Wyoming Senate sustains president’s pick for Labor, Health and Social Services chair after heated appeal

Senator Larry Hicks on the Senate floor moved to appeal the decision of the president to appoint Senator Eric Barlow as chairman of the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee, prompting extended debate about whether a lawmaker’s voting record on abortion should disqualify them from chairing the panel. After nearly an hour of debate and a roll-call vote, the Senate sustained the president’s appointment by a count of 28–3.

Hicks, who identified the motion under Senate Rule 8-6, said he objected specifically to Barlow serving as chair of the Labor and Health Committee because, he said, "the Labor and Health Committee is the committee where bills dealing with the question of life of the unborn are assigned" and pointed to what he described as Barlow's long voting record in favor of abortion.

Several senators spoke against the motion. Senator Charles Scott (identifying long service as committee chair) said he "don't think it's appropriate for us to deny a chairmanship based on an individual's beliefs on this particular issue," and called on the body to defeat the appeal. Senator Eric Barlow, the subject of the appeal, declined to debate his personal faith on the chamber floor and pointed to his recent votes, saying in part that "we had 2 bills in 2023… House Bill 152 on March 1, 2023. Senator Barlow voted aye. On March 3, 2023, senate file 109… Senator Barlow voted aye," indicating his record as it appears in the chamber's roll.

Senator Jim Anderson also spoke against the motion, calling it "frivolous and politically motivated" and urging colleagues to vote no on the appeal.

The appeal was debated under third-reading rules that allowed senators two five-minute speaking slots. After debate concluded, the chief clerk called a roll-call vote. The transcript records a chamber tally of 28 votes to sustain the president's decision and 3 votes opposed; two of the ``no'' votes identified in the roll call were cast by Senator Pierson and Senator Steinbrech; the transcript does not clearly capture the third opposing senator's name.

Following the vote, the president's choice for chair of Labor, Health and Social Services, Senator Eric Barlow, remained in place. The Senate continued with its organizational business.

The motion was a formal appeal to the presiding officer's assignment authority under the chamber's rules and resulted in a recorded roll-call vote that will be entered into the Senate journal.