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(Fremont County, WY) – I am writing out of concern with recent changes in politics that we have seen not only in Fremont County but in our state. I have been a bipartisan voter over the years and have voted for the candidate of my choice based on both their voting records and their vision for a better Wyoming.
What concerns me is that in the past decade, a new ultra conservative PAC is trying to take over our legislation, they are called the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. When we vote for our local representatives, unless their membership with this PAC is made public, are we voting for the candidate or are we supporting the national group’s mission of reducing the size of government and making decisions based on their loyalty to this PAC. They brag they will cut our government by 35%, we saw what happened a few years ago with budget cuts.
In 2022, Twenty million dollars was cut from the Wyoming Department of Health’s budget, 90% of their budget is “passed through” to local communities across the state in the form of provider reimbursements and direct programs and services. In 2024, the WDH was again going to have their budget cut by another twenty million dollars. But advocates for health care testified at the budget session and spoke with the Governor. Seeing the importance of these needs not only fully funded the WDH, but restored the money lost in 2022. One of the programs that was not only funded but permanently funded is the “988” suicide prevention hotline. Wyoming has been number one in our nation’s suicide rate, recently we are listed as second. Would the WDH be targeted with the PAC’s goal of cutting government spending at the next session?
What about voting rights and adding barriers to Wyoming citizens? The Wyoming Freedom Caucus created and passed (HB103) that took away our right to vote for the candidate of our choice at the primaries. They call it crossover voting and if you wanted to vote bipartisan but your political affiliation had not changed by May 15th, you had to vote by your party line. This of course will not affect your rights in the general election which is November 5th to vote for whoever you want. And did not change the law that you can still register to vote at the polls in November. But some people missed an opportunity to support the candidate of their choice.
I am simply asking other voters to know who you are voting for, is it someone who will represent you, our way of life in Wyoming or are they voting for what the PAC conceives is best for Wyoming. In Fremont County, those Freedom Caucus candidates are: Sen. Tim Salazar, Rep Pepper Ottman, Rep Sarah Penn and candidate Joel Guggenmoss.
For more information on the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a link has been provided.
Debbie Thomas
Riverton, WY