Winters comments on Legislative Session

House District 28 Representative Nathan Winters has been busy during the Wyoming Legislative session in Cheyenne.

“We’ve just completed our second week of this 20-day Legislative Session, which is usually the busiest week during a Budget Session,” said Winters. He explained the reason is bills that are not reported out of committee or do not make it through first reading on the Floor of the House or Senate die because of a lack of time to be heard. Secondly, the second week is when the main operations budget is set for the next two years for the state of Wyoming.

After ending discussion and placing final votes late Friday night, the main operations budget of the state passed with an overwhelming majority. There was a lot of debate and different perspectives on individual elements of the budget.

“I believe that the final product reflects a clear-eyed plan to help the state live within its means during this economic downturn and still provide the best level of service we can,” said Winters

According to Winters, the reason Wyoming is able to stand so strong after losing nearly a half billion dollars in revenue over the past 15 months is because of the foresight of the folks 10 to 15 years ago who saw the state shouldn’t blow through the money it had during those bountiful years and saved it for times like these.

“Our stable budget today could only happen because of years of foresight. Let me say this as well, when we make it back to years when our revenue will be growing again, I want to do my part to ensure the same stability for the next generation. To those who have gone before, thank you,” said Winters

Winters said the legislatures worked hard to maintain the Economic Cost Adjustment for teachers, which they were willing to restrict themselves to rather than ask for more during the interim with the recalibration. Each proposal to maintain all or part of the ECA was shot down during the budget debate, but were finally able to keep, after recalculating part of the transportation costs.

The Wolf Depredation bill Winters is carrying made it through the various committees and through its first discussion on the House floor. This bill answers some of the challenges that have arisen over the wolf issue for ag producers who are suffering because of a federal ruling by a Federal Court judge. They are in a situation where they have increasing pressure from wolves and yet cannot take care of them and currently do not receive help with the damages done to their livestock.

“The discussion appears to be going quite well and I will continue to push for it’s passage,” said Winters