Wyoming’s Frivolous Spending Habits (OPINION)

It turns out that many conservatives in the Wyoming House & Senate are not as fiscally conservative as they would like us to think.

Nor do they understand the proper role of government.

In the past, despite being called the nation's most conservative state, Wyoming has been caught overspending.

When times were good the money flowed in and your Wyoming government found ways to spend it all.

When the bottom fell out of the energy market The Cowboy State suddenly had to find ways to cut their excessive spending.

In the past election, the more conservative Wyoming Freedom Caucus has taken over the House and some of the Senate.

They promised to cut spending even more, and they have been doing that for the most part.

But there are still some items that even the most conservative of spenders can't resist.

The idea of a multi-million dollar competition shooting complex seems attractive. Probably why Wyoming lawmakers are looking for almost $20 million to join a public-private partnership to make it happen.

It was a $10 million offer not long ago but that has now more than doubled.

Then there is the idea of creating a "Mount Rushmore" for Wyoming. 

It would not have the name carvings as the one in South Dakota. It would be unique to Wyoming.

A task force is being formed with money set aside to study the idea.

These are just two of the more outstanding items that your Wyoming, so-called fiscally conservative government wants to spend money on.

It turns out many of these lawmakers are not as thrifty as they want us to believe.

Spending cuts only work if we do not find new ways to spend money.

True conservatives are more interested in the proper role of government, which should be limited to a few basic functions.

If somebody wants a world-class shooting range or a monument like South Dakota's, then let them figure out how to get it done without dragging our government or taxpayer dollars into it.