The following Letters to the Editor appeared in the June 3, 2026 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Slush Fund Grift

Dear Editor

At a time when hardworking Americans are struggling to pay mortgages, medical bills, and grocery costs, some politicians are proposing a staggering $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded legal defense slush fund for those involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Let that sink in.

Not for veterans’ healthcare. Not for rural hospitals. Not for border security, disaster relief, or reducing national debt. Instead, billions to subsidize the legal problems of individuals who chose to storm the Capitol, assault police officers, vandalize public property, and attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power — the very foundation of constitutional democracy.

These people would be compensated based on an interpretation of wrongful prosecution by the previous administration. Believing these taxpayer funds would be distributed based on legal merit and objectivity requires far more faith in the moral character of this administration and Department of Justice than I am able to muster.

Conservatives once championed personal responsibility and law and order.

What happened? Since when do fiscal hawks support forcing American taxpayers to bankroll the consequences of criminal behavior? If ordinary citizens break the law, they hire their own lawyers. They do not receive a taxpayer-funded rescue package blessed by politicians seeking applause from the loudest extremists in their base.

This proposal is not patriotism. It is political theater wrapped in greed and grievance politics. It sends an extremely dangerous message: loyalty to a political movement matters more than accountability under the law.

Let’s not forget the mechanism for creating the fund in the first place. A sitting president of the United States filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service for an outrageous amount because he would rather people do not have documented proof that he does not pay taxes. Even though there is ample evidence to support that he and many other billionaires do not pay taxes.

The United States cannot survive if political violence becomes excusable whenever it serves one side’s agenda. We either believe in equal justice under the law, or we do not.

Nicole Prater

Next Generation

Dear Editor

As I approach my 56th birthday, I feel fortunate to have lived during one of the most remarkable periods in American history. The growth of our nation’s wealth, influence, and opportunity has been extraordinary. Life has never been easy for those without wealth, power, or connections, but the United States may have come closer than any society in history to enabling broad opportunities for prosperity.

Now, however, the circumstances facing future generations are changing faster than most of us can comprehend.

Information overload has left many of us relying on the news sources that confirm our views because there is simply too much conflicting information to sort through. At the same time, artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace that few expected. What was once science fiction is becoming reality. This provides amazing opportunities to advance our societies.

Today, people are already being paid to wear monitoring devices that collect data on household tasks and professional work to train AI systems. The immediate appeal is obvious: less work and greater convenience. The vision of tech giants is a utopia of citizens that do not have to work or look after their own needs. But the larger question is what happens to an economy and society when machines can perform increasing numbers of tasks. Almost certainly our lives will be impacted in ways we cannot imagine. Many experts believe AI will transform society within years, not decades, with an impact 100 times greater than the industrial revolution.

We have created something that has never existed before. A machine that does not just follow commands but is an independent agent that has that can identify solutions to problems on its own. Those solutions could be beyond the limits of human understanding.

This is not another exaggerated media story. Why is this not one of the primary issues being debated in local and national politics? How do we prepare the next generation for a future that may look nothing like the world we knew?

At a minimum, we could be asking our elected representatives and candidates for public office what safeguards, regulations, and workforce policies they support to protect workers and regulate new technology. We are uniquely at risk in the United States because we have a legal foundation that currently recognizes corporations as persons. It is not hard to imagine the potential implications of adding AI into that legal framework.

We were lucky enough to have our opportunities based on the hard work and suffering of so many who came before us. It is our turn to fight for the next generation.

Jeff Phillips

Wyoming’s Energy Gamble: Who Benefits?

• A Conservative Perspective on Wyoming’s Economic Future

By Amber Hyde

Disclaimer: The following article is protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and reflect the author’s opinions based on publicly available, information and legislative proceedings.

Wyoming stands at a crossroads, and taxpayers deserve honest answers before our state’s economic future is decided behind closed doors.

For generations, Wyoming’s economy has been built on mining, oil, gas, coal, rail transportation, and pipelines. These industries have provided high-paying jobs, funded local governments, supported schools, and generated the tax revenue that keeps our communities functioning. Yet today, many state and local leaders appear determined to replace that foundation with wind power, solar power, AI data centers, and nuclear energy.

The question is simple: Has anyone done the math?

Since the end of 2018, Wyoming’s mining industry has seen its GDP decline by 23 percent. Once the state’s largest industry, mining has now fallen behind government spending and continues to lose ground. Transportation, which depends heavily on rail and pipeline activity connected to mining, has also suffered significant declines.

At the same time, policymakers are aggressively promoting wind projects, solar developments, AI data centers, and nuclear energy. Supporters claim these industries represent Wyoming’s future. But can they realistically replace what we are losing?

Mining generated approximately $1.6 billion in state and local taxes during fiscal year 2025. Wind generation taxes produced only about $4.4 million. Solar projects generate even less tax revenue relative to the land they occupy. AI data centers require enormous infrastructure investments while employing relatively few workers once construction is complete. Nuclear facilities may provide reliable energy, but they do not replace the broad economic impact of mining and transportation.

There is also the issue of water. AI data centers consume vast amounts of water for cooling. Wyoming is one of the driest states in the nation. At some point, policymakers may conclude that additional nuclear generation is necessary to support these facilities. If that conversation is happening, taxpayers deserve a seat at the table.

Instead, many of these discussions appear to be occurring without meaningful public input. Citizens are repeatedly told that these investments are necessary, yet few officials have presented a comprehensive business plan comparing the economic impacts of mining versus wind, solar, AI data centers, and nuclear power. What happens to GDP? What happens to jobs? What happens to wages? Most importantly, what happens to tax revenue?

If mining continues to decline, state and local governments will eventually face a difficult reality: where will they replace the $1.6 billion in annual tax revenue currently generated by Wyoming’s mining industry? Will state and local governments have to increase personal taxes on Wyoming families because the companies operating wind farms, solar projects, AI data centers, and nuclear facilities are not generating comparable tax revenue? Or will lawmakers impose new ‘severance-like’ taxes on these emerging industries, costs that will ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher utility bills and increased living expenses? These are the questions taxpayers should be asking now, yet much of this conversation appears to be taking place behind closed doors, without the transparency Wyoming citizens deserve.

Wyoming taxpayers deserve transparency, accountability, and a full economic analysis before we gamble away the industries that built this state. The future should be decided by the people—not by closed-door conversations among political and economic insiders.