Wyoming Legislative Session Commences

Monday 11 February marked the opening of the 2008 Wyoming Legislative Session in Cheyenne. Even numbered years are sessions that meet for twenty days and are largely focused on assembling a budget for the next two years. Any additional legislation that is taken under consideration is often seemingly superficial or of a type that illicits broad support and requires little debate. For example, an effort to make crimes involving dogfighting a felony instead just a misdemeanor is expected to be easily enacted. The pressure of putting together a workable financially sensible state budget is just too time consuming to allow much debate and discussion on other matters for the most part in these even year shorter sessions.

Many areas, however, are in need of attention and it is hoped that they will be addressed in the '09 session seriously after taking some time to learn and understand about the issues by all legislators. Issues that are in need of attention by state lawmakers include:

1) Strengthening laws concerning resale of copper and other precious and non-precious metals at recycling and other resale facilities, to include mandatory fingerprinting and photographing of sellers and of the materials being sold and keeping of a database for use by law enforcement to assist in solving crimes relating to these materials. Prohibition of sales by minors under age 22 and nonresidents, and resolutions encouraging similar legislation in all surrounding states need enactment as well.

2) A movement towards changing the age for legal purchase, possession, and use of all tobacco products to age 22. This would be accomplished through a phase in period over four years to move the legal age from where it is at currently, 18. The legislation would apply to nonresidents as well as Wyoming residents. Delaying ready availability of this drug would discourage consumption and addiction to at least some extent.

3) A legal ban on the use of any and all consumer credit information by all automobile insurance companies doing business in the state, as well as the prohibition of any residents credit information without their expressed permission by any and all corporations.

4) Enacting legislation to index electric and natural gas rates progressively to allow greater affordability for low income residents. Rates would be lower for lesser amounts of usage than for greater amounts of usage. The $ threshold should be set at one-third of the median residential monthly charge for residential consumers. The additional effect of this measure would be to strongly encourage conservation.

5) Strict regulation and control of the payday loans industry. These entities largely operate on a predatory model exploiting the most susceptable and weakest persons and families in communities. Limits would be placed on all interest rates and any and all kinds of fees by these entities. The benchmark would be strictly limited to 24 % simple interest annually. These entities would all be required to register with state government and compile a data base of those having loans to limit the number of loans held by borrowers at any time. Advertising by these entities would also be prohibited.

6) Enactment of Laws and Ordinances concerning illegal aliens as has been done in Oklahoma and Arizona.

7) Implimentation of a study committee to consider investing 5 % of the permanent fund into wind and solar energy facilities and related transmission capacity infrastructure to hasten the economic diversification of the energy industry in the state and allow for greater renewable energy source options for residents. The study would also determine a strategy on possible future disposition of this energy infrastructure. This would a grand gesture towards working on the problem of global warming.

8) Implimentation of additional fuel taxes on gasoline with an additional premium on diesel fuel. The tax would also be converted from a cents per gallon basis to a percentage basis. These new fuel tax revenues would be supplemented with a specific earmarked tax on all motor vehicle parts, accessories, and service of one to one and one-half percent; and an excise tax on motor vehicle sales in excess of $25,000 of three percent and progressive indexed increases on sales in excess of $40,000. State residents owning personal diesel fueled vehicles would see a 50 % decrease in their registration fees with a sunset on this part in 10 years. Reciepts from these new fuel and motor vehicle based taxes would be designated towards maintenance and improvements on roads and highways in the state, particularly I-80, I-25, I-90, and other essential corridors where rapidly increasing interstate truck traffic is creating safety and maintenance issues and concerns. I-80 is in significant need of widening along many stretches, and on/off ramps need upgrades with increases in the length of acceleration/deceleration lanes throughout the corridor. Significant improvements are also needed concerning lighting, signage, lane striping, safety markers, guard rails, fencing, shoulder and median sizes, and landscaping. The same holds true for stretches of I-25 and I-90. Other areas need road widening and upgrades much as New Mexico and Nebraska have done and continue to do in the last decade or so, resulting in additional freeway level highways in other key corridors in the state such as from Rawlins/Casper; Riverton/Casper; Shoshoni/Casper; Cody/Shoshoni; Pinedale/Rock Springs; Gillette/Douglas; and elsewhere. Modernizing the transportation system in the state is essential to encourage greater economic diversification statewide and keep Wyoming competitive with other nearby states, as well making this infrastructure safer for everyone.

9) Consideration of additional sales taxes on cigarettes, liquor, and unhealthy/fast/takeout food to provide funding for healthcare for all children and low income citizens in the state. This would have the additional side effect of discouraging abusive consumption by many.

10) Improvements on interstate highway entrances into the state (there are five of them) to include landscaping, beautification, lighting, signage, historical and geological infomation markers, and possible construction to facilitate commercial enterprises at these entry points. This would be a small investment towards making the major entrances into our state more friendly and helpful for visitors as well as residents. Similar aesthetic improvements should be done at the two interstate interchanges in the state as well.

11) A resolution strongly encouraging re-establishment of the Amtrak passenger service line across southern Wyoming from Salt Lake to Denver. Consideration of potential funding sources to enable this. Continued support of the proposed high speed rail corridor under consideration from Casper south to the Wyoming-Colorado border and beyond to the Albuquerque, NM, metropolitan area. Efforts to increase mass transit options in the state are essential with rising fuel and transportation costs as well as the increasing aging of the state's population.

12) Strengthening and additional mandating of enforcement with marked increased fines on vehicle assessory violations including illegal loud oversize muffler and exhaust systems, nuisance base stereo systems, under and oversized wheels and tires, exaggerated suspension systems, overly tinted windows, and accessories and indications in place on vehicles that invite and encourage street racing and aggressive driving such as hood scoops, lighting, wheels, exhaust components, and spoilers.

13) A censure of DirecTV and Dish Network for their failure to put the Mountain West Conference sport television channel (the mtn.) on their satellite packages for availability of Wyoming citizens, both urban and rural, who do not have the option of cable or wish to have another option that is more cost efficient and consumer friendly for Wyomingites to follow the games in the conference of their state's sole home university.

14) Renovation and modernization of the state capitol building to bring it up to modern standards of safety, technological, and state-of-the-art utility standards to include an efficient and excellent working HVAC system in the building.

15) Uniformed State and local uniformed law enforcement and other personnel professional appearance and behavior standards enactment. Many uniformed employees present a disheveled, intimidating, and disrespectful appearance and presences. Standards would include grooming, elimination of all facial hair, no intimidating haircuts (such as head shaving), and bans on the use and consumption of steroids and HGH.

16) A further condemnation and rebuke of the Federal Government's REALID legislation and program. Legal refusal to have Wyoming participate in this ill-advised and unconstitutional federal legislation. Resolutions to be issued to all other states encouraging them to do the same.

17) Establishment of a program that weights state and local government contracts and project bids to corporations and companies not paying any official in their organization salaries and total compensations greater than 25 times that of the lowest paid fulltime worker in their organization, and also those businesses paying their highest paid official an amount less than that of the highest paid official in Wyoming state or local government.

18) Establishment of a study group to investigate implimentation of varying state minimum wages on a county level based on the housing costs of each county with implimentation of such a plan within two years.

19) Establishment of increased incentives as well as penalties for recycling efforts or lack of by all businesses. particularly concerning cardboard, metals, plastics, glass, and office papers. There is a significant amount of these materials going straight to landfills, and most companies seem oblivious at best to the consequences of their selfish behaviors in not doing more to address their environmental impacts.

I would be surprised if any of these proposals get enacted in the next two years.

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