Heller, Amodei attend Carson City Chamber luncheon amid protests
United States Sen. Dean Heller and U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei were the featured guest speakers at Wednesday's monthly Soup's On luncheon series sponsored by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.
Their presence attracted a sold-out crowd inside the banquet room at the Gold Dust West Casino, 2171 East William Street in Carson City, as well as dozens of protesters outside of the facility.
Access to the banquet room was restricted by property security personnel. Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong was present inside the banquet room along with some deputy sheriffs from the Carson City Sheriff's Office.
Heller and Amodei, both Republicans, were speaking to luncheon guests about the state of the economy after the first federal fiscal quarter, which ended Dec. 31, 2016.
The Carson City Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that Wednesday's luncheon, titled "A Joint Review of the First Quarter," had been erroneously publicized as a town hall meeting instead of the second in a series of Soup's On luncheons scheduled throughout the year.
"This is a networking/educational event," the Chamber's statement read. "The Carson City Chamber is apolitical and does not coordinate town hall meetings. We do not endorse candidates from either party."
The Chamber said that an organization known as Carson City Working Families had circulated information that attendees at Wednesday's luncheon were financial supporters of the guest speakers, calling the publicized information "totally false."
"We have no knowledge of the financial contributions of any of those in today's audience," the Chamber stated. "Today's speakers were scheduled far in advance of the presidential election and had the speakers been members of the Democratic Party and our elected representatives in Washington, D.C., they would be there. We honor all those who run for any political office, regardless of party affiliation."
The Chamber said Sen. Heller and Rep. Amodei have both appeared before Chamber members at previous events, including other Soup's On luncheons, since their election to office.
The Chamber also said that both federal legislators have been recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as pro-business, and both have hometown roots to Carson City, each having graduated two years apart from Carson High School. Amodei in 1976 and Heller in 1978.
Protesters gathered directly outside of the hotel facility responded to chants of "We want a town hall," and "If you can't stand the heat, give up your seat," among others.
Many protesters carried signs asking their federal representatives to preserve the Affordable Care Act of 2010, also known as Obamacare, and to bring attention to other issues.
According to its Facebook page, the Carson City Working Families Party is a local affiliate of the Working Families Party, which "fights for civil rights, real wages, clean air and water, affordable healthcare, and access to the democratic process."
Its Facebook event page states "Amodei and Heller will be having a luncheon with the Carson City Chamber."
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