Jason Thielman

U.S. Rep. Marilyn MusgraveA new television ad by U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Morgan) alleges Democratic opponent Betsy Markey could face up to five years in prison for not divesting her interest in a company that received government contracts while Markey was a U.S. Senate staffer.

The ad, which began airing on broadcast TV on Tuesday, provoked a strong rebuke from Markey and her former boss, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver), who said the ad was "a new low" in Colorado politics and a tactic of a "desperate" campaign.

FORT COLLINS-- Betsy Markey and Marilyn Musgrave agreed on renewable energy and little else during their first 4th Congressional District debate together Thursday night.

Musgrave focused on railing against the $700 billion economic bailout and touted her bipartisanship while renewing her attacks on Markey's business dealings.

Markey, meanwhile, sought to introduce herself to voters and push the idea of change in government. 

Congressional candidate Betsy Markey: Campaign PhotoU.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave’s latest television ad accuses Democratic opponent Betsy Markey of using her position as a congressional staffer to enrich her company through no-bid government contracts.

Markey and her former boss, U.S. Ken Salazar (D-Denver) quickly denounced the ad as “absolutely false in every way” and pointed out that Musgrave’s campaign has not offered any evidence of wrongdoing.

The ad claims “Millionaire Markey” used her job as a Salazar’s Northern Colorado district director in Fort Collins to get “rich on non-competitive Halliburton-style government contracts” given to her information technology company, Syscom Services.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

Saturday, September 13, 2008            

FORT COLLINS—Today Betsy Markey, a small business owner and candidate for Congress in Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District, called on Marilyn Musgrave to immediately stop airing her latest negative TV ad.

Company's government contracts increased by 129% while Millionaire Markey worked for Congress

For Immediate Release                                                                      

September 12, 2008                                                                                       

Greeley, CO:  Government records show that Syscom Services, a company owned by Democratic candidate Betsy Markey, earned more than 2.81 million dollars in government contracts from 2005-2008[1].  As if that is not alarming enough, Betsy Markey's company experienced an increase in government contracts by 129% after Betsy took a congressional job in northern Colorado.