Senate backtracks, confirms Mead's PSC appointments

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The Wyoming Senate changed course and voted to follow Governor Matt Mead’s recommendation, confirming two attorneys to become members of the Wyoming Public Service Commission.  The Commission regulates utility rates for consumers. 

On Tuesday, the Senate opposed the appointments of Kara Brighton and William Russell because they believed that too many attorneys have been appointed to the
PSC, and because they lacked qualifications. 

But Senate Majority Floor Leader Phil Nicholas asked Senators to reconsider their votes.

“At the end of the day these folks were given notice from the governor of his intended appointments a little while ago,” Nicholas says. “So they either had already wrapped up their law practices or were in the process of wrapping them up.  It made it awkward for everybody.”

Nicholas says they have communicated with the governor about their concerns.  He’d like the governor to consider a wider range of candidates in the future.