President Trump on Sunday called Wyoming Senate President Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, a "patriot" for his efforts to pass the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, a bill that would bring universal school vouchers to Wyoming.
“Congratulations to Patriot Senator Bo Biteman, of the Great State of Wyoming, for working to pass SCHOOL CHOICE, a top priority of my Administration,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “putting power where it belongs - PARENTS. This would be an incredible Victory for Wyoming students and families.”
Currently, Wyoming already has a school choice voucher program that provides state dollars for low income families to access private schooling for their children. The new legislation, House Bill 199, would provide money to all income levels.
Trump urged the members of the Wyoming Senate to pass HB 199 and said “I will be watching!”
The president and his administration are major supporters of school choice and have also recently weighed in on a school choice bill being considered in Texas.
Late last month, Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Education to issue guidance on how the states can use federal funding formulas to support their K-12 scholarship programs and prioritize school choice programs in the department’s discretionary grant programs.
Bo’s Reaction
Biteman told Cowboy State Daily he had no idea the shoutout was coming and was cutting up chicken on Sunday when his phone started blowing up.
When he discovered what all the ruckus was about, Biteman said his first thought was “that’s going to help” in getting HB 199 across the finish line.
“It’s huge, Wyoming is Trump country,” Biteman said. “Many of the members of the Senate, their districts, voted for Trump 80%. When he speaks it means a lot.”
Biteman and Trump have a past relationship as the Senate President had briefly considered running against former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney in 2021 and courted with Trump at his Mar-A-Lago resort around that time.
“It’s always good to get recognized by him,” Biteman said. “He always says he’s going to be keeping tabs on you and he keeps his word.”
Status Of The Bill
HB 199 passed on first reading in the Senate on Friday but not before some substantial changes were made to the bill.
Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, passed an amendment to the bill on a 15-14 vote changing the legislation from $7,000 per child no matter their family's income level, to a staggered, income-based level of support.
The new version would only give public money to families who make 250% of the federal poverty line or less.
“Everyone is trying to make this work the very best we can,” she said.
Biteman, who opposed the amendment, said the close margin of this vote shows how many different opinions exist about the school choice topic in the Senate and how passionate members are about the topic.
He said he expects some more changes to the bill but has no concerns that at least some version of the bill will eventually pass into law this session.
“I think we’ll get a clean bill across or something close to a clean bill,” he said.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
