Gov. Mark Gordon used his State of the State speech Wednesday morning as a promotion for his $692 million supplemental budget request to the Wyoming Legislature.
He framed the approval of this budget as playing an integral role in Wyoming’s future and urged legislators to consider the consequences of the supplemental budget that they approve and to not take a slash-and-burn approach to the process, but rather use common sense and pragmatism.
Gordon said he appreciated the “seriousness and spirituality” of Tuesday’s opening remarks of the 68th legislative session. The opening statements in the Wyoming House were noticeably political, with a number of legislative leaders outlining their platform agendas for the session.
Gordon didn’t show too much partisanship Wednesday, but did use his State of the State address to stump for his budget.
Context
Most members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, which took over a majority of seats in the state House in the 2024 election, ran campaigns based on a promise to shrink the budget while also providing more property tax relief.
Gordon commented numerous times Wednesday against those campaign pledges.
Gordon also called out rhetoric used during the campaign that Wyoming’s government is bloated. He responded that there are fewer state employees today than when he took office and that the state government’s budget growth has been justified by inflation.
Gordon described his supplemental budget as “solid, balanced and well-constructed.”
Within his budget, Gordon has requested $7 million in inflation-related ongoing expenses, $3.5 million to extend and expand Wyoming’s coal litigation fund, $20 million for the mineral royalty grant program, support for access to obstetrics and mental health care providers, and funding for firefighting and restoring fire-ravaged lands after a record fire season.
Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, chairman emeritus of the Freedom Caucus and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was furiously taking notes throughout Gordon’s speech.
Although Bear told Cowboy State Daily the Freedom Caucus agrees about providing firefighting money and federal litigation support, they don’t see eye-to-eye on the entire supplemental budget.
“He has not been a fiscal hawk in the past as we have seen the budget increase year after year under his leadership,” Bear said.
Gordon briefly recognized the success of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus in taking over a majority of seats in the state House, but made no other direct mentions of the group.
“I’m glad the governor recognizes the Wyoming Freedom Caucus majority in the House,” Bear said. “He should know that we aren’t going anywhere.”
Vision For Government
Gordon said Wyoming’s government has always been accountable, responsible and efficient.
“Our constituents expect an efficient government that gets value for the dollar,” he said. “They don’t want cheap, short-sighted budgets that look good on paper but encrypt them in their daily lives, or cause their kids to have to leave.”
He also mentioned how the COVID-19 federal funding has expired, so all monetary decisions will be made by the Legislature moving forward.
Gordon said he and others have worked hard to boost the Cowboy economy “by not nickeling and diming our way backwards.”
This conclusion runs somewhat contrary to the remarks made by House leadership the previous day, who described previous Legislatures as being self-interested and run by bureaucratic fat cats more concerned with their own self-benefit than working for the people of the state.
He also touted the property tax solutions passed into law last year, which he described as “significant property tax relief.”
He also made a point to reference a 2024 study that shows Wyoming has the third lowest tax burden of any state. Gordon already referenced this study during a press conference earlier this month.
Within his supplemental budget, Gordon has requested $10.5 million to continue funding the state’s property tax refund program.
The Freedom Caucus has vowed to bring much more drastic solutions in the session and blasted as insignificant the changes already made that Gordon touted Wednesday.
“Our priorities are focused around responding to the people’s mandate for property tax relief,” Bear said.
But Gordon also stressed conservative values when managing the state’s education programs and expanding school choice, which Bear said he appreciated.
Gordon also mentioned the more than 850,000 acres of land burned in the wildfires that hit Wyoming this summer that he’s asking the Legislature for $130 million to help with.
He also touted his “all-of-the-above” energy policy, imploring lawmakers to “not screw up a good thing.”
Many members of the Freedom Caucus have been critical of this policy and the governor’s large-scale funding of carbon capture and sequestration projects, saying he gives too much support for alternative energies.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray criticized the governor for failing to offer concrete plans on how he will protect Wyoming’s energy industries.
“Gordon should be pursuing litigation to ensure that we will be able to export coal, which will create thousands of jobs in our state,” Gray said. “The people of Wyoming want real results and action, but this was once again an all talk, no action speech.”
Other Notables
Gordon also bashed President Joe Biden’s administration multiple times in his speech and expressed support for President-elect Donald Trump, saying Trump told him he’ll give him anything he needs when the two met together last week with other Republican governors at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound.
“That’s something we have not heard for four years,” Gordon said. “I told the president, ‘Mr. President, Wyoming stands ready to drill, to mine, to shovel and to get this country back on track.’”
For this remark, Gordon received a standing ovation, although all of the Democrats sitting in the House remained seated and didn’t clap.
Bear encouraged Gordon “to make President Trump proud when our MAGA agenda hits his desk.”
As governor, Gordon still holds the power to veto any bill that comes to his desk.
Gordon also mentioned a few instances of Wyoming being recognized nationally, such as his wife’s Wyoming Hunger Initiative, spearheaded by the first lady to combat hunger in Wyoming’s communities with the help of hunters who can donate their meat to the program.
He also acknowledged law enforcement officials who have gone to the southern border to assist with curtailing illegal immigration, and the Wyoming firefighters who have traveled to California to help with the raging wildfires there.
“They are truly exceptional and essential to our country’s security and safety,” Gordon said.
He indirectly brought up the Kelly Parcel as well, mentioning how Wyoming is now pursuing purchasing federal mineral rights with the revenue it received from this sale. Gordon gave a shout out to all of the other statewide officials besides Gray as avid sportsmen.
Gordon also quoted former President John F. Kennedy when expressing the importance of not forgetting about veterans, who said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not uttering words, but by living by them.”
Infrastructure And Services
The money Gordon has requested for the Mineral Royalty Grant Program would help support public works needs around the state.
Gordon commended the speedy reconstruction effort on Highway 22 on Teton Pass, which gave way in a landslide last summer. He urged a similar expedited effort for the reconstruction of LaPrele Dam in Converse County, saying no compromises should be made on safety.
“This is a time to be bold, but not dangerous,” he said.
He expressed concern about the quickly expanding obstetrics deserts in Wyoming, with the hospital in Evanston the most recent to shut down these services.
“Is there anyone here today who prefers Wyoming’s mothers, mothers to be, to not to have access to quality OB care?” Gordon questioned. “I certainly hope not.”
Gordon finished out his speech giving a call for unity, saying he has faith the Legislature can get work done for the better of Wyoming.
“God bless Wyoming and the United States of America, ride for the brand,” he said.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
