Legislative Update

Hello all, just a quick update on the Wyoming Legislature. Now that the dust has settled at least at a state and local level on the elections I felt it was appropriate for an update.

There will be lots of new faces when we get to the capitol. Congratulations to all who had the courage to run and took the time to offer up their service to the local area.

I was lucky enough to not to have to run for reelection, but did put my hat in the ring for Majority Floor Leader of the Wyoming Senate. I was unanimously elected, making me #2 in Wyoming Senate leadership.

Dan Dockstader of Afton was elected Senate President and Larry Hicks of Baggs was elected Senate Vice President. House Leadership will be Erick Barlow of Gillette-Speaker of the House, Albert Sommers of Pinedale will be Majority Floor Leader, Mike Greear of Worland will be Speaker Pro Tem and Jarred Olsen Majority Whip.

Rural areas are very well represented in leadership. The Senate and House leadership will have to be formally elected by the body when we convene in January.

In addition, I have been appointed Chairman of the Corporations Committee, which will be over redistricting after the census comes out. Representative elect Chip Neiman will be on the House Education Committee – extremely important to all of us.

COVID-19 and budget issues are driving Wyoming politically and economically currently. I will address the issues as I see them from my perspective. I am getting large amounts of input from all of you – it is much appreciated.

On COVID-19 – a quick rundown – most of which will not be news to you, as we have all lived it day to day. We are approaching a full year of COVID-related problems with another few months of problems ahead.

Lots of opinions on masking and restrictions. My personal belief is any restrictions of any kind should be locally driven and I have fought for that.

In addition, in the spirit of free enterprise, any business should be free to operate with a minimum of mandatory restrictions. I have been asked lots about restricting the laws concerning health officers and regulations.

The only way we can deal with it is when the Wyoming Legislature is in session – there will be multiple bills dealing with these issues when we meet. We did have a single individual bill during the special session that passed. I was proud to chair the conference committee and we were successful in providing protection to businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

Our economic situation continues to brighten – slowly. We have gone from a $1.4 billion deficit in the coming biennium to around $700 million. We have about a $300 million shortfall in the general fund that the governor’s cuts will likely cut that shortfall substantially. That leaves us with a shortfall of around $400 million in K-12 funding.

This is a severe problem and it appears it will grow to $1 billion plus shortfall by the next biennium if nothing is done to address K-12. In the last six years, the general fund has sustained cuts of around 30%-35% to their budgets, while education has had minimal cuts.

The school recalibration committee is meeting to try to decide the future path for funding education at what level. It is clear that there are only two paths for education funding – huge tax hikes or substantial cuts or a combination of both. We will grapple with the solution in the coming years.

Our savings will last only one to three biennium and then the state will be broke. Education and healthcare are close to 80% of the state’s spending—so cuts outside of education to fill the education shortfall are extremely difficult.

The state is in the process of deciding what the procedure is for the session coming up. The management council met last week and decided that, per the constitution, we must gavel in on the 12th of January and all members must be sworn in. We will probably swear in 10-15 members a day.

The governor must also address the legislature during this time. The bodies will then elect leadership. It looks like appropriations will meet as normal and have a budget ready for the opening session.

We likely will work the budget bill when we gavel in and may assign bills to committees for amendments. Whether we work the bills is still up in the air. Leadership has left what happens after the short session up in the air for now.

COVID-19 is spiking statewide and shows no signs of slowing down before January sometime. It is possible we could get vaccine in January or February, allowing us to meet face to face. If this doesn’t occur, we will have to have a session before mid-May to get bills out before the new biennium.

Thanks to all of you – these are trying times for all. I often wondered what it was like living when huge worldwide events occurred – now I know the feeling. Much more fun to read about it in the history books. One thing I do know: Wyoming has the best people in the world. We will not just survive, but thrive in the future.