In Their Own Words
Editor’s note: Each year, the Casper Journal asks every state legislator to give us an update on the legislative session.
We give them 500 words to say whatever they would like about the session, and what you are reading are the legislators’ un-filtered, unedited responses.
This year, all but two of Natrona County’s legislators participated.
Bob Brechtel, R, House District 38
Legislators came to the session with good priorities and a primary focus on the budget. While past budgets have reflected consideration for catching up on one time expenses for a broad range of concerns, a characterization of this session was recognition that spending priorities should reflect fiscal restraint.
Cities, towns and counties will receive $350 million, $200 million will go to highways, $60 million to maintain and develop Wyoming water. More than $1.8 billion will go to K-12 education, school construction and school major maintenance.
Property tax relief programs will likely aid nearly 30,000 Wyoming families as needed. We will exceed our goals for savings; good news for our state.
In planning for Wyoming’s financial future and jobs for its people, legislative leadership recognized the long-term focus on a stable and sustainable Wyoming economy as one of our more important goals.
Two key considerations for this session included our long range ability to provide “green power” to meet market demands of other states and advancing technology needed to maintain Wyoming’s market and energy leadership in the future.
Natrona County constituents can be proud of the efforts and leadership of their legislators. Typical early morning first meetings of the day often started at 6:30 AM with last meetings of the day ending as late as 9:00 PM and sometimes later.
The typical 20 day budget session can be characterized as intense and long days for a truly dedicated legislator. Juggling priorities is a major task when so many issues converge in so narrow span of time.
These folks don’t shy away from the extra tasks that folks at home never hear about. Your Natrona County delegation was afforded the opportunity to meet at 6:30 AM on Tuesdays to consider needs of our county and municipalities.
This effort was coordinated by our Senator Kit Jennings. During this focus time we considered such issues as the emergency medical funding, funding to our local governments and common objectives for our community.
Rep. Tom Lockhart is the chair for the Minerals and Economic Development Committee. This is a very important leadership role, demanding nearly full time attention, yet with our loss of Rep. Tom Walsh, Rep. Lochart took on the task of organizing the weekly legislative prayer breakfast and other tasks.
Rep. Steve Harshman was instrumental in preparing all of us to work on the budget. Sen. Bill Landon who now fills the seat vacated by our now U.S. Sen. John Barrasso M.D. and Rep. Tim Stubson who replaces Rep. Tom Walsh (sadly missed) are both proven wonderful additions to our Natrona County delegation. What a team!
With much to say about the success of the budget session and most important about our hopes for the future, 500 words cannot do justice. I’m already focused on important issues for 2009 general session.
I would gladly discuss any issues of your concern. My home phone is 237-3174 or I can be reached by email at bbrechtel@house.wyoming.com.
I love the people in our district and community. It continues to be a blessing and an honor to serve you.
God bless us and help us keep our heritage.
Roy Cohee, R, House District 35
Due to expected leveling of mineral prices, particularly natural gas, the projected revenues coming in to the state for the period of 7-1-08 through 6-30-10 provided the Wyoming Legislature with substantially less money than seen over the past few biennial periods.
Instead of several hundred million additional dollars, the legislature had discretionary income of about fifty million dollars, after the Joint Appropriations Committee finished their work in late January.
Within that budget can be found record amounts of funding going to our cities, towns and counties, highways, water development accounts, Business Ready Community project development funding and Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund.
These are all sensible investments of Wyoming’s mineral wealth toward more diverse economies and the overall well being of our people.
For the first time in several years, the legislature exercised real fiscal discipline and diligence during discussions of expenditures outside of the JAC budget.
Ultimately, our state will see a good solid budget for the two year period, funding most agencies with amounts needed to do a good solid job.
Aside from the budget, the issue of property tax relief brought forth the expansion of two existing tax relief programs designed to help people that truly need assistance.
Due to a Wyoming State Supreme Court decision in 2007, the mineral of helium will now be taxed where before it was not. Additional motor fuel taxation was presented to the legislature, only to be defeated.
Wyoming’s K-12 education funding is still among the highest per student cost in the nation. Our community colleges continue to see healthy increases in state aid as does the University of Wyoming. At U-W, the College of Business will see $55 million in new construction and the recently developed School of Energy Resources has a bright Wyoming future.
Partnering with General Electric to develop the means to utilize low BTU, low sulfur coal in a high plains environment, Wyoming’s coal resources will hopefully be kept in America’s energy mix.
The rapid implementation of carbon capture and sequestration legislation is seriously important to a mineral producing state like ours. Well thought out and reasoned legislation was developed and studied through the summer and fall for presentation to the legislature.
The state can begin to take the conversation of carbon capture from coal fired power plants to higher levels, securing Wyoming’s place as an environmentally responsible producer of minerals and power.
Having served this past two years as Speaker of the House has been an incredible honor for me. I hope that I have been instrumental in being responsive to the needs of Wyoming’s citizens and yet responsible to the concerns of our residents in the future.
Mary Hales, D, House District 36
As a new Legislator i5 was exciting and certainly a learning experience. I found the Legislators and the staff to be extremely helpful.
I serve on the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee and am very pleased to report on the bills that came out of this committee and were passed and signed into law.
Health insurance for cancer clinical trials, Recruitment of Physicians and dentists-$400,000.00, Trauma Care support $2,500.000, EMT funding 1,700,000. There was substantial funding for Veterans Mental Health.
Also funding for retiree health care assistance and additional funding for senior and disabled property tax enhancement. There was substantial funding to cities and counties $340,000,000.
In a move to secure Wyoming's future in the coal and gas industry major funding was given to GE coal gas research and clean coal technology. We are very fortunate that Wyoming is in a good financial position.
The Governor and the Legislature were prudent with their allocation of funds and the next few years look very promising.
Tom Lockhart, R, House District 57
I would like to thank the citizens of House District 57 for the chance to serve them during the 2008 Legislative Budget Session. I would also like to thank the Casper Journal for the opportunity to share some thoughts about the Session in “My own words”. The actions taken by the Legislature were good for Wyoming and I’ll touch on some of them.
Legislative leadership set goals consistent with Wyoming values that included; fiscal discipline, long-term stable and sustainable economy, preserving and developing our water, investments in infrastructure while adding to savings and taking actions to preserve long term viability of our natural resources.
The passage of the $7.8 billion dollar 2009-10 Budget was the primary function of the Session. The commitments of the budget funded local governments, education, highways, state employees wage and benefit increases, health care and water development.
In addition, the budget provided focused tax relief, increased contributions to wildlife trusts, veteran and National Guard benefits and economic development while adding to savings. Our state’s mineral-industry-driven good economy allowed these commitments with no budget cuts and significant commitments to the future. Most would agree this addressed the Budget Session goals.
A sampling of legislation that effects the Casper region would include: State support for uncompensated trauma care provided by emergency responders and the Wyoming Medical Center; needs based property tax refund and tax relief; tools for our County Commissioners related to rural development; clarification of State support of the Wyoming Veterans Museum and funding for education from developmental preschools to kindergarten to grade 12 and Casper College. All this legislation, I either sponsored, co-sponsored or strongly supported.
As Chairman of the House Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee the Committee and I were involved in numerous related issues. The Wyoming Business Council reports to the Committee and we supported their Business Ready Community programs which have had significant positive impact on the Casper region.
We also provided significant support of the major steps Wyoming has taken in clean coal development, CO2 capture and sequestration, the Wyoming Pipeline Authority and the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority. These steps will help Wyoming move from shovel and ship, develop and pipe to value added processes such as research facilities, refineries and power plants.
I will continue to promote world class education and better paying jobs (many in the energy sector but others in more diverse areas such as technology) while not forgetting our Wyoming heritage. I do believe that it is prudent to maintain the legislative commitments to our “rainy day funds”. We should not raid them when it’s not raining.
In closing, please contact me if you have questions. 472-4116 or TLockh1617@aol.com.
Lisa Shepperson, R, House District 58
The Budget Session of the 59th Wyoming Legislature is now over and it has been a wonderful, life-changing experience. I am so honored and humbled to have been elected to represent House District 58. We had a successful session that started out with a few goals in mind.
First, to be fiscally responsible, yet also responsive to long term needs that will create a stable, sustainable economy for our state. Secondly, to preserve and protect Wyoming’s water and finally, to work on clean coal technology. The legislation that we passed this session will keep Wyoming in the forefront of carbon sequestration which will protect both Wyoming’s economy and Wyoming’s environment.
As a whole, we achieved all our goals listed above. Our budget was tighter than in years before, but the end result was a great compromise. We were able to distribute more to local governments (cities, towns and counties) than ever before.
Some of the other large items we appropriated money for were: highways, education, health care, tax relief, water, veterans, and wildlife. We were very fortunate this year to again be able to put a substantial amount of money for savings into the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund and the Wildlife Trust Fund.
One of the hottest topics this year was also tax relief. We looked at numerous bills on this subject and in the end we passed two different bills to help our citizens out. One is a Property Tax Refund Program and the other is a Tax Relief Program. Between the two programs, our Department of Revenue estimates they will help out over 29,000 households in our great state.
Other bills of note that passed were: making dog fighting in Wyoming a felony, the castle doctrine, the library endowment challenge, strengthening the Hathaway Scholarship Program, and creating a physician and dentist recruitment program.
Some of the topics we will be working on during the interim are: DUI laws, workers compensation, community colleges, and subdivision laws. I would encourage all of you to attend a committee meeting this summer if you can. We always welcome your input and it’s a great opportunity to really get to know your legislators.
I really appreciated all the telephone calls, emails and letters I received during the session. Your input really does matter and it really is an integral part of the process. I do hope that you will continue to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. My email address is lshepperson@wyoming.com.
I have a website you can visit that has more detailed information on all the bills we worked on this year. Please check out my website out at www.lisashepperson.com.
Again, thank you for your support and I look forward to hearing from you.
Tim Stubson, R, House District 56
Having been sworn in just before the session began, I had the blessing of observing the legislative process with a fresh eye. It is amazing that through a blizzard of paper, words, sweat and tears a coherent system of law can be born.
The County Commissioners appointed me five days before the session opened and I was sworn in three days before the session. I showed up for the first day of the session and had to do some fast talking to keep the sergeant-at-arms from showing me the door.
Knowing that the people of Natrona County expected me to do more than just watch the paper flow by, I worked hard to get two bills ready for introduction during the weekend prior to session. One bill sought to enable school districts to obtain insurance more affordably. The other was aimed at correcting problems with certain real estate laws that prevented parties from being awarded full relief in some legal proceedings.
Both bills made introduction, passed both houses and were signed by the Governor. I am a happy recipient of rookie’s luck.
As with any cooperative effort, this Legislature did some very good things and some not-so-good things. The pervasive themes of this session seemed to be legislative restraint and small steps in the right direction.
The Legislature took some small steps to ensure that we have a sound and accessible health-care system. We funded a program to facilitate state-wide physician recruitment, passed programs to help retain EMS workers and passed legislation to help hospitals defray the costs of uncompensated trauma care. Importantly, the Legislature also passed important legislation to meet the mental health needs of veterans returning from overseas.
Small steps were also made toward continued prosperity in the state. We began to create a legal frame-work for tomorrow’s energy economy. While the Legislature laid some ground work for the future, more work certainly needs to be done. For example we need to ensure that generous spending on education actually results in a first-class education for our kids.
The Legislature did a much better job this year in carefully weighing its spending options. A number of efforts were made to redirect moneys away from the permanent mineral trust fund towards various pet projects. The majority of legislators, however, saw the importance of saving some of our mineral wealth for the future and fought off these short-sighted efforts.
There were also a host of attempts to saddle the budget with various special interest spending provisions. Again, the Legislature showed restraint recognizing that if we continue to grow government a day of reckoning will come.
I was deeply grateful for the encouragement and insight offered by friends, neighbors and strangers alike. As I work on interim activities and begin working in earnest on the many issues that face our state, I hope you will continue to share your ideas and concerns with me. You can reach me by e-mail at tim@stampedeforstubson.com, or phone, 234-1000 (days) or 234-1881 (evenings).
Kit Jennings, R, Senate District 28
On the whole, the 2008 Wyoming Legislative Budget Session was efficient and successful. Many very important issues enjoyed a spirited discussion and received a fair hearing. But some very critical issues will require a lot more work.
A few of the most contentious issues which failed passage in the Budget Session were increased penalties for driving under the influence (DUI), mandatory hold-times in jail for intoxicated drivers, and raising the penalties for domestic violence offenses. These issues, and many others, will be studied during the interim and readdressed in the 2009 Legislative General Session.
HB57 Emergency Powers-Right to Bear Arms easily passed both houses of the legislature. The right to keep your firearms during a natural disaster or emergency has been signed into law. Wyoming will not allow the confiscation of firearms by government authorities like gun owners did in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
HB137 Castle Doctrine prevents criminals who break into your home from suing you if the criminals were injured while in your home. Unfortunately, the right to stand your ground away from home was removed from the bill. If you believe, as I do, that it is your right to stand your ground when being attacked away from your home without fear of being sued for damages by your attacker, please let your representatives and senators know that you would like them to add that to the Castle Doctrine statute next year.
Citizens who need relief from their property taxes have several options including rebates, discounts, and deferments. Income thresholds outlined in HB92 are now higher in most counties, effective June 1, 2008. HB151 expands the existing tax rebate program for the elderly and disabled.
In 2007, the legislature updated the deferment program and increased the amount of the veteran’s property tax exemption.
An interesting amendment to the budget came about due to concern for the sage grouse population in Wyoming. The Game and Fish Commission will now develop rules, regulations, and procedures for private bird farms to raise sage grouse which can be released into the wild.
The sage grouse, like many other game birds such as pheasants and chukars, can be captive bred and released to sustain a healthy population. Many of these farm-raised sage grouse will elude hunters and have an opportunity to start new leks around the state.
SF51 Mentor Hunter Program allows kids and adults who do not have family members to teach them the joy of hunting and Wyoming outdoor heritage to have the opportunity to go hunting once with a qualified mentor to determine if they wish to pursue further hunter training.
Go to http://legisweb.state.wy.us/ to find your legislator’s contact information and a list of the bills and results from 2008.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving in the Wyoming State Senate representing the citizens of District 28. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or concerns. I’m in the phone book!
Bill Landen, R, Senate District 27
Let me begin by saying that it was an honor to serve as your State Senator for east Casper and Evansville (District 27). Everyone can be very proud of the Natrona County delegation and what it accomplished in Cheyenne. We worked hard on the issues that matter to central Wyoming.
This was a budget session and our leadership for the most part focused our energies on budget issues. The result was a state budget that takes very good care of our education system, provides for our cities and counties, invests in our highway system, and sets aside funds for tomorrow in areas like the wildlife trust fund and the Hathaway scholarship endowment.
The session was not without its disappointments. I sponsored a bill that would have required drunk drivers to sober up before they were released from jail. Reasonable, I thought, but others were concerned about paying for more jail time or administering additional breathalizer tests. That bill and another which would have stiffened DUI penalties failed to pass.
The good news is that alcohol-related issues will (and should) be talked about extensively during the interim. I was disappointed that we could not do more for property tax relief, but the bill we did pass will help those who need it most.
The disappointments were far outweighed by far-reaching accomplishments, which included the historic carbon sequestration legislation and legislation that directs the Abandoned Mine Lands funds toward research and enhancement of our coal industry.
As a first-year Senator, I was struck by Wyoming’s amazing commitment to education. Over the coming years we will spend hundreds of millions of dollars in capital construction for our K-12 system. That, coupled with the dramatic boost in salaries and budgets over the past two bienniums for K-12, the colleges and the university makes our education system the envy of other states throughout the country.
There is a caution here - that we don’t escalate spending beyond our means - but collectively we believe the investment in education will pay off. That said, we should trust our local school boards, commissioners and councils to make the right decisions.
I often think about how difficult it is to balance the implementation of good ideas and perceived needs with sound fiscal responsibility. I was proud to help hold the line by voting no when we needed to. Our state spends a lot of money on health care, and as a member of the Health and Labor committee I will be working hard with my colleagues to examine ways of providing better services more efficiently.
I do think our investment in mental health programs, substance abuse and senior programs has been important. I was proud to vote for bills that will help our returning military men and women with health services and tax relief.
As we say goodbye to our Greatest Generation, I think about how America helped them come home from their war. We can do even better for this generation of veterans.
I thank those who appointed me to serve in the 59th Wyoming Legislature and I look forward to serving you in the future.
Drew Perkins, R, Senate District 29
I would describe the 2008 budget session as a journeyman effort. No bells and whistles, but a solid effort. he legislature was aware that the state’s finances required more restraint and discipline that in recent years. We achieved our primary task, a balanced budget.
While the budget is generous, no one received everything they wanted. Moving forward, we need to be more efficient and reduce waste.
The legislature continues save. Wyoming saves about 40% of its severance taxes into various permanent funds that will help to shape and secure our future. The Hathaway Scholarship Fund and the Excellence in Education Fund will both be fully funded this spring. We were able to provide a mechanism for those who lose their Hathaway Scholarships to be reinstated after proving themselves.
It is always hard to strike the balance between mineral and economic development and the environment. The Wild Life Trust Fund is a strong statement of Wyoming’s commitment to that balance. We added significantly to its permanent fund.
We also funded conservation projects from the general fund so the Wildlife Trust could operate as though it were already fully funded.
We also kick started energy efficiency in state government, supported proactive work by Game and Fish to avoid the listing of sage grouse. Unfortunately, we were not able to reach a balance on CBM water discharge.
There were also efforts to protect Wyoming’s citizens. We passed measures that will reduce fraud by shell businesses, avoid cost shifting by local phone companies to long distance carriers, penalize cruelty to animals, and protect our valuable potable aquifers.
We have work to do in the areas of impaired driving and domestic violence.
K through 12 education was well funded. Unchecked, the growth in educational funding will be a problem. Community college operations were funded, but construction lagged. Wyoming struggles with whether our community colleges become state institutions or remain under local control. The answer affects their funding and the taxation of Wyoming’s citizens.
Local government was also well funded. We were able to secure significant increases in direct funding to all local governments in Natrona County. Funding local government sees more political wrangling than any other issue. How to deal with the loss of sales tax on food continued to be a heated debate.
Highways got a strong shot in the arm of $200,000,000, but we will probably need to fund highways with another substantial amount in the 2009 supplemental budget.
I am thankful for the opportunity to represent Natrona County, and especially the people of Senate District 29. It is an honor and privilege that I take seriously. All Natrona County should be proud of it two rookie legislators, Senator Bill Landen and Representative Tim Stubson. They represented you very well.
Charles Scott, R, Senate District 30
The 2008 Legislative Budget session was an ordinary session. We passed a balanced budget that funded most existing government functions well, but not as well as some advocates wanted. We continued to find well our top priorities, education (both K-12 and higher education) and savings to prepare for the eventual downturn in mineral revenue.
We also funded well our second priorities of highways, water development, cities and counties, and mental health. These six priorities have been where we have put much of our surpluses in previous years.
In previous years we used the surplus to reduce taxes by taking the sales tax off groceries. This tax cut remains, but we did only a little new in tax relief this year. Property taxes on homes and small businesses have risen sharply due to rising property values. This gives government a windfall at the expense of the ordinary home owning citizen.
I, along with others form Natrona County (Senator Landen, Representatives Brechtel and Shepperson), proposed a broad based property tax cut of over 20% for homeowners and businesses. The bill, SF-79, got out of committee with a do pass recommendation, but the Senate leadership killed it by not bringing it to a vote. Instead the legislature passed an expansion in the eligibility to the existing program of property tax relief for low income citizens.
The major positive accomplishment of the session is a series of measures on carbon sequestration. We are taking the necessary first steps to be able to permanently store in geologic formations carbon dioxide (CO2) from burning Wyoming Coal.
Important customers for Wyoming coal believe CO2 caused global warming is a problem. We are at risk of gradually losing this mainstay of our economy if we can’t permanently store CO2. These measures on storage site ownership, a regulatory framework, and funding for technology work are a good start on what will be a multi-year effort.
My major disappointment was our failure to make progress on health care reform. The obstacle to health care insurance coverage reform is the rapid increase in cost. An effective system to control health care costs in essential before health care insurance reform is possible. The opportunity is there; academic studies show about 30% of our health care expenditures are for medically unnecessary care.
Working with the Governor’s office I developed a bill for the pilot project that would have tested a reform with the cost controls based on preventative measures and market based incentives. The Governor endorsed the pilot program in the state of the state message. The Senate passed the bill 30 to 0. The House Labor Committee killed it in a 4 to 4 vote.
In part the committee members were demanding to know the results of the experiment before it was tried. The real problem is that too many legislators don’t think health care reform is important to their voters. If you think health care reform is important discuss it with your legislative candidates during the coming election. I intend to bring the reform proposal back.
Steve Harshamn, R, House District 37
Thank you to the Casper Journal for this opportunity. This past budget session of the 59th Wyoming State Legislature was a busy one with the adoption of a $7.8 billion biennial budget that will take effect July 1 of this year and run through June 30 of 2010. Of the total $7.8 billion budget, the greatest portion comes from the General Fund, which makes up $3.44 billion of the state’s finances. Another $1.3 billion is from federal fund appropriations, while $3.1 billion comes from other state fund appropriations (schools, water etc). Thus, we have fully funded state government operations for the next two years.
This session finally saw the slowing of growth of government. The 3.4 billion General Fund appropriations is up from 1 billion just 12 years ago or a 242 percent increase!
I have had the privilege to serve on the Appropriations committee the last two years. Thus, I spent a month in Cheyenne working on the budget before the rest of the legislature convened in February.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: $350 million of the $637 general government money is to augment local government services. I worked hard for a new distribution system that treats Casper and Natrona County fairer; it includes a food tax replacement.
TRANSPORTATION: $200 million additional construction money for Highways, $25 million for aeronautics. This General Fund appropriation will become a standard budget item in the future thus strengthening our commitment to maintain and improve our transportation system.
SAVINGS: The Permanent Mineral Trust Fund is approaching $4 Billion in the corpus (principle). This is a goal that I set us on four years ago and the Legislature adopted. While a majority of legislators are still interested in saving and building our trust fund there are several who think we should spend what is “available” and not what is “needed.”
When we as a state approved a Constitutional Amendment in 1996 that allowed our permanent funds to be invested in the stock market we also talked at that time about a “spending policy” as well as an “investment policy.”
There were numerous meetings and studies on how best to establish these policies and build our Permanent Trust into a “world class” trust fund that will curtail future tax increases.
We adopted the “Harvard Trust” model which is the gold standard for trust management. Harvard’s trust is 10 times larger than our state trust. Anyhow, the spending policy is set to spend between 4 and 5% of our earnings each year (previously we spent every penny of our earnings!).
If we earn over the 4 or 5%, the excess flows into a reserve account that can be used in lean years when you don’t earn the 4 or 5%. If we have several good years over 5% and the reserve account grows to a certain point beyond which is needed, the excess will flow back into the permanent fund thus growing the size of the permanent fund and protecting it against inflation.
I tell you this because there are folks out there who think a $7.8 billion dollar budget is not enough. They want to spend more. Consider this issue of spending everything vs. saving some for the future. A trust fund is not like an IRA, a trust fund is forever!
The PWMTF produces enough interest earnings to fund over 10% of our budget. With conservative values, we can increase this percentage and provide a permanent hedge against new taxes.
Thank you to the folks, who called, mailed and contacted me during the session. I appreciate and value your input. Lord willing, I intend to file for reelection and if you will have me, serve another term. It has been an honor to represent you and serve our great state.