Our View: Who are they really serving?

Rep. Stan Blake, D-Green River, had an interesting story to tell about the recent session in Cheyenne.

Blake said a lobbyist had approached him and inquired about how he would be voting on a bill the lobbyist supported. Blake told the lobbyist he wouldn’t support the bill, which prompted the lobbyist to casually remind Blake that the group the lobbyist represented supported him in the past through a campaign donation and he should consider that when making his vote. Blake said his position remained unchanged after that discussion and that the lobbyist’s actions were out of the ordinary for lobbyists in Cheyenne, but it does raise an interesting question.

When we vote for any elected position, be it city council, county commissioner or legislative seat, we’re doing so under the assumption the candidate we’re voting for has our best interests in mind. Not the oil-and-gas industry’s interest. Not the Wyoming Outdoor Council’s interest. Not the Wyoming Liberty Group’s interest.

Wyoming’s residents should be appalled with this type of behavior and should question if their elected representatives are influenced by lobbyists. This is especially true for issues where it seems one specific group wins out over the public interest.

Unfortunately, there isn’t anything illegal about lobbyists pushing the envelope to ensure a bill their employers support gets passed. This leaves us to trust our elected officials have our best interests at heart when they’re casting their votes. However, the cynical thought is how much does dinner and increased pressure on legislators influence the votes.

With 2018 being an election year, this makes a perfect opportunity for voters to look at their representatives and decide whose interests they have at heart. We should start asking ourselves who has our interest at heart when they travel to Cheyenne. If the answer isn’t clear and simple, it’s time to find someone to represent us at the State Capitol.