Wyoming
Gordon Says Freedom Caucus Criticism Of Him Is ‘Misleading’ And ‘Vague’
In a Thursday guest column for Cowboy State Daily, four members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus accused Gov. Mark Gordon of pushing an “unaffordable” and “unsustainable” proposed budget for the 2024 legislative session, which begins Monday.
Michael Pearlman, a spokesperson for Gordon, said the Freedom Caucus’ claims contain factual errors, and is “misleading” and “vague.”
The Budget
The Freedom Caucus column — signed by state Reps. John Bear, R-Gillette; Tony Locke, R-Casper; Scott Heiner, R-Green River; and Ben Hornok, R-Cheyenne — claims Gordon’s proposed budget submitted to the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee in November represents the largest budget in Wyoming state history at $10.8 billion, a 12% increase from the previous biennial budget.
“That number is misleading,” Pearlman said.
Pearlman said people should solely focus on the state’s general fund expenditures instead of the entire budget, which includes federal money provided to the state and revenue from various taxes and fees.
The governor has much less flexibility in the way that money is spent, and ultimately it’s the Legislature that gets the final say over the entire budget.
Bear disagrees, saying that it doesn’t matter whether it’s federal or state money, it all has the same source: regular folks.
“All the monies from all governments come from the taxpayers,” Bear said. “It’s all ending up as spending that affects the taxpayers.”
Although Gordon originally proposed a $9.9 billion overall budget in November, he’s since submitted $900 million worth of updates.
Save It Or Give It Back
When factoring in the updates for the 2025-26 biennium, the governor’s recommended budget for the general fund is $3.8 billion. Although that’s more than the $2.7 billion he oversaw once taking office in 2019, it’s still lower than the $4.1 billion tally for the current biennium.
The Joint Appropriations Committee approved all but 8%, or $35 million, of Gordon’s proposed budget. It’s also dedicating $310 million for savings.
The governor is actually recommending $530 million to be put in savings, Pearlman said, adding that will help prevent future tax increases.
“While the letter writers speak about spending, the governor supports record amounts of permanent savings to keep taxes low in the future,” Pearlman said.
Bear said he would rather see fewer property taxes levied on Wyoming residents rather than the state putting more money into savings.
“That way people would have more money to spend and help the Wyoming economy,” he said. “I’d rather not take the money in the first place.”
The revenue from property taxes mostly go to schools and local city and county governments in Wyoming.
The Inflation Effect
According to the Freedom Caucus op-ed, the Legislative Service Office has determined that maintaining the same level of services would require a total budget of $8.7 billion, a $2.1 billion difference from Gordon’s proposed budget.
“In other words, the governor’s frugal, fiscally conservative and practical budget is 24% more than what the LSO says is needed to provide the same level of service as provided in past years,” the op-ed says.
Pearlman said the growth of the budget from prior years is a reflection of the impact inflation has had on the Wyoming state government, just as it has increased costs on Wyoming families.
From the proposed budget, Pearlman said $5.7 billion would be used to pay local businesses to provide services for Wyoming residents and local schools.
Bear said when factoring in inflation, people should instead consider that Wyoming incomes have not grown at the same rate as inflation.
The average median monthly income in Wyoming for the first quarter of 2024, according to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, was $4,961. In the first quarter of 2020, shortly prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the median monthly salary was $4,038, representing a growth rate of 18.7% over nearly three years.
“If they’re (wages) not going up, should government’s grow?” Bear questioned. “What does that do to the taxpayer?”
According to data from Wyoming Administration and Information, state employee wages have grown at a nearly identical 18.8% rate during that same time frame.
Pay Raises
The Freedom Caucus writers say that if the budget is approved, state employees will see a 30% increase in total compensation during Gordon’s tenure over the last budget created by former Gov. Matt Mead.
“How many of you have seen your total compensation packages increase 30% in the last five years?” the op-ed says.
In the upcoming budget, Gordon is proposing $1.4 billion for personnel costs. Before he took office, that number was $1.29 billion, representing an increase of about 12%.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, wages in the U.S. increased 6.7% in December 2023 from the same month in the previous year. Wage growth in America has averaged 6.1% annual growth from 1960 until 2023.
“We are right in line or behind the average for Americans,” Pearlman said.
The Freedom Caucus op-ed also mentions how Gordon’s proposal contains a $166 million increase in personnel costs for 6,900 state employees, equating to a $12,000 per year pay bump for each employee in the form of increased salary, health insurance coverage and pension contributions.
Pearlman said although these numbers are accurate, they’re presented in a misleading manner.
It was not until 2022, three years into his time as governor, that Gordon made his first proposal for employee raises. At this time, the state was paying below 2017 market average wages, 38% of state employees reported having to work a second job and 3% of state employees still had to seek out welfare services, Pearlman said.
He said this led to massive vacancies and rampant turnover, most visible among the ranks of Wyoming Highway Patrol, Department of Transportation, Department of Family Services, Office of Public Defender and state nursing staff.
“We have only now started to stem the hemorrhaging,” Pearlman said.
Other Expenditures
The op-ed also accuses the governor of devoting $38 million to affordable housing. This is in reference to the $38 million Gordon dedicates to the Wyoming Business Council for its Business Ready Community Grant and Loan Program.
This program can be used for publicly run affordable housing, but also can entail financing for any kind of publicly owned infrastructure deemed to serve the needs of businesses and promote economic development in a community.
Other investment proposals that the Freedom Caucus brings up that the governor defends is a $21.8 million request for a new law enforcement shooting range and $7.5 million proposal for a new helicopter base for fighting wildland fires.
The new range would be a reconstruction of the gun ranges at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy.
“The governor supports law enforcement and believes they should have a safe training facility,” Pearlman said. “The deterioration of existing berms and residential development in the surrounding area make this an important training and public safety issue for those who support law enforcement in Wyoming. “
The new helicopter base would be an update of the state’s current base for fighting wildland and forest fires.
“The current helibase is aging and expensive to maintain, with firefighters working out of FEMA trailers,” Pearlman said. “The governor believes in the importance of investing in our ability to fight wildfires.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at Leo@CowboyStateDaily.com.
If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.
Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches
Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.
Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.
For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.
The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).
Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.
The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.
The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.
Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson
In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.
Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.
Snow King Mountain
Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.
Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.
The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.
Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side
Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.
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The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.
The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”
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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.
Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.
Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.
Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.
The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.
Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.
A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.
Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.
Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.
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