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Steamboat Springs — The Routt County Board of Commissioners met with Sen. Mark Udall's chief of staff Monday, an opportunity for commissioners to express their views on issues ranging from health care reform to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Michael Sozan was wrapping up a five-day trip to Colorado and returned to Washington, D.C., later Monday. He said he wanted to visit with the commissioners to find out how Udall could be most helpful when it comes to local issues.

Routt County Commissioner Doug Monger expressed his concern with the "cap and trade" legislation being debated in Washington. Under the policy, the availability of pollution permits would be reduced and industries could sell some of their permits to other companies if they pollute less than their limit.

Monger was concerned that such a policy could curtail Northwest Colorado's energy-dependent economy, which largely is based on the fossil fuels that cap-and-trade could make less competitive.

"We all appreciate breathing clean air and doing our part for global warming," Monger said. "I just hope we do it methodically and slowly."

Sozan acknowledged Monger's concerns and said Udall supports clean coal technologies and sees natural gas as a bridge fuel.

"There's almost no other area other than health care where unintended consequences could be so large," Sozan said about energy legislation.

About health care, Sozan said Udall thinks "that health care reform is necessary, that the status quo just isn't working, and, principally, that stabilization needs to be brought to the health care industry." Sozan said Udall thinks insurance companies need to be brought "under control." For example, he said people shouldn't be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, rates should be more reasonable, and people should have the ability to keep their coverage if they lose or change jobs.

Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak, a Yampa Valley Medical Center board member, said she was concerned about who would pay for such changes. She also said the fact that Medicare and Medicaid don't fully reimburse medical providers is a big and unaddressed part of the problem.

Monger also expressed frustrations with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus bill, which he said has failed to have any impact at the county level, especially in rural areas.

"If you want to get money down on the streets, you need to get it down to the counties," Monger said.

Commissioner Diane Mitsch Bush said she disagreed with Monger with respect to transportation projects. Although stimulus money was given to the state for transportation, Mitsch Bush said it has funded projects in this area.

Sozan offered the resources of the senator's staff to provide help in applying for stimulus funds and in writing letters and making phone calls in support of local projects.