Anderson, James

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Anderson has served in Senate District 28 for Natrona County from 2013 to the present.  He has received a negative score for Representation and Competence and a positive score for Integrity and therefore has been ranked as Low Trust.

He is up for reelection in 2024.

“Spent nuclear fuel rods are currently being stored at nuclear plants — some of which are in residential neighborhoods, Anderson said. Rural Wyoming makes more sense as a temporary storage site, he said.”

From https://wyofile.com/lawmakers-quietly-explore-storing-spent-nuclear-fuel/

Overall, Anderson earns a (–) for Representation for his Public Conduct.

Attendance

It appears that Anderson missed nine votes during 2023 General Session:

• 2/2/24 – Appropriations Committee vote on HB24;
• 3/2/23 – Concurrence vote on SF76;
• 3/3/23  – Concurrence votes on HB64; HB76; HB93; HB195; SF42; SF48; SF96.

Public Conduct

In public and to the public Anderson is known for:

• Curt and dismissive with citizens at committee meetings
• Ingratiating to corporate stakeholders at committee meetings

Additionally, in chamber during sessions, Anderson is usually seen staring into space or down at his desk, chomping on gum, akin to a Billy-goat, which is both vulgar and distracting.  He typically appears disengaged from matters taking place on the Senate floor and very seldom speaks on any bill one way or the other.  On the occasions that he does speak on a bill it is always on behalf of stakeholders.  It appears that Anderson is not representing any constituents whatsoever.

Sponsorship History

From 2013 through 2023 Anderson has been a primary sponsor of 14 bills, and has co-sponsored 72 bills.  One bill in particular that Anderson sponsored three separate times was finally passed in 2023; SF0147 Government contracts-labor organization.  Favored bill subjects appear to fall primarily in the categories of Minerals, Energy, Industry, Economy and Labor.  From 2013 through 2023 Anderson has consistently served on legislative committees that also primarily focus on Minerals, Energy, Industry, Economy and Labor.  See more at Anderson’s WY legislative page.

Committee Assignments

2023-Senate Appropriations
2023-Energy Council
2023-UW Energy Resource Council
2023-CSG West – Energy & Environment

Anderson scored a (–) for Constitutional Competence with an average of 51.2% on the constitutional issues listed below.

For more on the bills used to analyze these scores click here.  Special hat-tip goes out to Evidence Based Wyoming for use of their statistical tool to generate the following vote scores:

Conflicts

Because we have not found any clear conflicts of interest for Anderson, he receives a (+) for Integrity.

Employment/Income

According to Anderson’s legislative webpage he is retired.  According to Anderson’s 2023 State Elected Officials Financial Disclosure available at Wyofile, Anderson reports the following:

• Income from “security or interest earnings” and from “Real estate, leases, royalties”

Memberships/Civic Organizations

Life Member, American Legion, present
Member, Board of Directors, Wyoming Certified Public Accountants, present
Life Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars, present
Board Member, Wyoming Geographic Names Board, present
President, Mining Associates of Wyoming, 2007-2008
President, Casper Rotary, 1994
Member, Campbell County Republican State Committee, 1988-1992
Chair, Campbell County Land Board, 1985-1991
Chair, Campbell County Republican Party, 1984-1988
President, Campbell County Chamber of Commerce, 1986
Appointed, Member, White House Conference on Small Business, 1986
President, Campbell County United Way, 1981-1984
President, Gillette Rotary Club, 1984
(Data from Vote Smart.)

Campaign Contributions

The table below shows all campaign contributions reported by the WY Secretary of State for Jim Anderson for State Senate.

From 2012 to 2022 Anderson received 172 contributions that total approximately $60,717.  Out of those 172 contributions there were approximately 77 from PACs & Campaign Committees.  The total amount received from PACS & Campaign Committees was $33,200, which is approximately 54% of all contributions received.

Noteworthy donations are:

• $2,500 from Wyoming Hope PAC (RINO donor)
• $1,000 from Building a Better Wyoming PAC (RINO donor)
• $200 from Diamond Free Enterprise PAC (RINO donor)
• $750 total from True family dynasty members
• $1,700 total from ESG Compliant Energy Company PACs
  • $250 from DECPAC
  • $500 from NextEra Energy PAC
  • $700 total from Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power PAC and PacifiCorp PAC
  • $250 from WINDPAC
• $1,450 total from Medical entities
  • $250 from Pfizer PAC
  • $700 total from WY Medical Society PAC
  • $500 from WY Hospital Association PAC

Click the arrows at the top of columns to sort the data by name, date, $ amount, etc.  (Data is publicly available records obtained from the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Wyoming’s Campaign Finance Information System)

According to Evidence Based Wyoming generated data:

• Anderson scored a 22.2% as a Fiscal Conservative for 2023 legislative session
• Anderson earned the Very Liberal Political Leaning Ranking for 2023 legislative session
• Anderson scored a 41.2% as a Budget Conservative for 2022 legislative session
• Anderson earned the Moderate Political Leaning Ranking for 2022 legislative session
• Anderson earned the Moderate Political Leaning Ranking for 2021 legislative session
• Anderson earned the Moderate Political Leaning Ranking for 2020 legislative session
• Anderson earned the Moderate Political Leaning Ranking for 2019 legislative session
• Overall, Anderson has scored a 78.6% for Pro-Life Voting

According to WyoRINO:

• Anderson’s Index Score for 2023 legislative session was 30%, meaning he adhered to the Republican Party Platform 30% of the time.
• Anderson’s Index Score for 2022 legislative session was 22%, meaning he adhered to the Republican Party Platform 22% of the time.
• Anderson’s Index Score for 2021 legislative session was 40%, meaning he adhered to the Republican Party Platform 40% of the time.
• Anderson’s Index Score for 2020 legislative session was 10%, meaning he adhered to the Republican Party Platform 10% of the time.
• Anderson’s Index Score for 2019 legislative session was 30%, meaning he adhered to the Republican Party Platform 30% of the time.

…

Before taking legislative office, Anderson was the Director of Wyoming Machinery Company for forty years (1970-2010) in both Gillette and Casper.  Wyoming Machinery is the Caterpillar dealer for Wyoming.  President and CEO of Wyoming Machinery, Dick Wheeler, appears to contribute regularly to Anderson’s campaign.

Two years after his retirement, Anderson ran for Natrona County Senate District 28 against incumbent Kit Jennings.

Anderson’s initial campaign in 2012 appeared to be a Natrona County Republican Party RINO referendum against Senator Kit Jennings, who was a a reliable conservative vote on bills, a staunch second amendment rights supporter, and also a proponent for enforcing Wyoming Title 39, Chapter 12 for the transfer and management of federal lands to the State of Wyoming .

In 2012, Anderson served as co-chair for the Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in Wyoming.