Letter: An overreach from the Senate

Dear Editor,

In what would seem an outrageous overreach of power, Senate File No. 12 was passed by our Wyoming legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mead. This file banned citizens from collecting data from ANY Wyoming land outside city limits. In so many words, if you saw cattle destroying creek banks or their manure polluting a mountain stream and/or campground, took a picture of it and submitted that photo to a public agency, you would be subject to prosecution resulting in up to a $5,000 fine and a year in prison! That’s but one example.

This law was so egregious other states noticed and commented…and not in a good way! Even the Wall Street Journal was shocked by the scope of this legislation.

Folks, we have been negligent in holding our legislature and governor responsible for the job they were elected to do…..represent the people….not big ranchers and/or other moneyed interests.

Even though the recently released Study of Public Lands deemed the takeover of Federal lands by the state was not feasible (and cost us $75,000), many representatives are already seeking ways to get around it. After attending many candidate forums this year, it’s apparent that Democratic candidates are the only ones against this Wyoming takeover of Federal lands. Hollis Hackman’s campaign signs specifically state “keep public lands in public hands.”

The State of Wyoming also conducts “land swaps” and have sold our public lands to ranchers owning adjoining property. The public has no idea about these “deals” until they are done. Most ranchers are good, hard-working people. My problem is with those big ranchers who block our access to public lands, especially those along the face of the mountains, and then sell that access and our wildlife to the highest bidder.

Our only recourse is the ballot box. We must educate ourselves as to which candidates are really going to represent the people and then do all we can to get them elected. One party has controlled our state government for generations and it surely doesn’t seem they have the public’s best interests as their primary goal.

John Yeager

Sheridan