Dear Editor:

What does it mean to be conservative?

This question was raised in a conversation between RJ Kost, Dan Laursen and Ray Peterson, the three candidates for Senate District 19, as reported in a recent edition of the Powell Tribune.

Dan justified his claim to be a conservative based on ALEC’s approval of his voting record. They approve so much that they bought him a trip to Florida to encourage him to continue voting in accordance with ALEC’s agenda.

So, who is ALEC?

ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is a partnership paid for by corporations to “assist” state legislators in drafting legislation that benefits corporations.

These out-of-state corporations are committed to keeping Wyoming a tax haven for their benefit, to shelter their earnings in Wyoming, without helping to pay for our roads, schools, etc.

Some of the “corporate partners” that Laursen has aligned himself with through ALEC are Pfizer (remember the vaccine people?) and the Koch brothers.

Bloomberg Businessweek described ALEC as an organization that gives corporate interests outsized influence. For this reason, many legislators in Wyoming and other states are not members of ALEC and are therefore not beholden to their agenda.

So, does conservative mean “in the pocket of corporate interests”? Does conservative mean “keeping Wyoming safe for out-of-state corporations”? If so, then Dan is 100%.

Astrid Northrup

Powell