Wyoming Public Television’s recent program on the late Governor Stan Hathaway highlighted his many accomplishments, including the creation of several new state departments to meet the demands placed on state government by intensive energy development.
Governor Freudenthal and our state legislators face much the same situation in the current boom, which is generating significant impacts on our community structures and services and on our air, land, water and wildlife resources.

Gov. Freudenthal’s proposal to significantly increase the number of state regulators overseeing coalbed methane highlights one of several issues needing attention in the 2006 budget session.

Vastly increased numbers of well sites, reservoirs, and air and water quality monitors cannot be permitted and inspected by the same minimal number of state regulators, as evidenced by the discovery of 75 illegal unpermitted coalbed methane reservoirs last year (and nearly 40 more built with permits still pending).

Significant additional funding is needed to ensure not only protection of our natural resources, but also workplace safety. On a population basis, Wyoming ranks among the worst states in the number of workers killed on the job.

Ensuring health care for all is another top priority for the session. A legislative committee has forwarded a bill to begin providing coverage for parents of children on the existing KidCare program. The cost to the state is minimal and the rewards great, both in terms of economic productivity and the emotional and financial well-being of Wyoming families.

The Legislature also should fund a study on how to move Wyoming toward health care coverage for all. Other low-population states such as Maine and Vermont already are working on coverage for all. This likely would involve a public-private partnership between the state, employers and individuals/families. In addition to improving the economic status of many Wyomingites, coverage for all would create another carrot for business recruitment. The Equality State Policy Center will provide a daily legislative report during the 2006 budget session as well as updates on key bills and votes by your legislators on our website at equalitystate.org. Please tune in!

Sincerely,

Dan Neal

Executive Director