Op-Ed: The People's House

By:

Representative Rosie Berger, House Majority Floor Leader
Senator Tony Ross, Chairman of Capitol Building Restoration Oversight Group

“You don’t build it for yourself. You know what the people want and you build it for them.”
 – Walt Disney

The Wyoming Capitol was completed in 1888 with the purpose of creating a place where the people could participate in the legislative process. Substantial additions were completed in 1890 and 1917. The last major renovation was finished in 1980 and the building was added to the National Historic Landmark program in 1987. However, after 35 years, the Capitol is once again in great need of repair.

The list of required repairs is long. There are structural repairs needing attention and updates to mechanical, electrical, and ADA code requirements are in dire need. The building requires invasive restoration to the historic features and the installation of smoke detection, fire suppression, and smoke evacuation systems is required. 25 percent of the building has no heating and cooling capability, piping and plumbing systems are corroded, and wiring is old and brittle. Committee rooms are too small for public participation, restrooms and elevators are inadequate, and the building’s technology capabilities are inadequate.

The health and safety of the Wyoming citizens who visit the Capitol and the legislators, elected officials, and staff who work in the building is of the utmost importance. Making these improvements is necessary. Research and planning has been happening since 2003 to restore and renovate this building. Wyoming has been saving for years to fund the renovation and the account now has over $100 million in it. We are now in the design development phase and finalizing plans for temporary relocation during construction.

The Legislature has explored a host of options for expansion, including building a new executive office building. Renovating the Herschler building, which neighbors the Capitol, turned out to not only make the most financial sense, but it allows for the creation of an entire Capitol Square complex that keeps all the legislative and executive offices within a short walking distance and easily accessible to the people of Wyoming.

We are proud that Wyoming is consistently ranked the best run state in the country. We have considered how to keep the state running efficiently when designing the layout for the renovated Capitol. To allow for the highest level of collaboration and to reduce possible duplication of efforts, keeping office staffs together was a high priority. The layout of the offices brings together staffs that are currently in different buildings, as is the case of the Governor and Treasurer’s staffs, as well as keeping the Legislative Service Office personnel in one building.

The creation of a Capitol Square, with two buildings and the connector in between, is central to tackling the larger issue of making sure that there is room for the public to participate in the Legislative process. The Capitol will hold more committee rooms that will be larger and will have improved technological capabilities. There will be more space for the public to attend meetings and be part of the policy making process. We hope that the updated technological capabilities will increase the overall accessibility of the legislative process to all Wyoming citizens. The additional restrooms and more accessible elevators will also increase the comfort of visitors.

While the renovation project will bring the Capitol into the 21^st century, specific attention is being paid to restoring and showcasing the historical aspects of the building. The Capitol is one of only 24 Wyoming buildings on the National Historic Landmark list, it is incredibly important to protect the historic value and features in the People’s House. The building will continue to showcase Wyoming’s rich and storied history.

We serve the people of Wyoming and we are moving forward in this historic process. We are working diligently to give her citizens a Capitol that keeps them safe and allows for them to be more involved in the legislative process, while restoring and highlighting the buildings historical features and attributes.  We are stewards of the state’s resources and are mindful of the responsibility that carries.

Medicaid Amendment Fails the House

A budget amendment that would have added up to 4 years of Medicaid to Wyoming failed the House 15-41-4.

Cheyenne, WY – A budget amendment that would have added up to 4 years of Medicaid for Wyoming citizens failed the House in a 15-41-4(excused) vote today.

“I am glad that those who wanted the opportunity to debate and vote on Medicaid expansion were given that opportunity today,” said Speaker of the House Kermit Brown. “There was a good long debate, everyone who wanted to speak was given the opportunity, and there were many different opinions and points of view given.”

House Bill 1, 3^rd reading amendment 31 was brought forth by Representative Dan Zwonitzer.

“There were strong opinions on both sides of the debate in the House and I wanted to give them the time to have their voices heard on this issue,” he said. “I believe the amendment would have improved the lives of the citizens of Wyoming and helped local businesses until a long term solution could be found for the ongoing health care crisis.”

Representative Wilson, who had sponsored a bill to bring Medicaid to Wyoming, spoke forcefully in support of the bill. “We can continue to study this in the interim and find a better way of providing health coverage in Wyoming, but right now doing nothing is not an option,” she stressed.

“We’ve been talking about this issue in the Labor committee for several years, and the Senate had a lengthy floor discussion two weeks ago,” said Representative Wilson. “I thought it was important to have the conversation on the House floor.”

Other Medicaid bills have failed in the Wyoming Legislature this session. SF 129 failed the Senate with an 11-19 vote and a house bill brought forth by Representative Wilson that would have introduced a Medicaid bill into the House was withdrawn from further consideration from the House Labor, Health, & Social Services committee following the Senate vote on SF 129.

Op-Ed: Higher Education with Hathaway

By: Representative Hans Hunt, House Majority Whip

As state legislators, we are charged with building a better, brighter future for our state; for ensuring a robust, growing economy and job opportunities for all citizens, and for creating an environment that allows future generations to grow and thrive right here in Wyoming.

The Hathaway Scholarship Program does just that – providing Wyoming students the opportunity to learn and excel in-state and fostering future generations of Wyoming talent that will be critical to growing and diversifying our economy. Since its inception in 2006, the Hathaway Scholarship Program has provided merit- and need-based awards to thousands of Wyoming students. In 2014, 5,302 students were awarded scholarships to the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges.

Aiming to strengthen and improve the Hathaway Scholarship program, the Wyoming State Legislature has considered a number of bills that address how the scholarship should be awarded, what the requirements should be, and how much should be spent from the state coffers.

Over the past several years, dozens of changes have been made and the 2015 session is no exception.

Three significant Hathaway-related bills were brought forward this session: HB 191, HB 192, and HB 231. 

HB 191, which failed to pass the House Education Committee, would have increased the number of hours a college student would have to take to be considered a full time student from 12 to 15 hours.

HB 192, which is now being debated in the Senate, would allow a student, after graduation, to become eligible for the next-highest level of the scholarship if he or she can maintain a 3.25 GPA or better for two consecutive semesters in college. 

HB 231, which is currently being heard by the Senate Education committee, would allow for emancipated minors or those who are the legal guardians of a minor to qualify for a scholarship, assuming they have at least obtained a GED.

There is a fourth bill concerning the scholarship program which I co-sponsored, and which impacts not only the Hathaway Scholarship, but looks at the larger picture of what opportunities students have for continuing education, including pursuing a vocational education program at one of the state’s community colleges. Originally envisioned as a separate scholarship program all together, HB 103, has been refined into a task force which would look at putting enhanced focus on scholarships for vocational programs. 

In a state where the vast majority of the economy is fueled by the energy industry, there are many well-paying job opportunities for students wishing to pursue careers in mechanics, wielding, electrical work, plumbing, and other trade crafts.  It is vital for someone looking to work in these fields to have a specific certification for their desired trade. Our seven community colleges around Wyoming are invaluable educational assets. Wyoming’s greatest export should never be its children and our youth should be able to get the education or careers they desire here in Wyoming.

While students can use the Hathaway Scholarship to attend a community college and enroll in these trade programs, current high school curriculum is generally geared toward encouraging students to focus on core classes such as math, science, and English. For those interested in going to UW, these high-set requirements for obtaining the top level of the scholarship are what makes the Hathaway program such a valuable tool, incentivizing students to take advanced and college prep classes.

However, there are students whose aptitudes are geared toward vocational trade skills who might feel like they are steered towards an English class when they would rather be taking agriculture education classes. Students who have ambitions of going into a vocational program should not be discouraged from doing so. By arming Wyoming students with technical degrees and certificates we can ensure that they can be prepared for competitive trade jobs. It is my hope that the task force would look at promoting these types of opportunities for students and finding ways to provide financial assistance.   

 
Having reaped the benefits of the Hathaway Scholarship myself, I can say it is an immeasurable help in reaching your higher education goals. But higher education does not necessarily mean a four-year degree at the University. There are plenty of economically viable jobs available after earning certifications from one of Wyoming’s vocational programs.  It is my hope that we can continue to provide educational financial assistance and keep Wyoming’s best and brightest in Wyoming.  

Representative Hans Hunt is the only current member of the Wyoming Legislature to have attended college with the assistance of the Hathaway scholarship. He currently serves on the House Education Committee.