Markey, Betsy, 1956-

Elizabeth Helen Markey (born April 27, 1956) is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as a U.S. Representative for Colorado's 4th congressional district from 2009 to 2011.

Born in Cresskill, New Jersey, she attended college at the University of Florida from 1974 through 1978. Her last semester was completed abroad at a university in Poznań, Poland. After completing a degree in political science, Markey worked for a short period of time on the staff of U.S. Senator John A. Durkin (D-NH). She later went on to work for U.S. Congressman Herbert Harris (D-VA) as a caseworker/legislative assistant on one of the Congressman’s subcommittees. Markey was hired as a staff assistant to the vice president for development and planning at American University in 1981. Markey completed a Masters of Public Administration in 1983 from American University.

In 1983 Markey was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow, a competitive two-year management program track in the federal government. Markey went on to hold positions in the United States Treasury Department as budget and program analyst, as human resources specialist, and as staff assistant to the deputy commissioner of the Customs Service. In 1984, during the Reagan Administration, she was recruited by the U.S. Department of State to develop computer security policies for the newly formed Office of Information Systems Security. After leaving the State Department in 1988, Markey co-founded a software firm, Syscom Services. Markey was hired as regional director of Colorado’s North Central and Eastern Plains for U.S. Senator Ken Salazar in January 2005. She resigned the position in May 2007. Markey announced her decision to run for United States House of Representatives for Colorado's 4th congressional district in June 2007. Markey ran as a centrist in the general election, and after a rigorous, bitter campaign, she cruised to an unexpectedly large victory, winning 56 percent of the vote to incumbent Marilyn Musgrave’s 44 percent.

Upon entering the House, Markey was assigned to the Agriculture Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She introduced legislation to withhold 15 percent of allocated highway funds to states that do not prohibit use of electronic devices while driving in a school zone. She sponsored legislation enabling veterans to more easily seek back and spinal treatment and worked to expand veterans’ access to educational scholarships. She also sponsored the Credit Rate Freeze Act of 2009 to prevent increases in credit card rates and fees. In early 2009, Markey backed the Barack Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus package to help stabilize the economy after the financial collapse. Over the course of the 111th Congress (2009–2011), she proved a loyal supporter of her party’s domestic agenda, voting for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, and the Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act. She also voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Going into the 2010 midterm election cycle, Democrats everywhere faced serious challenges. In Colorado, Republicans poured resources into the district in support of Cory Gardner, Markey’s opponent in the general election. On Election Day, Republicans captured the House majority, and Markey lost to Gardner.

In 2011 Markey was appointed the assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs for the Homeland Security Department and served until 2013. She returned to Colorado and made an unsuccessful bid for state treasurer in 2014, followed by an appointment in 2016 as regional administrator for the United States Small Business Administration. Later, Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed Markey as the executive director of the state’s office of economic development and international trade.