JACKSON, Wyo. — Governor Mark Gordon delivered the annual State of the State address to the 2023 legislature yesterday morning, Jan. 11.
In his speech, Gordon outlined a number of bills he supports and proposals he hopes the legislature will support:
- Proposed an additional $1 million to extend the Property Tax Refund Program for another year
- Legislation to create the Ashanti Alert System, to alert the public about missing indigenous people
- Legislation providing the Governor’s Office with the authority to enter into agreements with Tribes to resolve hunting rights claims on lands in Wyoming
- Restoring funding for the Mineral Royalty Grant Program
- Legislation to expand the department of Environmental Quality’s agreement status with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which will allow Wyoming to permit and regulate the minerals industry
- Supports the Joint Appropriations budget proposal for the State Engineer
- Proposed budget requests to expand predator control and control invasive species, expand water storage and address brucellosis
- Supports the second phase of the salary adjustment from 2022 to fill vacancies in critical jobs and keep state workers.
- Supports funding for the Wyoming Business Council using the supplemental budget
- Supports seeking federal funding for water projects
He addressed the state’s natural resources and his goals to diversify energy outputs, slamming “D.C. bureaucrats” and the Biden Administration.
“Quite seriously, the events of the past two years have proven that our economy, way of life and national security demand all the energy that Wyoming can produce. Instead of giving first bumps to OPEC leaders, the Biden Administration should be extending a handshake to Wyoming energy producers,” Gordon said.
He went on to say that the state’s economy is the most diverse it has been in over 50 years and businesses continue to expand and relocate to Wyoming. He said, “it is imperative that we adequately fund the Wyoming Business Council in this supplemental budget.”
“Wyoming’s government is the leanest it has been in a decade. Our budget is balanced, we save for our future, and do not run up deficits. Something we all wish our federal government would emulate,” Gordon said.
Gordon also applauded Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly for managing the park this past summer in the wake of historic flooding. “His swift actions saved many Wyoming businesses and jobs that depend on visitation to America’s first and most iconic National Park,” Gordon said.
“In closing, I want to say again that Wyoming is poised to be a leader on so many fronts. Our expertise in resource management, advanced carbon innovation, energy security, our value-added agriculture and fiscal prudence makes us a leader in all these areas. More importantly, our unwavering belief that government works best for the people when it is closest to the people and restrained from interfering with personal liberty makes Wyoming an ideal model for other states,” Gordon said.
He also took a moment to address Wyoming’s safe and secure elections.
“We can be sure of the integrity of our elections because we know our locally elected County Clerks are professional and dedicated,” Gordon said.
Gordon asked the room to applaud Platte County Clerk and the President of Wyoming’s County Clerks Association, Malcolm Ervin.
“Please join me in showing our appreciation for Mr. Ervin and every one of the 23 county clerks, as well as all the volunteers who assured us that our elections were secure and correct here in Wyoming,” Gordon said.
