Greene targets concerns of ag, energy, small business

Running for Wyoming’s lone seat in the House of Representatives hasn’t been an easy feat, but Ryan Greene, Democrat candidate for House, is confident that he is the best choice to represent Wyomingites in Washington, D.C.

Priorities

As he looks to representing the state, Greene says his first priority would be to bring Wyoming tax dollars back to the state.

“We send tons of our taxes to D.C., and I think we need to fight to bring those back in the form of grants,” Greene says. “Farmers and ranchers could all benefit from things like rural healthcare, improved transportation, export assistance and infrastructure improvements.”

He also sees that decreasing the overreach of the federal government is also a top priority.

“I am also a small businessman,” Greene says. “I’ve helped my family expand one welding truck into a 250-employee energy service company.”
He started as a welder and worked his way up the chain to operations director.

“Every single day, I have to put up with red tape and regulations,” he comments. “Personally, I see the impact of these things. I will work to get the federal government off our backs.”

Finally, Greene promises that he will work to “keep public lands in public hands.”

“This priority is so important to me,” he says. “Under our system, Wyoming became the number one coal state in the country. Under this system, Wyoming became one of the top oil and gas producers in this country, and under this system, we can hunt and fish wherever we’d like.”

Greene adds, “The reality is, the state sells land. When that happens, hunters lose access and ranchers pay more for grazing. I say we keep public lands in public hands, and I’ll fight for that every day in Congress.”

As he looks at examples from around the country, he sees the loss of public lands as an assault on freedoms, and he promises to fight to preserve freedom for Wyomingites.

Work in Washington

If elected to the House of Representatives, Greene looks to leverage his background on committees.

“I’ve worked for 18 years in Wyoming’s coalmines, the oil patch and the fertilizer plant,” he says. “I would certainly try to leverage my background in these industries to get on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”

He also will prioritize the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Agriculture Committee as committees he hopes to serve on.

“I work with these industries every day, and my expertise is in those industries,” Greene says. “I would hope to serve those industries on committees.”

First term

With just under a month left to campaign, Greene also adds that he is realistic in his goals for his first several years in Washington, D.C.

“I have to be honest with what I can accomplish as a freshman congressman,” he says. “Big promises are not going to serve Wyoming well. It’s important not to promise the voters the world from a first-term congressman.”

Greene adds that the extravagant promises of congressmen and women across the country are likely the reason that Congress has only a nine percent approval rating.

“At the end of the day, it’s just not realistic to make big promises,” Greene comments. “I will work to leverage my backgrounds to work in my committees. I will do what I can to work with both parties to make sure Wyoming issues are represented on both sides of the aisle.”

Working forward

Greene also adds that it is important to work together in Washington, D.C.

“I am the only candidate who will work with whoever America elects as their next president,” he comments. “I will make sure that Wyoming’s issues are represented.”

As he looks at Wyoming, Greene comments that our state is one of only four in the nation that does not have a growing economy.

“We have to take a look at what we can do for Wyoming,” he says.

Greene also notes that this election is critical.

“There are so many things at stake and so many critical issues we should be talking about,” he comments. “We need to ask these questions and discuss the solutions. We need to work together.”

“I look at taking practical, proactive steps to accomplishing our goals,” Greene notes. “We need to have Wyoming in our conversation to start working to advance Wyoming issues.”

Whether he is elected or not, Greene comments that he understands the agriculture industry and the energy industry, and he believes that he can make an impact for Wyomingites.

“I have put my sweat and muscle into our ag sector,” he says. “I want to ask Wyoming’s ag communities, will they support someone who has supported you? Win or lose, I will keep working with the ag industry. The other candidates can’t say the same.”

Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr.net.