Wyoming stands to lose up to $700 million over the next decade under the budget extension being considered in Congress.
The U.S. House has passed the measure, which is aimed at avoiding a government shutdown when the current budget expires Sept. 30. It's expected to win approval from the Senate and President Barack Obama this week.
At issue is taxes paid by coal producers for abandoned mines. Half the money goes to the federal government and half goes to states. A previous transportation bill capped payments to states at $15 million.
The budget measure restored payments to other coal states but not to Wyoming, the nation's top coal producer. It's the only state that was expected to get more than $15 million next year.
Lummis calls the move a raid on the state's money, "And Wyoming's share is just something that caught the jealous eye of other states," explains Lummis, "And so they raided our money and took it from no one else but Wyoming."
Lummis says the House Appropriations Committee ignored calls by her and the Governor, but vowed she will continue to correct this wrong-doing.
