Did I hear “conflict of interest“?
Yes, unfortunately, you heard that right. Wyoming’s Senator Ogden Driskill (SD 1 -Crook County) is the king of voting on bills which will enrich his private business interests.
Senator Driskill is a ranch owner of Campstool Ranch located at the foot of Devil’s Tower. In addition, a KOA campground is located on his ranch.
In 2019, Sen. Driskill voted in favor of HB 66 Lodging Tax which would have imposed a statewide tax on lodging services and created a Wyoming Tourism account.
In 2020, Sen. Driskill voted in favor of HB 134 WY Tourism Account Funding. Again, this bill would have imposed a statewide tax on lodging services and created a Wyoming Tourism account. Even one of his fellow senators who also owns a lodging business abstained from this vote due to a conflict of interest.
As a membership shareholder of Beefchain, a blockchain-based agricultural company, Sen. Driskill was a co-founder of this business and continued his conflict of interest voting habits.
In 2020, HB 27 was passed to create a Select Committee on Blockchain to develop and introduce legislation as necessary to promote blockchain. Sen. Driskill voted in favor of this bill.
If these questionable actions of Sen. Ogden Driskill create a red flag for you, he may be reached at ogden.driskill@wyoleg.gov or at 307-680-5555.