Legislative Update
#1
8 February 2010
The first day of the 2010 Budget Session kicked off this morning with the Governor's State of the State Address. As expected, given the state of the economy, the issue of limited financial resources is going to be an overriding concern this session. The Governor's address focused heavily on fiscal conservation. No doubt this issue will be a recurring theme in many of the debates we will hear over the next four weeks. Click here for a copy of his address.
Before I review bills we are watching, let me offer some encouragement for your involvement. I enjoy working the session and I hope to be as effective as I can be, but the truth is that you have more influence as a constituent than I have as a lobbyist. I strongly recommend that you check out the legislature's website: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/. This is the best resource for reviewing proposed bills, finding out who's on which committee, and keeping tabs on things in general. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Legislators can be contacted by e-mail. For the e-mail address, go to the website and click on "House Members/Senate Members/Committee Members" in the center of the screen. You can also use the "E-mail Your Senator" or "E-mail your Representative" button in the center of the screen.
For more information on participating in the session, check out the options at http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LEGINFO/participate.htm.
Now let's talk about our legislative priorities this session. Right now, there aren't very many. We will have direct involvement in two important bills sponsored by the Joint Travel Committee:
Illegal fish stocking - Illegal stocking of fish (including walleye, burbot, and others) has resulted in disastrous consequences for fisheries in many parts of Wyoming. The Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee has sponsored a bill to increase the penalty for illegal fish stocking. See http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2010/Introduced/HB0009.pdf.
Aquatic invasive species - A number of exotic species like quagga mussels and zebra mussels, if introduced to Wyoming's streams, lakes, and rivers, could pose serious challenges for native species and ruin boats and equipment. The Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee has sponsored a bill to proactively control the spread of these species. See http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2010/Introduced/HB0018.pdf.
In addition, we will be involved in discussions regarding the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust. The current balance of the trust account is approximately $90 million. Governor Dave Freudenthal has proposed investing $5 million in the trust account. In addition, a total of approximately $6 million in project funding is being proposed. For more information on WWNRTF, see http://wwnrt.state.wy.us/index.htm.
Walt Gasson, Executive Director
Wyoming Wildlife Federation
8 February 2010
The first day of the 2010 Budget Session kicked off this morning with the Governor's State of the State Address. As expected, given the state of the economy, the issue of limited financial resources is going to be an overriding concern this session. The Governor's address focused heavily on fiscal conservation. No doubt this issue will be a recurring theme in many of the debates we will hear over the next four weeks. Click here for a copy of his address.
Before I review bills we are watching, let me offer some encouragement for your involvement. I enjoy working the session and I hope to be as effective as I can be, but the truth is that you have more influence as a constituent than I have as a lobbyist. I strongly recommend that you check out the legislature's website: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/. This is the best resource for reviewing proposed bills, finding out who's on which committee, and keeping tabs on things in general. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Legislators can be contacted by e-mail. For the e-mail address, go to the website and click on "House Members/Senate Members/Committee Members" in the center of the screen. You can also use the "E-mail Your Senator" or "E-mail your Representative" button in the center of the screen.
For more information on participating in the session, check out the options at http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LEGINFO/participate.htm.
Now let's talk about our legislative priorities this session. Right now, there aren't very many. We will have direct involvement in two important bills sponsored by the Joint Travel Committee:
Illegal fish stocking - Illegal stocking of fish (including walleye, burbot, and others) has resulted in disastrous consequences for fisheries in many parts of Wyoming. The Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee has sponsored a bill to increase the penalty for illegal fish stocking. See http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2010/Introduced/HB0009.pdf.
Aquatic invasive species - A number of exotic species like quagga mussels and zebra mussels, if introduced to Wyoming's streams, lakes, and rivers, could pose serious challenges for native species and ruin boats and equipment. The Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee has sponsored a bill to proactively control the spread of these species. See http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2010/Introduced/HB0018.pdf.
In addition, we will be involved in discussions regarding the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust. The current balance of the trust account is approximately $90 million. Governor Dave Freudenthal has proposed investing $5 million in the trust account. In addition, a total of approximately $6 million in project funding is being proposed. For more information on WWNRTF, see http://wwnrt.state.wy.us/index.htm.
Walt Gasson, Executive Director
Wyoming Wildlife Federation