Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, in his State of The State speech to state lawmakers on Wednesday said Wyoming continues to thrive because of ''our conservative values and common-sense decision making."

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You can see the governor's speech in the video attached to this article.

Gordon Calls For Accountability And Efficiency

“From generation to generation Wyoming has grown and continues to thrive because of our conservative values and common-sense decision making,” the Governor said. “We have always been able to adapt to breakthroughs, meet challenges, and build a future by assuring our government is accountable, efficient, and responsible."

Gordon told lawmakers that despite a lot of rhetoric in the 2024 election campaign about the supposed growth of state government, there are now 300 fewer state employees than when he took office "despite the expanded workload the Biden Administration’s programs and inflationary policies put on the state."

The governor advocated for his proposed supplemental budget, which he said is solid, balanced and well constructed. Among other things, the governor's budget calls for:

  • $7 M in inflation related ongoing expenses
  • $3.5 M for to extend and expand the coal litigation fund ,making it a natural resources litigation fund.
  • Support for access to obstetrics and mental health care providers
  • Funding for firefighting and restoring fire-ravaged lands after a record fire season.

The governor also stressed the importance of strengthening Wyoming’s infrastructure. He asked the legislature to allocate additional funds to the Mineral Royalty Grant (MRG) program, which is used to address emergency situations related to failing infrastructure in Wyoming communities.

Lawmakers on Tuesday convened for a roughly two-month general session. It could be a busy one, as some reports indicate as many as 600 bills dealing with a wide variety of topics could be introduced.

Laramie County's Most Wanted Fugitives

The Laramie County Sheriff's Office is currently looking for these individuals:

Gallery Credit: Joy Greenwald

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