307 Votes

Walters, Tom

 

SummaryRepresentationCompetenceIntegrityMore

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Tom Walters has served in House District 38 as a WY Representative for Natrona County from 2013 to the present.  He has received a positive score for Representation and Integrity, and a negative score for Constitutional Competence.  Therefore Walters has been ranked as Limited Trust.

He is up for reelection in 2024.


Walters said that calls from some legislators to cap the state budget or pledge not to raise taxes are “irresponsible.” He said he wanted to “keep every door open” to keep Wyoming moving forward. He wants to see Wyoming continue to invest in infrastructure during boom times so that it is available during bust cycles. He has said he would support a 1-2% increase in the state sales tax.

From https://oilcity.news/general/2020/08/03/hd-38-incumbent-tom-walters-wants-to-see-wyoming-civility-return-to-politics/

Overall Walters earns a () for Representation.  See Public Conduct below.

Attendance

It appears that Walters missed 17 votes across 4 days in 2023 General Session:

  • 2/1/23 – Appropriations Committee vote for HB100; HB198; HB229;
  • 2/6/23 – 3rd reading for HB100; HB123; HB127; HB140; HB165; HB180; HB213; HB229; HB239; HB286; Appropriations Committee vote for HB163;
  • 2/13/23 – Committee of the Whole vote for SF74; SF158;
  • 2/15/23 – 3rd Reading vote for SF8.

Public Conduct

Obfuscating Votes While Standing as House Chair

While standing as House Chair Walters purposely attempted to confuse official votes by speaking vaguely and ambiguously to mislead Wyoming citizens and House members.  This happened during 2023 General Session on House debates on proposed amendments to a bill.

Context:

On Feb 28, 2023 during 3rd Reading actions on SF 174 – Wyoming charter school authorizing board the House was preparing to vote on an amendment sponsored by Steve Harshman (SF0174H3002).  Jeanette Ward addressed Standing Chair Walters stating that the amendment was not germane to the bill and called for the Rules Committee to meet and vote on the amendment’s germaneness.  In the video below the House was “At Ease” during this Rules Committee discussion and vote, thus it was/is not visible to Wyoming citizens – a point that Walters is fully aware of.

Following the Rules Committee vote Walters claimed the vote was merely advise and that as the Standing Chair he would rule the amendment was germane.  House members asked Walters to clarify what the Rules Committee vote actually was.  Walters stated the vote was ten to three but failed to clarify if the ten votes voted for or against the germaneness of the bill.  When pressed by House members to clarify the vote (so that Wyoming citizens viewing the debate would understand what was going on), Walters purposely evaded this pointed question and turned it into a joke – at one point saying “the vote was ten to three“, “or maybe it was three to ten“.  (Fact: The Rules Committee voted 10 to 3 that the amendment was not germane to SF174.)

Jeanette Ward challenged Walters ruling – which led to another House vote.  It quickly became confusing if the House vote would be on the germaneness of the amendment, or on the vote of the Rules Committee, or on the Chairman’s ruling, or if the body would be voting on the objection to the Chair’s ruling.

After Walters first obfuscation described above, he then pulled a similar confusing word salad (mixed with Mason’s Rules) and further complicated what the House would be voting on and what a Aye or Nay would mean on that vote.

This event can be viewed in the following video clip, which begins after the above-mentioned Rules Committee vote when the House was At Ease.  House Representatives in this clip who press Walters are Jeanette Ward, Clarence Styvar, Scott Heiner, Jeremy Haroldson and, later, Barry Crago.

Walters was fully aware of the confusion he was causing as Chair of the House floor and he was clearly having fun with manipulating the issue even further – at the expense of Wyoming citizens who were watching.  Honest legislators were trying to bring transparency and clarity for Wyoming citizens, and Walters knowingly evaded these attempts.  While he carried out his dodge game with honest legislators, he also appeared perfectly comfortable pulling the wool over Wyoming citizens eyes who viewed/view these official proceedings.

Walters’ behavior is a blatant stain on the credibility of the Wyoming Legislature, and he appears to be perfectly comfortable with that fact as well.

Sponsorship History

In 2023 Walters was the primary sponsor of 3 bills, and co-sponsored 16 bills, and 1 joint resolution.  Favored sponsorship topics appear to be energy; firearms.  For more details, see his legislator webpage.

Committee Assignments

2023-Air Transportation Liaison Committee – Chairman
2023-Subcommittee on Capitol Governance – Chairman
2023-House Appropriations
2023-Select Committee on Capital Financing & Investments
2023-Energy Council
2023-State Building Commission Liaison

Walters scored a () for Constitutional Competence with an average of 35.1% on the constitutional issues listed below.  Constitutional issue categories that have a “N/A” grade, refer to specific bills that Walters did not have the opportunity to vote on.

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:

Tom Walters
Constitutional Bill Vote Scores
Separation of Governmental Powers 0
1st Amendment/ Right to Healthcare Decisions (Covid Mandates) 0
2nd Amendment / Right to Self Defense 37.5
4th & 5th Amendments 100
Right to Life/ Pro-Life 33.3
Protection of Children/ Parental Rights (Transgender Issues) 75
Sectarianism Prohibited in Schools (Critical Race Theory Issue) 0
Civics Education N/A

Conflicts

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

Employment/Income

According to Walters’ 2023 State Elected Officials Financial Disclosure available at Wyofile, he reports:

  • Ranch Manager – Bummer Land and Livestock
  • Income from “Any security or interest earnings” and “Real estate, leases, royalties”

Memberships/Civic Organizations

Campaign Contributions

The table below shows all campaign contributions reported by the WY Secretary of State for Tom Walters.

From 2014 to 2022 Walters received approximately 110 contributions that total approximately $33,125.  Of the 110 donations, approximately 87 were from PACs &/or campaign committees.  The total amount received from PACs &/or campaign committees was $26,975, which is approximately 81% of all contributions.

Noteworthy contributions are:

  • $2,000 from Wyoming Hope (RINO donor)
  • $200 from Diamond Free Enterprises (RINO donor)
  • $900 total from True family dynasty members (RINO donors)
  • $1,950 total from ESG Compliant energy company PACS:
    • $750 total from DECPAC/Devon Energy Corp PAC
    • $250 from MDU Resources Group Good Government Fund
    • $250 from NextEra Energy PAC
    • $700 total from Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power PAC
  • $650 total from Pfizer PAC
  • $200 from WY Medical Society 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.)

Contributor NameRecipient NameDateFiling StatusAmountCity State Zip
TRUCKING INDUSTRY PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 10/7/2022FILED250CASPER, WY 82602
TRUE, DAVID (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/27/2022FILED150CASPER, WY 82602
WYOMING STOCK GROWERS' AG PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/26/2022FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82003
MDU RESOURCES GROUP GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND (BISMARCK)TOM WALTERS 9/15/2022FILED100BISMARCK, ND 58506
PACIFIC POWER/ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER PAC (PORTLAND)TOM WALTERS 9/15/2022FILED300PORTLAND, OR 97232
WYOMING MINING ASSOCIATION PAC (WMA) (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/9/2022FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82001
FARMERS INSURANCE AGENTS AND EMPLOYEE(FEAPAC) MEMBERS OF WYOMING (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 7/25/2022FILED500CHEYENNE, WY 82001
BNSF RAILPAC (FT WORTH)TOM WALTERS 7/6/2022FILED300FT WORTH, TX 76161
CIGNA POL ACTION COMMITTEE (PHILADELPHIA)TOM WALTERS 7/6/2022FILED500PHILADELPHIA, PA 19191
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT (WASHINGTON)TOM WALTERS 6/24/2022FILED250WASHINGTON, DC 20005
EXXONMOBILE PAC (IRVING)TOM WALTERS 6/15/2022FILED250IRVING, TX 75039
AGOPIAN, NICK (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 4/7/2022FILED250CHEYENNE, WY 82001
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. PAC (WASHINGTON )TOM WALTERS 12/16/2021FILED250WASHINGTON , DC 20004
MDU RESOURCES GROUP GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND (BISMARCK)TOM WALTERS 10/19/2020FILED250BISMARCK, ND 58506
PAW POLITICAL ACTION COUNCIL (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 10/18/2020FILED1500CASPER, WY 82601
FEA PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 10/7/2020FILED1500CHEYENNE, WY 82003
FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT (WASHINGTON)TOM WALTERS 9/29/2020FILED300WASHINGTON, DC 20005
COWBOY GAMES PAC (SHERIDAN)TOM WALTERS 9/23/2020FILED200SHERIDAN, WY 82801
WYOMING HOPE (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/17/2020FILED2000CHEYENNE, WY 82009
FEA PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/16/2020FILED500CHEYENNE, WY 82003
COMMON VALUES PAC (ALEXANDRIA)TOM WALTERS 9/9/2020FILED100ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
WY REALTORS PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/9/2020FILED1000CASPER, WY 82604
PROSPERITY AND COMMERCE PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 8/14/2020AMEND - ADD500CHEYENNE, WY 82001
HENDRY, ROB & LESLIE (LYSITE)TOM WALTERS 8/8/2020AMEND - ADD200LYSITE, WY 82642
SCOTT, CHARLES (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 8/6/2020FILED250CASPER, WY 82604
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION PAC (RAPID CITY)TOM WALTERS 8/5/2020AMEND - ADD250RAPID CITY, SD 57709
WY REALTORS PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 8/4/2020FILED1000CASPER, WY 82604
WYO-D-PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 8/4/2020AMEND - ADD250CASPER, WY 82601
CUNDY, BRAD & JANNETTE (MILLS)TOM WALTERS 7/31/2020FILED250MILLS, WY 82644
PACIFIC POWER/ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER PAC (PORTLAND)TOM WALTERS 7/29/2020FILED200PORTLAND, OR 97232
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PAC (STAMFORD)TOM WALTERS 7/28/2020AMEND - ADD200STAMFORD, CT 06901
ALTRIA GROUP, INC. PAC (WASHINGTON)TOM WALTERS 7/27/2020AMEND - ADD150WASHINGTON, DC 20001
PFIZER PAC (NEW YORK)TOM WALTERS 7/27/2020AMEND - ADD200NEW YORK, NY 10017
ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY PAC (ALLPAC) (NORTHBROOK)TOM WALTERS 7/23/2020FILED150NORTHBROOK, IL 60062
COWBOY GAMES PAC (SHERIDAN)TOM WALTERS 7/22/2020FILED500SHERIDAN, WY 82801
CONPAC CONTRACTORS PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 7/21/2020FILED250CHEYENNE, WY 82003
MAYCOCK, JOSEPH (GILLETTE)TOM WALTERS 7/21/2020FILED100GILLETTE, WY 82717
DIAMOND FREE ENTERPRISE PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 7/20/2020FILED200CASPER, WY 82601
CIGNA POL ACTION COMMITTEE (PHILADELPHIA)TOM WALTERS 7/17/2020FILED375PHILADELPHIA, PA 19191
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. PAC (WASHINGTON )TOM WALTERS 7/16/2020FILED500WASHINGTON , DC 20004
NEXTERA ENERGY PAC (JUNO BEACH)TOM WALTERS 7/15/2020FILED250JUNO BEACH, FL 33408
TRUE, DAVID (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 7/13/2020FILED200CASPER, WY 82602
WILKINSON, KATHARINE (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 7/13/2020FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82009
DEVON ENERGY CORPORATION PAC (OKLAHOMA CITY)TOM WALTERS 7/9/2020FILED500OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102
BURNS, BRUCE (SHERIDAN)TOM WALTERS 7/8/2020FILED100SHERIDAN, WY 82801
LAWYERS ACTIVE IN WY PAC (LAWPAC) (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 6/30/2020FILED300CHEYENNE, WY 82001
BNSF RAILPAC (FT WORTH)TOM WALTERS 6/29/2020FILED200FT WORTH, TX 76161
WYOMING MINING ASSOCIATION PAC (WMA) (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 6/22/2020FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82001
WLRAPAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 6/19/2020FILED400CHEYENNE, WY 82009
WYOMING STOCK GROWERS' AG PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 6/19/2020FILED200CHEYENNE, WY 82003
WY RURAL ELECTRIC ASSN. PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 6/18/2020FILED500CHEYENNE, WY 82001
LOYCE, EUGENE (EVANSTON)TOM WALTERS 6/8/2020FILED1000EVANSTON, WY 82930
URBIGKIT, LAURIE (RIVERTON)TOM WALTERS 6/2/2020FILED200RIVERTON, WY 82501
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT (WASHINGTON)TOM WALTERS 11/14/2019AMEND - ADD250WASHINGTON, DC 20005
ALTRIA GROUP, INC. PAC (WASHINGTON)TOM WALTERS 10/30/2019AMEND - ADD100WASHINGTON, DC 20001
CIGNA POL ACTION COMMITTEE (PHILADELPHIA)TOM WALTERS 7/30/2019AMEND - ADD250PHILADELPHIA, PA 19191
WYO PAC (WYOMING MEDICAL PAC) (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 10/29/2018FILED200CHEYENNE, WY 82003
FFFWY FIRE PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 10/20/2018FILED500CHEYENNE, WY 82003
CGI TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS INC. PAC (FAIRFAX)TOM WALTERS 10/17/2018FILED200FAIRFAX, VA 22030
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PAC (STAMFORD)TOM WALTERS 10/15/2018FILED200STAMFORD, CT 06901
ANADARKO PETROLEUM PAC (WOODLANDS)TOM WALTERS 10/12/2018AMEND - ADD250WOODLANDS, TX 77380
WYOMING MINING ASSOCIATION PAC (WMA) (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 10/4/2018FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82001
WYOMING MINING ASSOCIATION PAC (WMA) (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 10/4/2018FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82001
TRUCKING INDUSTRY PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/28/2018FILED250CASPER, WY 82602
TRUE, DAVID (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/21/2018FILED150CASPER, WY 82602
WYOMING STOCK GROWERS' AG PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/20/2018FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82003
HOLDING, CAROL (SALT LAKE CITY)TOM WALTERS 9/17/2018FILED750SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84103
PAW POLITICAL ACTION COUNCIL (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/13/2018FILED100CASPER, WY 82601
BNSF RAILPAC (FT WORTH)TOM WALTERS 8/23/2018FILED200FT WORTH, TX 76161
PFIZER PAC (NEW YORK)TOM WALTERS 8/8/2018FILED150NEW YORK, NY 10017
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT (WASHINGTON)TOM WALTERS 8/3/2018AMEND - ADD250WASHINGTON, DC 20005
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC (OKLAHOMA CITY)TOM WALTERS 7/13/2018FILED250OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73154
MAYCOCK, JOE (GILLETTE)TOM WALTERS 7/13/2018FILED100GILLETTE, WY 82717
JORDAN, ROGER (GILLETTE)TOM WALTERS 7/6/2018FILED100GILLETTE, WY 82718
CENTURYLINK, INC., EMPLOYEES PAC (WASHINGTON)TOM WALTERS 11/7/2016FILED200WASHINGTON, DC 20001
WYOMING CONSTRUCTION COALITION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 10/11/2016FILED200CASPER, WY 82601
CLOUD PEAK ENERGY EMPLOYEE PAC (BROOMFIELD)TOM WALTERS 10/5/2016AMEND - ADD100BROOMFIELD, CO 80021
ANADARKO PETROLEUM PAC (THE WOODLANDS)TOM WALTERS 10/4/2016FILED500THE WOODLANDS, TX 77380
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PAC (STAMFORD)TOM WALTERS 10/4/2016FILED200STAMFORD, CT 06901
ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY PAC (ALLPAC) (NORTHBROOK)TOM WALTERS 9/30/2016FILED100NORTHBROOK, IL 60062
TRUCKING INDUSTRY PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/29/2016FILED250CASPER, WY 82602
TRUE, HENRY (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/26/2016FILED100CASPER, WY 82602
TRUE, DAVID (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/23/2016FILED100CASPER, WY 82602
PFIZER PAC (NEW YORK)TOM WALTERS 9/19/2016FILED100NEW YORK, NY 10017
WYOMING STOCK GROWERS' AG PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/15/2016FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82003
EXXONMOBILE PAC (IRVING)TOM WALTERS 9/14/2016FILED100IRVING, TX 75039
PAW POLITICAL ACTION COUNCIL (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 9/14/2016FILED200CASPER, WY 82601
DECPAC (OKLAHOMA CITY)TOM WALTERS 9/13/2016FILED250OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102
FARMERS EMPLOYEE & AGENT WYOMING PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/6/2016FILED500CHEYENNE, WY 82003
WYOMING MINING ASSOCIATION PAC (WMA) (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 8/26/2016FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82003
PACIFIC POWER/ROCKY MOUNTAIN POWER PAC (PORTLAND)TOM WALTERS 8/24/2016FILED200PORTLAND, OR 97232
BNSF RAILPAC (FT WORTH)TOM WALTERS 7/26/2016AMEND - ADD200FT WORTH, TX 76161
CONPAC CONTRACTORS PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 7/26/2016FILED250CHEYENNE, WY 82003
MAYCOCK, JOE (GILLETTE)TOM WALTERS 7/22/2016FILED100GILLETTE, WY 82716
PFIZER PAC (NEW YORK)TOM WALTERS 12/2/2015FILED200NEW YORK, NY 10017
ANADARKO PETROLEUM PAC (THE WOODLANDS)TOM WALTERS 10/27/2014FILED300THE WOODLANDS, TX 77380
MARATHON OIL COMPANY EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MEPAC) - STATE (FINDLEY)TOM WALTERS 10/20/2014FILED200FINDLEY, OH 45840
WYOMING CONSTRUCTION COALITION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 10/20/2014FILED250CASPER, WY 82601
TRUE, DAVID (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 10/8/2014FILED100CASPER, WY 82602
TRUE, H.A. (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 10/8/2014FILED100CASPER, WY 82602
WY REALTORS PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 10/7/2014FILED250CASPER, WY 82601
FARMERS EMPLOYEE & AGENT WYOMING PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 9/25/2014FILED500CHEYENNE, WY 82003
MAYCOCK, JOE (GILLETTE)TOM WALTERS 8/14/2014FILED50GILLETTE, WY 82717
BNSF RAILPAC (FT WORTH)TOM WALTERS 8/7/2014FILED200FT WORTH, TX 76161
WYO-D-PAC (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 8/4/2014FILED50CASPER, WY 82601
WY RURAL ELECTRIC ASSN. PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 7/28/2014FILED100CHEYENNE, WY 82001
CATCHPOLE, GLENN/JUDY (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 7/26/2014FILED200CASPER, WY 82609
CONPAC CONTRACTORS PAC (CHEYENNE)TOM WALTERS 7/24/2014FILED250CHEYENNE, WY 82003
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC (OKLAHOMA CITY)TOM WALTERS 7/17/2014FILED250OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73154
WALTERS, TOM (CASPER)TOM WALTERS 5/20/2014FILED1500CASPER, WY 82604