NIOBRARA – The Niobrara Republican party hosted a legislative townhall with Senator Cheri Steinmetz and House District #1 Representative JD Williams on May 29.

Senator Steinmetz gave an overview of house bills that were reviewed by the legislature.

“It is good to see everyone here,” said Steinmetz. “I am glad to discuss what is on your minds. I have a recap of the bills I sponsored.”

Steinmetz gave insights concerning opposition to mandatory electronic ID devices for livestock.

“I have worked with the Livestock Board in order to oppose the EID (Electronic Identification),” said Steinmetz.  “We don’t want the Federal government telling us we have to do it and imposing that on us and tracking our livestock, or land use patterns or even deciding our cattle are emitting too much methane.”

Another important bill concerning ranchers was the country of origin label for USA beef, which was passed and signed by Governor Matt Mead.

“Country of origin and labeling beef, basically it gives you a premium for being Wyoming or USA beef,” Steinmetz said. “It prohibits someone else from mixing Brazilian beef with our beef and labeling it USA. Beef and prohibits them from getting the premium.”

Steinmetz spoke briefly on a bill terminating and defunding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

“Terminating DEI… that bill passed. There were two bills on this. Mine was a little more stringent, especially regarding the University of Wyoming. They have been such a problem child in this area,” said Steinmetz. “We were trying to get a handle on them. Fortunately, another bill passed and it isn’t as stringent, but it passed and is now law. We might be able to add on to that bill later.”

Steinmetz touched on the controversy swirling around green energy projects in Wyoming.

“The large energy project funding in the ‘Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again…’ Those are two bills that are basically designed to hit at the basis, and I know you guys are suffering under some of the effects of the green energy push here,” said Steinmetz. “CO2 is one of six gases in the endangerment findings that are EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) rule. Basically, it is CO2, methane and there are a few more. Basically, when they [the EPA] declared those to be pollutants… that is what is driving the entire push to solar panels and carbon capture and sequestration and saying that CO2, which we all love to have for the grass growing out there, is a pollutant. That’s what’s driving so much the policies and the government subsidies surrounding the Green New Deal… They [the bills] were put in as a buffer.”

According to Steinmetz, the two aforementioned bills did not pass.  

Steinmetz touched on other bills that had passed. These dealt with issues ranging from the education to the constitutionality of carrying of a firearm in public buildings.

The Joint Judiciary Committee was held in Torrington. According to Steinmetz, they are working on some very important issues surrounding pornographic literature in libraries.

“One of the representatives from Cheyenne brought some of the books and it says, ‘Paid for by one percent sales tax in Laramie County,’” said Steinmetz. “So, they are working on that and adults stalking minors.”

Steinmetz segued into a glowing appraisal of county commissioners.

“The Joint Judiciary Committee talked about the County Commissioners dues and use of public funds,” said Steinmetz. “I just want to say publicly that I think our associations across the state do a good job. I think if people are concerned, they need to go to their elected officials.”

Steinmetz spoke about a 25-percent property tax reduction. She explained some of the actions being taken by the senate to change how the sales tax is distributed. Such revisions to distribution are intended to prevent a decrease in property tax revenue for local government budgets.

“We would like to see this be a 50/50 split with the state tax,” said Stienmetz. “Right now, the counties get a 36-percent, and that would make up for all that whole plus the direct distribution. The appropriations committee is working on that.”

Williams gave a recap about his time spent in Casper, Wyoming during the joint education committee meetings. These meetings include both House Representatives and Senators. Some of the topics discussed were k-3 literacy, identifying learning disabilities and school discipline.

“We are trying to improve teacher recruitment and teacher retention,” said Williams. “There are teachers that are leaving our state just because the classrooms in 2025 are a totally different animal than what they were 15 years ago.”

Williams stated that many young people are leaving the state and there are conversations on how to remedy some of this demographic challenge. Some of the bills Williams sponsored or co-sponsored dealt with utilities point of use and allocation and the complications surrounding electricity production.

Williams talked about House Bill 275, which addresses the treatment of animals. This bill was precipitated by an episode of animal abuse that transpired in Daniel, Wyoming. Evidently, a man tortured a young male wolf before shooting it in the head. A video clip of the man parading the wolf through a bar with its mouth duct taped went viral. The backlash was swift locally and internationally.

“That is primarily in response to the Daniel [Daniel, Wyoming] wolf incident,” said Williams. “So of course, Wyoming has been getting a lot of pressure from outside groups. This [bill] provides a cruelty to animals penalty if a person knowingly and with intent causes undue suffering, tortures, torments, or mutilates wildlife, including predators after taking living wildlife into their possession.”

Steinmetz said she disagreed with Williams on this bill because she feels this issue is a slippery slope.

“I don’t think we should be making laws because of outside pressures coming into our state,” said Steinmetz. “We had a law. The man was fined, and I just have a difference of opinion with this law. We opposed this bill all the way along.”

Williams stated that even though he and Steinmetz may not agree with each other, they still work well together.

“Like she said, that is opinion we do not share,” said Williams. “Conservatives are not united by opinions. Conservatives are united by principles and morals. That leaves some differences of opinions and also conservatives have independent thought. This is what makes better legislation and, if we all think alike, then someone isn’t thinking. Thank you for that.”

One of the more controversial issues in Niobrara County is the future of alternative energies such as wind farms, solar farms, Hydrogen plant and other concerns. Both Steinmetz and Williams weighed in on issues and concerns during a Q&A with the audience.

Several members of the audience voiced concerns about the property tax cuts and how it will affect Niobrara County. Once more, Steinmetz elucidated the fact that the appropriations committee will be seeking distribution of state tax as a 50/50 split to help offset the loss each county might incur.

In response to a question concerning the budget conflicts that presently beset Wyoming, Steinmetz said, “There was an election cycle but the senate decided unilaterally [that] the leadership [would] not to have a budget. Most of us found out about it in the news… Cowboy State Daily. After we had voted on the budget then sent it to the conference committee, the president of the senate decided we weren’t going to have a budget.”

Williams also expressed concerns about the budget.

“We backfilled everything with the knowledge that it was not palatable to the chief executive and he had vetoed it the year before,” said Williams. “We did what we could. Pay attention everybody. There is a lot in the budget that affects all of you.”

Steinmetz and Williams weighed in on wind farms, solar panels, and other green energy projects.

“We’ve been fighting the Pronghorn project way back with [former House District #2] representative Allen Slagle. We tried to put moratorium on wind development for nine years,” said Steinmetz. “We’re getting to a tipping point where our grid is unable to sustain all of the renewable energy, the unreliable energy that we are placing on it. Wind and solar cannot power down the line and we’re wearing our coal plants out.”

Steinmetz continued voicing her concerns about the inefficiencies of green energy.

“I don’t want to see that come here,” said Steinmetz. “If we want to pursue that technology, let’s make our coal fire plants better. That is a resource we have. The demand for coal is there.”

According to Steinmetz, foreign adversaries are “behind these green leases.”

Williams shared some of his views concerning the proposed Pronghorn and Sidwinder projects.

Williams stated that the issue would be resolved with facts, not feelings.

“So not to be a hypocrite, I insist on getting facts,” said Williams. “So, who is going to give us good information? But when we run down some good information, there are some water rights in the Platte River industrial water rights that are not currently being used. It used to be used in the oil field. Those water rights are for sale. Whether or not they acquire them to be used with their project remains to be seen. Good information is hard to get and I am confident that we cannot resolve this with feelings.”

Steinmetz weighed in on the facts and fictions concerning hydrogen energy.

“When you’re talking about facts, there is no market for hydrogen right now,” said Steinmetz. “So, it’s a possibility these wind turbines will end up on the grid. There’s no hydrogen on the market but the wind turbines are there.”