Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24 Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24

Let's Be Serious -- A Conservative Commitment To Wyoming

When I was first elected to Wyoming’s state legislature in 2018, I asked a seasoned legislator if he had any advice for me. Without hesitation, he asked, “Do you want to be taken seriously?” Of course, I answered in the affirmative.

He responded, “If you want to be taken seriously, be a serious legislator.” I have thought a lot about that conversation over the years and what he meant by that. I have come to learn that public service is serious business.

I have learned that being a serious legislator means focusing on the things that make Wyoming better, trying to build solutions to the difficult problems our people are facing, working with my constituents, listening to their problems and finding ways to solve them. Being a serious legislator also means refraining from the finger pointing and the performance politics that infects every level of our politics today.

To that end, late last year, my fellow conservatives and I introduced an agenda for the upcoming state legislative session in February that we’ve called “A Conservative Commitment to Wyoming.”

I was raised in Wyoming and every day I feel grateful for the beautiful, free, and prosperous state which my family and I call home. I feel truly blessed to be fortunate enough to serve this state in the State Legislature.

However, because Wyoming is the best state in the nation doesn’t mean we don’t have serious and urgent problems to tackle. Together, based on our conservative principles, we can solve those problems and make Wyoming better.

Our success as a state has attracted newcomers over the past several years who now call Wyoming home. As longtime Wyomingites know all too well, this has meant increased home values—and higher property taxes that have followed as a result.

Those on fixed incomes or who otherwise find themselves in the situation of suddenly not being able to afford to live in their own homes need property tax relief. That’s why we’ve proposed giving homeowners an exemption on the first $75,000 of home value while simultaneously capping increases at 5% to solve this problem.

True conservatives believe in lower tax without hurting local governments, those closest to the people. At the same time, we protect Wyoming citizens from seeing their property tax increase simply because the value of their home increased.

Second, Wyomingites deserve affordable heat and electricity to their homes. We are blessed as a resource rich state and the families that live here should be able to flip on the lights and keep themselves warm during the winter without worrying about utility bills breaking the bank.

Too often, our utilities build infrastructure and incur expenses based on the priorities and policies of left coast liberal states like Oregon and Washington. Under our proposal, that would no longer be possible. We will make sure that those utilities spend money based on what is best for Wyoming.

Ensuring Wyoming continues to flourish while maintaining the values that make this state great means we must deliver for the next generation a quality education in our schools.

Our educational agenda must prioritize respecting the rights of parents who know their children best. This is why we’ve introduced legislation that would protect our public school system while empowering parents to make the choice of where to send their kids to school.

Parents also deserve to know what their kids are being taught in school—full curriculum transparency—and to be respected as a vital, leading part of their child’s education and development. True conservatives support a parent's bill of rights.

We are also living through a mental health crisis in our country that is especially felt here in Wyoming. We are seeing more and more people feeling isolated or unsure of where to turn when they need help. Wyoming has one of the worst suicide rates in the country.

One doesn’t need to ask around too much to hear heartbreaking stories from folks about the loved ones they’ve lost. Every life is precious, and we should be doing all we can to support our fellow citizens who are most at risk of taking their own life. That’s why we intend to fully fund our suicide hotline number and ensure resources are available to those contemplating this tragic decision. True conservatives are 100% pro-life from conception to natural death.

I love Wyoming and I love serving my neighbors, my community, and my state in the legislature. I know that’s also true of every one of my colleagues. Every elected representative knows best the issues facing their district and the concerns and priorities of their constituents.

While we all work on what matters to each of us, I urge my colleagues in the upcoming session to stop the finger pointing and work together to be serious conservatives for Wyoming.

Super Bowl winning coach Herm Edwards once said, “A goal without a plan is a wish”. We’ve got serious goals with a serious plan to achieve them. Let’s get to work.

Rep. Cyrus Western (R-District 51) serves as House Majority Whip in the Wyoming House of Representatives

Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24 Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24

It’s Time for Collaboration Over Credit

I do not know which Washington DC insider penned Representative John Bear’s latest opinion piece in Cowboy State Daily. But whoever it is, he or she has no regard for the truth. The piece is scattered with lies and misrepresentations. It is a clear attempt to rewrite history.

The article claims that Rep. Bear and his merry band of obstructionists are responsible for any and all good news on the property tax relief front. The facts show otherwise.

Last session, I and many of my colleagues voted for any and all bills that would have provided tax relief. We wanted to provide any relief possible, even if not perfect.

I represent a district that has been hit hard by property tax increases and I owed it to them to do all I could to address the issue. I voted for House Bill 98 (property tax – homeowner’s exemption), House Bill 99 (property tax refund), Senate Joint Resolution 3 (property tax residential property class). I also voted for House Bill 121 (property tax deferral program) and House Joint Resolution 2 (constitutional amendment to allow residential property to be taxed at lower rate). Each of these bills would have reduced tax liability exposure for homeowners.

However, Rep. Bear and his allies DID NOT vote for all of the available tax relief options – a point conveniently left out of his latest opinion piece. Importantly, these are facts and matters of public record.

Rep. Bear voted against both the property tax deferral program and the constitutional amendment. Below are two screen shots from the Wyoming Legislature website showing his NO votes.

The writer also seems to forget about Senate File 136 and how Rep. Bear and his supporters joined forces with the Democrats to prevent debate on SF 136 (property tax relief – assessment rate reduction) in the House. The bill would have lowered the assessment rate on residential properties and created a tax reduction for all homeowners this year. Unfortunately, the House didn’t get to vote on passage of the bill because of the actions of legislators who care more about anonymous scorecards than doing good work.

These votes by Rep. Bear were a failure for our conservative Republican values of lower taxes, smaller government, and homeownership. Tax-and-spend liberals surely appreciate Rep. Bear.

Yet, despite the very clear voting record from last session, Rep. Bear and his allies want to preemptively take credit for what those of us responsible and dedicated enough to actually deliver results achieve in this upcoming session. This is nothing but good ole fashioned Washington D.C. politics come to Wyoming. And it’s shameful.

While Rep. Bear and his friends play a Game of Thrones for credit, Wyoming loses. The truth is that his obstructionism has only delayed relief for hard-working families – all in sad attempt to ensure they get the credit.

I do not care who gets the “credit” for tax relief and reform – I just want it done. I hope in this upcoming legislative session, Rep. Bear and his allies can set aside petty games of credit and not vote against good legislation that helps solve the property tax problem simply because it wasn’t their idea. It doesn’t matter, and it shouldn’t.

We should all be working together to solve the property tax issue for our state. It’s time for collaboration over credit. I do not care which legislator brings the best idea. I only care that it is the best solution for the people of Wyoming. If Rep. Bear or any member of the legislature has the best idea, I will vote for it. We don’t need fake heroes in this tax saga, we need hard workers willing to tackle challenges together for their constituents.

I pride myself on being a conservative problem solver. Our issue with rising property taxes is real and it is urgent. So rather than jockeying for credit, or opposing reform to score cheap political points, Rep. Bear and his colleagues should join others and be a part of the solution.

The people of Wyoming deserve property tax relief, not political posturing. It’s high time we roll up our sleeves and work together – for the people, not the press.

Rep. Barry Crago represents House District 40 in Buffalo

Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24 Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24

Navigating Political Landscape in Wyoming: Voter Discernment Needed

The unmistakable influence of Washington DC-style political messaging has permeated real and virtual spaces, creating a sense of urgency for Wyoming voters to decipher the truth from the lies and half-truths.

Now, more than ever, the most crucial task for voters lies in our ability to discern the truth, a skill that hinges on scrutinizing the source.

The grassroots integrity of Wyoming's politics, once bolstered by our close-knit communities and face-to-face interactions, is now facing challenges posed by sophisticated political flimflams that blur the lines between fact and fiction.

A key strategy for Wyoming voters is to closely examine the source of mailers, texts, online posts and even billboards that profess a political truth. Understanding who is behind a particular message becomes paramount, because in this landscape, misinformation and disinformation spread like wildfire.

Unlike the familiar faces and local voices that traditionally shaped and reported Wyoming politics, these new “messengers” often lack transparency about their authors, information sources, and funding.

Wyoming voters should be vigilant in scrutinizing not only the content of any political message – does it describe the Wyoming you actually live in? – but also its source.

If a real person isn’t taking responsibility for the information, it should be a red flag for voters. Our electorate must demand transparency and insist that those who shape political narratives be accountable for their words.

In a democracy built on the principles of informed decision-making, unsubstantiated or anonymous messaging has no place. Wyoming voters who refuse to engage with negative messaging lacking a responsible source send a clear message that they prioritize transparency and authenticity when it comes to their political opinions and decisions.

Sadly, voters must become skilled at knowing the difference between the genuine discussion of ideas and manipulative tactics.

The influx of DC-style politics, with alarmist language designed to incite fear and anger, seeks to influence public opinion by appealing to our worst instincts, and often has nothing to do with real life in Wyoming.

It is critical for voters to cut through the noise and thoughtfully seek what aligns with the unique needs and values of our state.

In this age of information overload, where social media, news outlets, and political campaigns vie for attention, Wyoming voters must develop a keen sense of discernment. The ability to separate fact from fiction and to hold political mouthpieces accountable is the armor voters need to navigate this new political terrain.

Wyoming's storied history of independence, integrity, and self-reliance should be a guiding light in this quest for discernment, as voters reclaim control over the narrative that shapes our political future.

Albert Sommers is the Speaker of the House and has served In the Legislature since 2013. Ogden Driskill is the President of the Senate and has served in the Wyoming Legislature since 2011.

Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24 Rebekah Fitzgerald 2/2/24

A Conservative Commitment to Energy Sovereignty and Affordability

As I've journeyed across my district, meeting you in town halls, offices, and even grocery store lines, your voices have been loud and clear. Wyoming may be the state we are proud and blessed to call home, but it still faces critical challenges.

I’ve been so humbled by the voters who have reached out and the worries you've expressed resonate deeply with me and my own family: rising property taxes, mental health challenges, the sacred right of parenting coming under threat, and the rising cost of living. Among these, a pressing issue stands out: the unacceptable rise in electric rates. It's not just a matter of cost; it's a matter of principle.

As a conservative, I am not just concerned but driven to action, and as a problem solver, I am committed to finding practical, Wyoming-first solutions.

My legislative colleagues and I are not just offering mere words but instead a "Conservative Commitment to Wyoming" - a concrete promise to address these challenges with unwavering conservative values. Let’s start with our electric rate crisis, hitting families across our state.

Wyoming, blessed with abundant energy resources, should theoretically enjoy the lowest electricity costs in the nation. Yet, reality tells a different story.

The crux of the issue? Our population is a fraction of states like Oregon, Washington, and California.

All too frequently, our public utilities like Rocky Mountain Power design and plan their generation and transmission to appease the political appetites of those west coast, left-leaning states, leaving Wyoming in the dark.

When Washington or Oregon makes a demand for a certain type of electricity or, more importantly, say they will not accept certain fossil fuel-based power generation, Rocky Mountain Power must respond to those demands and too often, that hurts Wyoming.

Enter Senate File 24 – a symbol of conservative action, not just rhetoric. This bill is a declaration of Wyoming's right to prioritize its interests. It revolutionizes the role of the Wyoming Public Service Commission (PSC), empowering it to act preemptively, ensuring utility projects serve Wyoming first. This is not just a policy; it's a declaration of energy independence.

We are at a pivotal moment. Other states, like Utah and Oregon, already practice this proactive approach.

Most importantly, this bill empowers you, the citizens of Wyoming, to challenge utility plans right from the start. This is a new right for you to demand that utilities like Rocky Mountain Power put Wyoming first. This is a manifestation of our core conservative beliefs: economic freedom, local control, and state sovereignty.

This bill is a call for Wyoming to dictate its energy future, not to be dictated by others' demands. It's about ensuring our utilities are accountable to us, the people of Wyoming. Senate File 24 embodies our conservative values, giving us the tools to keep our electricity affordable and our state's interests at the forefront. This isn't just about keeping the lights on; it's about lighting the way for a future where Wyoming dictates its destiny, not at the mercy of other states' whims.

Families are hurting and it’s time to act. This legislation embodies the very meaning of a Conservative Commitment to Wyoming.

Let’s look towards a future where Wyoming controls its destiny, unshackled from the influence of other states. For a brighter, more self-reliant, and economically robust Wyoming, the choice is clear – it begins with Senate File 24.

Rep. Jon Conrad represents House District 19 in Mountain View, Wyoming

Rebekah Fitzgerald 1/17/24 Rebekah Fitzgerald 1/17/24

Wyoming Caucus identities property tax relief as top priority

January 12, 2024 |The Sheridan Press

The Sheridan Press Property tax was a hot topic during last year's legislative session and members of the Wyoming Legislature have sponsored bills to bring relief to...