Leaving Cheyenne on the Road Less Traveled

Our programs are more effective and lasting if we engage people in our efforts, building broad support. With this in mind, the Wyoming Outdoor Council has been working alongside the Wyoming Association of Churches, Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the Wyoming Early Childhood Development Council to advance legislation that supports healthy communities and a healthy environment.

The intent of this collaboration is to define a future for Wyoming that improves and promotes child welfare, public health, good jobs, and environmental protection. On March 14, I spoke at a press conference at the capitol to affirm the need for all of to work together to address these complex issues. I wanted you to know about this exciting effort. Below are excerpts from my comments.

• The Wyoming Outdoor Council is pleased to be working together with these fine organizations and individuals, looking for new ways to support Wyoming’s working families, and at the same time, protect the environment in which we live. For too long, we have seen a division between the health of our communities and the health of our environment.


• For too long, one interest has been pitted against another. We’ve been told that we can’t have economic prosperity along with a healthy environment. But Wyomingites know this is simply not true. We have come together to begin to address this unnecessary division and to support legislation and funding that ref lects these values.


• We support the concept behind the Energy School, and encourage the new school to develop and maintain a strong relationship with the Ruckleshaus Institute. We encourage the school to follow the intent of the legislation, and make strong investments in renewable energy. We encourage the advisory committee to support research, but to also apply this research on the ground in Wyoming. In this way, the school can promote good jobs, and help develop new technologies, including renewable energy, that protect Wyoming’s environment.


• We encourage the legislature to support a living wage for Wyoming public employees and repeal the food tax. We encourage our legislators to support strong and meaningful investment in the Wildlife Trust Account. And we support the governor’s appropriations for additional staff at the Department of Environmental Quality to maintain a checks and balance system for Wyoming’s energy development.


• The legislation we have highlighted here today reflects a responsible balance. Our Senate President Grant Larson said it well in his remarks on the opening day of the session: “We have a rare opportunity to meet all of our current needs, to fund them, and we have the opportunity to address the future of Wyoming.”


• The Wyoming Outdoor Council agrees, and knows that we must take the fiscal health of our state, its people, its communities and the health of our environment head on. To do anything less is unacceptable.

As this issue of Frontline goes to press, the legislative session is winding down and the future of many of the bills highlighted above decided. As with all legislation, the real work begins after the session is over with the rulemaking process. We’ll keep you apprised and engaged.

Happy Trails,
Mark