“It would be nice if there was a way to buy back those leases or work in a way that respected those private property rights but still protected an area that needs to be protected long term,” he said.

Barrasso, a Republican, stopped short, however, of saying he would introduce legislation that the late Sen. Craig Thomas reportedly backed and was ready to introduce before his death June 4. The proposed bill would have curbed further leasing in the area and retired any leases acquired by conservation groups.

“I strongly believe in multiple use of public lands, but I also believe some places are so special that they deserve an extra measure of protection,” he said. “I have real concerns but I am looking forward to hearing from people all over the counties.”

Barrasso’s stance on the Wyoming Range is emblematic of his relationship with several Thomas initiatives close to the hearts of Jackson residents. While he regularly mentions Thomas’ name and his legacy in reverential tones, Barrasso seems to pull up short of whole-heartedly embracing Thomas’ conservation goals for the Jackson Hole area.

Shortly before his death, Thomas introduced the Snake Headwaters Legacy Act of 2007. It would protect the “outstanding remarkable values” of 443 miles on 14 streams from degradation of water quality and dam building. Protecting status does not affect private property rights and uses or water rights. Those streams in the bill include the North and South and mainstem Buffalo Forks, Blackrock Creek, Pacific Creek, Granite Creek, Shoal Creek, Cliff Creek, Willow Creek, and segments of the Gros Ventre Hoback, Lewis and Snake rivers.  

“I have a copy of the bill and have gone through it,” he said. “I have visited with folks in Teton County that are very supportive of it and I have visited with folks in Lincoln County and Sublette County and there are some concerns.”

Though Thomas already pulled portions of streams in Lincoln County due to opposition to the designation there, Barrasso said he needed to talk more with people in the surrounding counties before deciding to support the measure verbatim.

“I am going to listen to folks before making any decisions,” he said.

This refrain, of promising to listen, comes at the end of almost all discussions he had about issues.

To learn the people’s views, Barrasso plans to hold a town hall-style meeting in each of Wyoming’s 23 counties before Labor Day. He already has returned to Wyoming and begun his tour with stops in Cody, Thermopolis and Riverton before coming to Jackson on Friday morning for a breakfast meeting at the Wort Hotel.

In addition to waiting to gather input from each county in Wyoming, Barrasso said he is somewhat unsure of his priorities because he has not received his committee assignments yet. Thomas was able to influence many areas of natural resource and public lands policy around Jackson because of his position leading the National Parks Subcommittee, and sitting on the Senate Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, and Environment and Public Works committees.  After meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last week to discuss committee assignments, Barrasso now must wait to see which of Thomas’ committee assignments more senior senators may want.

“I said I want to make sure that between Senator Enzi and myself, we cover all the areas that are important to Wyoming,” Barrasso said. “Senator Enzi has much more seniority than me so we will see how this develops.”

Barrasso said he expects to hear back from McConnell sometime next week.

While he may not be able to wield the power over national parks funding that Thomas used to champion increased Park Service budgets, Barrasso said he supported the funding increases Thomas pushed for.

“I have a great love for Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park and to me they deserve strong and consistent funding,” he said. “These are incredible resources that should be maintained for future generations and we have the funding to do that. It is important for the whole Wyoming economy.”

Barrasso was appointed June 22 and took his oath of office from fellow Wyoming resident Vice President Dick Cheney on June 25. In his limited time in office, Barrasso’s first major vote was on the Senate immigration bill. Barrasso opposed the measure, which was killed on a procedural measure.

The senator defended that vote, saying the U.S. must first secure its borders before doing anything else on immigration.

“I heard universally people in Wyoming don’t support amnesty and I do not,” he said.

Barrasso said he understands Jackson’s economy depends on foreign workers but border security should come first.

“In Jackson, I have visited with Clarene Law and others in the community in the past about it,” he said. “It is important to have workers and need to do that in a legal way with work visas. We need to use the laws that exist for visa programs for workers but not reward illegal immigrants.”

But as always, the senator is interested in hearing what local people have to say on the issue.