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Some Call It A Disappointing Legislative Session

Bob Beck

The Wyoming legislative session is coming up on its last week. It’s a session that’s seen the defeat of Medicaid Expansion and some other key issues. Because of that, critics say they really haven’t accomplished much, and some legislators agree.

After each legislative session lawmakers return home to speak to service groups about their accomplishments. Gillette Senator Michael Von Flatern isn’t sure what they did.

“You know some days I really wonder (laughs), because I spent a whole week, at least a week on Medicaid expansion that didn’t go anywhere.”

Jackson Representative Ruth Ann Petroff says there won’t be a lot of accomplishments to talk about.

“You know the major pieces of legislation don’t seem to have gotten through and of course with limited funds the supplemental budget hasn’t been very robust, so it’ll be a short Chamber of Commerce conversation this year.”

Bri Jones of the Equality State Policy Center. 

“Overall I think this will be a session that will be remembered for the things that didn’t happen rather than for the things that did.”

Jones said the legislature dropped the ball on three big issues.

“The really big ones are of course Medicaid expansion, discrimination or anti-discrimination more importantly, and worker safety. Those were really big topics that were worked on during the interim and didn’t up not seeing the light of day.”

Overall I think this will be a session that will be remembered for the things that didn't happen rather than for the things that did.

Jones was actually optimistic that Medicaid Expansion would be passed. The state would have received over a 100 million dollars to fund a plan that the state department of health crafted. Senator Von Flatern carried the bill on the floor. He said that despite proving that the state would use federal dollars to help over 17 thousand people, provide major help to hospitals in the state, and substantially reduce the large amount of money the state currently puts into health care, he couldn’t get Senators to buy off on it. Many Senators doubted that the federal government would pay for its share of the expansion in the long run.

“It was an argument that couldn’t be beat down because Wyoming has a very poor record with the federal government. AML money, federal mineral royalties that we are getting less of a percentage of" said Von Flatern.

The House soundly voted down Medicaid Expansion in a budget amendment. Representative Petroff says opposition goes beyond federal promises. It was more about opposing Obamacare.

“We are getting people who are looking at things from a theoretical standpoint instead of a practical standpoint and I think that’s what happened with Medicaid. And I think anybody who looks at that logically it makes sense, we are taking money that doesn’t come from the state to support a health care system that needs support and to give coverage to people who don’t have coverage.”  

This last week the House killed an anti-discrimination bill that the Senate passed by a wide margin. It provided workplace protections for gays and transgender people. It was heavily backed by industry in the state who want to attract more workers. But opponents argued that that the bill infringed on private business and personal beliefs. The legislation was the priority of openly gay State Representative Cathy Connolly who said she was shocked by what she heard.

“The argument was that we are violating individuals religious liberties and then when you think about what is being said there it’s the religious liberties to want to discriminate, it’s religious liberty to want to hate, it’s the religious liberty to want to deny kind of basic services, employment, to individuals who are gay or lesbian.”

Cheyenne Democrat Mary Throne says it was one of many issues decided by ideology this session.

“I think there is a fundamental disconnect with what the majority people in Wyoming think and what happens here.”

Better Wyoming Political Director Kerry Drake said that lawmakers opposed a number of measures and budget amendments that would have provided important assistance to people.

“They’re taking a population that either needs help or needs protection and their just saying they don’t matter, they don’t care about these particular issues.”

Bri Jones of the Equality State Policy Center said it appears that there is a big split among Republicans, especially in the House of Representatives.

“I think there isn’t a lot of cohesion in the caucuses frankly. And when I say that I particularly mean there’s a lot of folks on the Republican side that are pitted against one and other.”

House Republican Floor Leader Rosie Berger admits that there have been problems in the past, but said she thinks House members were more respectful of their differences this year. But she said they continue to get caught up on issues that range from religious freedom to a variety of anti-government initiatives.   

“Some of these policy issues that we discuss or social issues, I reflect on it and I see that we repeat it, but we never go anywhere with them. They just create angst. “

Berger said lawmakers need to take a broader approach to legislation.

“Of what would benefit Wyoming 5 years from now or 10 years from now, a more global perspective. And we never seem to get to that point because we are always reacting to these more ideological issues.”

Berger admits that there have been fewer accomplishments than she would have liked. But there are a few days left, and Berger said that the 63rd legislative session "could still be brilliant".

Bob Beck retired from Wyoming Public Media after serving as News Director of Wyoming Public Radio for 34 years. During his time as News Director WPR has won over 100 national, regional and state news awards.
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