Lawmakers Reflect on the Budget Session [AUDIO]
The Budget session of the 62nd Wyoming Legislature ended on Thursday. When lawmakers began the session, there were several weighty items to address including the biennium budget, medicaid expansion and education issues.
The Budget
On the budget, Joint Appropriations Committee co-chairman Representative Steve Harshman (HD-37), said lawmakers were pretty restrained. Representative Matt Greene (HD-45), said he thinks they managed to put enough money in savings to survive the next bust cycle. Representative Kendell Kroeker (HD-35), said he appreciated the fact that the budget was relatively flat, but added there could have been more cuts.
Medicaid Expansion
Senate Minority Floor Leader, Seantor Chris Rothfuss (SD-9), said none of the attempts to expand medicaid survived the session, but the idea is still alive. He said a budget amendment would allow the state to negotiate with the federal government for a possible medicaid waiver program for the state. Rothfuss said the state could have done more.
Education
The state addressed several issues regarding education including: school bus safety and suicide prevention training. Both bills have been signed by Governor Matt Mead. But lawmakers left Cheyenne without any definitive solution on how to deal with the fallout of the recent Wyoming Supreme Court decision that declared Senate File 104 unconstitutional.