Wyoming Vote Tracker

Wyoming’s and America’s junior Senator has reached that great milestone of 100 days in office. In his first hundred days as U.S. Senator, John Barrasso has accomplished more than the Democrat-led 110th Congress pledged to do in the first 100 hours.

Sen. Barrasso has been voting since June 26 of this year, one day after he was sworn in. In total, he has cast 134 votes out of 134 opportunities to vote, a 100% record. 82 of his votes have been in support of the matter being voted on, while 52 votes have been in opposition. Out of all his votes, he has opposed the majority of the Senate Republicans 13 times and voted contrary to Sen. Mike Enzi on three occasions (votes 00256, 00276, and 00347).

Sen. Barrasso’s first two votes opposed eliminating secret ballot voting for employees considering union membership and amnesty for illegal immigrants. He has voted in favor of confirming seven U.S. District Judges, consistently voted pro-life, favored border security, lower taxes, opposed efforts to withdraw from Iraq, opposed corruption of international bodies such as the U.N., and even supported a pro-gun owner’s rights vote.

He has had notable disagreements with the Department of the Interior. One dispute involves $550 million owed to Wyoming for the Abandoned Wyoming Mine Lands program, which prompted Sen. Barrasso’s lone vote of opposition to confirm the nomination of Brent Whalquist for Director of the Office of Surface Mining in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In the full Senate vote, Barrasso voted to confirm Whalquist on grounds that there would be accountability when time came for the rules regarding AML funds to be signed off on.

In another DOI dispute, Sen. Barrasso teamed up with fellow Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike Enzi to strike a $20 million royalty fee from the 2008 Dept. of Interiror Appropriations bill.

In the interest of multiple use and public access, Sen. Barrasso has fought along side the Cody citizens group Shut Out of Yellowstone to ensure that Yellowstone National Park’s East Entrance remain open. He has written and discussed the situation with Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis, Regional Director Mike Snyder, and DOI Director Dirk Kempthorne.

During the August Recess, Sen. Barrasso traveled around the state and fulfilled his commitment to hold a town hall meeting in each of Wyoming’s 23 counties between his June appointment and Labor Day. In total, 30 town hall meetings were held. His most recent Wyoming weekend featured speaking in Riverton at the Wyoming Republican Presidential Forum.

Sen. Barrasso’s first floor speech was in an overnight session of the Senate, held prior to his August tour, and was in support of the troops and their efforts in Iraq. He formally gave his maiden speech on Sept. 10 to outline his vision for Wyoming and America.

Sen. Barrasso’s appointment to the U.S. Senate promoted Montana Democrat John Tester from 100 to the rank of 99. Last month, it seemed that Sen. Barrasso would get a similar promotion in seniority, as Idaho Republican Larry Craig announced a resignation to take effect at the end of September, but days before the resignation was to take effect, Sen. Craig announced that he would not resign pending a challenge to his guilty plea earlier this year.

Technorati Tags: Wyoming, Sen. John Barrasso, multiple use, public access, Department of the Interior, pro life votes, 2nd amendment rights, immigration, boarder security, War on Terrorism, town hall meetings, Senate seniority, WYGOP Presidential Forums, 2008 special election

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