating the Open Meetings Act after a GOP legislative staffer was told to leave a Democratic caucus meeting Tuesday.

The staffer, Kevin van Winkle, was sent by GOP leadership to monitor the caucus meeting, which was held at Panera Bread, 1350 Grant St., just south of the State Capitol.

Van Winkle said after he and a friend sat at a table near the caucus, the majority chief of staff, Khadija Haynes, approached him.

“I think her exact quote was, ‘This is a private meeting; you can’t be here” – leave, pretty much,” van Winkle said. “She was very forceful.”

Senate GOP spokesperson Joe Megysey said GOP leadership considered the incident a violation of the Open Meetings Act, which requires that the public be allowed to attend meetings during which decisions are made regarding public business.

Republican Senate Caucus Chair Mike Kopp (R-Littleton) planned to talk with Democratic Senate leadership about the issue, Megysey said.

Senate President Peter Groff (D-Denver), a Democratic Senate spokesperson, Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon (D-Denver), and state Sen. Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) did not return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday afternoon and evening.