You Still Here

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You still here 9 1 24

Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>You Still Here? Sunday, September 1, 2024 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

You Still Here? Sunday, September 1, 2024

 Really nice wrap on the Cybertruck plus the windows are tinted. Because the clip is so short, we'll slow it down so you can appreciate.....

Lubnau head 2

Tom Lubnau

Opinion

CSD Columnists

Last week, I commented on the ABC ("Anyone But Chuck") approach to campaigning for U.S. Congress. I said Steve Friess's argument is "hold your nose and vote for me." That phrase was, perhaps, a little inflammatory.

Let me clarify.  What I meant was that if you stay wedded to your particular candidate, the vote will be spread out, and we will elect a U.S. Representative who receives less than 20% of the vote — likely Chuck Gray.

Chuck Gray's approach to politics is akin to a yapping Chihuahua, making lots of noise and getting headlines, but getting little done. 

Most concerning is Gray dumping all of Wyoming voters’ election data to an agency of the federal government whose use is unrestricted.  Being the first state to turn over the data is not a feather in our state’s cap, when 19 courts have ruled that the data does not have to be disclosed to the bureaucrats.  No court has ruled it has to be turned over.

Our privacy was sacrificed when it did not have to be.

We should be voting for a good candidate, not running away from a weak one.

I had a personal favorite, but things changed when many of my friends endorsed Steve Friess for U.S. House last week.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"So I arranged a conversation with Friess."}]

After that conversation, a lot of the misconceptions I had are gone.

First, he's not a billionaire. Steve can afford to live comfortably, but his candidate disclosures show he's worth $25 million. That's a lot of money, but he's not a billionaire by any stretch of the imagination. 

His father gave away $500 million to charity during his lifetime and believed his children should know the value of a dollar. 

He drives a 2020 Yukon to his campaign events. He ranches cattle, knows how to run a backhoe, and knows how to get his hands dirty.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"He raised four kids in Wyoming."}]

Understanding the need to build a future for your children is a skill only parenthood brings. Steve cares about Wyoming and its future. 

He could have chosen anywhere in the world to live. He chose Wyoming. 

I was pretty direct in my questioning of him. I told him what I heard was that he had ideas of his own and didn't much care what my friends and neighbors thought. 

Steve was genuinely hurt by that statement. He told me he wants nothing more than to listen to the people of Wyoming and represent them to the best of his ability. I believe him. 

We chatted about some pretty heavy issues. 

He was engaging, showed curiosity, and asked what I thought. And then he did something special: he listened. He asked insightful questions. And when he didn't know the answer to one of my questions, he told me the truth — that he'd have to think about it.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"The interaction was refreshing. "}]

That said, there are a few other candidates in the race who would serve well. People I know and like, who would make a great U.S. Representative.

So why, at this late date, am I endorsing Steve Friess? 

Wyoming has one representative in Congress — one out of 435. To make an impact as the lone representative from Wyoming, you have to punch above your weight. 

Friess, through his work with his father and others, has a lifetime of connections, friendships, and acquaintances that will open doors for him that rookie representatives spend years trying to crack. 

I don't think Wyoming has time for on-the-job training in Congress. We need someone who will hit the ground running. 

Friess has known Energy Secretary Chris Wright for many years, has had a number of conversations with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and met briefly with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

His contact list — I almost dated myself by writing "rolodex" — is a who's who of congressional leaders. He's almost embarrassed to mention all the names he knows, but I asked. 

I came away from the conversation confident that Steve Friess is the person for the job. Not because he's the one with the best chance to beat Chuck Gray, but because he's the one who will do the best job representing my family in Congress. 

I make this endorsement knowing there are other great candidates in the race — some of them friends — but at this time and in this place, Steve Friess deserves your serious consideration.

Tom Lubnau served in the Wyoming Legislature from 2004 to 2015 and is a former Speaker of the House. He can be reached at: 

<title>Tom Lubnau: Why You Should Consider Steve Friess For U.S. House | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Chuck Gray's approach to politics is akin to a yapping Chihuahua, making lots of noise and getting headlines, but getting little done.  Most concerning is Gray dumping all of Wyoming voters’ election data to an agency of the federal government whose use is unrestricted."

Tom Lubnau: Why You Should Consider Steve Friess For U.S. House

Ken Buck

After years of absentee oversight that enabled government fraud and abuse to run rampant, President Donald Trump and his advisers are tightening the federal purse strings.

Late last month the Trump administration suspended over $1 billion of Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota, citing suspected fraud and noncompliance. 

The deferrals come on the heels of another $1.5 billion of halted payments the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services took against the same two states earlier this year.

The actions send a clear message: States that refuse to get serious about fraud and abuse will quickly see the spigot of federal funding shut off.

[{"type":"text","text":"It's about time. "}]

The Government Accountability Office estimates that taxpayers lose as much as $521 billion to fraud every year. The federal government made at least $186 billion of improper payments last year, over half of which occurred in health care programs.

Since 2003, the federal government has made $3 trillion in improper payments. That's not a rounding error; it's huge chunks of taxpayer money handed out to criminals. 

Another recent report found that 20 programs account for nearly 90% of federal obligations, making them high risk for abuse.

Liberal states have refused to police this epidemic of taxpayer exploitation. 

They insist that commonsense measures to verify eligibility somehow disadvantage at-risk communities. 

If an individual accepts a job, they must file the appropriate paperwork with their employer. Why should they not have to meet similar verification benchmarks to accept a check from Uncle Sam? 

Democrats swear up and down a person should have to consent to a background check, complete a waiting period and safety course, and meet an age requirement to purchase a firearm -- a right written into the Constitution. 

But when it comes to enrolling in a taxpayer-funded program, it becomes heresy that an individual should have to prove they actually qualify for it. 

It is appropriate that the Trump administration started with California and Minnesota, two states that have shown utter contempt for accountability.

Under what one newspaper called California Gov. Gavin Newsom's "Empire of Fraud," Californians lost at least $180 billion to fraud and mismanagement. 

During the pandemic, unemployment insurance fraud in California exceeded $32 billion. Between 2019 and 2024, the state spent $24 billion on homeless programs, yet its homeless population grew. 

And more recently, an investigation revealed widespread Medicaid and Medicare fraud by sham hospice centers.

Under Newsom, spending on the state's public health insurance program, Medi-Cal, increased from $94 billion in 2018 to over $197 billion, even as California's population shrank. That's an unmistakable red flag.

Either the governor blithely ignored or was willfully negligent to the problem. Either way, it bodes poorly for the man who pitches himself as the future of the Democrat Party.

[{"type":"text","text":"Likewise, Minnesota distinguished itself as a destination for criminals. "}]

Gov. Tim Walz turned a blind eye to massive schemes that defrauded taxpayers of more than $9 billion. 

A U.S. House Oversight Committee report released in June states that Walz failed for years to address widespread pilfering of the state's social programs, even after receiving repeated warnings.

The CMS's deferred payments to Minnesota specifically target 14 high-risk programs that the state's legislative auditor identified as vulnerable to fraud. 

It shouldn't take massive scandals to make public leaders get tough on fraud and abuse. 

Stealing from taxpayers is never acceptable, no different than if they were robbed at gunpoint. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Yet the left is content to let it continue. "}]

They would rather funnel money to criminals and illegal immigrants than steward families' hard-earned money, because accountability doesn't grow the welfare line.

[{"type":"text","text":"The Trump administration has shown it takes fraud seriously. "}]

Earlier this year, it launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, headed by Vice President JD Vance. 

The initiative has already identified $230 billion in government fraud and stopped $56 billion in fraudulent payments. No wonder the public supports it.

The administration's suspension of payments to California and Minnesota is another major step toward stopping the robbery of federal coffers. 

Let's hope it sends a message to other states across the country to toughen up on fraud or wean themselves off taxpayers' money.

Ken Buck received his law degree at the University of Wyoming and served in the United States House of Representatives from 2015-2024 representing Colorado's 4th congressional district. He now serves as a Fellow with the Independent Center.

Ken buck getty 12 16 25

<title>Ken Buck: The Multibillion-Dollar Problem The Left Wants To Ignore | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Columnist Ken Buck writes, "Since 2003, the federal government has made $3 trillion in improper payments. That's not a rounding error; it's huge chunks of taxpayer money handed out to criminals. Liberal states have refused to police this epidemic of taxpayer exploitation."

Ken Buck: The Multibillion-Dollar Problem The Left Wants To Ignore

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Government & Politics

Politics

 SHERIDAN — Secretary of State Chuck Gray bashed data centers repeatedly and clashed with the moderator 

during a U.S. House forum and debate Tuesday night in Sheridan, 

Casper businessman Reid Rasner criticized Gray multiple times. Both philanthropist Steve Friess and Army Col. Kevin Christensen asserted that they’re leading the race with Gray.   

And a few candidates derided the significant wealth streaming into this race.

Wyoming Public Television (PBS) hosted the forum at Sheridan Community College. Both PBS and Wyoming Public Media streamed it.

PBS public affairs producer Steve Peck moderated the forum, which also featured a short debate phase. He warned candidates they should be civil and avoid prolonged challenges or pointed attacks on their opponents, or they’d be interrupted.

Cowboy State Daily and Wyoming Public Media panelists asked questions about whether Congress should legislate rules around license-plate reader cameras, and who is responsible for implementing artificial intelligence protection framework.

Gray answered both questions with repeated references to data centers, which are computer server warehouses that store data – including for AI – and are a flashpoint issue this election cycle.

“Well, I’m the only candidate on stage that has been talking about these data AI data centers and expressed my opposition to these AI data centers,” said Gray, who also referenced mandated kill switches in vehicles and automated workforces.

Other candidates have spoken of data centers, but only Gray has indicated a desire to ban them at the federal level from Washington, D.C.

Senate President Bo Biteman said the states shouldn’t be cut out of the ability to ban or approve data centers, and communities should have the most control over their local permitting decisions for them.

That has been Friess’s stance, and former U.S. Army ranger David Giralt echoed that approach Tuesday night also.

Rasner agreed with the local-control stance Tuesday night, and used the topic as a chance to deride Gray.

“And I find it very suspicious even our own secretary of state signed off on an AI data center less than 1 mile away from our nuclear facilities and (FE) Warren Air Force base,” said Rasner.

Gray interjected: “That’s false. That’s false.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"'When It's Your Turn'"}]

Rasner continued the critique. Gray turned to Peck and said, “I need to respond to that.”

“When it’s your turn to respond,” said Peck, “take the time then, please.”

“I can’t respond to false …" began Gray.

“You can respond when it’s your turn to respond next,” answered Peck.

Former President Joe Biden in a 2024 executive order announced that MineOne, a data center company “majority owned by Chinese nationals”, had bought land within one mile of the base at 635 Logistics Drive, Cheyenne.

The order calls Terra Crypto Inc, which was incorporated under Gray’s office in 2023, a subsidiary or affiliate of MineOne.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. investigated the business and identified national security risks, the order says. The Biden administration ordered the business to 

While Gray’s signature is on the business registration approval for Terra Crypto, he has repeatedly urged the Legislature to adopt stronger business-approval laws to restrict adversarial nations.

The Legislature reacted to the 2024 controversy by giving state law enforcement 

 potentially dangerous land transfers near critical infrastructure, and giving the secretary of state grounds to dissolve businesses owned or controlled by foreign adversaries.

Meanwhile, at the debate, Friess voiced fears of AI systems “going off the rails” and said the U.S. should also be aware of its tech race against China.

Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said the technology industry seeks framework and guidance from government, and said she’d work to develop that “as your congresswoman.”

Christensen said the nation needs to develop framework for ethical AI, but individuals and families also need to engage, communicate with their kids and be wary of the new landscape.

Giralt said Congress should do “hard work” to put data privacy protections in the National Defense Authorization Act.

Next, Sheridan Press government reporter Weston Pope asked candidates which of President Donald Trump’s executive orders they’d codify or discard.

Gray’s turn came last in that round, and after he listed his favored executive orders on election security, immigration enforcement and “stopping Wall Street housing speculation that has driven up housing costs,” he responded to Rasner.

“But, 20 minutes later,” said Gray, “I’m finally going to respond to this false statement from one of my opponents, who’s been making false statements for six months about me.”

Gray touted himself as the “strongest secretary of state in the nation on stopping China and North Korea.”

This is at least the second time Gray has 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Biteman Remembers That One Differently"}]

Nikki Ouellet, managing editor of Wyoming Public Media, asked Gray and Biteman how they’d be effective in Congress.

That was during a debate phase that pitted two candidates against each other at a time.

“Well I have a track record of this,” said Gray, pointing to his sponsorship of a successful bill directing medical staffers performing abortions to inform patients “of the opportunity” to view an ultrasound of the child and hear a heartbeat. 

Gray pointed to other legislative efforts on coal and election reform.

“What I learned during that time is that people respond to legislators with conviction, legislators that are approachable, have a sense of humor and are also authentic,” said Gray. “And that’s certainly what I am.”

He said other legislators are drawn to that.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Biteman voiced surprise."}]

“Well, that’s not the history I remember, serving with my good friend Chuck,” said Biteman, who’s on the final days of 10 years’ service in the Legislature.

“He developed a reputation of being a bully,” said Biteman of Gray. “He treated people roughly and he didn’t have the respect of his colleagues, because of the way he treated them.”

Gray responded, “Well, Biteman is wrong,” and said some lawmakers didn’t like that Gray would call for named, roll-call votes instead of voice majority.

In the next debate phase pitting Biteman against Rasner, Biteman answered a question about federal spending by saying the nation needs to start by finishing the “DOGE” mission of cutting waste, fraud and abuse.

Rasner responded by thanking Biteman for his service in the Legislature, and taking another dig at Gray.

Rasner said Gray in 2021 “voted to give tax breaks to big data centers right here in Wyoming, and usher them in.”

The vote was an attempt by then-Rep. Clark Stith to repeal Wyoming’s tax exemption for large data center projects. Gray had voted at the time to keep the tax exemption.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Gray addressed Peck again."}]

“Am I going to get to respond to that per your rules?” asked Gray. “Am I going to get to respond? Are you ever going to follow your rules?”

Peck answered, “I am following the rules, sir.”

“OK,” said Gray. “So I can’t respond? You said that …"

Peck interjected, “You’ll have another chance to speak during this round.”

“You’re not following your rules,” objected Gray.

“I am following the rules, I invite you to check them,” said Peck.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"“You’re not,” said Gray."}]

“Do you want to continue, sir?” asked Peck.

Gray continued to lament that Peck was not following the rules.

Peck offered Biteman the chance to respond to Rasner’s remarks, as part of the two-man debate.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"“No, I’m good,” said Biteman."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"The audience laughed. Some clapped."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Harriet Hageman"}]

Candidates diverged slightly at the two-word lightning round prompt of “Harriet Hageman.”

“She is terrible at responding to constituent letters,” said Dodson. The audience laughed.

Christensen said he disagrees with her on a number of things that Wyoming people didn’t support but finds her hard-working and dedicated to Wyoming.

Giralt said she’s doing an excellent job, and he’ll add his own priorities to the mix.

Biteman pivoted: “She’s a good cook and she makes a mean lasagna.”

Rasner called her a strong conservative and said he’s looking forward to working with her. Gray delivered similar praise.

Friess called her a friend and said she leaves “big shoes to fill.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Abortion"}]

All candidates except Gray and Rasner indicated they’d leave the decision of whether to ban abortion in the hands of the states, with some echoing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the famous Dobbs case declaring a nationwide abortion access right unconstitutional.

Gray said he favors considering a national pro-life policy. Rasner simply said he’s “100% pro-life.”

That was during the lightning round, where short answers were required. Friess in prior forums has called for codifying the “Mexico City Rule,” to ban use of federal aid funds on abortion globally.

Giralt in past forums has called for codifying the Hyde amendment, to ban the use of federal dollars for abortion.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Closing Statements"}]

During closing statements, Friess asserted that the polling shows it’s a two-man race. Friess pivoted late last month to presenting himself as a candidate who can beat Gray, and whom anti-Gray Republicans should back in the election.

Balow shook her head when Friess reiterated the “two-man race” assertion Tuesday.

Balow and Rasner both pointed to their deep Wyoming roots as multi-generational residents of the Cowboy State. Giralt referenced his experience helping to craft laws as a congressional staffer.

Biteman pointed to his career in the Legislature.

“I’m a people person. I get along well with people. I build coalitions,” said Biteman. “Talk is cheap; you need to send someone to Washington, D.C., that’s actually done everything that’s being talked about on this stage.”

Biteman gestured with both index fingers pointed outward toward Gray and Rasner.

Gray asserted the race is actually a two-man race between him and Christensen, but that Christensen is “much too liberal.”

Christensen agreed with the claim that he’s a frontrunner but countered on the “liberal” allegation, calling himself a Reagan/Bush-era, traditional conservative.

“I’ve led people in combat. I’ve influenced … the Armed Services Committees,” said Christensen, also pointing to his work as a federal public-lands manager in Wyoming.

“You can see the stark differences between us: who can work with people, and who can’t,” said Christensen of himself and Gray.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"Dodson urged people to vote,"}]

“Anybody up here can win,” he said. “If you think your candidate has no chance you’re wrong.” 

[{"type":"text","text":"In Hindsight …"}]

On Wednesday, Gray and Rasner both asserted via Facebook post that they’d won the debate.

Giralt thanked the outlets for hosting. Biteman posted a link to the full debate Tuesday.

Christensen authored a post expounding one of his short, lightning-round answers.

[{"type":"text","text":"The primary election is Aug. 18. "}]

Debate grey biteman rasner best

<title>Chuck Gray Hammers Data Centers, Clashes With Host At U.S. House Forum | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Secretary of State Chuck Gray brought up data centers repeatedly and clashed with the moderator during a U.S. House forum Tuesday night in Sheridan. Reid Rasner criticized Gray, while multiple candidates claimed to be leading the race.

Chuck Gray Hammers Data Centers, Clashes With Host At U.S. House Forum

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Wildlife

A federal campaign to kill nearly a half-million barred owls in the Pacific Northwest to save threatened spotted owls continues, even though the recent lifting of protections for spotted owl habitat defeats the entire purpose, an animal welfare advocate says. 

It’s costing the government roughly $3,000 per bird to have barred owls shot, Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Centre for a Humane Economy, told Cowboy State Daily. 

And with a recent move to weaken the habitat protection element of the Endangered Species Act, it could be all for nothing if spotted owls’ old-growth forest habitat gets logged, he added. 

Meanwhile, Wyoming’s barred owl population appears to be growing and might include four pairs in the Grand Teton area, Bryan Bedrosian, conservation director at the Teton Raptor Centre, told Cowboy State Daily. 

There’s virtually no chance spotted owls will ever come to Wyoming, he added. 

That means that Wyoming’s barred owls are safe from getting shotgunned to protect spotted owls.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"What’s the Point Now?"}]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) sparked controversy in early 2025 by rolling out a plan for permitted shooters into Pacific Northwest coastal forests to 

. They’re larger than spotted owls and reportedly have been hogging their food.   

A new wrinkle was added in July, when FWS finalized a scaling back of habitat protections under the ESA. 

Effective Sept. 14, the change rescinds the regulatory definition of "harm", eliminating blanket protections for threatened species, and streamlines critical habitat exclusions.

Pacelle said rescinding “harm” from the ESA could throw spotted owl habitat open for logging.

In essence, barred owls are being “framed” for damage spotted owls are suffering from habitat loss, he said. 

A federal campaign to kill nearly a half-million barred owls in the Pacific Northwest to save threatened spotted owls continues, even though recent lifting of protections for spotted owl habitat defeats the entire purpose, an animal welfare advocate says.

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