Posted: Friday, June 6, 2008 12:00 am
Colleagues honor late Sen. Thomas
WASHINGTON - Senators paid tribute to the late Sen. Craig Thomas on the Senate floor Thursday, honoring the Wyoming Republican one year after his death.
Thomas died June 4, 2007, at age 74 after battling leukemia, a few months after he was elected to a third term.
"When Craig comes through the door - which he does in my mind all the time - I do a symbolic little lift of the hat to him to celebrate the life of a great senator," said Sen. Mike Enzi, who served with Thomas as the state's other Republican senator.
"I miss him in the Senate chambers," Enzi said. "I miss him on the trail back home in Wyoming. I miss his camaraderie, friendship and leadership, and his unwavering commitment to the values and ideals of the people he served."
Sen. John Barrasso, the Wyoming Republican who replaced Thomas, said the senator was "a brilliant example of what one can do with a life lived with determination, strength of character and vision."
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky also remembered Thomas.
"Admired by all who knew him, he leaves behind a legacy of legislative accomplishment as well as a chamber full of very dear friends here in the Senate," McConnell said. "And we still miss him a lot."
Lawmakers seek comment extension
GILLETTE - Three state legislators from Campbell County have asked the Bureau of Land Management to extend a public comment period on new drilling restrictions in the Powder River Basin.
The federal agency plans to study the environmental impact of a new sage grouse management plan and make amendments to the plan in the next two years. But new restrictions will be in place while the study is being done.
The BLM expects a decision on the new rules by the end of July.
The legislators say in a letter that the rush to place the new restrictions on the industry could cause hundreds of families in Gillette to lose their jobs.
State Sen. Michael Von Flatern and state Reps. Tom Lubnau II and Erin Mercer each signed the letter.
Commissioner wants commercial moratorium
JACKSON - Teton County Planning Commissioner Tony Wall is proposing a countywide moratorium on commercial development.
Wall says a moratorium on commercial development might be needed because Jackson Hole has a serious shortage of affordable housing for workers. The planning commission is expected to take up the proposal next week.
The proposal comes as two large hotel projects are proposed in Teton Village. Wall says the proposals meet the minimum requirements for providing affordable housing. But Wall says he thinks those requirements are "woefully inadequate."
Last month, the Teton County Commission approved a moratorium on large new subdivisions, saying time is needed for the county and town of Jackson to finish a joint development plan. That moratorium will be in effect through the end of the year or until the plan is completed.