Tensions have risen within the Wyoming House of Representatives following comments made by Rep. John Bear, a Gillette Republican and former chair of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, which some lawmakers, including Rep. Steve Harshman, have described as damaging to the integrity of the state legislature, Wyo File reports.
Rep. Harshman, a Casper Republican with 22 years of experience in the legislature, considered introducing a motion to reprimand Bear after the latter published a guest column accusing non-Freedom Caucus lawmakers of being “lobbyist-legislator hybrids.” Bear’s column targeted specific lawmakers who brought forward budget amendments, including Reps. Harshman, Elissa Campbell, Lloyd Larsen, Karlee Provenza, Trey Sherwood, and Pamela Thayer. The article claimed that while the Wyoming Freedom Caucus worked to cut government spending, the accused lawmakers were financially motivated in their legislative actions.
On the House floor, Harshman expressed his frustration, stating that Bear’s accusations impugned the motives of fellow lawmakers.
“To impugn the motives of the members and accuse members of being financially interested in their vote is a serious accusation,” Harshman said.
Rep. emphasized that such remarks could damage the collegiality and respect for the legislative body.
Harshman, who has also publicly acknowledged his own mistakes, chose not to pursue a formal disciplinary motion, instead addressing the issue through a personal statement, as allowed by House rules. Despite his discontent, he refrained from further escalating the situation, and Speaker of the House Chip Neiman promptly moved on to the next order of business.
However, Bear’s remarks did not go unchallenged. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Karlee Provenza, voiced their opposition to Bear’s characterization. Provenza defended her approach, stating that her legislative work represented her community and Wyoming’s agricultural heritage, not special interests. Her rebuttal came in response to a budget amendment involving wildfire recovery funds, one of the issues highlighted in Bear’s column.
The Freedom Caucus, in turn, stood by Bear’s remarks. The group issued statements on social media accusing other lawmakers of attempting to silence dissent and criticizing them for disregarding First Amendment rights. They argued that criticism should be allowed in a democratic environment, underscoring their commitment to opposing wasteful spending.
This ongoing back-and-forth reflects a deeper divide within the Wyoming legislature, as debates over fiscal priorities and the role of outside influence in lawmaking continue to simmer. Additionally, Bear has drawn criticism for his comments regarding Governor Mark Gordon and past state appropriations, further fueling tensions within the chamber.
