Monthly Archives: January 2022

Rep. Liz Cheneys Republican primary challenger is leaning on her decades of legal fights against the federal governments natural resources policy in her battle against the incumbent.

Harriet Hageman, an attorney, entered the race for Wyomings sole House seat in September on a platform of complete alignment with former President Trump, amid Cheneys outspoken opposition to the former president over his involvement with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol building and other actions.

But Hageman is also presenting herself as the better candidate to fight what she sees as overreach by President Bidens administration. Shes pointing to her legal work, battling against policies like Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves and conservation of national forests, to show that shes the candidate to represent Wyomings interests.

"Ive taken on the EPA, Ive taken on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ive taken on the USDA," she said last month on "Bannons War Room," the podcast hosted by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon.

Asked whether she could handle when Cheney "plays hardball," Hageman said shes shown shes ready.

"So does the federal government. So does the EPA. They play to win," she said. "One of the things about going up against, say, the EPA is that they have unlimited resources. And when theyre going out and doing a test case, for example, trying to take over irrigation in northern Wyoming, theyre going to throw everything that they have at it to do that," she continued.

Hageman and her campaign didnt respond to requests from E&E News for an interview or to expand on her legal work.

Hageman currently is senior litigation counsel for the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a group that takes on conservative legal causes to fight against environmental regulations, Covid-19 mitigation measures, campaign finance restrictions, taxes and more.

Her work has almost always put her on the opposite side of the conservation community.

"Although Harriet Hageman more recently is known for her flip-flop to support Trump and challenge her previous confidant Liz Cheney, she has a long history with environmental and conservation groups," said Dan Smitherman, Wyoming state director at the Wilderness Society.

"Most of her work was with private property, water and grazing rights, but she forged a legitimate reputation as an anti-public lands sagebrush rebellion lawyer and pro-ranching, anti-wolf advocate," he said.

Hageman said last month on the radio show "Wake Up Wyoming" that her first big case after she launched her own law firm in 2001 was representing the state of Wyoming in challenging the U.S. Forest Services roadless rule, when was written in the final days of President Clintons administration. The case resulted in a 2003 federal court injunction, which the administration of President George W. Bush didnt appeal.

Smitherman estimated that the roadless rule litigation had "the most significant impacts" on conservation.

In another notable case, Hageman represented David Hamilton, a Wyoming landowner, in his battle against EPAs 2007 determination that an irrigation ditch violated the Clean Water Act. "After a two-week trial, we prevailed in that case, and the EPA lost. Because we were right. The Clean Water Act does not apply to his activities," she said on "Wake Up Wyoming.

Hageman worked for many years for an industry coalition in Wyoming to get the gray wolfs Endangered Species Act protections removed, and in 2009 fought the Department of Agricultures determination that certain cattle transported between states need electronic tags.

At times, however, her legal work on behalf of industry has been in opposition to local decisionmakers. In one case, she successfully represented a gravel company in challenging a Wyoming countys decision to block a gravel mine operation, according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

More recently, shes been sounding the alarm on Bidens "30 x 30" initiative, also known as "America the Beautiful," which aims to conserve 30 percent of the nations land and waters by 2030 (E&E Daily, Dec. 20, 2021). She argues its a "land grab," a threat to Wyoming and an attempt by Democrats to hasten the decline of rural America.

"The federal government under Joe Biden and radical Democrats are intent on taking over and federalizing our private property rights under the auspices or claim of combating climate change. This is a U.N.-driven, unlawful land grab that would be devastating to the economy in this country and dramatically alter the very nature of private property rights and who and what the United States is," she said on the "Working Ranch Radio Show."

The Biden administration has fought back against similar arguments, saying the conservation efforts are completely voluntary and the government is not seeking to take anyones land.

Hageman grew up on a ranch near Fort Laramie, Wyo., where she said she and her siblings had to move cows, fix fences and do other work on a regular basis. She studied at the University of Wyoming, where she got both a bachelors degree and a law degree.

Between her legal and advocacy work, Hageman has been active in Republican politics and campaign finance. She was a previous Republican National Committee representative for Wyoming and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018.

She was also an ally to Cheney previously and was a critic of Trump, working in 2016 to stop his presidential nomination. But she later became an ally to him, and Cheneys increasing estrangement from him led her to abandon the lawmaker.

"We sent her to Washington, D.C., to be an ally of Donald Trump, and shes turned into a mortal enemy of not just Donald Trump but the America First agenda, she told Bannon.

Hageman cites her work not only to show her dedication to ranching, oil and natural gas, and other industries, but also to argue that Cheney has abandoned Wyomings priorities.

For example, she says its malpractice that Cheney isnt on the House Natural Resources Committee. She was on the panel in her first two terms.

"The Natural Resources Committee this is one of the first times in our history that we dont have anybody on that all-important committee. That tells you where her priorities are," Hageman said on Bannons show.

Cheneys campaign declined to respond to Hagemans comments.

When she met with Trump last year to ask for his endorsement before launching her campaign, Hageman brought up energy and regulations as two of her top priorities.

"The two primary issues I discussed with him were energy independence and what he did in terms of regulatory reform. I thanked him for his work in that regard," she said.

Myron Ebell, who used to work for a think tank launched by former Republican Wyoming Rep. Malcolm Wallop, said hes gotten to know Hageman through her New Civil Liberties Alliance work. Hes hopeful that she can win, get a spot on the Natural Resources Committee and be a champion for industries like agriculture and energy.

"She is a hardcore conservative. But she also has establishment Republican connections, which I think will serve her well," said Ebell, who leads energy and environment policy at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute and led Trumps transition team for EPA.

"She has the expertise thats needed on the committee on a lot of federal lands issues. And shes very strong on property rights and the rights of federal land users."

Cheney, Ebell said, had a good Republican voting record on Natural Resources but "wasnt really interested in those issues."

Ebell expects Hageman will follow in the mold of "some of the really strong people" on Natural Resources, like GOP Reps. Tom McClintock of California, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Paul Gosar of Arizona, who lost his spot on the panel last year when Democrats stripped him of his committee assignments.

Cheney has projected confidence in the face of Hagemans challenge and hasnt backed away from her Trump criticism.

She continues to pursue action on energy and other key Wyoming industries, and has argued that her record of fighting against regulations and for increased oil and natural gas production, among other priorities, puts her ahead in the race (E&E Daily, Sept. 10, 2021).

Cheney has also been active in fighting Bidens energy and natural resources policies. Shes introduced legislation to combat the "30 x 30" conservation plan, worked to block Bidens executive actions targeting fossil fuels and proposed to compensate states for any revenue they lose due to Bidens fossil fuel policies.

She was also aligned closely with Trumps deregulatory and energy agenda. She was the lead sponsor of the 2017 legislation that Trump signed to undo former President Obamas "BLM Planning 2.0" rule that sought to overhaul how the Bureau of Land Management oversees its vast acreage which Cheney and other opponents said would have curtailed local voices in land decisions (E&E News PM, March 27, 2017).

The primary is scheduled for Aug. 16, ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. The winner of the primary is expected to easily win the November race.

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Meet the anti-conservation Republican vying to unseat Cheney - E&E News

Police were called to step in after a group of conservatives wearing orange shirts that said RINO hunters, with crosshairs making a target of the O, tried to storm a Republican Party of Orange County meeting in Costa Mesa on Monday night.

The group was led by Nick Taurus, a self-proclaimed American Nationalist who last year spearheaded a protest during a town hall for Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, that turned violent. After provocation from Taurus group, a Porter supporter threw a punch and was arrested.

Taurus, R-Laguna Hills, is now challenging GOP Rep. Young Kim in the CA-40 House race. Hes labeled Kim, whos been endorsed by the OCGOP as a RINO, a derogatory name used by the far-right for more moderate politicians who they deem Republican in name only.

The clash reflects a growing schism in the Republican party, pitting those who strive to elect GOP candidates in purple areas like Orange County, and those on the far right, who remain fiercely loyal to former President Donald Trump.

The party said on Jan. 12 that because of the coronavirus surge attendance at Monday nights OCGOP meeting which was aimed at endorsing candidates for the 2022 election cycle would be limited to members of the Central Committee due to the coronavirus surge.

There are important endorsement requests that must be voted on, but we recognize the spike in covid cases across Orange County, the announcement said. It is important that we as a party take care of business, but we must also take care of ourselves and each other.

But some local Republicans didnt agree with that decision.

Photos and videos shared to social media show a couple dozen people wearing orange RINO shirts in the lobby of the building where the meeting was being held. A witness told the Register one member tried to push past people at the door, grabbing at the handle to get inside. Police then are seen directing the protestors outside, while other people are waved by and allowed into the meeting room.

Once outside, Taurus is seen in videos, wearing a make America great again hat, arguing with GOP Latino activist Jesse Suave over amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Taurus supporters and Suave engaged in verbal clashes, with shouts to back the f up and saying what are you going to do?

Costa Mesa Police say they were called to the meeting at 6:39 p.m. Monday on reports that a group of about 20 demonstrators were refusing to leave the private political meeting, according to department spokesperson Roxi Fyad. Officers contacted the demonstrators, told them to take it to the sidewalk, and they complied, Fyad said.

No one was detained, she said, and police werent aware of any physical altercation.

A spokesman for the county GOP offered a written statement that included this:

The Costa Mesa Police Department was called when (a) group continued to disrupt our meeting and the business of the venue.

As a party, we welcome a healthy debate of ideas. That cannot occur in the manner these individuals conducted themselves. The safety of our members, guests and staff are of the utmost importance to our organization.

Taurus has been involved in multiple protests that have turned physical in the past, including free speech rallies at Cal State FullertonandOrange Coast College in 2017. Videos circulating on social media also show him disrupting a 2020 racial justice protest in Yorba Linda. In that video he is seen stealing and ripping up someones Black Lives Matter sign. His social media posts tout conspiracy theories about the Clinton family, the gay mafia and anti-White racism.

After the incident at Porters town hall, Taurus said in a live Instagram video that someone from the Republican Party of Orange County sent an invitation for his group to attend the Democrats town hall and press Porter about what shes doing to help eastern O.C.s 45th District. Now, Taurus said via social media, his group is being shut out by the same party.

Brian Burley, an OCGOP Central Committee member whos running against Porter in the new 47th District, said the crowd was loud but calm when he walked into the meeting. He said he never had any safety concerns, and everyone was gone by the time he left at 9:45 p.m.

Burley had asked party Chair Fred Whitaker in a public letter Jan. 5 to postpone the endorsement meeting following the death of party leader Kelly Ernby. He clashed with Whitaker last election cycle, when he was facing Michelle Steel in the CA-48 race, over the party making early endorsements of establishment candidates.

Ernby had been planning to run for the 72nd Assembly District before her death early this month from COVID-19. On Monday night, the OCGOP endorsed Diane Dixon for the seat.

Staff writer Eric Licas contributed to this report.

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Police break up fracas at Southern California Republican meeting - The Mercury News

Edgewood attorney Stephanie Dietz announced her candidacy Tuesday for the 65th House District seat.

The seat is currently held by Democrat Buddy Wheatley, of Covington.

Dietz, a Republican, would be a new resident of the 65th though she has lived in Edgewood for 25 years.

Newly drawn legislative maps, already approved by the Republican-dominated Kentucky General Assembly, shifts the currently urban-centric 65th to more suburban parts of Kenton County, including Edgewood and Crestview Hills.

The legislation approving the new House districts has not yet been signed or vetoed by Democratic Governor Andy Beshear.

We need a representative who will work collaboratively with Republicans and Democrats to ensure Kenton County continues to be a safe, vibrant community where

parents can raise a family and where economic opportunities exist for everyone," Dietz said in an announcement. "I have spent over two decades working for Kenton County families and look forward to standing up for all of our communities if I am fortunate enough to serve in Frankfort.

Dietz operates Dietz Family Law and was an unsuccessful candidate for Kenton County Family Court judge in 2014. She has practiced law for more than 27 years. She is currently vice president of the Northern Kentucky Bar Association and is the current president of the Academy of Northern Kentucky Collaborative Law Professionals, an organization that she said she helped found.

Dietz is a certified family law mediator and coached the mock trial team at Covington Catholic High School.

Northern Kentucky is a conservative area. However, the 65th district representative does not reflect those values in Frankfort and that is why I am running," Dietz said. "I have spent my life and career serving others, and hope to continue that service in Frankfort. This campaign will be about who best represents the 65th district and who can be most effective in Frankfort and I look forward to the opportunity to meet even more of my fellow Northern Kentuckians on the campaign trail.

Wheatley, who is serving his second term representing the 65th District, has filed for reelection. He is one of two Democrats in the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus. Rep. Rachel Roberts (D-Newport) has also seen her 67th House district redrawn, and observers have argued that it also would become more Republican-friendly.

Dietz is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University's Salmon P. Chase College of Law. She and her husband, Jim, have two college-aged sons.

Correction:An earlier version of this story reported that the 65th House District would include Lakeside Park as part of its new boundaries. That is not correct. The article has been updated to reference Crestview Hills instead.

-Michael Monks, editor & publisher

Photo provided

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Dietz Files as Republican for 65th House District Seat - The River City News

Legislative proposals to curb Virginia utilities political contributions may be gaining new traction in Richmond as old resentments over a 2015 utility rate freeze law combine with progressive Democrats skepticism of utility influence and Republican anger over Dominion Energys contributions to a shadowy PAC attacking Gov. Glenn Youngkin during the 2021 elections.

Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, said proposals by him, Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Stafford, have a very good chance at clearing the Republican-controlled House of Delegates. Petersen said he expects the support of a portion of Democrats in the Senate they narrowly control.

I cant get them all. I certainly cant get the ones that are more senior in leadership, said Petersen during a news conference Monday with Ware. But I can get a portion of my caucus.

Garren Shipley, a spokesperson for House Republicans, said party members havent discussed [the bills] at length yet as a caucus.

State Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City.

Petersen also called on Youngkin to throw his support behind the proposals. Both he and Ware said they had spoken to the new governor, with Ware indicating Youngkin sees some affinity with their goals, but the administration has taken no public stance on the legislation.

The commonwealth needs the new governor to take a firm stand on this issue, and my hope is that will change the dynamic, said Petersen.

Political contributions by utilities have been a hot-button issue in Virginia in recent years largely due to Dominion, the states largest electric utility and for many years the biggest corporate donor in state politics. Many of the loudest voices for reform have come from an influx of progressive Democrats starting in 2017, who in a lot of ways moved the needle on this issue, said Petersen, an early proponent of restrictions on public service corporation political giving.

In last years race for governor, the company sparked particular outrage among Republicans by bankrolling amysterious PAC effortmeant to depress turnout for Youngkin in rural areas. At the time, Dominion claimed it was unaware of the PACs activities, but post-election financial disclosures show the utility and its executives provided almost half the money the PAC received,according to Cardinal News.

Factions of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed discomfort with what they describe as Dominions outsize influence over the General Assembly, which has passed a series of laws favorable to the utility over the past decade, including a controversial rate freeze in 2015 that remained in place until 2018 and broughtin hundreds of millions of dollarsin excess profits, according to state regulators.

While utilities such as Dominion are great companies, Ware said Monday, they need to be responsible to the State Corporation Commission and not use massive lobbying monies and a large lobbying corps to get around and get what they want from the assembly.

Similarly, Petersen described a scenario where you have a state monopoly, a state utility thats not just donating money to campaigns, but also doing so in a way that frankly can be devious, that can be perhaps intended to mislead voters as opposed to inform voters, where again you have a monopolistic company that has a captive audience that is spreading money around the General Assembly and using that to structure the state law.

Asked about its stance on Petersen and Wares legislation and Petersens comments, Dominion spokesperson Rayhan Daudani said in an email that campaign finance laws should apply to all equally.

The anti-Youngkin ads Dominion helped finance have also inspired a push to tighten state laws on when PACs have to report their spending activity.Legislationsponsored by Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, would require PACs to report large pre-election expenditures of $1,000 or more, bringing more immediate transparency while votes are being cast rather than after an election is over.

In a floor speech Monday, Suetterlein said the Dominion-backed ads, which portrayed Youngkin as soft on guns, were most unusual.

There is no excuse for what happened, he said. We need more disclosure in this commonwealth.

Last year, Youngkins campaign responded to the ad controversy by suggesting entrenched interests were rallying behind his opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, because they were afraid of his outsider status. However, after Youngkins victory, Dominion donated $50,000 to his inaugural committee,according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Asked Monday where the governor stands on reining in utility donations, Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said: The governor will review all legislation that comes to his desk.

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Republican anger, progressive concern combine in push to ban political spending by utilities - Fauquier Times