HEAR: Hagemen Discuss, Shutdown, Coal, Water Rights

Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman paid a visit to Wyoming's morning radio talk show, Wake Up Wyoming with Glenn Woods. 

As you might have expected, the first question concerns the federal government shutdown.

"Well, it's the Schumer shutdown," said Hageman.

The fault of the shutdown did not rest with the House of Representatives. They passed a continuing resolution, along party lines, that would have simply kept the government going until the next budget bill could be passed.

60 votes are needed to pass the resolution in the Senate. All Senate Republicans and three democrats voted in favor of the bill. A handful of Democrats led by Senator Chuck Schumer voted no, triggering the shutdown.

Listen to the entire interview that covered several topics in the video below.

Glenn's next question was about President Trump's idea of using the shutdown further to shrink the size of the federal government workforce.

The congresswoman explained that, during a shutdown, priorities are set to determine which government agencies will receive money. The question the president asked is, if the service is not essential, then why are we funding them at all? This opens the door to closing some government agencies and jobs, reducing the workforce, and thus reducing the deficit. To reopen these agencies, Congress would have to pass a bill reauthorizing them.

The topic then switched to the deregulation of Wyoming coal, winning court cases that would allow coal to be shipped out of western ports, and the next coal boom. The congresswoman then spoke about the coming revival of coal, which, she said, would be good for the nation, a boon for Wyoming.

She then spoke about a bill she is working on through the Congressional Review Act that would help repeal more unnecessary energy regulations. She is working with Wyoming Senators Barasso and Lummus on these bills.

The final topic was on Western water and water rights, as states worry about the Colorado River. The congresswoman blamed California for its water mismanagement.