Wyoming Legislators Criticized For Israel Visit Say Trip Was Worth It

A group of six Republican state legislators took a trip this month to Israel, and said it was a great opportunity to learn more about the country’s government and how to continue a healthy partnership between the two nations.

But the diplomatic mission, titled “50 States, One Israel,” was not well-received by all Wyomingites. Some commented online that it was a waste of time, and wondered what issues there were relevant to the Cowboy State’s residents.

Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne, and one of the six who made the trip, disputed that. He told Cowboy State Daily on Monday that it was a productive five-day session where ideas were exchanged, and delegates of the two countries made a good-faith effort to pursue more partnerships. 

“No one told us what to do, no one handed us a fat stack of cash, there is no pending legislation that anyone promised to Israel,” Singh said, referring to some online criticism.

Invited In May

Some Wyoming legislators received a letter in May inviting them to the trip them to the trip, which happened Sept. 13 through 18.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided roundtrip airfare, in-country transportation, meals and programming, the letter stated.

The state’s Legislative Service Office (LSO) confirmed that no Wyoming taxpayer money was used for the trip, and that the Wyoming Legislature and the Management Council have not authorized the expenditure of state funds to reimburse legislators for attending or traveling to the 50 States, One Israel Bipartisan Delegation of U.S. State Legislators event.

The delegation brought together 200 legislators from all 50 states to look at Israel’s leadership, society, heritage, and innovation.

“Participants will gain firsthand insight into the complexities and opportunities facing Israel today through high-level meetings with Israeli decision-makers, site visits to key national and cultural landmarks in Jerusalem and beyond, and direct engagement with experts in political, social, and academic fields,” the letter states in part.

Those Who Went, Those Who Didn’t

Six Republicans attended the mission: Singh, along with Republican State Sens. Stephan Pappas (Cheyenne), Cheri Steinmetz (Lingle), Dan Laursen (Powell) and Tim Salazar (Riverton); and Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland.

Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, told Cowboy State Daily he received the invitation, but could not attend because he was scheduled to participate in the Council of State Governments West’s 2025 Annual Meeting, which was in Jackson on Sept. 16-19.

Yin did not criticize anyone’s decision for attending the mission.

He said he felt the trip might have been more of an attempt to build goodwill for Israel than focusing on state issues.

“When the decision is going to Israel, or (choosing to) work on local and regional issues, the choice has to be local and regional issues,” Yin said.

Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, was also invited, and echoed those comments. Rothfuss said he couldn’t go due to his job teaching at the University of Wyoming.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has led Israel to want to strengthen relationships with the United States, and this mission was a part of that, he said.

“Particularly with obligations for the legislature, focusing on trying to make Wyoming better and build things within the state is a more appropriate and useful way to spend my time,” he said.

But some who went on the trip, including Singh, said some issues that impact Wyomingites surfaced, including free trade, tech, and the importance of the Second Amendment.

The attacks by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, were eye-opening, and seeing the impacts first-hand from an Israel Defensive Forces (IDF) officer further convinced Singh of the importance of firearm rights in Wyoming.

“If people started attacking communities, we can protect our families and can protect our property, and after seeing the effects of Oct. 7, I will never compromise on that,” Singh said.

Sen. Stephan Pappas, R-Cheyenne, has  been to Israel before – when he was 16.

Pappas, now 74, said it’s great to see the economy there flourishing compared to when he visited decades ago.

Some might criticize their decision to attend, but it’s important for all elected officials in the United States to show solidarity with an ally like Israel – and the mission helps with that, Pappas said.

“Israel is the stabilizing force in that whole region, and if we want to keep the radical Islamic fundamentalist thinking at bay, we need allies in that region,” he said.

The trip also showed there are potential further agricultural partnerships between both countries, said Steinmetz.

She brought packets of information from the University of Wyoming regarding coal soil amendments, along with other research from the university’s College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. The research and coal could help Israel augment their soil, she said.

And Israel has been innovative in agriculture themselves, Steinmetz said.

“They’re on the leading edge of agricultural innovation as far as precision farming, monitoring of soil, and what the soil needs … which I believe Wyoming and our ag-producing counties could really benefit from,” she said.

Ruins And Bullet Holes

Singh and others heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana speak; visited legislative buildings and saw quantum computing technology.

But perhaps the most powerful part of the trip was seeing ruins and wreckage where Hamas had attacked Israel. Singh described touching bullet holes in buildings and seeing where grenades were thrown into houses. 

“It’s difficult to have perspective when you’re trying to interpret the media from a world away,” he said.

Pappas said It was “eye-opening” to see the damage first-hand.

“They’ve got a little memorial for each hostage that was taken … it was heartbreaking and we had some … Israeli students and one of them went around with me and she told me some of the stories, she also had some family members that were affected,” Pappas said. “It’s just unimaginable what occurred.”

Steve Bohnel can be reached at steve@cowboystatedaily.com