I could barely read the Trib on Sunday morning. Not because I was disgusted by the news, but because I was so sick, for the first time in years, that it was a struggle to make it through it. I did note that on the editorial page lawmakers are clocking in, with veterans lamenting this session as pathetic, and freshman claiming it was more of a success.
The veterans are more on target.
One of the more controversial freshmen, Jeanette Ward, had a rebuttal editorial to one run on the 10th by the local director of American Atheists. I saw that editorial but didn't read it as I'm frankly not that interested in what the leader of an entity of a group of people who would have to practically lack leadership by definition has to say really. Moreover, there aren't actually atheist, as denying the existence of God doesn't mean not knowing he exists. All humans know the latter, while some maintain the former. More and more we live in a world where certain segments of our society deny that something that obviously exists, does not, so that's really not that interesting.
I read Ward, however, in part simply because she baffles, and somewhat irritates, me.
I also read it as Ward is writing, she claims, from a Christian prospective.
Now, that's a dangerous thing to claim in the first place as most of the world's Christians belong to Apostolic Christianity, with most of them being Catholic. If you aren't writing from a Catholic prospective, or at least an Apostolic Christian prospective, you have some groundwork to do as you are, by definition, part of a dissenting body that has some sort of major problem with the main body of Christians who date back to day one in the Faith. Maybe this doesn't matter if you are writing on something very general that all Christians agree on, but if it's down to the specifics, maybe not so much.
On general moral principles, as long as they're really general, that shouldn't matter too much, however.
Anyhow, I read her article. It started noting this:
In a famous October 1798 letter to the Massachusetts Militia, John Adams wrote, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Well, I agree with that. And what she next noted, which was:
Adams was clearly referring to the newly ratified Constitution of 1787, the one we still use and cherish today. Rather than seeking to create a religious theocracy, Adams correctly observed what once was obvious: our republic, as structured by the 1787 document, depends upon a moral, grounded society. Adams believed that a society defined by vices would destroy the mechanisms for self government as created by the Constitution, resulting in despotism.
She went on to note from there that the founders presumed a system in which people shared a set of "relatively similar, classical morals" and that, "Today, there appears to be a widespread misunderstanding of what those morals are."
Well, while I hate to admit it, I agree once again.
So, what from there.
Well, from there Rep. Ward went on to complain about how the Legislature failed to pass HB0066 banning vaccine and mask mandates, looping this back into her understanding of a shared set of "relatively similar, classical morals".
Eh? How do you get there?
The founders lived in an era when quarantines, it might be noted, were common.
She noted that the Atheist group was in favor of vaccine mandates.
And hence we find a clear example of something failing due to the Self Centered Razor. Ms. Ward, in her editorial, proclaims herself a Christian, and I'm sure she's some sort of Christian. From there, she proclaims, in essence, that radial self-determination, within the limits that she conceives of it, or radial personal liberty, within the confines that she accepts it, are Christian principles. They are, to the extent that most Christians hold that man has free will and is therefore free to choose good over evil, or vice versa, but the assumption that the Freedom Caucus "me and mine" view of personal liberty is a Christian one is erroneous.
A lot of what that quarter, which flirts, in an unclear way that it doesn't really understand, with Christian Nationalism, suffers from that. And much of it has the appearance of determining what personal rights and liberties we value first, and then attaching them to a religious faith. People have gone so far in this direction to be able to blind themselves to the gigantic moral failings of some of their leaders. That moral failings would exist is not surprising, but to simply ignore them or excuse them does violence to the principals themselves.
And this gets back to the plank in the eye problems. A person worried, for example, about masks mandates being a matter of law might ponder divorce, which is clearly contrary to the teachings of Christ, being allowed first, but we're too acclimated to that. For that matter, in a society in which people seriously post paintings of Donald Trump in prayer, when he's about to be indited for having paid, in effectively, a pornographic actress to shut up about an affair. . . well.
Anyhow, the Founders were a variety of Christian faiths, with the Church of England being the most predominant. The Church of Scotland was represented and then the more "Protestant" faiths that had been dissenting faiths, from the Church of England, in England itself. A handful of Catholics were in the group.
They didn't have a problem with quarantines, which served the general welfare of everyone.
The concept that it's somehow anti-Christian, or immoral, to require the wearing of masks is simply wrong.
This is the second time Ward has made such a serious error in Christian understanding. In the legislature, she opposed extending Medicaid benefits to mothers who had recently given birth, as she felt the answer to the question "Am I my brothers' keeper" was "No". It's yes.
The War Department officially released news of a new weapon, the M1A1 Rocket Launcher; the first "bazooka".
The first of a series of weapons, it would prove to be an enormously successful series which continues on in the form of various other rocket launchers, particularly those with an anti armor role.
U.S. Marine with a FGM-148 Javelin, a modern descendant of the first bazooka.
The British engaged in frontal attack on the Mareth Line, inflicting heavy losses on the Afrika Korps. At El Hamma the Afrika Korps is forced to retire to new positions.
The heaviest RAF raid on Berlin to date took place.
The USS Salt Lake City damaged due to Japanese fire.
The Battle of Komandorski, a battle with a deceptively Russian name, took place between the U.S. Navy and Japan. The Navy intercepted a convoy of Japanese ships attempting to reach Kiska and engaged in a pitched surface action. No ships were sunk during the battle, but the Japanese ultimately withdrew.
Germany warned Finland, through Joachim von Ribbentrop, that German would not tolerate Finland making a separate peace.
Sarah Sundin reports that Spain closed its border with Nazi occupied France.
She also notes:
Today in World War II History—March 25, 1943: Battle for convoy HX-231 begins (through April 8), the first time an Allied Atlantic convoy beats off German U-boats without loss.
Only a Fool Would Say That was Steely Dan's song in reaction to John Lennon's Marxist anthem Imagine.
I'm glad some other musicians reacted. Imagine is a horrible song, espousing an ideology that, while he claimed it would result in "nothing to kill or die for", killed more in the 20th Century than any other ideology going.
Lawrence Reed has an article on Lennon himself in The American Spectator. It catalogs Lennon's real character, including his physical abuse of his first wife and his multiple extramarital affairs. He's not a guy to be admired for any reason, but for some reason, perhaps his late physical appearance, and a decades long Libby Custer like effort to boost his image has created a false one for him.
I don't really get why people idolize performers anyway, except for their work. I love the music of Jimi Hendrix, but he wasn't example a model of clean and effective living.
And interestingly, people will recite music and sing it without really pondering what the lyrics actually mean. In our "Me Too" era, this is astounding. Imagine is a Communist anthem. Sweet Home Alabama excuses ongoing racial segregation in the South. Brand New Key really does have sort of a creepy set of double meanings quality to it.
And in spite of my self, I like those last two songs.
But at the same time, I guess, I don't idolize the Leonard Skynard or Melanie Safka
Thanks, Obama! The hilarious reason why a judge just blocked Wyoming’s abortion ban.
Republicans just got a painful reminder that political stunts can backfire.
The article concludes:
For the moment, however, the Obama-era amendments writing anti-Obamacare talking points into two state constitutions have proved to be a thorn in the side of Republicans who hope to ban abortions. Let that be a lesson that a state constitution is a foolish thing to change for the sake of a political stunt.
Vox is more or less correct in its thesis as to how we got here, even if it's absurdly optimistic about anyone "learning a lesson". Where it isn't fully correct is in the assumption it was a stunt. Fired up by conspiracy theories and propaganda, a fair number of those voting for the amendment and the bill that took it to the electorate believed that they were operating against almost certain Obamacare "Death Panels". One Natrona County former legislator has stated:
I’ll be very grieved if they actually use that as an instrument of death, That wasn’t our intent at all.
Of course that wasn't the intent, but did you read the constitutional amendment? There were concerns at the time.
The Equality State Policy Center, for one, was worried about the bill, with its lobbyist, Dan Neal, stating:
I’ll bet that even the original supporters of this amendment can’t tell you exactly what it will do, given the vague language and all the changes made to it during the Legislature’s deliberations in 2011.
Yup.
And as for grieved? Bereaved would be a better term. By yielding to paranoid propaganda, those who sponsored this, and then voted for it, have blood on their hands.
And there's a lesson in there.
In the rules that govern logical thinking, Chesterton's Fence, which should be the first rule of Conservatism, holds:
There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”
A corollary to that might be called Yeoman's Gate, which holds:
Before you go through a gate to get to the other side of a fence, completely figure out. to the extent you can, where the path goes.
If somebody is holding a fence open, urging you to go through, or keeping it closed, trying to bar you from doing so, ask what interest he has in either action.
None of these principles were applied. If they had been, it should have been clear that a certain sector of the Obamacare fearmongers were people who were using it for their own political self-interest, not out of any real concern. Those people were among the gatekeepers. "Run through", they yelled, "the big scary blood Marxist bear of Obama is right behind you!. . .And by the way, vote for me next election, here's my flyer full of BS . . ."
And the pathway lead right to here.
A person should likely ask the same questions about the more radical bills that floated in the last legislature, and most particularly about the Crossover Voting bill that just passed.
Why did we allow crossover voting? Nobody really asked, did they?
Where does the path lead, now that we've crossed it?
And why was the gatekeeper so eager to for us to go through?
Watergate burglar James W. McCord Jr. wrote Judge John Sirica that the Watergate defendants had been pressured to remain silent, naming U.S. Attorney John Mitchell as the "overall boss" of the Watergate operation.
McCord had been a CIA officer before becoming a private security contractor. He passed away at age 93 in 2017.
Mori Chack (森チャック) designer of Gloomy Bear, a Japanese pink stuffed bear that eats people, born.
The last spotting of the Xerces Blue butterfly was made. The species is believed to have gone extinct due to the expansion of San Francisco into its habitat.
Sarah Sundin's blog has a number of interesting items:
Today in World War II History—March 23, 1943: RAF drops 2000 tons of bombs on Dortmund, Germany. At El Guettar in Tunisia, US 1st Infantry Division manages to defeat German armor (10th Panzer Division).
She also discusses the Danish parliamentary elections, which took place in spite of Nazi occupation. The German occupation of Denmark, it might be noted, was quite odd in that Denmark retained its government and even retained its army while occupied.
The Social Democrats took 66 out of 148 seats. The Danish Nazi Party received a mere 3.3% of the vote.
The British troopship RMS Windsor Castle was sunk by an HE 111 off of Algiers. All on board save one of 2,700 were rescued by the Royal Navy.
The multinational commando raid styled Operation Roundabout, made up of two enlisted members of No. 12 Commando, four enlisted men of the 29th Ranger Battalion, and four Norwegian soldiers, commanded by a British officer and with an American officer in support, failed in its mission to destroy a bridge over a fjord when a Norwegian soldier dropped his machine gun magazine. The sound altered the Germans.
The 29th Ranger Battalion was short lived, existing only in 1943. It was made up of volunteers from the 29th Infantry Division and was trained by the British. The unit was successful but it did not have the supporter of higher headquarters and therefore was disbanded in October 1943 with its men sent back to their units.
29th in training.
The combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen marketed as Vicodin was approved by the FDA.
Well, the session is over, but the bills will still be heading towards Governor Gordon's desk for a few days, at least if the normal procedure holds.
We'll cover those as they are acted upon, and give our postmortem in this post as well. Indeed late yesterday, he issued his announcement about a couple of such bills.
Governor Gordon Signs Signature Piece of Legislation Supporting Mothers and Children and Another to Advance Property Tax Reform to Close Session
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Fulfilling a priority outlined in his State of the State address, Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill to extend medical assistance to low-income mothers and children for 12 months after birth, and a joint resolution that allows Wyomingites to vote on a Constitutional amendment that is a first step in delivering residential property tax reform for Wyoming residents. This came on the final day of the Legislature’s 2023 General Session.
In an emotional public signing ceremony attended by legislators from both chambers and advocates for the bill, Governor Gordon described House Bill 4 - Medicaid twelve-month postpartum coverage as a “signature piece of pro-life legislation”. The bill extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 90 days to 12 months and is expected to help between 1,000 and 2,000 low-income Wyoming mothers.
“We heard in the mental health summit we hosted last fall about the importance of getting mothers and children off to a good start. Taking care of both in that critical first year of development pays dividends down the road,” Governor Gordon said. “I couldn’t be more pleased sign a bill that does just that at the close of the session.”
Governor Gordon also signed Senate Joint Resolution 3 - Property tax residential property class. The joint resolution will place an amendment before Wyoming voters that would create a separate class for residential real property, allowing for the Legislature to reduce residential property tax assessments. The Governor described it as an opportunity to put the state on a path for long-term property tax relief for families.
In his closing remarks to both the Senate and House chambers, the Governor thanked the members for their service and for their work on a budget that puts more than $1 billion into savings. He also urged the members of the Legislature to continue seeking “Wyoming solutions to Wyoming problems,” in the interim instead of bringing forward legislation developed in Washington, DC by think tanks and lobbyists.
The Governor signed the following bills into law today:
You'll note those final remarks. Pretty telling. That was a shot at the "Freedom Caucus", which came into the past two legislative sessions to address, in many instances, made up or even mythical problems, full of conviction, and often stuffed with belief in lies. They saw success in the 2022 General Election, with one of their acolytes, Chuck Gray, making it all the way to the Secretary of State's Office.
And then they fell flat in this legislature.
Gordon's remarks promoted a reaction from the leadership of the Freedom Caucus, Gillette's John Bear. Bear replied to the Cowboy State Daily:
It’s pretty arrogant to think that all bills made out of a state would be a bad fit for Wyoming
and
It’s his way of excusing more conservative bills not passing.
Excusing?
Well, Gordon probably didn't support them, so he doesn't need to excuse them. The one piece of notable legislation that came out of that quarter so far he let pass into law without his signature. That bill, banning "cross over" voting, will ironically lock recently crossed over Democrats into the GOP into the GOP, as most won't get around to switching back until the next primary season. Gray may be remembered as the man who created a left wing in the GOP.
Oops.
Otherwise, almost all of the real radical populist bills simply bit the dust at some point in the legislature. Interestingly, some of them bit the dust in the opposite house in both cases, with some populist bills dying in the Senate after passing the House, and vice versa. That might reflect committee assignments. Indeed, parliamentary moves clearly doomed some of them.
That became a late legislature flap when the Speaker of the House but a collection of them in his bottom drawer, only bringing them back out late in the session. This provoked a comment from Harriet Hageman, who in turn was told to shut and mind her own work by some notable state Republicans. By and large, the Speaker gained popularity for his moves and being open about them.
Already there are comments that the bloom has finally gone off of the "red" rose of the FC.
Lots of people are hoping so.
It may be too early for that, but it does seem something is up. The newly elected populists saw their legislative agenda simply fall flat. The legislature didn't pass education bills they sponsored. It didn't even pass the prohibitions on juvenile transgender mutilation, which would seem to have had widespread support. It didn't pass the gun 'em down trespass law. It didn't vote to castrate the National Guard.
Moreover, it did pass bills that the far right populist opposed. Jeanette Ward may have proclaimed that her Christian beliefs provided that we were not our brother's keepers, but the legislature felt that we were, being more in tune with the actual Christian Gospel. The GOP Central Committee came out in favor of allowing child marriages to remain a feature of Wyoming's law, but the legislature banned them anyway.
Other than the bill banning cross over voting, the bills that the far right supported that crossed the bar are those addressing abortion. But they had very broad conservative support, and at least in one case, were substantially amended. The far right can't really take credit for their passing, although they might be able to for getting them rolling. Be that as it may, there is now a long history in the legislature of action in this quarter.
In the meantime, nationally, hard right populist took hits. Fox News' commentators turned out to never believe the election lie but chose to keep telling it anyhow. Tucker Carlson keeps screaming about our support of Ukraine, with more and more people wondering why. Marjorie Taylor Green called for dissolving the union, with most people wondering what on earth is up with her.
Radical movements tend to peak and fade. Something seems to be going on, although its a safe bet that we haven't heard the last of the populist far right in the state. Indeed, it might turn out to be the case that they're most heard outside the legislature, rather than in it, even thought that doesn't seem to make them effective within it.
March 7, 2023
Oklahomans go to the polls today on a single ballot initiative, that being whether to make Americans even more dull witted than they already are, or in other words, whether to allow them to depress their intellects further by legalizing marijuana.
March 8, 2023
Governor Gordon to Hold Public Bill Signing Today, Thursday March 9
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon will hold a formal bill signing ceremony Thursday, March 9 beginning at 10 am in the Governor's Ceremonial Conference Room in the State Capitol Building. The ceremony is open to the public.
The Governor will sign the following bills:
Enrolled Act # Bill# Bill Title
HEA0081HB0074 Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust fund.
SEA0089 SF0094 Federal Indian Child Welfare Act codification.
March 9, 2023
Voters in Oklahoma rejected a chance to make residents of their state stupider through doping them up through legalized marijuana.
March 9, cont.
Game and Fish begins implementation of 2023 legislative changes
3/9/2023 9:38:46 PM
CHEYENNE - The 2023 Wyoming Legislature passed several bills that will make changes to Wyoming Game and Fish Department laws and regulations. The following is a summary of the notable Game and Fish-related bills that passed, how they will impact the public and the next steps for implementation. Game and Fish will continue to provide updates as these changes move through the regulation process.
Hunters will be allowed to hunt predatory animals on public or state land at night with the use of artificial light, including thermal and infrared imaging. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has been granted the authority to establish rules and regulations regarding the creation of zones, areas, seasons and methods for the taking of predatory animals with the use of artificial light on public or state land. Game and Fish will provide updates as these changes move through the regulation process.
Wyoming residents may be allowed to participate in a pursuit-only season for mountain lions with dogs in areas where mountain lion hunting is permitted. The take of mountain lions during a pursuit season is illegal and subject to misdemeanor charges and fines. Game and Fish will provide updates as these changes move through the regulation process.
Forty percent of nonresident deer, elk and antelope licenses are placed in the pool for the special draw. This bill increases the fees for those who apply for the special draw.
The special draw fee for elk, deer and antelope will increase to the following:
Nonresident elk special fee: $1,258
Nonresident deer special fee: $826
Nonresident antelope special fee: $874
This bill also will increase the nonresident fees for some of Wyoming’s most coveted licenses to the following:
Nonresident bighorn sheep license: $3,000
Nonresident mountain goat license: $2,750
Nonresident moose license: $2,750
Nonresident grizzly bear license: $7,500
Nonresident wild bison license: $6,000
Nonresidents who wish to enter the special draw for antelope, deer and elk are responsible for paying the special draw fee in addition to the license and application fee. This bill has no effect on the allocation or number of resident licenses. This bill goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
This bill establishes shed antlers and horns on public land as property of the state and requires nonresidents to obtain a conservation stamp prior to the collection of shed antlers and horns on designated lands. A conservation stamp will not be required for residents of Wyoming or any person under 15 years of age. Nonresidents will not be required to obtain a conservation stamp this year. Game and Fish will provide updates as these changes move through the regulation process.
Wyoming residents will have the opportunity to collect shed antlers on designated lands seven days before the start of the nonresident season. Currently, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulation prohibits anyone from collecting shed antlers or horns from public lands west of the Continental Divide, excluding the Great Divide Basin and some land west of Laramie, from Jan. 1 through 6 a.m on May 1. This bill goes into effect on July 1, 2023.
This bill creates a 12-member task force that will oversee the creation of a state shooting, archery and education complex. Directors from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, State Parks and Cultural Resources and the Department of Tourism or their designee will be members along with other representatives of the Wyoming Legislature, a conservation group, a shooting sports group and the firearms manufacturing industry.
This bill provides a clear definition of aircraft in W.S. 23-3-306 which states the use of aircraft, automobiles, motorized and snow vehicles and artificial light for hunting or fishing purposes are not allowed. The definition of aircraft has been updated to include any machine or device capable of atmospheric flight including but not limited to an airplane, helicopter, glider, dirigible or unmanned aerial vehicle. This bill goes into effect July 1.
This bill prohibits anyone from entering, traveling through or returning across private property to take wildlife, hunt, fish or collect antlers or horns without the permission of the owner or the person in charge of the property. This bill goes into effect July 1.
— WGFD —
Governor Gordon Signs Bills Strengthening Outdoor Tourism
Economy, Supporting Native American Culture
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill
today creating the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund, which
will strengthen Wyoming’s outdoor recreation economy and help fund recreation
infrastructure projects. The Governor also signed a bill codifying the federal
Indian Child Welfare Act as state law, an important step in supporting tribal
culture.
The Outdoor
Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund was funded with $6 million.
Additional work will take place in the interim to develop the structure for the
fund and how funding will be awarded for potential projects. The Wyoming Office
of Outdoor Recreation currently facilitates seven outdoor recreation
collaboratives around the state, each focused on defining grassroots
opportunities for the growth and enhancement of outdoor recreation in their
region. The collaboratives include community members, recreation stakeholders,
businesses, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and elected
officials.
“We have seen a hunger for visitors to experience Wyoming’s
mountains, rivers and trails. This trust fund has the potential to create new
opportunities for small businesses, focus visitation towards appropriate
locations and enhance the quality of life for all Wyoming residents,” Governor
Gordon said. “I’d like to thank the Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife &
Cultural Resources Committee for their work on this bill, and the Legislature
for their support of this fund.”
The Governor also signed Senate
File 94 - Federal Indian Child Welfare Act codification. The
bill codifies the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) as state law and
specifies requirements and procedures for placing Native American children in
shelter care or for adoption. Governor Gordon noted that both Wyoming Tribes
have emphasized the importance of ICWA to tribal children and tribal culture.
He is encouraged that Wyoming Tribes will have a seat at the table as the State
continues to hone its ICWA law through the work of the newly created Indian
Child Welfare Act Task Force. As ICWA has such a
significant impact on tribal communities, the opportunity for participation by
Wyoming Tribes in this process is essential to the success of this law moving
forward.
“This bill celebrates the partnership between the tribes and the
State of Wyoming, and our willingness to work together on these important
issues that affect all of us,” Governor Gordon said.
The Governor signed the following bills today:
Enrolled Act
Bill#Bill Title
HEA0078 HB0185 Local government distributions-revisions.
SEA0082 SF0152 Occupational therapist criminal history.
SEA0083 SF0099 Witnessing of wills-remote methods.
SEA0086 SF0153 Election security.
SEA0087 SF0164 Public improvement contract
requirements-amendments.
SEA0088 SF0147 Government contracts-labor organization.
SEA0089 SF0094 Federal Indian Child Welfare Act codification.
SEA0091 SF0137 Subdivisions-fencing requirements.
SEA0095 SF0076 Wyoming digital asset registration act.
SEA0096 SF0066 School capital construction funding.
SEA0098 SF0042 Taxation of cigars.
A list of bills the Governor has previously taken action on
during the 2023 Legislative Session can be found on the Governor’s website.
March 13, 2023
In a really odd example of the depiction of a counter, imaginary, reality, Secretary of State Gray published an op ed in the Tribune praising the passage of the prohibition on changing registration three months prior to a primary as a major victory.
Indeed, in an example of the pre narrative driving the post history, there have been a lot of accounts in papers about how this session was a huge success for the far right in the legislature, when in fact the case is the polar opposite. In this same issue that was noted by legislator Khale Lenhart who praised the legislature for coming to the middle. In reality, almost none of the really far right legislation, save for two bills outside of this one, one heavily amended, passed. Those were on the topic of abortion, which already had wide conservative support.
Indeed, missed here is that the "cross over" voting bill had support from a sort of street level horse sense point of view, even if the premise for it is flawed. It likely passed as most people feel that the state funded and state supported party elections passed off as "primaries" ought to be limited to the parties. In reality, if they were true primaries, they'd be party blind, and probably state supported elections should be that way, but people all over the country are acclimated to this system.
To read Mr. Gray, Wyoming's primaries were threatened by vast hordes of liberal Democrats who switched over to Republicans to wreck GOP primaries and vote into office faux Republicans, all while protected by the "liberal media". If that were true, of course, Mr. Gray would have packed his bags in November and returned to his native California, having lost an election based on the fable that the 2020 election was stolen, Harriet Hageman would be just another practicing lawyer in Cheyenne, having lost in her bid to unseat Liz Cheney for questioning anything about Donald Trump, and Gray's op ed would have been published in. .. . well not published.
For some time I've questioned whether Gray believes the stuff he's been saying, and was willing to perhaps find that he had self deluded himself to that point. But this "op ed" reads like something written to the already fully convinced. There are lots of Wyoming Democrats swinging elections. The media was part of a cover up of that.
Not so much.
FWIW, the new cross over law is probably unconstitutional, and my prediction is it will be struck down prior to the next primary season. It interferes with political rights of the electorate in a state funded election. There is really nothing that precludes a person from being a hardcorse MAGA Trump supporting voter on one day, and waking up the next and deciding he's a Communist, or vice vera. If parties really want to dicate who runs for them, they should demand this process be removed from the primaries so they can decide it in conventions. As long as they want the state to host an election for them, it has to be open to all.
Indeed, quite truthfully, party elections on the state's dime raise some questions. They're just not ones anyone has bothered to ask.
March 16, 2023
Utah's Governor signed into law a bill requiring all abortions to be performed in hospitals, outlawing clinics.
March 17, 2023
After Signing Several Bills to Strengthen Elections, Governor Vetoes Bill that Would Have Confused Voters
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon exercised his veto authority on Senate File 131- Prohibition on delivery of unsolicited ballot forms today. The Governor signed several bills this session to strengthen election integrity and security, but says that changes made to this bill during the legislative process muddled the bill’s language and intent. The Governor expressed concern that SF 131 as currently written would have resulted in unintended consequences that would compromise election confidence and integrity, and might provide a means to inappropriately suppress proper absentee voting.
SF0131 was brought forward to address the distribution of certain campaign materials and forms to apply for absentee ballots. But, the Governor wrote, clarifying language was removed from the final bill.
“I want to be clear, at no time have I been presented with facts of fraud, mismanagement, or malfeasance in Wyoming’s election process. Even so, over the past month, I have signed those bills which strengthen election integrity and security, such as codifying existing election rules. SF0131, as delivered to my desk, is superfluous and potentially confusing. Consequently, I must veto SF0131,” Governor Gordon wrote.
The Governor’s veto letter is attached and may be found here.
Governor Gordon also allowed SF0127 - Wyoming Stable Token Act to go into law without his signature. The Governor’s letter addressing SF 0127 is also attached and may be found here.
A list of bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2023 Legislative Session can be found on the Governor’s website.
Governor
Issues Directive to Provide Financial Relief to Independent Pharmacists While
Signing Prescription Drug Transparency Act with Line-Item Vetoes
Governor
Allows Trans Athlete Legislation to Pass Into Law, Expresses Concerns Over
Impacts, Potential Litigation.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon
exercised his line item veto authority on select portions of Senate File 151/SEA No. 90 - Wyoming prescription drug
transparency act before signing
it today. He noted it has important policy changes related to rural,
independent pharmacists, a critical component of healthcare in Wyoming. He
vetoed portions of the bill that could have significant impacts on prescription
costs for Wyoming consumers. The Governor acknowledged the importance of rural
independent pharmacies and the burdens placed on those small businesses, which
are often left to manage operations with insufficient reimbursements and
increasing compliance costs for accountability.
To demonstrate his desire to provide financial
relief to rural, independent pharmacies, Governor Gordon has signed a Governor’s Directive for the Wyoming Department of
Administration and Information (“A&I”) to negotiate payment of an increased
amount of dispensing fee claims of up to $10 per brand label claim and $12 per
generic brand claim to independent pharmacists participating in the Wyoming
State Employees’ and Officials’ Group Insurance program.
“This issue is so important to Wyoming, our
communities, and our future that I implore health insurance providers to follow
in our footsteps,” Governor Gordon said. “Together, working in unison, we can
make a difference in our communities and keep local businesses operational
while ensuring quality access to vital healthcare services.”
The Governor did line-item several provisions in
the bill and wrote to legislators that the act as drafted “may do more harm
than good, inadvertently shifting increased and burdensome pharmaceutical costs
to consumers despite the good work done by all involved to provide local
relief.”
The Governor allowed Senate File 133/SEA No. 92 - Student eligibility in
interscholastic sports to pass
into law without his signature. The Governor said that while he supports and
agrees with the overall goal of fairness in competitive female sports, the ban
included in the legislation “is overly draconian, is discriminatory without
attention to individual circumstances or mitigating factors, and pays little
attention to fundamental principles of equality.” The Governor does agree with
the provision of the bill that moves decision-making to the state level to
ensure consistency and fairness across school districts.
“While I freely acknowledge the intent of this
legislation is well-meaning as a way to protect the integrity and fairness of
women’s sports in our state, by enacting an outright ban on transgender
individuals participating in sports teams, I believe Wyoming sends a harmful
message that these individuals and their families do not deserve the same
opportunities as others,” the Governor wrote.
“Moreover the ban leaves little or no flexibility
for families to support their children. As a parent, that saddens me,” the
Governor added.
The Legislature set the effective date for the
bill as July 1. That means no current student athletes are impacted during this
season. The Governor committed to work with the State Superintendent of Public
Instruction prior to the start of the next school year to ensure that there is
clear guidance from the Wyoming High School Activities Association regarding
the opportunities that will exist moving forward for transgender students to
have some means to participate safely in interscholastic activities after this
law goes into effect, recognizing sadly that may mean these young people may
not be able to compete in athletics.
A copy of the Governor’s letters and his
line-items are attached and can be found on the Bills page of the Governor’s website.
Governor
Gordon Emphasizes Pro-Life Position with New Laws
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon took
further steps to implement a pro-life policy agenda when he signed a
prohibition on chemical abortions today. At the same time, he allowed House
Bill 152 - Life is a Human Right Act to go into law. But he
expressed concern that this new law will only result in a new lawsuit, which
will delay any resolution to the constitutionality of the abortion ban in
Wyoming. Earlier today, the plaintiffs in the current lawsuit filed a legal
challenge of this new law in the event the Act was not vetoed.
The Governor says that since the Legislature
continues to make minor tweaks in the abortion law each year, it only leads to
additional delays in obtaining a final decision from the courts about
Wyoming’s Constitution. Governor Gordon stressed that if the Legislature wants
finality it should put a constitutional amendment before the people and let
them decide if they want to add an abortion ban to the state's
constitution.
“I understand the Legislature’s effort to
improve Wyoming’s pro-life legal framework and preemptively clarify some of
these legal questions with HEA 0088’s various legislative findings,” the
Governor wrote. “However, I believe this question needs to be decided as soon
as possible so that the issue of abortion in Wyoming can be finally resolved,
and that is best done with a vote of the people.”
While he understands the intent of the
legislative findings included in Life is a Human Right Act, the Governor said
he does not feel these are a, “substitute for an expression of the people when
it comes to constitutional matters.”
“If the Legislature wants to expressly address
how the Wyoming Constitution treats abortion and defines healthcare, then those
issues should be vetted through the amendment process laid out in Article 20 of
the Wyoming Constitution and voted on directly by the people,” the Governor
wrote.
The Governor’s letter is attached and may be
viewed here.
In his final actions on bills passed during the
2023 General Legislative session, Governor Gordon exercised his line-item veto
authority on the following bills. The letters with line items, along with a
list of all bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2023
Legislative Session, can be found on the Governor’s website.
HEA0091 HB0195 American rescue plan act
appropriations-amendments.
SEA0084 SF0146 State funded capital
construction.
SEA0097 SF0096 Omnibus water bill-planning and
administration.
Assuming the last line is correct, this is the end of legislative action for this session.
March 18, 2023
The predictable fallout and grousing has commenced over the last few items noted above.
Gov. Gordon felt that the the House's removal of an amendment of the unsolicited ballot mailings bill made it confusing, and potentially illegal. Chuck Gray has complained about it.
March 21, 2023
Both the new abortion provisons and the trans athelete ban are clearly headed to court at this point.
Governor Gordon signed a pharmacy bill, but Gordon used his line item veto to heavily recraft the bill to the displeasure of many who supported it.
March 23, 2023
As was widely anticipated, the same 9th Judicial District judge that enjoined enforcement of the trigger law also enjoined enforcemetn of the state's new abortion ban.
The question may be why is it taking this matter so long to work through the 9th. An earlier effort to send it straigth to the Wyoming Supreme Court, which is where it is headed anyway, failed and it remains at the trial court level.
The new bill had attempted to work around the poorly thought out amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that provided that the state couldn't interfere with an individual's health care decisions. The extremely conservator former legislature who crafted that amendment later stated he'd be horrified if he was to blame for the preservation of abortion and right now, he should be horrified. This was 100% predictable.
Nonetheless during the last legislative session backers of this bill claimed those who said it would be challenged in court were "fear mongering". Those individuals turned out to be naive. A couple of legislators, an anti abortion physicians group, and Secretary of State Chuch Gray, who apparently has a some amount of free time in his new job to do things other than the actual work of that position, attempted to intervene with amicus briefs but were deined. While I don't know, the fact that the Secretary of State, who has no connection with this issue, would seem more likely to defeat such an attempt than to guarantee its success.
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