Showing posts with label 2020s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2020s. Show all posts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Wars and Rumors of War, 2024. Part 4. "Maybe I shall find them among the dead."

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Matthew, Chapter 24.

I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food; no one knows where they are—perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

Chief Joseph upon his surrender, 1877.


March 6, 2024

Russo Ukrainian War

The Ukrainians sank the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov with a drone strike.

It's clear that Black Sea is not safe for the Russian Navy.

March 8, 2024

Hamas Israeli War

The U.S. is setting up an artificial port on the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.

Russo Ukrainian War

As s direct result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has entered NATO, ending centuries of neutrality.

March 9, 2024

Indian/Chinese Border

Indian is sending an additional 10,000 troops to its border with China.

March 10, 2024

Russo Ukrainian War

Pope Francis stated in an interview with a Swiss journalist:

In Ucraina c’è chi chiede il coraggio della resa, della bandiera bianca. Ma altri dicono che così si legittimerebbe il più forte. Cosa pensa?

“È un’interpretazione. Ma credo che è più forte chi vede la situazione, chi pensa al popolo, chi ha il coraggio della bandiera bianca, di negoziare. E oggi si può negoziare con l’aiuto delle potenze internazionali. La parola negoziare è una parola coraggiosa. Quando vedi che sei sconfitto, che le cose non vanno, occorre avere il coraggio di negoziare. Hai vergogna, ma con quante morti finirà? Negoziare in tempo, cercare qualche paese che faccia da mediatore. Oggi, per esempio nella guerra in Ucraina, ci sono tanti che vogliono fare da mediatore. La Turchia, si è offerta per questo. E altri. Non abbiate vergogna di negoziare prima che la cosa sia peggiore”.

Anche lei stesso si è proposto per negoziare?

“Io sono qui, punto. Ho inviato una lettera agli ebrei di Israele, per riflettere su questa situazione. Il negoziato non è mai una resa. È il coraggio per non portare il paese al suicidio. Gli ucraini, con la storia che hanno, poveretti, gli ucraini al tempo di Stalin quanto hanno sofferto….”.

Translated:

In Ukraine there are those who ask for the courage of surrender, of the white flag. But others say that this would legitimize the strongest. What do you think?

“It's an interpretation. But I believe that those who see the situation, those who think about the people, those who have the courage to raise the white flag and to negotiate are stronger. And today it can be negotiated with the help of international powers. The word negotiate is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you need to have the courage to negotiate. You are ashamed, but with how many deaths will it end? Negotiate in time, look for some country to act as a mediator. Today, for example in the war in Ukraine, there are many who want to act as mediators. Turkey offered itself for this. And other. Don't be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse.

Have you also offered to negotiate?

“I'm here, period. I sent a letter to the Jews of Israel to reflect on this situation. Negotiation is never a surrender. It is the courage not to lead the country to suicide. The Ukrainians, with the history that they have, poor things, the Ukrainians at Stalin's time, how much they suffered...”.

This has been reported, in accurately, as the Pope calling upon the Ukrainians to surrender, which isn't exactly what he said. 

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was in the US, calling up Congress to free up support for Ukraine.

Hamas Israeli War

Israel has built a road bisecting Gaza.

March 11, 2024

Haiti

Haiti is in internal turmoil as gangs threaten to topple the government.  The US has sent in additional forces to its embassy.

Russo Ukrainian War

The Pope's comments of yesterday have brought rebuke.

March 12, 2024

Hezbollah v. Israel

Israel struck Hezbollah targets from the air yesterday.

March 13, 2024

Russo Ukrainian War

The Pentagon is sending $300,000,000 in weapons to Ukraine, but also revealed its $10B overdrawn in replenishing weapons it has sent already.

Democrats are using the discharge petition process to go around Donald Tump controlled Mike Johnson for funding in the House.

The All-Russian pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR), and Siberian Battalion a limited cross-border raid into Belgorod and Kursk oblasts yesterday.

Ukraine hit an oil refinery with drones.

Haiti

Haiti's prime minister resigned.  It's largely expected that the gangs that control the capital will play a role in choosing the next government.

Hamas Israeli War

Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh presented Hamas’ delusional demands in ceasefire and hostage negotiations in a speech marking the start of Ramadan on March 10. They included a comprehensive ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip, the complete return of displaced Gazans, and the resolution of humanitarian issues, and ending restrictions on the movement of people and goods out of the Gaza Strip.

Israel isn't going to agree to that.

March 14, 2024

Haiti

Florida is deploying 250 law enforcement officers and an air-and-sea fleet to address a potential wave of Haitian immigrants.

March 15, 2024

Russo Ukrainian War

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev called for the total elimination of the Ukrainian state and its absorption into the Russian Federation.

Hamas Israeli War

Hamas killed the head of the Palestinian Dughmush clan, claiming it had stolen humanitarian aid and cooperated with Israel. The armed clan vowed to retaliate.

March 17, 2024

Russo Ukrainian War


Russian rebels in Ukrainian service have been conducting cross border strikes while Russia is conducting an election whose results are basically preordained.  The raids have been fairly successful.

The Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU) conducted a series of successful drone strikes against Russian oil refineries in Samara Oblast.

March 23, 2024

ISIS v. Russia, Russia v. Ukraine, Syrian Civil War

ISIS launched a major terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk on the same day that it launched the largest series of combined drone and missile strikes targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the start of the war against Ukraine.

The ISIL attack was a reprisal for Russia supporting the Syrian state.

The ISIL terrorist attack was horrific, and directed against civilians, which can be also said of much of Russia's airborne campaign against Ukraine.  Essentially, a terrorist entity has attacked a terrorist state.

cont:

Casualties from the ISIL attack in Russia are now at 153.

March 26, 2024

Afghanistan

The Taliban, whom Donald Trump surrendered to in 2019, is going to start stoning women to death for adultery.

March 27, 2024

Russo Ukrainian War

The Ukrainians struck the Konstantin Olshansky, which was formerly a Ukrainian Navy ship that was taken into Russian custody in 2014, with an anti shipping missile.

And of interest:

Ukraine destroys unique Russian ‘Doomsday Tank’

March 29, 2024

Russo Ukrainian War

March 29, 2024

The House of Representatives will see Speaker Mike Johnson push for funding for Ukraine through a bill that's been sitting in the dysfunctional House for a month when they return from their recess from not getting anything done.

Donald Putin, who loves Putin and hates Ukraine, has frustrated the advance of the Bill.  Marjorie Taylor Green will push to being Johnson down.

Absolutely pathetic.

And this while Ukraine fights for its life.

Hamas Israeli War

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to open up more corridors for relief in Gaza.

Last Edition:

Wars and Rumors of War, 2024. Part 3. The Putin's Cheerleaders Edition.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Blog Mirror: Before legislating, political newcomers should try something else: listening

 

Before legislating, political newcomers should try something else: listening

The 2024 Election, Part XV. The Disappointing Choices edition.

Edmund Ruffin, whom some candidates on the right sound like this year.

March 17, 2024

Donald Trump warned in a speech in Ohio that elections will end and there will be a "bloodbath" if he isn't elected.

Elections surely will not end if he is not elected, but the bloodbath part is probably worth listening too and will be taken by some as a call to arms.

March 20, 2024

Wyoming Clerk Says Gray's Office Doing Little To Promote Crossover Voting Change

March 21, 2024

Affie Ellis, Wyoming's First Native Woman Legislator, Won't Run For Reelection

March 23, 2024

The legislative battle of the Real Republicans v. the Populists is shaping up quickly in Wyoming. That race between what is really two separate political parties will be fought out in the primary.

Maybe that's a reason to stay in the moribund GOP?

Cyrus Western, Sheridan, is dropping out of the Senate.

Natrona County native Christopher Dresang is running against Rep. Tony Locke for House District 35.  Unusually, he's coming in supporting teachers and hammering Locke for her far right votes on the budget.   She is not part of the Freedom Caucus, however.  She's was raised in Wyoming, but left it before apparently returning to her current district.

Kathy Russell of the GOP far right has announced a run against Rep. Bob Nicholas (R-Cheyenne) in House District 7. 

Ann Lucas of the far right is running against Dale Zwonitzer for House District 43.  Zwonitzer is a highly respected Republican moderate, who is also a homosexual, and who has been attacked by hte far right before.

North Carolina import Mark Jones is challenging incumbent Barry Crago (R-Buffalo) for House District 40 giving us yet another example of how populism is an import into the state to a significant degree.

Fellow carpetbagger Tom Olmstead self-described “political refugee” from Colorado, is challenging Sen. Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep) for Senate District 20.

Gregg Smith, retired U.S. Army is challenging Sen. Tara Nethercott (R-Cheyenne) for Senate District 4. Nethercott.  The state has also seen an influx of "I'm a veteran and I hate the government" candidates in recent years, although I don't know anything about Smith.  I am highly skeptical of candidates that milked the government cow for decades coming in and running as fiscal conservatives, however.

The WEA, which must be preparing to field a run against Jeanette Ward, resumed their ad campaign against her in the Tribune today.  Ward replied with a long letter to the editor in the. . . Oil City News.

That letter stated, in part:

Cultural rot ushered in by radical leftism has created the mental health crisis in young people — and government schools cannot address a problem they helped to create.

When it is suggested to children that boys can become girls, that mental anguish can be solved by degrading and mutilating their bodies, that America is an evil empire, and that the world is sure to end because of your mom’s SUV, mental health problems are sure to proliferate.

The Wyoming Education Association, like Randi Weingarten’s American Federation of Teachers, doesn’t care about children — they care about maintaining their power and attempts to radicalize our schools and our children. After all, my WEA-backed opponent was the head of a Natrona County School District 1 committee that voted in secret to keep radically inappropriate sexually-focused books in our school libraries.

I would reckon that the vast majority of Wyoming teachers would disagree with the overt politicization of their profession and would rather be left to do what they know best — to simply teach.

Rep. Jeanette Ward
Casper

Ward's "reckoning" on that last item is almost certainly wrong if she thinks the WEA doesn't have their voice. The WEA is the most powerful union in the state for a reason. The teachers support it.

March 25, 2024

In something spectacularly contrary to the norm, Meet The Press, which recorded an interview with Ronna McDaniel before they knew that she'd been hired to be a commentator for NBC, ripped into their own network calling it discredited, and McDaniel a liar.  Chuck Todd, whom normally I don't care for, was called back into service to call NBC into question.

They really deserve credit.  The interview didn't pull any punches, and they've now called their own network into account.

Closer to home, the Foster Freiss created organ The Cowboy State Daily, through its commentator and satirist Rod Miller, who is pretty independent in his views, pointed out something I wondered about here the other day, which was the odd appearance of the Secretary of State at a Natrona County session on a proposed gravel pit.  The more a person learns about it, the more it seems to be an early appearance of the 2026 election in some ways.  Things seem to be already heating up, and we haven't even held the 2024 election yet.

2026 might be quite a bit different from 2024.  This will probably all be in the rearview mirror by then.

March 26, 2024

Former President Donald Trump is now selling the “God Bless the USA Bible” as part of his campaign funding effort.  The King James version of the Bible comes with a copy of the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence the Pledge of Allegiance, and the lyrics of a chorus of Lee Greenwood's God Bless The USA.

Frankly, this is a new low for Trump, for whom there is no real evidence of any deep religious convictions and whose personal life would provide evidence to the contrary. Somehow some Christians, particularly, but not exclusively, those of an Evangelical bent have taken to seeing him as some sort of favorable figure in this light, with some going further than that.

It's interesting that the con artists in both the classic Paper Moon and Oh Brother! Where Art Thou?, make their living selling Bibles.

Ronna McDaniel has already lost her job with NBC.

In other news:

Secretary Gray Celebrates Wyoming Supreme Court's Dismissal of Appeal in Newcomb v. Chuck Gray Lawsuit

     CHEYENNE, WY – On March 25, 2024, the Wyoming Supreme Court dismissed an appeal brought by Tim Newcomb to remove Trump from the ballot in Wyoming, Newcomb v. Chuck Gray. This follows a previous dismissal of Mr. Newcomb’s lawsuit in Wyoming District Court, and a unanimous decision from the Supreme Court of the United States keeping Trump on the ballot in 2024.

     “I have been working hard to keep President Trump on the ballot,” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said.  “I’m extremely pleased with the Wyoming Supreme Court’s dismissal of Mr. Newcomb’s outrageously wrong lawsuit. Radical leftists and liberal elites have tried everything they can to weaponize the Fourteenth Amendment against Trump and the American People, but this dismissal marks continued vindication for the truth and for liberty. As Secretary of State, Wyoming’s chief election officer for the state, I will always fight to ensure the people of Wyoming can choose who to elect for themselves.”

###

I have to admit, I'm struck by how often populists use terms like "radical leftists".  The retired lawyer involved in this is hardly a "radical leftist", but it's the use of the term itself.  I can't recall a time, at least since the 1950s, when invective was so often attached to political messaging.  I wish it would stop.

The use of the term "elites" by populist is interesting as well. All in all, to be an elite is, well, to be elite.  It's a form of compliment most of the time, but in populist speech it's meant to imply the opposite of native sense, or common sense, the irony being that everyone in elective higher office in Wyoming is well-educated and therefore part of an elite.

Oh, well.  This opinion must have come out yesterday, but it apparently hasn't been released yet.  When it is, I'll post it.

cont:

Now Never-Trump Attorney Will Attempt To Keep Chuck Gray Off Wyoming Ballots

Cont:

Independent Presidential Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced that Nicole Shanahan, 38, a wealthy attorney, is his running mate.  Shanahan, like Donald Trump, is a serial polygamist with an interesting past.  This gadfly run is going nowhere, and likely a lot of people won't know that this even occured.

March 27, 2024

Retired Senator Joe Lieberman, who was part of the No Labels Committee searching for a candidate for that organization, has died following injuries sustained in a fall.

Something not made clear in the original articles about it, but cleared up by the Trib, is that the local lawsuit on the 14th Amendment was dismissed, at the appellate stage, by the Plaintiff/Appellant, not the court, in light of the recent S.Ct decision.

Park Count declined to appropriate $60,000 for electronic poll books for the 2024 elections and will continue to only use paper records.

Trump is making an appearance at a NTPD officers funeral.

He also accused Barack Obama of “spitting in the face” of Americans in connection with calls to the White House.

Kari Lake isn't appearing in the defamation suit against her, essentially conceding it.

Last Prior Edition:

The 2024 Election, Part XIV. Wishful Thinking.

Related Posts.

If you wonder what is giving rise to the strong populist/Christian Nationalist/Naotional Conservatism reaction in some quarters . . .


Subsidiarity Economics 2024. The times more or less locally, Part I. And then the day arrived (part two).

Our lifestyle, our wildlife, our land and our water remain critical to our definition of Wyoming and to our economic future.

Dave Freudenthal, former Governor of Wyoming/

 

January 2, 2024

The Energy Information Administration’s Short Term Energy Outlook Report states that combined generation from wind and solar will overtake generation from coal by more than 90 billion kilowatt-hours this year.

US coal production will drop to its lowest amount since the 1960s, with it taking more miners per ton to produce in the 60s than it does now.

Pennsylvania's Flying Fish Brewing Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

January 11, 2024

January 17, 2024

From the Trib:

According to a report put out by the Wyoming State Geological Survey this month, the state’s oil production has not yet surpassed its 2019 high, while nationwide oil production has surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

More than 95 million barrels of oil are expected to be produced in Wyoming in 2023, which is about 3 million more barrels than in 2022. The drilling of new oil wells has helped greatly.

In the first half of 2023, a total of 110 newly drilled oil wells were completed, most of them in the Powder River Basin. This is in line with the first half of 2022, when 118 oil wells were completed.

January 22, 2024

Flying Fish Brewing has declared bankruptcy.

January 23, 2024

U.S. oil production has been holding at or near record highs since October, topping the previous peak from 2020, even though the number of active domestic oil drilling rigs is down by nearly 30% from four years ago.

New technology is the reason why there is higher production with fewer rigs.

And also:

The U.S. set a new annual oil production record on December 15, based on data from the Energy Information Administration. Although the official monthly numbers from the EIA won’t be released for a couple of months, we can calculate that a new record has been set based on the following analysis.

Prices at the pump have been declining.

January 25, 2024

In spite of repeated Republican declarations about how bad the economy is doing, the economy grew 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023, for which the latest figures are out.  This grossly exceeds expectations.

This is interesting for a lot of reasons, one of which the "bad economy" is a consistent theme of Republicans in the current election cycle, when in fact this is a classic "good economy".  It's frankly bizarre.

Some of that might reflect, however, an ongoing retention of a return to the 1945-1975 economy by Rust Belt voters, and anxiety over an inevitable decline in the fossil fuel economy in the West.  The post-war economy is of course never returning, and the change in the direction in the energy economy cannot be arrested, although it too is doing well right now.

January 28, 2024

The Administration plans on providing billions for microchip subsidies for US producers to assure production can be made in the US.

It's worth noting that with war looming with China, there's more than one reason to do this.

The Biden Administration has paused all pending export licenses for liquified national gas (LNG) to consider the climate impacts.

February 8, 2024

Getting Wall Street out of our houses

February 10, 2024

US Credit Card debt is at an all-time high.

World's Foremost Authority On Solar Sheep Advising Wyoming $500 Million Solar Farm

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs


February 11, 2024


It is estimated that over 10% of Canadian craft brewers will close this year.

February 13, 2024

The city of Gillette and BWXT have agreed to work together to look at the possibility of having nuclear facilities and operations in Gillette 

February 15, 2024

While this should be no surprise, given what we earlier reported here:


Remington, in its new form, will close its facilities in Ilion, New York, in March.

Colorado has filed suit to stop the Kroger Albertson's merger.

February 21, 2024

Japan's Nikkei stock index soared to an all-time high.

Rivian, the electric truck maker, is laying off 10% of its salaried staff.

This will cause piles of cackling from those who are convinced electric vehicles, which have taken off, will never take off.  Rivian was an automotive start-up, something that's really tough to do.  Basically, their business model depended on getting into the saturated truck market before other maker went to electric, a real gamble.

Wyoming Gets a Big Win in Court for Coal 

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –Wyoming’s coal industry’s earned a long-awaited legal win today, as three Ninth Circuit judges unanimously sided with Wyoming’s arguments in support of the continuation of the federal coal-leasing program. The decision vacated a lower court order that reinstated Obama-era coal-leasing restrictions and required federal officials to perform duplicative National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis. 

“This ruling is an unequivocal win for our coal industry and a reminder that the Biden Administration has to follow the law,” Governor Mark Gordon said. “The Department of Interior now has one less excuse to thwart its federal coal leasing responsibilities. I appreciate the Attorney General and her staff for their excellent work on this case.” 

The complicated case spanned seven years and involved conflicting orders issued by former Interior Secretaries, in which Secretary Jewel issued an order to cease federal coal leasing and conduct a Programmatic Environmental Statement on the entire coal leasing program. Before that review was complete, Secretary Zinke rescinded the Jewel Order so coal leasing could resume; lastly Secretary Haaland rescinded the Zinke order. The district court ruled that the Department of the Interior needed to conduct additional NEPA analysis before resuming coal leasing under its existing authorities.  Wyoming argued that the case was moot, because the Zinke order was rescinded by Secretary Haaland.

Litigation costs for Wyoming were covered by the Federal Natural Resource Policy Account as directed by Governor Gordon.   

-END-

March 15, 2024

Nippon Steel proposes to take over U.S. Steel.

March 17, 2024

Tyson, the giant chicken corporation, announced that it's closing a plant in Iowa in June which will result in 1200 people, 15% of the entire town, losing their jobs. Simultaneously, the company is working with an asylum advocate group to hire 2,500 asylum seekers who are cleared to work elsewhere.

Um. . . we've been running a series on our companion blog entitled An Agrarian Manifesto. . . might be worth reading, perhaps particularly these:

A sort of Agrarian Manifesto. What's wrong with the world (and how to fix it). Part 2. Distributism


A sort of Agrarian Manifesto. What's wrong with the world (and how to fix it). Part 5. What would that look like, and why would it fix anything, other than limiting my choices and lightening my wallet? The Distributist Impact

March 21, 2024

Reddit is going public.

March 22, 2024

The Justice Department is suing Apple for Antitrust violations arising from its iPhones.

March 26, 2024

Trader Joe's is raising the price of bananas for the first time in twenty years.

March 27, 2024

Texas based and 7-11 owned USA Gasoline stores have closed in Wyoming.

March 28, 2024

Only the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the city of Cheyenne applied for portions of the $4.6 billion Federal fund to reduce reliance on carbon emissions-heavy energy sources and to become more economically resilient.

Fisker is cutting the prices of its electric Ocean SUV by 39%.

Last Prior Edition:

Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part XVI. And then the day arrived.


Recent Related Threads:



Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The 2024 Wyoming Legislative Session. Part 7. After the Party II

 


March 26, 2024

The fissures in the state's GOP have become all the more apparent as Populists, who are not conservatives, accuse Governor Gordon, who is, of being a RINO, which he isn't, and actually, they more or less are, at least by historical standards.

In the words of one of the great works of art of our time, it looks like a lot of people yesterday went to Crabby O'Monday's.


This following an earlier indication that no special session would be called.

Nothing enrages Wyomingites more than having to pay the freight for what they've encouraged by growth oriented policies.  Yes, property values went up, and taxes with them.  That was inevitable.

At least one property relief bill did pass that gives relief. . . to those over 65, in keeping with the general Boomer oriented policies of the US.  

The thought no doubt is to avoid punishing long time residents, like me, who have owned their house forever, like me, and who are suffering elevated tax rates as imports are driving up property values.  I do get that.  But it's also a byproduct of what we noted above.  

Just of good of argument could be made that Wyoming natives in their 20s and 30s should get a tax break, as they're just starting out.

Anyhow, fwiw, I doubt that the tax relief bill is constitutional.



Whatever a person thinks of it, vetoing the Gun Free Zone repeal bill was not unconstitutional.  Moreover, Gordon was correct that the repeal interferes with local sovereignty, which we claim we love, until we don't.

Bills like this generate a lot more heat than light.  I don't know of any recent instance of anyone being convicted of violating a gun free zone.  Maybe that's a reason to repeal the law, but getting in a major tither about it really serves no interest.  In terms of issues facing the state, this one is in the basement.


The Cowboy State Daily, satirically, pointed out something that occured to me after I wrote about the event in the Zeitgeist threads, Secretary of State Gray, who does not get along with Governor Gordon, has started his campaign for office in 2026.  He's running for Governor.


Gordon and Gray have gotten into arguments in State Land Board sessions before, with Gordon accusing Gray of not reading material that's submitted to him.  Here, Gray took a shot at the Board, but it turns out that he voted for what's progressing, which is hard to explain.  The press has now picked up Gray voting in favor of the mining leases when they came before the State Land Board, of which he and Gordon are both part.


Gray having come to Casper to appear at a meeting was probably not really well calculated.

March 27, 2024




Last prior edition:

Lex Anteinternet: Movies In History: Paper Moon

I know that I wasn't the only one.
Lex Anteinternet: Movies In History: Paper Moon

Movies In History: Paper Moon

Paper Moon

This 1973 film came about some decades prior to Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? but it also really has the feel of the Depression right, in this case in the Missouri Kansas border region.  The film surrounds the story of a con artist who arrives in the story just in time for the funeral of a woman with whom, the film strongly suggests, he has, unbeknownst to him, had a child.  The association with the deceased mother, we understand, was illicit in nature, and he never acknowledges at any point in the film that he's the child's father.  He does accept, however, a charge to take the child to an aunt.  From there, a series of adventures ensues.

The gritty nature of the film, filmed entirely in black and white, and the desperation of the protagonist, even though it's a comedy, really come through.  The lack of, or failure of, the social structure also shines through, with it not seeming all that odd, by the end of the film, that a little girl has been essentially been adopted, outside the law, by a man who was in the end a kindhearted stranger, or who may be that.

Filmed in black and white, as noted, even though well within the color film era, the cinematography and the excellent cast give it the right feel.

The protagonists are portrayed by actual father and child Ryan and Tatum O'Neal.  This is Ryan O'Neal's best film, to the extent I've seen his films, and he acts in it quite well.  Tatum O'Neal was brilliant in the film.

In terms of material details, the film is excellent, with the portrayal of Dust Bowl Kansas significantly added to by the use of black and white cinematography.
I love the movie Paper Moon, which I reviewed here all the way back in 2014.  Ryan O'Neal's character, Moses Pray, is a charming grifter who makes a living selling Bibles to widows he read about in the local paper.  That is, he reads their names, embosses the names of the decadent and widow in the Bible, and then makes a call on the window as if he's delivering the unpaid for expensive Bible.  

His conduct is reprehensible.

I couldn't help but reminded of Moses Pray after this:


Reprehensible.

At least Moses Pray was charming.

"It's a Barnum and Bailey world 
Just as phony as it can be 
But it wouldn't be make-believe 
If you believed in me"

The country is really off the rails right now.

Saturday, March 23, 2024

The 2024 Wyoming Legislative Session. Part 6. After the Party

 


The legislators are home, but the Governor is still acting on bills.

And the session can now start to be assessed.

March 12, 2024

The Governor vetoed the charter school grant authorization bill.

None of the election bills survived the session.

Joan Barron, in a Trib op ed run today, has noted how the Senate is now being influenced by the far right and becoming less congenial.

The Wyoming Educational Association, in the same issue, ran a full page age against Casper's Jeanette Ward, a member of the Freedom Caucus, which read:

Ward is from Illinois and relocated from there to Wyoming under the far right's persistent mythical belief that Wyoming's conservatism is the same as the Rust Belt's, although their influence in the state is making the latter true.

The same group voted against increasing funding for police retirement, and did it the day of a Sheridan policeman's funeral.

And it wanted to send unallocated ARPA funding back to the Federal government.

FOR RELEASE Immediately 

DATE March 11, 2024

CONTACT Ryan Frost, Legislative Information Officer

TO REACH 307.777.7881

2024 Budget Session Concludes

CHEYENNE - With the sound of the gavel, the Wyoming Legislature wrapped up the 2024 Budget Session on Friday at the State Capitol in Cheyenne. 

At the start of session, a total of 366 bills and resolutions were numbered for introduction. The Wyoming Legislature passed a total of 126 bills. Of the 107 pieces of legislation that were introduced in the Senate, 71 of those bills passed both the House and Senate. The House introduced 84 bills and 55 of those garnered the approval of both bodies. Sixty-one percent of committee bills passed both chambers, while 20 percent of the individually sponsored bills passed both bodies. Legislation that passed both houses has either been acted on or is waiting to be acted on by Gov. Mark Gordon. 

The Legislature also adopted the State's biennial budget on Friday, and the bill has been sent to the Governor for his consideration. He will have 15 days to consider line-item vetoes and sign the bill. The appropriations and transfers in the bill for the 2025-2026 fiscal biennium total $11 billion. Of this, $3.4 billion is from the General Fund, net of de-appropriations and including $170 million of discretionary transfers to savings. 

Both the House and Senate have addressed a broad range of issues affecting Wyoming residents and while some of these laws will take effect immediately, many will not go into effect until July 1 of this year. Lawmakers will begin their interim committee work in the coming weeks. The Legislature’s Management Council plans to meet and assign interim committee topics April 1. Wyoming’s Sixty-Eighth Legislature will convene next year on Jan. 14 for the 2025 General Session.

The Wyoming Legislature encourages the public to participate in interim activities. The public can use the Legislature's website at www.wyoleg.gov to find information about interim legislative committees, including live video streams of committee meetings, committee rosters, dates and locations of interim meetings, and minutes from those meetings. The website also provides a free email subscription service for all interim committee information. -END-  

March 13, 2024

Ward was the subject of a second major ad in the Trib.


Ward also drew a lengthy letter to the Editor in the Trib.  Usually I don't post those, but I will here as this is interesting.

Ward wasting time with culture wars

Representative Jeanette Ward,

House District 57, has been doing a poor job of representing her constituents and listening to their needs. She has voted against numerous bills that would have helped Wyoming citizens and instead wasted valuable time during the legislative session touting culture war issues. House Bill 50, the “What is a Woman” act, is a prime example of this. During a budget session the legislature has 20 days to pass a budget. That is literally the only job that legislators have during the budget session. It takes a 2/3 majority to get a non-budget bill to the floor for debate. Knowing this, Representative Ward introduced a bill that wasted time and resources and was completely unnecessary. That bill rightly died because it failed introduction.

This session, she also voted against bills that committees had spent many hours considering during the interim period, which was disrespectful to their work and slowed down the legislative process. She voted against funding the 988 suicide hotline even though Wyoming has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation, literally voting against saving lives. Last session she voted against most of the bills that would have helped families and disadvantaged Wyoming citizens, including Medicare for Moms, which helps low-income women provide for their babies. Fortunately, other legislators understood the issue and the bill passed. Representative Ward is not interested in helping Wyoming’s most vulnerable citizens, she would rather propose bills that are solutions looking for problems.

This is not acceptable. House District 57 deserves a legislator who listens to constituents, focuses her time on the budget during a budget session, and understands what genuine issues matter to Wyoming. She is not it. We need someone who has solutions to Wyoming problems, not someone who fans the flames of culture wars. Voters need to remember this on election day.

Judy Trohkimoinen,

Casper

This would suggest that perhaps there's a rising effort against Ward, who was endorsed by her predecessor, now Secretary of State Gray, because of her far right views, even though she had next to no connection with the state when she arrived, or people are getting tired of her.  

In some ways, this reflects a rising feature of Wyoming's politics in which the old Party is beginning to react more strongly to the Trump Party.

March 15, 2024

Governor Gordon Signs Bills That Help Reduce Housing Costs, Protect Critical Infrastructure

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon signed two bills today, one that helps protect key infrastructure in Wyoming from foreign adversaries, and the other that lowers the cost of constructing housing

SF0077 - Homeland defense-infrastructure reporting and investigating requires the state to annually identify “critical infrastructure zones”.  Any property transactions within those zones will be shared among the county clerks, the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Those agencies will then determine if the transaction  involves a foreign adversary or a state sponsor of terrorism that could pose a threat to national or state security or to critical infrastructure.

“Our nation has never faced graver threats from adversaries both foreign and domestic,” Governor Gordon said. “Protection of Wyoming infrastructure and identifying potential threats to our state or national security must be among our highest priorities. I want to thank sponsor Senator Tara Nethercott, whose experience and insight were invaluable in the drafting and passage of this bill. It is imperative that we protect our precious property rights, while we also ensure we are aware of any potential threats within our state’s borders.”

Senate File 114 - Contractor licenses-reciprocal recognition requirements require local governments in Wyoming to recognize contractor licenses issued by a Wyoming county, city or town. This ensures that qualified contractors don’t have to go through additional, time-consuming and expensive licensing requirements when working in Wyoming communities. The bill emerged from the interim work of the Regulatory Reduction Task Force, which explored a range of ideas that could help expand housing opportunities for Wyoming’s essential workforce. The Task Force identified a patchwork of state and local licensing requirements that contributed to additional construction costs, which were then passed along to Wyoming home buyers. 

“My administration has been passionate in reducing red tape, and while there is certainly more work to be done in addressing Wyoming’s housing shortage, this new law is a small step towards streamlining unnecessarily redundant and costly requirements,” Governor Gordon said.

Both bills are effective July 1, 2024. 

March 15, cont:

Governor Gordon Vetoes Bills to Prevent Legislature From Overstepping its Authority and Creating Confusion for the Public

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon took action on 18 bills today, vetoing one bill that encroaches on the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches, and one that could create confusion for consumers, meat processors and producers.

SF0013 - Federal land use plans - legal actions authorized would have duplicated funding for legal actions by the State and have been unconstitutional. The bill authorized the Legislature to take legal action against the federal government, and provided a whopping $75 million in borrowing authority for it to do so. In his veto letter, the Governor lambasted the bill as a “clear attempt to cross, blur and trample the line of separation between our equal, but separate, branches of government.” 

Governor Gordon criticized the bill as not being fiscally conservative, pointing out that $75 million represents 67 percent of the Attorney General’s office biennial budget. He said that the bill would only “enable duplicative Legislative litigation safaris that would be counterproductive and contrary to Wyoming’s well established practice of cooperation between branches.”

The Governor also expressed concern about the confusion that would be created in the courts over who represents Wyoming. It is the Executive branch that “is uniquely designed to provide one voice when it is necessary,” he wrote.

At best, competing litigation efforts would only serve to confuse courts as to who represents the State of Wyoming, and at worst it would enable frivolous and political pursuits,” the Governor wrote. 

The Governor also vetoed SF0103 - Wyoming PRIME Act, which as a “trigger” bill, would only become effective if the federal PRIME Act is passed by Congress. The Governor noted that while he is supportive of food freedom legislation, the Wyoming PRIME Act could create confusion among consumers, meat processors and livestock producers. Early media reports demonstrate the potential confusion created by the bill. Currently, an attempt to use the provisions of SF0103 by Wyoming producers before the federal PRIME Act is passed by Congress would put them at risk of fines and license revocation, and imperil Wyoming’s primacy for its meat and poultry inspection program. Finally, if the federal PRIME Act is passed by Congress, but is amended during that process, Wyoming statute would likely need to be changed to conform, which could unnecessarily delay state implementation.

The Governor’s veto letters are attached and may be found on the Bills page of the Governor’s website. 

Governor Gordon signed the following bills today: 

SEA0034 SF0014 State fair board-powers and responsibilities.

SEA0035 SF0113 Light and high profile vehicle closures-2.

SEA0039 SF0096 Trusts and bank assets in bankruptcy-clarification.

SEA0040 SF0080 Solid waste management-definition amendments.

SEA0043 SF0053 Sixth judicial district-number of judges

SEA0046 SF0026 Special district vacancies

SEA0047 SF0035 Public records-DOC investigations.

SEA0053 SF0023 Public utilities-energy resource procurement.

SEA0059 SF0100 Prompt payment of insurance claims.

SEA0063 SF0083 Revisor's bill.

SEA0064 SF0090 State-managed local government equity investment pool.

SEA0069 SF0042 Low-carbon reliable energy standards-amendments.

HEA0043 HB0126 Child care is a residential use of property.

HEA0046 HB0058 Forensic genetic genealogy pilot program.

HEA0047 HB0029 Cold case database and investigations.

HEA0051 HB0138 State funds-pool A participation and fund limits.

-END-

March 16, 2024

After a break of one day, the WEA resumbed its advertisements on Jeanette Ward.


March 19, 2024

After a hiatus of several days, the WEA resumed its ad campaign against Jeaette Ward.

Some action occured on various bills on the Governor's desk yesterday:

Governor Gordon Signs Five Bills, Vetoes Bill that Would Impact Management and Use of State Lands

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon took action on six bills today, signing five bills into law. The Governor vetoed one bill that would limit Wyoming’s ability to generate revenue from state lands and take management and decision-making authority away from the state. 

SF0044 - Limited mining operations-amendments as originally introduced and worked by the Minerals, Business and Economic Development committee intended to address existing bonding deficiencies for issuing permits for Limited Mining Operations (LMOs). However, late amendments to the bill specifically targeted development of an exploratory license that had been previously granted for sections of state lands southwest of Casper. 

In his veto letter, Governor Gordon said that the amended bill would not change the particular circumstances of that gravel operation, and there is not a pending application for a LMO from that operation. However, the bill would have had constitutional consequences as to how state lands are managed to help fund schools. These impacts included making state lands uncompetitive due to an increased setback requirement, and a requirement for counties to review and issue a conditional use permit, even though not all counties require one. 

“Statutory changes are not the proper place to address specific concerns for individual operations,” the Governor wrote. “While Wyoming seeks to manage her state lands cooperatively with counties and their land use plans, the state is not constrained by them. State lands and minerals are important to our state’s economic well-being and need to be treated the same as other lands in the state.”

Governor Gordon encouraged the Joint Minerals Committee to review the original bill in the upcoming general session and examine ways to adequately address existing concerns over limited mining operations on state lands. The Governor also plans to take up the topic of mining operations on state lands at the April State Board of Land Commissioners Meeting.

The Governor's veto letter is attached and may be found here. Governor also signed five bills today:

SEA0031 SF0074 Special districts-reversal of dissolution for noncompliance.

SEA0032 SF0036 Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act.

SEA0036 SF0123 Minor name changes

SEA0044 SF0052 Wyoming Stable Token Act - amendments

SEA0045 SF0027 Special district bond elections exception

The full list of bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2024 Legislative Session can be found on the Governor's website.

-END-

On the veto:

March 22, 2024.

 Governor Signs Bills Creating Wyoming Adult Hearing Aid Program and Supporting Early Childhood Centers

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon signed seven bills into law today, including a bill that creates a hearing aid program for low-income adults and a bill that provides additional resources for early childhood centers that serve children with disabilities.

SF0057 - Wyoming adult hearing aid program creates a hearing aid program for eligible low-income adults with hearing impairment. The bill emerged from meetings bill sponsor Senator Dan Furphy had with members of the Wyoming deaf community. It allows severely hearing-impaired adults who meet income requirements to receive a pair of custom hearing aids.

The Governor also signed SF0019 - Developmental preschool funding  which modifies the per-child amounts used to calculate payments to early childhood centers and preschools that serve children with disabilities. The increase in funding will help support these centers and preschools, which families use to access critically needed services for children with developmental disabilities. 

The Governor also issued a line-item veto on the following bill to address a technical error. Click on the bill number for the Governor’s letter:

SEA0071 SF0075 Omnibus water bill-construction.

The Governor allowed the following bill to go into law without his signature. Click on the bill number for the Governor’s letter:

SEA0065 SF0041 Banking division-classification and salary exemptions.

The Governor also signed the following bills today:

SEA0050 SF0047 Law enforcement retirement-contributions.

SEA0051 SF0024 Public service commission-integrated resource plans.

HEA0048 HB0104 Omnibus water bill-planning.

-END-

Governor Gordon Signs Four Bills Expanding and Extending Property Tax Relief 

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Reflecting his call for fair and equitable property tax relief made in his State of the State speech, Governor Mark Gordon signed four bills today that will reduce property taxes to those Wyoming residents who need it most.

The Governor signed HB0003 - Property tax exemption for long-term homeowners; HB0045 - Property tax exemption-residential structures and land; and SF0089 - Veterans ad valorem exemption-amount. House Bill 3 provides an exemption of 50% of a property’s value for primary residence homeowners if the primary owner of the residence or their spouse is 65 or older and has paid property taxes in the state for 25 years or more. House Bill 45 puts a 4% cap on year-to-year property tax increases on residential structures and land, while Senate File 89 doubles the veterans tax exemption from $3,000 to $6,000 of assessed value. 

“I am happy to sign this package of legislation, which provides targeted relief to taxpayers most impacted by increasing valuations, while ensuring our counties and schools are able to continue to provide the services our residents rely on,” Governor Gordon said. “There was an identified need, and this legislature responded to that.”

Governor Gordon exercised his line-item veto authority on HB0004 - Property tax refund program, removing the highest income category from the program. In his letter explaining the line-item, the Governor said the bill brings expanded and needed relief, but expressed concern that the $20 million appropriated by the Legislature would be insufficient to fund the program if that highest income category was included.

“I want to thank the Legislature for answering the call and funding an expansion of this program, which helped more than 9,000 Wyoming families last year,” Governor Gordon said.

The Governor vetoed SF0054 - Homeowner tax exemption, expressing concern that the exemption was not targeted and jeopardized the financial stability of the state and counties. It  represented, “a socialistic type of wealth transfer, mostly from the energy sector, to Wyoming homeowners.” The backfill of lost local tax revenue to local school districts, cities, towns, counties and special districts would likely cost the state more than $220 million for the biennium, the Governor wrote.  

“The Bidenomic-type of ‘tax relief' in this bill is what I would expect from Washington, D.C. liberals, not conservative Wyoming legislators,” the Governor added. “It is a temporary relief measure that could lead to budget shortfalls, and will ultimately be paid for by raising taxes on our children.”

Governor Gordon issued a line-item veto to HB0166 - Education savings accounts-1 to address constitutional concerns over the use of state funds. The bill establishes an education savings account program that provides funding to parents for their children's education expenses, ranging from pre-kindergarten through age 21. The Governor’s line item veto preserves funding for those students whose household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. 

“While the intent to support education and parent choice is commendable, my analysis revealed practical and constitutional complications within the bill’s provisions,” the Governor wrote in his letter. Citing his desire to see the program ultimately succeed, the Governor said he was prepared to press these issues as they relate to religious societies or institutions. 

“By proceeding carefully, with a clear understanding of both the benefits and challenges associated with education savings accounts, we can work towards a system that enhances parental choice while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our public education system,” he wrote. 

Governor Gordon also vetoed SF0067 - Public employee retirement plan-contributions. The Governor said the bill’s effect would be to reduce the take-home pay of state employees at a time when inflation eats away at the purchasing power of all Wyoming families.

Governor Gordon allowed the following bills to go into law without his signature:

HEA0055 HB0092 Protection of parental rights.

SEA0055 SF0006 Nursing home administrators-temporary licenses.

The Governor signed the following bills today:

HEA0044 HB0003 Property tax exemption for long-term homeowners.

SEA0061 SF0089 Veterans ad valorem exemption-amount.

HEA0054 HB0045 Property tax exemption-residential structures and land.

The Governor’s letters addressing his vetos and the bills he allowed to go into law without his signature, along with the full list of bills he has taken action on during the 2024 Legislative Session can be found on the Bills page of the Governor's website.

-END-


Governor Signs Bill Outlawing Gender Reassignment Procedures for Children

 Governor Vetoes Abortion Bill While State Defends Current Ban in Court

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –Governor Gordon signed SF0099 - Children gender change prohibition today, which bans physicians from performing procedures for children related to gender transitioning and gender reassignment.

“I signed SF99 because I support the protections this bill includes for children, however it is my belief that the government is straying into the personal affairs of families” Governor Gordon said. “Our legislature needs to sort out its intentions with regard to parental rights. While it inserts governmental prerogative in some places, it affirms parental rights in others.”

The Governor noted that the Legislature passed two bills during the recent session reinforcing parental rights in education. 

With regard to House Bill 0148- Regulation of Abortions , as initially proposed, would have properly regulated surgical abortion clinics in Wyoming. However amendments to the bill complicated its purpose, making it vulnerable to legal challenges. Wyoming is currently vigorously defending laws that already prohibit surgical and chemical abortions

“With the judge certifying these cases to the Wyoming Supreme Court, the state is closer than ever to a decision on the constitutionality of abortion in Wyoming,’ Governor Gordon said. “It is my opinion that HB148, as amended, had the potential to further delay the resolution of this critical issue for the unborn. The potential of starting over on a new course of legal arguments would in my mind be derelict, and would have only sacrificed additional unborn lives in Wyoming.”

To avoid further delaying a decision, Governor Gordon has vetoed HB 148. In his veto letter, the Governor points out that since the courts have stayed enforcement of the state’s previous abortion ban, the number of abortions taking place in Wyoming has continued to increase.

The Governor’s veto letter for HB 148 is attached and may be found here.

Governor Gordon also happily signed HB0090 - Newborn child safe havens-age of child today. The bill changes the relinquishment age that a child may be left with a safe haven provider at no penalty to the parent from 14 days or younger to 60 days.

The full list of bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2024 Legislative Session can be found on the Governor's website.

-END-

March 23, 2024

Wyoming Legislature's Presiding Officers Issue Statement Regarding Gubernatorial Vetoes

CHEYENNE - Senate President Ogden Driskill and Speaker of the House Albert Sommers issue the following statement regarding Gov. Mark Gordon's veto of Senate File 0054

“As the Presiding Officers of the Wyoming Senate and House of Representatives, we have been closely monitoring the vetoes issued by Governor Gordon of bills passed during the 2024 Budget Session. We have become increasingly concerned about the Governor’s disregard for the will of the people’s representatives and the legislation we have passed. Our concern was further heightened last night by the veto of Senate File 54, which provided all residents of Wyoming with substantial property tax relief.  

“Senate File 54 would have provided a reduction of 25% of the tax burden for every homeowner in Wyoming up to the first $2 million dollars of assessed value for a residential property for the next two years. We are extremely disappointed that Governor Gordon would characterize this relief from skyrocketing property taxes as a giveaway to Wyoming citizens. All Wyoming homeowners deserve property tax relief after double digit tax increases the past two years. Despite the Governor trying to characterize this bill as liberal spending, he forgets that cutting taxes is a conservative value. Time limited tax relief is both conservative and prudent.

"After the Governor's veto of Senate File 54, the Legislature cannot take any action to effectuate tax relief in time for implementation in fiscal year 2024. We will again have our Joint Revenue Committee continue to develop meaningful tax relief for all Wyoming residents, like they did during the 2024 interim, for introduction at the 2025 General Session." - END - 

 

Governor Gordon Signs Four Bills Supporting the Second Amendment

Governor Vetoes Bill to Repeal Gun Free Zones 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  Governor Mark Gordon signed four bills today that strengthen Wyoming’s status as a Second-Amendment friendly state. The Governor signed SF0073 - Concealed firearms-permit eligibility, SF0105 - Wyoming Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, SF0109 - Prohibit Red Flag Gun Seizure Act., and SF0086 - School safety and security-funding. 

SF0105 protects the privacy and sensitive financial information of people purchasing firearms, firearms parts, or ammunition in Wyoming by prohibiting credit card processors from using firearms or firearm-related merchant category codes. It also prohibits government or private entities from keeping any registry of privately-owned firearms or the owners of those firearms created or maintained through the use of a firearms code.

SF0109 prohibits red flag gun laws from being enforced or implemented in Wyoming, while SF0073 amends the concealed carry permit regulations to make those who have had their firearms rights restored, eligible. SF0086 creates an account to reimburse school districts for costs related to possession of firearms on school property by school district employees.

The Governor vetoed HB0125 - Repeal gun free zones and preemption amendments due to concerns that HB0125 exceeds the separation of powers embodied in Article 2 of our Wyoming Constitution. If the bill were enacted, any specific policy, further regulation, or clarification of the law could only be implemented by the Legislature. 

“House Bill 125/Enrolled Act No. 49, erodes historic local control norms by giving sole authority to the Legislature to micromanage a constitutionally protected right,” Governor Gordon wrote in his veto letter. “Any further clarification of the law, if this bill were enacted, would augment the Legislature’s reach into local firearms regulation.”

The Governor noted the bill would require each state facility, such as the University of Wyoming, Wyoming State Hospital, or the Wyoming Boys School, to receive legislative approval to restrict carrying firearms, or even to set policies as practical as proper weapon storage. It would also repeal the statute that has allowed school districts to establish specific policies allowing concealed carry in their districts.

“Every piece of legislation must stand for critical review, particularly those affecting our constitutional rights,” the Governor wrote. “As delivered to my desk, this bill lacks sufficient review and debate.  A bill covering such a sensitive topic does not lend itself to successive tweaks to correct flaws, and therefore I believe the Legislature should be open to debating and fully working this bill through its established processes.”

The Governor concluded he will direct the State Building Commission to begin a process to reconsider rules to allow concealed carry permit holders to exercise their rights within the Capitol and other appropriate state facilities. That process will involve significant public input.

The Governor’s veto letter is attached and may be found here.

-END-

Governor Gordon Signs Conservative Budget that Lays Foundation for Wyoming’s Future

Exercises line-item veto authority to focus on needs and functionality 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –Governor Gordon thanked the 67th Legislature and has signed HB0001, punctuating the Legislative Session with a conservative, true biennial budget that achieves his goal of advancing Wyoming. The final budget prioritizes improving government services for citizens, promoting economic growth, bettering the quality of life for families who live and work in the state, as well as investing and saving for the future. 

“This budget addresses our challenges and positions Wyoming for a prosperous future,” Governor Gordon said. “We are fighting federal overreach, advancing our industries, providing practical property tax relief, ensuring adequate funding for our schools, counties, and communities and providing the services Wyoming residents expect.” 

The budget includes numerous priorities the Governor outlined in his State of the State speech, including:

  • Fulfilling standard budgets and prudent requests from state agencies.
  • Funding the 988 suicide prevention hotline and expanding capacity to add text and chat services. 
  • Investing in Wyoming Innovation Partnership initiative to sustain programs for workforce development and economic growth.
  • Extending energy matching funds to ensure Wyoming’s legacy industries remain competitive and support for approaches to use and store carbon dioxide
  • Allocating more than $300 million for the construction of K-12 schools.
  • Adding resources to protect critical infrastructure. 
  • Supporting community mental health centers and youth services mental health providers.
  • Directing $20 million for property tax relief for Wyoming homeowners.
  • Ensuring safe drinking water and guarding against water pollution.
  • Increased Wyoming’s savings to prevent future tax increases.

Governor Gordon issued a number of line-item vetoes within the budget, which are fully detailed in his letter, namely to uphold separation of powers, executive authority, and limiting the scope of the bill to properly fund government. In his line-item veto letter, which details each change, the Governor expressed dismay with the curious approach the legislature took to building the budget – one that almost jeopardized state agency operations and other important state needs. 

“Last year in my budget veto letter, I congratulated both chambers on passing a budget in record time – all while increasing transparency. It is unfortunate this session did not follow suit,” Governor Gordon wrote. “Over 300 amendments to this one bill, some of which were introduced to save legislation that failed earlier in the session, almost caused the budget bill to share the same fate.” 

The Governor left intact a budget amendment authorizing the sale of the “Kelly Parcel”, a square mile of school trust property in Teton County, for no less than $100 million with specific conditions relating to the Rock Springs RMP. 

The Governor’s letter and a full version of the budget complete with the Governor’s line item vetoes is available here.

-END-

cont:

Oh. . . great.

Wyoming Legislators Call For Special Session After Latest Round Of Gordon Vetoes

Well, not going to happen, and they won't override them if it does, and with at least one of them, the Wyoming Supreme Court would strike it down.

And we'll not go on to a new installment.

Last Prior Edition:

The 2024 Wyoming Legislative Session. Part 5. Divisive and Mean.