House Democratic Leader: Bills Are Ridiculous

The Minority Floor Leader in the Wyoming House of Representatives isn't pleased with the amount of time that has been devoted to what she considers bad or irrelevant bills this week.

Representative Mary Throne,(D-Cheyenne) at the "Pancakes and Politics" event Wednesday in Cheyenne. specifically cited the ''Religious Freedom Restoration Act" sponsored by Rep. Nathan Winters (R-Thermopolis).

That measure seeks to exempt private businesses from having to violate their religious beliefs in serving customers, such as a photographer who doesn't want to photograph a same-sex wedding. Supporters say the bill is about freedom to practice religious beliefs, while opponents argue it's really just a legal excuse to discriminate.

Throne says the proposal 'isn't about protecting anything I believe in".

She says another example is a proposal which has passed the house which would allow people with concealed carry permits to take guns into schools, governmental buildings and most other public buildings except courtrooms.

Throne says that bill "uses phony arguments about the second amendment" as justification. She calls both of those bills "fairly ridiculous", adding she "could go on and on" with proposals that are a waste of time that have been discussed recently.

She says the real issues are the Medicaid expansion act and some of the budget issues that will come before lawmakers.