Government has too much in education
I really wish that all governmental agencies would quit interfering in the education of our youth. When No Child Left Behind was initially introduced to educators, it looked really great on paper. It was the way to make our students successful and competitive in the world markets. Right! The plan to test students became a monster that has basically destroyed the love of learning and more importantly...the love of teaching. Testing is not the answer to our educational dilemma. Teachers chose to teach because they loved learning and wanted to share their love of learning with their students. They did not choose to teach because they loved testing. I left teaching because I did not feel that I was able to what was expected by the government. I could not make all of my students answer the same question, on the same day, at the same time correctly. What was the fun in that?
I have taught students who have become doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, state legislators, mayors, county commissioners, city council members, business owners, teachers, military specialists, homemakers, coaches, professional athletes and hard-working citizens of our city, county, state, and country. Guess what? We did this with two things. Teachers who loved to learn and wanted to share. Young people who loved learning and wanted to become successful. And...we did it with minimal testing. We need to let the teachers teach...and let the kids learn.
Linda Poppleton Whites
From Editor Nicholas De Laat: I call “No child left behind” in my words “No child gets ahead” for a reason. I still believe that denying federal money is the first step, because then you are denying federal policies. The people, parents, and teachers of Wyoming would be much better at running our own education system and teaching our children. I have talked to many teachers, and their biggest complaint is the restraints they have that turn into an inability to teach the way they should. You are absolutely, and in every way, right!
I believe that Campbell County Citizens might be interested in investigating the Campbell County Assessor’s Office and the most recent property tax assessments. When my husband and I received our assessment, we felt it was rather high, so we scheduled an appointment to protest the amount. The Assessor’s office could provide no ‘comparables’ from our subdivision, and two of their examples – all from vastly different areas of town – were from early 2010 (the housing market is substantially different now than it was then). In doing research, with the help of our real estate agent, we have discovered some oddities. Because Wyoming is a non-disclosure state, most of our information has been comparing actual assessments to list prices of homes currently on the market, but we have found information on prices of houses that have sold within the last few months in our subdivision, versus their assessed value. What we have found is a disturbing trend: homes that have sold, or are selling, at under $180K are being assessed at an average of 22% over their sales, or selling, price. Even more disturbing, houses on the upper end of the spectrum, $200K and above, are being assessed at an average of 34% below their listing prices. One extreme example is an assessment for unimproved property (being assessed at $78K) that actually has a house built on it that is currently for sale (4 bed, 3 bath, listing at $575K – 1600 Sun Ridge Avenue).
According to the "Glossary of Terms" at the Assessor's website:
"9. Fair Market Value: The amount of money a well-informed buyer would pay and a well-informed seller would accept for property that has been on the open market for a reasonable amount of time, assuming neither buyer nor seller is acting under pressure."
Since the assessments read “Fair Market Value,” we are convinced that something is definitely wrong, because there is no rhyme or reason to the assessed values and the current market condition. The representative from the Assessor’s office to whom we spoke last week, Angela, showed us only 3 or 4 “comparables” for the last 2 years. This seems to us ‘cherry picking’ for assessed values in order to increase revenue from smaller homes, despite actual market trends, as we find it difficult to believe that fewer than 5 homes in Gillette have sold in the last 2 years that are similar to ours.
Additionally, Troy Clements threw me out of his office last Friday morning when I had the audacity to remind him that he works for me, and every other tax-paying resident of Campbell County. This came about because I wanted to file a complaint against one of his employees for her treatment of my husband when he went into the office Thursday to file the official protest paperwork for the assessment. It is evident that Mr. Clements has forgotten that he, and his staff, are public servants.
Sherilyn & Brian Likewise
Gillette
From Editor Nicholas De Laat: I am now going to check up on my property taxes, and if this is happening, we need to do something about it. I will get back with you when I find out from my end. Great job staying informed, researching, and educating yourself.
Something for the public to be reminded of: neither John Opseth or Ted Jerred were elected to the City Council, they were appointed to those seats.
Something else to think about: Garner Lake Village, a 174 acre housing/commercial development, is on the other side of Boxelder Street from the Field of Dreams. The first phase which is gearing up to begin, is 106 housing lots directly across from the Field of Dreams. One part of the infrastructure deemed needed for the Field of Dreams, Axel's Avenue, is a new street that will be directly across from one of the entrances for Garner Lake Village. The electrical, water, and sewer that the City will install for the Field of Dreams would benefit this new housing/commercial development if they connect to it, quite convenient if it happens.
The land for this house/commercial development was purchased back in 2006 by anonymous investors and is now primed to begin development. According to the City, the Field of Dreams development will take 10-15 years, the developer for Garner Lake Village also anticipate it'll take 10-15 years for their development as well. Jaime Tarver, a civil engineer and Senior Project Manager at DOWL HKM, is the person who designed the layout for Garner Lake Village. While she did this she also sat upon, as Vice Chair, the Public Works & Utilities Advisory Committee for the City of Gillette.
Ask yourself now, with the infrastructure (roads, utilities) of the Field of Dreams of vital importance and of an utmost priority in the upcoming budget to be built as soon as the Council approves the plan, who will benefit the most and who is the Field of Dreams really needed for? What's the real reason for the Field of Dreams, what conflicts of interest were involved with this project? Why aren't the current baseball fields remodeled and expanded?
Letter Submitted via. Facebook by John Hammond
From Editor Nicholas De Laat: First, Councilman Opseth was elected in 2010. Your information is wrong. I don’t know about the rest, but I would hope that there would be no kickbacks of any kind, as I would hope that all of our elected officials would have the honor that is needed to hold an office. I am personally against the field of dreams (speaking for me only, not the Campbell County Observer and it’s staff), but I do believe that the people who support it have the best intensions in mind.
Letter Submitted via. Facebook by John Hammond
From Editor Nicholas De Laat: First, Councilman Opseth was elected in 2010. Your information is wrong. I don’t know about the rest, but I would hope that there would be no kickbacks of any kind, as I would hope that all of our elected officials would have the honor that is needed to hold an office. I am personally against the field of dreams (speaking for me only, not the Campbell County Observer and it’s staff), but I do believe that the people who support it have the best intensions in mind.
By Glenn Woods
“You hate me, don’t you?” I sighed and I smiled at Wendy. She laughed.
Wendy is the lady who really runs the show down at the Wyoming State Capital in Cheyenne. She heads up the non-partisan office that is between The House and The Senate, providing for the representatives everything they need when they are in session.
Every year, I broadcast live from the Capital, in order to give the legislators, who I pick-on the rest of the year, a fair chance to speak their minds and their points of view. Last year, Wendy set me up in a big office on the third floor of the Capital, and assigned to me a young page running to get me coffee if my cup even looked a little low, and a key to the executive wash room just across the hall from where I was broadcasting should I need to relieve myself.
But this year Wendy led me past that plush office, down toward the Senate side of the Capital, to a room that was small enough to be a closet. Come to think of it there were a few coats hanging in there.
“Sorry,” she said, “you’ll be on our own this year. I hope you brought your own coffee.”
I guess I can’t blame here. I’d spent the past year, on air, bashing almost everyone and everything at the Capital, on my radio show. Figures I’d be demoted to the hall closet. As Wendy wished me luck and walked away I began to wonder where she would put me next year, if I continued my endless assault. Maybe downstairs in the cellar, to the men’s room, where I’d be broadcasting, live, from the 3rd stall, and where I would only get an interview with a Senator or a Representative if he came down to --- do some business.
Ok, truth be told, Wendy is just the cutest sweetest woman I know in Cheyenne. She would never do such a thing. Still, looking at the coats hanging in the room, I had to wonder.
I let out one final sigh then quickly got busy setting up for my live broadcast. Everything would have to fit on a little three foot by four foot desk. I crammed it in the best I could and got ready for my first guest as I checked in with the studio back in Gillette. The topics and the guests would be fast and furious. One of the most interesting guests was the state Representatives who co-sponsored the bill that would require welfare recipients in Wyoming to take a drug test if they are to receive state welfare.
“It’s like we have state employees that we are paying not to work,” he said. “They even have to fill out an application for the non-job. Well, if state employees who actually work have to pass a drug test, why not those employees we pay not to work?”
“For that matter,” I said, “why not give them a job? New York City has ‘Work-Fair’ rather than welfare. To get a check they have to perform some sort of job for the city. That makes them an employee of the state; therefore they have to take a drug test.”
The Representative nodded as he smiled and thought about the idea. This is why I love my job. The bug that I just put in his ear might just be added to the bill.
The broadcast from The Capital was up and running and doing well, until my producer, back in Gillette, forgot to turn my mic off during a commercial break. I’m sure those of you who were listing were delighting to hear my announcement that I had to rush off and PEE --- REAL BAD! You could not have missed it if you were tuned in. I said it right into the mic and it went out over the airwaves, loud and clear. ---- Of all times to leave the mic on, it has to be then.
BUT WAIT!! ---- You have not yet heard the best part of the trip.
I spent some time up in the galleries watching our legislators at work, until I had about had enough. Then I went over to see my friend Cindy Hill, Superintendent of Public Instruction. Her office is across the street from the Capital, on the second floor, with a beautiful view of the Capitol. While she was talking something distracted me, and I stopped her in mid-sentence.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “but I think I see someone up in the capitol dome. Do they let people up there?”
“You can always ask,” she said.
Back at the Capitol I asked at the security desk, and because it was quiet, and most everyone was on dinner break, he figured, sure, why not. Moments later, there I was, at up at the very top of the dome, looking out across Wyoming’s capital city.
My eyes turned from the skyline to the many signatures, as anyone who was anyone, over the years, had signed their names on the old metal beams.
“So, Cynthia Lummis defaced the capitol back when she was state treasurer I see.” and I let out a laugh.
“I have her signature too,” said the state trooper. His slow, thoughtful way of speaking echoed through the dome leaving his words hanging in the air. “On a speeding ticket. Back when she was state treasurer. She was driving a state vehicle at the time.”
My laugh rang the top of the dome like a church bell.
Folks, I have to tell you -- I LOVE MY JOB!
By Glenn Woods
City Hall is about to spend another hundred thousand dollars on a midget cross walk, with longer walk timers to give those little legs a chance to hustle across the street. The County Commission is about to spend another fifty thousand on a dog mating park, because animal right activists feel them pooches need to be spared the embarrassment of doing it in view of the public. I mean, with everything being posed on YouTube these days…. We just can’t have Fido and Fluffy embarrassed like that. The state is considering a new law banning the eating of cooked cabbage in the state of Wyoming to fight Global Warming. -- It causes the release of methane you know.
Quickly I get on the air and implore my radio listeners to show up fight this flood of insanity, and right off the bat the excuses come my way.
1). I would show up at the next city council meeting but, you know, I have this job, and it takes all my time.
Right, but the people on the opposing side of the argument, they have jobs too but they show up.
2). I would show up and fight but I have kids and they take all my time.
Yeah but the people on the other side, they have kids too but they are able to show up.
3). Yeah but they took all the good baby sitters and we can’t leave our kids at home with bad baby sitters.
OH, come on. REALLY!?
4). But I don’t know when the meeting is so I’m probably going to miss it.
But your local government posts all of these meeting places and times online. All you have to do is look it up and make the time.
5). I can’t look it up my dog ate my laptop.
OH -- for the love of…..
6). LOOK --- I just don’t have the time.
If you really cared, you would make the time.
Honestly, we are letting the inmates run the asylum in this nation. We don’t have to let these nut balls win. The only reason they always seen to win is that we, the sensible people of the world, never bother to show up and put up a fight. Now come on, how bad to things need to get before we have had enough and bother to show up and put up a fight?
7). It was raining.
Yeah, well the other side still showed up, even though it was raining.
8). It was snowing.
Again - THEY still showed up.
9) OK FINE! No matter what we do those in government always do what they want to do no matter what we say so what’s the point.
But those in government don’t know how you feel about these issues because you never bother to show up and speak out. Remember, this is YOUR government. These people work for YOU! If YOU never bother to show up then those in government will only hear one point of view and so they will always vote against YOU!
Add to that, you have to realize that showing up just once is never enough you have show up to win, then remain vigilant to ensure the victory.
10). "I need to spend more time with my dog."
Get a dog sitter
11). But the people on the other side took all the best dog sitters.
I’m sorry what?
12) "I swear I have a high maintenance bird."
GREAT! Let’s have a BBQ!
Ok, we are past ten excuses here and your nation is going broke, we are buried in laws and regulations and…
13) "'My mother has cancer”
LIAR! You mother died five years ago.
14). My dog ate my copy of The Constitution.
SIGH ----OKAY! Fine --- stay home. And as this nation, you liberties, and all your hard earned money is taken from you, along with your children’s future, we can all be rest assured that is was not your fault.
I mean --- you can’t be blamed if you never got involved --- RIGHT?
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – This morning Governor Matt Mead signed Wyoming’s budget for the next two years. The budget keeps government spending flat, makes investments in cities, towns and counties and supports highways. Governor Mead noted this budget recognizes declining revenues.
“This budget moves Wyoming forward, but is appropriately cautious with public dollars,” Governor Mead said. “We can now take a longer look at strategic cuts if revenue continues to decline and, unfortunately, natural gas prices have continued to slide.”
Governor Mead did use his Constitutional authority to veto select portions of the budget bill. “Exercise of the Governor’s veto power should never be undertaken lightly and I do not do so now,” Governor Mead wrote to Senate President Jim Anderson.
Governor Mead vetoed certain language dealing with the Chief Information Officer’s scope of responsibility for review of educational accountability data. Governor Mead also vetoed language that would have reduced staff in the Department of Environmental Quality, along with the budget series subject to zero based budgeting and a section that would have caused state employees to pay higher costs for health insurance.
Governor Mead was joined for the signing by President Jim Anderson, Speaker Ed Buchanan, the Chairs of the Joint Appropriations Committee, Senator Phil Nicholas and Representative Rosie Berger, as well as the rest of the Committee. “I want to thank all the members of the Joint Appropriations Committee for all their work throughout the year. I hope the citizens of Wyoming recognize the tremendous effort you put into creating a sound budget,” Governor Mead said.
Governor Mead also signed House Bill 121 this morning. That bill is related to Abandoned Mine Land funds. Governor Mead did make a line item veto to this bill in order to remove language that potentially conflicted with federal law.
Below are the rest of the Bills signed in by Governor Mead:
Bill Number
Enrolled Act
Sponsor
Title
1.
HJ0008
HEJR0004
Lockhart
National day of the cowboy
2.
SF0099
SEA0040
Nicholas, P
Guardian ad litem program
3.
SF0043
SEA0044
Travel
State parks-acquisition of lands
4.
SF0065
SEA0056
Anderson
Applied agricultural research funding program
5.
HB0076
HEA0029
Petroff
Resort liquor license
6.
HB0108
HEA0042
McKim
Professional teaching standards board-teacher certification
7.
SF0025
SEA0062
Judiciary
Public records
8.
SF0027
SEA0063
Judiciary
Public meetings
9.
HJ0003
HEJR0003
Botten
Resolution-parents’ rights
Bill Number
Enrolled Act
Sponsor
Title
1.
HB0092
HEA0030
Craft
911 services-eligible entities
2.
HB0021
HEA0031
McOmie
Exceeding speed limit while passing
3.
SF0036
SEA0030
Travel
State parks-acquisition of LX Bar ranch
4.
SF0067
SEA0031
Perkins
Real estate brokers and sales agents-opinions on value
5.
SF0024
SEA0032
Judiciary
Property exempt from execution
6.
SF0042
SEA0033
Nat Res Fund
Large project funding
7.
SF0078
SEA0034
Johnson
Interstate compact on students of military families
8.
SF0082
SEA0035
Burns
ATM fees
9.
SF0083
SEA0036
Coe
Cigarette manufacturing
10.
SF0052
SEA0039
Rothfuss
Dyslexia screening and response
11.
SF0058
SEA0042
Labor
Health insurance exchange study
12.
SF0026
SEA0043
Judiciary
District court judges increases
13.
SF0071
SEA0053
Christensen
Aquatic invasive species
Bill Number
Enrolled Act
Sponsor
Title
1.
SF0036
SEA0030
Travel
State parks-acquisition of LX Bar ranch
2.
SF0067
SEA0031
Perkins
Real estate brokers and sales agents-opinions on value
3.
SF0024
SEA0032
Judiciary
Property exempt from execution
4.
SF0042
SEA0033
Nat Res Fund
Large project funding
5.
SF0078
SEA0034
Johnson
Interstate compact on students of military families
6.
SF0083
SEA0036
Coe
Cigarette manufacturing
7.
HB0092
HEA0030
Craft
911 services-eligible entities
8.
HB0021
HEA0031
McOmie
Exceeding speed limit while passing
9.
SF0052
SEA0039
Rothfuss
Dyslexia screening and response
10.
SF0058
SEA0042
Labor
Health insurance exchange study
11.
SF0071
SEA0053
Christensen
Aquatic invasive species
Bill Number
Enrolled Act
Sponsor
Title
1.
SF0033
SEA0020
Mgt Audit
Department of enterprise technology services
2.
HB0054
HEA0024
Berger
Crime victim service providers-reporting
3.
HB0055
HEA0013
Berger
Perfection of security interests-titled personal property
4.
SF0029
SEA0025
Esquibel, F
Spice definition amended
5.
HB0040
HEA0019
Byrd
Optional sales/use tax-uses
6.
HB0022
HEA0022
Blake
Gold star license plates-expanded eligibility
7.
SF0046
SEA0027
Martin
Liens-fuel consumed in a project
8.
HB0005
HEA0010
Corporations
Life and health insurance guarantee association-limitations
9.
HB0015
HEA0011
Corporations
Insurance-surplus lines
10.
HB0016
HEA0012
Corporations
Insurance code-revisions
11
SF0006
SEA0018
Corporations
County memorial hospital districts-staggered terms
12.
SF0004
SEA0017
Corporations
Registered agents-commercial agent registration
13.
HB0004
HEA0009
Transportation
Ignition interlock program fees
14.
HB0088
HEA0016
Krone
DUI-penalties
15.
SF0055
SEA0028
Bebout
Purchase of federal lands
16.
SF0012
SEA0022
Minerals
Nuclear energy task force extension
17.
SF0014
SEA0023
Minerals
Nuclear and hybrid energy system related projects
18.
HB0009
HEA0017
Labor
Unemployment insurance compliance
19.
SF0032
SEA0019
Labor
Workers’ compensation amendments
20.
HB0013
HEA0018
Brown
Wind estate disclosure
21.
HB0050
HEA0020
Brown
Insurance fraud prevention
22.
HB0041
HEA0023
Water
Omnibus water bill-planning
23.
SF0019
SEA0024
Agriculture
Predator management districts-management
24.
HB0002
HEA0021
Peasley
Service of process fees
25.
HB0072
HEA0015
McOmie
Juvenile detention facility placements
26.
HB0066
HEA0014
Stubson
Industrial siting-financial resources
27.
SF0017
SEA0021
Travel
Game and fish-authority revisions
Wyoming State Representative Dave Miller sponsored House Bill 85 – Government Continuity during the 2012 Wyoming Legislative Session. The bill failed in the Wyoming House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 on a vote of 27-30 with 3 excused. The bill as proposed by Rep. Miller can be found at the below link. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/HB0085.pdf The bill would have created a task force of members of the Wyoming Legislature and members of the Wyoming executive branch to study potential impacts on Wyoming of, and preparation of the government and the people of Wyoming for, potential disruption of the United States federal government. The Wyoming Legislature meets for 40 days in every odd numbered years for a general session. In even numbered years, the Wyoming Legislature meets for 20 days for the budget session to set the budget for the next two years. This year is an even numbered year, so the Wyoming Legislature is holding a budget session during the month of February and early March. Non-budget bills may be introduced if 2/3 of the initiating house votes that the bill may be heard during a budget session. The bill was allowed by the House of Representatives to be heard during a budget session through an introductory vote. The bill was then heard in the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee and received a Do Pass recommendation. The bill was also heard in the House Appropriations Committee and received a Do Pass recommendation. The bill was then brought to the floor of the Wyoming House of Representatives and amendments were added to the bill. Those amendments can be seen in the digest attached below. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Digest/HB0085.htm Wyoming State Representative Kermit Brown offered a tongue in cheek amendment of the following: "(vii) Conditions under which the state of Wyoming should implement a draft, raise a standing army, marine corps, navy and air force and acquire strike aircraft and an aircraft carrier.". BROWN On the next day the amendment was removed from the bill. The members of the Wyoming House of Representatives recognized the amendment in the manner that it was offered, as a tongue in cheek amendment offered to make the point by Rep. Brown that he did not agree with the bill. On 3rd and Final reading of the bill, the Wyoming House of Representatives voted to defeat the bill on a vote of 27 to 30 with 3 excused. The audio of the amendment being offered by Rep. Brown can be found on the attached audio . The debate on the bill begins at 40:47 and the amendment is offered at 51:42. House Speaker Ed Buchanan stated, “We wanted to draw attention to a serious issue at the national level. Political and military leaders have said that the greatest danger to our national security is our national debt. We sent the message. It was received. We had a little fun with it along the way to get our point across. Wyoming continues to work on issues that are of importance to our state and be sound stewards of our resources. “ Submitted by State Representative Keith Gingery – Jackson Hole/Dubois Speaker Pro Tempore – Wyoming House of Representatives
Forced Health Insurance Purchase under Obamacare
CHEYENNE: The Wyoming Liberty Group (WyLiberty ) today joins 17 public policy research organizations and a bipartisan group of 333 state legislators in a friend-of-the-court (amicus) brief urging the Supreme Court to affirm the ruling that Obamcare's individual mandate exceeds Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.
"The very notion that Congress could force people to purchase any good or service it likes throws the principle of limited government right out the window," said Benjamin Barr, counsel with WyLiberty. "This brief brings sane limits to Congress's authority and refutes the idea that regulating inactivity is within its jurisdiction."
The brief argues against Obamacare's individual mandate, the requirement that most Americans purchase qualifying health insurance or pay a tax beginning in 2014. Although Obamacare's other requirements could remain in place if the individual mandate goes down, politically, Obamacare would be a dead letter because the individual mandate is considered Obamacare's keystone.
"We've worked to stop Obamacare as it tries to creep into Wyoming through Health Insurance Exchanges while providing real solutions to lower health care costs without tyrannically forcing everyone into a bogus system that masquerades as a market," said Steve Klein, WyLiberty staff attorney. "We believe this brief will remind the Supreme Court Justices that our founding principles are the very reason for the success of the American experiment and cannot be sacrificed."
Oral argument has been scheduled for March 26, 27, and 28, 2012 and a decision will issue this term.
Press Release
The Wyoming House of Representatives worked on the redistricting bill today. The Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Committee has been meeting throughout the past year in communities across Wyoming in formulating a new redistricting plan for Wyoming. Every 10 years the Wyoming Legislature is required to adjust legislative districts to reflect the change in the census. Each legislative district needs to include essentially the same number of voters. Chairman Illoway of Cheyenne and his committee have done an outstanding job in listening to the voters of Wyoming and formulating a plan that was fair and equitable.
Only one amendment was made to the plan, a small change involving the City of Cheyenne. The redistricting bill still has 2 more readings in the House, and thus more amendments could be made.
Speaker Buchanan stated “I am very appreciative to Chairman Illoway and his committee for their diligent and thorough work on the redistricting plan. The redistricting plan is moving through the House of Representatives in an orderly manner and we look forward to further debate on this very important bill.”
Health care is an area that generates much discussion, thoughtful debate and increasing concern. This is one of the reasons I wanted to engage the people of Wyoming with a series of town hall meetings. These meetings give citizens across the state a chance to discuss problems they experience with health care in their communities and what can be done to improve health care delivery.
I oppose the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One of my first actions as Governor was to instruct the Wyoming Attorney General to join the lawsuit seeking to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments this spring and there may be a ruling as early as June 2012. I hope the Affordable Care Act will be declared unconstitutional.
In the meantime, Wyoming cannot sit back and do nothing to tackle these issues. Wyoming people face real and significant problems ranging from the cost of care to limited services, from the inability to purchase insurance to difficulty in finding a doctor. These are not challenges we can leave unaddressed. We need to focus on primary care and consider state-driven solutions such as medical homes, and we must push for the best use of technology in health care delivery. Technology can improve both the availability and quality of care across the state.
In my proposed budget for the next two years I recommended $250,000 in matching funds for the Wyoming Integrated Care Network, $100,000 for Wyoming Health Matters and $100,000 for the 2-1-1 networks. While the Joint Appropriations Committee did not approve all of my recommendations I believe these initiatives show signs of success and could be part of a health care solution that fits Wyoming’s needs and culture.
Another health care option currently being explored is the concept of health benefit exchanges. Heath benefit exchanges are mandated by the Affordable Care Act, which I oppose. However, if the Affordable Care Act is not overturned–and if Wyoming does not take preliminary, nonbinding steps to keep options open, then Wyoming could be limited to a federally run health exchange. If an exchange is mandated I prefer to have a state-run exchange. I hope the public will provide feedback about this concept.
As I noted, my staff is participating in town hall meetings across the state. These meetings (there will be seven in all) are designed to hear from Wyoming people about the hurdles they face in health care, their ideas on how to improve health care in Wyoming and finally their opinions on a health care exchange. Thank you to the people who have come out and participated and to the others who have taken time to write or call my office to offer input.
I want to be crystal clear. I oppose the Affordable Care Act and have devoted both Wyoming’s talent and resources to fight the federal mandate. Wyoming will address health care on its own terms. If Wyoming is ever required by the federal government to enact an exchange, we will do so consistent with the views of Wyoming people. I am glad to hear from you and look forward to more discussion as together we tackle Wyoming health care issues with Wyoming ingenuity.
The Campbell County Observer will print a couple bills every week with responses from our local Campbell County Senators and Representatives. Here are the two for this week.
Bill 1
2012 STATE OF WYOMING
12LSO-0132
1 HJ0003
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. HJ0003
Resolution-parents' rights.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Botten, Davison, Illoway,
Kroeker, Lubnau, Semlek and Vranish and
Senator(s) Dockstader and Landen
A BILL
for
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress submit to the states
2 a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution
3 prohibiting the infringement of parents' rights.
4
5 WHEREAS, the right of parents to direct the upbringing and
6 education of their children is a fundamental right
7 protected by the Constitution of the United States and the
8 State of Wyoming; and
9
10 WHEREAS, our nation has historically relied first and
11 foremost on parents to meet the real and constant needs of
12 children; and
13
14 WHEREAS, the interests of children are best served when
15 parents are free to make child rearing decisions about
2012 STATE OF WYOMING 12LSO-0132
2 HJ0003
1 education, religion and other areas of a child's life
2 without government interference; and
3
4 WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court in Wisconsin v.
5 Yoder (1972), has held that "This primary role of the
6 parents in the upbringing of their children is now
7 established beyond debate as an enduring American
8 tradition"; and
9
10 WHEREAS, subsequently, the United States Supreme Court in
11 Troxel v. Granville (2000), produced six (6) different
12 opinions on the nature and enforceability of parental
13 rights under the United States Constitution; and
14
15 WHEREAS, this decision has created confusion and ambiguity
16 about the fundamental nature of parental rights in the laws
17 and society of the several states; and
18
19 WHEREAS, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
20 Child has been proposed and may soon be considered for
21 ratification by the United States Senate, which would
22 drastically alter this fundamental right of parents to
23 direct the upbringing of their children; and
24
2012 STATE OF WYOMING 12LSO-0132
3 HJ0003
1 WHEREAS, this convention has already been acceded to by one
2 hundred ninety-four (194) nations worldwide; and
3
4 WHEREAS, Senator James DeMint of the state of South
5 Carolina and Representative Peter Hoekstra of the state of
6 Michigan introduced in the first session of the 111th
7 United States Congress, later reintroduced in the second
8 session of the 111th United States Congress, an amendment
9 to the United States Constitution to prevent erosion of the
10 enduring American tradition of treating parental rights as
11 fundamental rights:
12
13 SECTION ONE. The liberty of parents to direct the
14 upbringing and education of their children is a
15 fundamental right.
16
17 SECTION TWO. Neither the United States nor any state
18 shall infringe upon this right without demonstrating
19 that its governmental interest as applied to the
20 person is of the highest order and not otherwise
21 served.
22
23 SECTION THREE. No treaty may be adopted nor shall any
24 source of international law be employed to supersede,
2012 STATE OF WYOMING 12LSO-0132
4 HJ0003
1 modify, interpret, or apply to the rights guaranteed
2 by this article.
3
4 WHEREAS, this amendment will add explicit text to the
5 Constitution of the United States to protect in perpetuity
6 the rights of parents as they are now enjoyed, without
7 substantive change to current state or federal laws
8 respecting these rights; and
9
10 WHEREAS, such enumeration of these rights in the text of
11 the Constitution will preserve them from being infringed
12 upon by the shifting ideologies and interpretations of the
13 United States Supreme Court; and
14
15 WHEREAS, such enumeration of these rights in the text of
16 the Constitution will preserve them from being infringed
17 upon by treaty or international law.
18
19 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
20 LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:
21
22 Section 1. That the Legislature of the State of
23 Wyoming urges the members of the United States Congress to
2012 STATE OF WYOMING 12LSO-0132
5 HJ0003
1 propose the Parental Rights Amendment to the states for
2 ratification.
3
4 Section 2. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming
5 transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the
6 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of
7 Congress and members of the Wyoming Congressional
8 Delegation.
9
10 (END)
Bill 2
2012 STATE OF WYOMING 12LSO-0245
1 SF0044
SENATE FILE NO. SF0044
Parental responsibilities.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Case and Representative(s) McOmie
A BILL
for
1 AN ACT relating to parents, guardians and custodians;
2 increasing penalties relating to school attendance; and
3 providing for an effective date.
4
5 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
6
7 Section 1. W.S. 21-4-105 is amended to read:
8
9 21-4-105. Penalty for failure of parent, guardian or
10 custodian to comply with article.
11
12 Any parent, guardian or custodian of any child to whom this
13 article applies who willfully fails, neglects, or refuses
14 to comply with the provisions of this article shall be
15 guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of
16 not less than five dollars ($5.00) one hundred dollars
17 ($100.00) nor more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or by
2012 STATE OF WYOMING 12LSO-0245
2 SF0044
1 one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment in the
2 county jail for not more than ten (10) days, or by both.
3 such fine and imprisonment.
4
5 Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2012.
6
7 (END)
Hello Campbell County,
House Joint Resolution 0003 requests Congress to submit a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution to the individual states for ratification. This amendment would prohibit the infringement of the basic right of parents to oversee their own children's education. At this point I intend to vote for this resolution. The most basic level of American Democracy is the individual family and each family's right to make its own choices under the law should be recognized and protected.
Senate File 0004 is essentially a clean up bill presented by the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee to help the office of the Secretary of State with its efforts to provide a good business climate in Wyoming without allowing outside fraudulent or scam corporations to have a post office box presence within the state. What this law will do is require registered agents to renew on time or inform their clients that they do not wish to continue as a registered agent for that out of state entity. This bill will allow the office of the Secretary of State (Wyoming Taxpayers) to save a considerable amount of money.
This bill was worked on over the interim by the Corporations Committee with hearings held for public input and as I recall there was support from all for the bill.
Thank you,
Representative Blikre
Campbell County,
House Joint Resoulution No. HJ0003 would request that Congress submit to the states a proposed amendment to the US Constitution prohibiting the infringement of parents' rights. I support the rights of parents to to make decisions regarding their children. If it is introduced this session in its present form, I will vote yes.
Thanks,
Representative Norine Kasperik
Tempted by THE DARK SIDE
By Glenn Woods.
When I got the call from Senator Barasso’s press secretary, asking if he could come on my radio show, I said yes, of course, but then I hung up the phone wondering if, after the interview he would ever want to come back on again. As far as I was concerned I had no choice but to corner the senator over the latest in a long line of congressional scams. --- Nothing major this time. Just a little issue of congress borrowing another $1.2 trillion dollars. That’s all.
Mr. Barasso came to my studio after the last time congress raised the debt ceiling and the phones rang off the hook with complaints and demands that he promise never to do it again. Badgered by callers, and the host (that would be me), he finally let out a sigh, and promised that he would never make such a vote again.
The very next week, I took a call from Senator Enzi’s office, asking if he could come on the show. Why in the world would I say no? During the interview, I asked Mr. Enzi why we have a debt ceiling in the first place if every time we reach it congress just raises it again. Senator Enzi explained that the debt ceiling was simply “a marker” and nothing more. But unlike Senator Barasso, Mr. Enzi would not promise to not raise the debt ceiling again.
But they would not have to vote to raise the debt ceiling again. Because the Republican’s in the house, under the leadership of John Boehner, had come up with a clever ploy to allow the debt ceiling to be raised, while escaping blame for it, and at the same time appearing to be the ones who were fighting against it.
You see, under the Constitution, Congress spends the money. So if the debt ceiling is to be raised then it is Congress who has to write the legislation, then vote and pass it. In this way, every member of congress is on record as to if they are in favor of adding to our debt or not.
But in a deal struck with President Obama, they handed over the power, to the president to raise the debt ceiling. All the President had to do was put in a request for a raise the ceiling and then congress had 15 days to pass legislation objecting to it. The beauty of this deal is that, even if Congress is able to pass this bill, the President can simply veto it, and the raise occurs anyway.
This way your congressional representatives can come home and look you in the eye and swear to you that they fought to stop the President. Obama and the democrats get all the blame, and the Republicans, even those who have always voted for an increase in the past, can appear blameless.
Senator Barasso’s office called again. He was coming to town. They wanted to know if he could come on the show. This is where we came in, and where I hung up the phone thinking…. ‘I hate to do this to you John, but…’
I’m just going to have to come out and say that Senator Barasso’s performance on my show was --- disgusting. He danced and dodged around the topic like a well-trained “Washingtonian” attempting to evade and confuse rather than deal with the issue. But I did not let up. Finally, I cornered him, and he stammered and stuttered, looking for way out.
“I think this is a ploy,” I said. “But if the debt ceiling is raised again be assured that the American people will cast blame. They will blame the President, and Congress, both houses, and both Democrat and Republican.”
The very next week, my phone rang again. This time it was Representative Lummis’s office. Not only did I agree to have her on but I offered her an hour on my show. As always she was very good on air, and filled the phone lines with callers. Finally, when I thought that the time was right I moved in to corner her, as well. To her credit she did not duck and jive as Senator Barasso had. She explained that she felt suckered the last time she voted for a debt increase, and had gone to Mr. Boehner’s office to complain about the current debt ceiling deal. She was interested in cutting spending, not politics as usual. But to her I also explained that no one would off the hook, when the ceiling was raised again. She agreed with me.
Last week, a mass e-mail went out from Senator Enzi’s office. I read it. I Let out a sigh, then posted it on my website (www.BoldRepublic.com) with a heavy heart. Senator Enzi, who, up until now I have had great respect for, has just lost me as a supporter. Here is what Mr. Enzi wrote:
“Today I voted against raising the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion. Because the vote failed, 44-52, the debt ceiling will be raised. The promise of future fiscal responsibility cannot be the bait dangled in front of the American people every time the President fails to lead and sidesteps addressing our debt crisis. In the future, if the President wants to raise the debt ceiling, he should begin by explaining to every person in this country why continuing to borrow money from China is a better course than cutting spending and beginning to work our way out of this $15 trillion hole.”
I’m sorry Mr. Enzi, but I am not buying it. As far as I can tell, you have voted to raise the debt limit every time in the past. You said, on my own show, that you considered the debt limit to be nothing more than “a marker.” But it is not “a marker” Mr. Enzi. It is the law. The debt ceiling is supposed to be the limit on the congressional credit card. It is supposed to prevent Congress from spending us into the very devastating crash that Europe is going through right now.
Readers -- by the time that you read this article in this newspaper the debt ceiling would have been raised, and our great grandchildren will be responsible for yet another $1.2 trillion dollars. Please call, or write, your representatives and let them know that their ploy to appear blameless did not work, and they are not off the hook. We still hold them responsible.
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