Editorial: Carbon County GOP was right

The Carbon County Republican Party made the right decision in passing resolutions regarding lawmakers involved in “CheckGate,” even if the state party refused to consider them.

By now, everyone in Wyoming—if not the country—is likely aware of what happened on Feb. 9 when Rebecca Bextel, a conservative activist from Teton County, delivered checks on the floor of the Wyoming legislature. Bextel was brought onto the floor of the House of Representatives as a guest of Representative Nina Webber (R, Cody) and delivered campaign checks on the House Floor to three representatives: Darin McCann (R, Rock Springs), Marlene Brady (R, Green River) and Joe Webb (R, Lyman). Two other legislators received checks but not on the floor.

Two resolutions unanimously approved by the Carbon GOP called on Webber to resign as statewide committee chairwoman and on the three legislators who received the checks on the floor to resign.

It should be noted that an investigation by a special committee formed by Speaker of the House Chip Neiman (R, Hulett) concluded the incident did not violate the Wyoming Constitution nor was it considered legislative misconduct. The special committee also concluded in its report that the conduct was “undesirable and must never happen again.” The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office is conducting its own investigation as to whether the handing out of the checks constituted bribery.

Let’s be honest, $1,500 — the amounts Teton County donor Don Grasso was donating to campaigns — seems a small amount to pay to kill housing mitigation fees. Is it possible any of the legislators who received checks had their votes influenced? Maybe not. Yet all four legislators remained silent as members of their own caucus accused Rep. Mike Yin (D, Jackson) of making defamatory remarks for raising concerns about the delivery of the checks on the House floor while debating the housing mitigation bill supported by Bextel.

Regardless, the optics are bad. We view those who run for political office as people answering a higher calling, that of serving their constituents. Whether it’s town council, county commissioners or the state legislature, those representing us in any governing body should be able to believe decisions are made with our best interests in mind, not a quid pro quo. Incidents like “CheckGate” only serve to further erode trust.

If a vote can be bought one way or another, then the democratic process set forth by our constitutional republic falters. We commend the Carbon County GOP for taking their stance on this issue. We wish the Converse County GOP would follow suit.

––Josh Wood