March 29, 2024 |
Photo – Wyoming Capitol Building – Bigfoot99 file photo
In Cheyenne, state politics are getting spicy.
Members of the Wyoming Legislature are in the process of voting for or against holding a special session next month to address a property tax relief bill vetoed by Governor Mark Gordon. Other bills the governor vetoed may also be considered in a special session if held.
At the heart of a special session if called, would be Senate File 54, bill Gordon vetoed that would have provided a 25% reduction of off fair market value up to $2 million of a home’s value.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Chuck Gray released a statement on Thursday expressing his strong objections to the governor’s vetoes. In a letter to the governor, Secretary Gray said SF 54 was central to the Legislature’s attempt to provide long overdue tax relief.
Gray tells the governor, “Your veto message make it sound like the remaining signed property tax relief bills provide complete relief, but the vetoed bill SS 54 was the heart of providing across the board relief for the double digit-property tax increases seen for years.
In his letter, Gray takes the governor on directly, characterizing Gordon’s veto of “this conservative bill as Bidenomics.”
Gray also challenges the governor on his vetoes of Enrolled Act 49, the repeal of Gun Free Zones and Enrolled Act 37, Regulation of Abortions.
The Secretary of State released this statement regarding these vetoes and others he addressed in his letter.
Secretary Gray also highlighted the governor’s veto of the defunding of the University of Wyoming’s DEI program over fear of losing federal funding if the funding was cut. The Secretary chided the governor, “Wyoming can’t allow the threat of the loss of federal dollars to compromise our values. I’m deeply disappointed by your veto and your explanation.”
By comparison, the University of Florida, earlier this month, closed its Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated DEI employee positions and ended DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors. The North Carolina General Assembly is considering following suit.
Back in Wyoming, votes on a special session will be taken through 5 p.m. this Sunday when the votes will be counted. A simple majority in both houses will be needed to call a special session over the objections of legislative leadership. The outcome will be known Monday morning.
