Editorial board: Wyoming needs to focus on the future if it wants to retain its young people

We’ve heard tales for years of younger individuals leaving Wyoming for what they understand to be higher alternatives in different states. The census figures again up these anecdotes, and function a warning for anybody who desires Wyoming to flourish lengthy into the longer term.

Our state leaders usually inform us they’re motivated not out of concern for themselves, however for his or her kids and grandchildren. However what does it say about their governance that their kids and grandchildren aren’t sticking round?

The fact is lots of the choices made on the Capitol have been with the current, and never the longer term, in thoughts. The overwhelming focus seems to be on sustaining the established order in order that taxes don’t change, and on legislating nationwide points with little to no bearing on the state. What does it say that we’re anxious that our younger individuals may be uncovered to few books within the Kelly Walsh Excessive College library, however not that they’re selecting in higher numbers to start out their grownup lives elsewhere?

We’ve written many occasions concerning the want for Wyoming’s leaders to develop a plan for placing the state on the trail towards a extra sustainable future. That might require supporting Wyoming’s current vitality trade, but additionally acknowledging that fossil fuels can’t alone generate the income we have to maintain our colleges, our cities and different authorities companies over the long run. Our younger individuals are extra more likely to stick round in the event that they really feel there may be actual financial alternative right here. They’re additionally extra more likely to make Wyoming their dwelling in the event that they imagine its leaders share their values. Because the legislative session will get underway this week, lawmakers can be sensible to do not forget that.

We discover ourselves flush with money because of better-than-anticipated vitality costs. We will afford, with out harming our current, to spend money on new ventures quite than in simply protecting taxes as little as attainable. Gov. Mark Gordon coasted to reelection and is among the nation’s hottest governors. He has the political capital and the money to pursue an aggressive agenda that units Wyoming up for the longer term.

Lawmakers, in the meantime, ought to shrink back from laws that distracts us from the objective of a extra sustainable future. They need to additionally keep away from payments that ship the message to younger individuals to seek out one other place to start out their households. Polls counsel the Legislature is out of step with Wyomingites – particularly younger Wyomingites – on numerous points, from Medicaid enlargement to abortion restrictions. Younger individuals are, by in giant, not anxious about crucial race principle or USDA tips. As an alternative, they wish to know that their group may have assets for younger households, job alternatives and loads of issues to do exterior of labor.

There’s a transparent divide between many younger Republicans and the outdated guard. The Wyoming Republican Social gathering is strongly against same-sex marriage, and plenty of older lawmakers are anxious about gender id points. However the younger individuals they hope will turn into the following era of the GOP by in giant don’t care who individuals love or what their gender is. In reality, they like a group that’s open and welcoming to individuals, relating to of their sexuality or gender. And they’re going to vote with their ft.

In coming days, you’ll heard a lot discuss from lawmakers about defending the longer term for his or her kids and grandchildren. However take note of whether or not their actions are targeted on future generations or on themselves.