Legislators Honor Teacher of the Year, Applaud Wyoming Students’ Ranking in Nation’s Report Card

Wyoming Teachers are Responsible for Wyoming Students Consistently Outperforming Peers

 

CHEYENNE –Today, the Wyoming Legislature honored Wyoming’s teacher of the year, Zach Beam, a high school science teacher from Newcastle High School. House Republican legislators recognized Beam’s contributions to Wyoming’s youth and the day-to-day efforts made by all Wyoming teachers that are resulting in the strong performance by Wyoming students in the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, also known as the nation’s report card. 

 

“Teachers are the key to student success,” said Speaker of the House Albert Sommers. “Today, we had the distinct privilege of honoring one of Wyoming’s finest, Newcastle High School’s Zach Beam. We thank him, and all Wyoming teachers for their dedication. What we see in the NAEP results tells us that the commitment of Wyoming teachers is paying off,” Sommers continued. “Quality education is and will continue to be a top priority for the Wyoming Legislature.”

 

“It is an honor to recognize Zach Beam today,” said House Education Committee Chairman David Northrup. “There is no doubt - the effort of Wyoming teachers is making a difference and the NAEP results are a testament to the good work of Wyoming’s teachers and the benefits Wyoming’s students are gaining. Wyoming students also deserve congratulations for their hard work. Wyoming is well positioned to continue our momentum as a leader in education throughout the country.”

 

This 2022 report demonstrates a trend of strong performance for Wyoming education. Some highlights from the 2022 report include:

 

•          For all 50 states, Wyoming is among those leading the pack in grade 4 reading 

•          For all 50 states, Wyoming is among those leading in grade 4 math

•          Grade 8 math students outperformed national average test results 

•          Grade 8 reading is even with the national average in reading for public school students

 

The NAEP assessments were established in 1969 and evaluate students in grades 4 and 8 in reading and mathematics every two years. The 2021 assessments were postponed until 2022 due to the pandemic.

Press Release

Republicans Prioritize Savings, Tax Relief as Session Kicks Off

By Ogden Driskill and Albert Sommers

This week we had the great honor of calling to order the start of the 67th General Session of the Wyoming State Legislature. Now begins the hard work on behalf of the residents of our great state.

 

We are committed to upholding the rules and traditions of this institution to ensure fairness and respect, building up leaders at every level and debating policies on merit and substance. Wyoming solutions are needed to address the challenges that lie ahead. We have never taken our cues from Washington, D.C., and it would be a grave mistake to start now. The people of our great state deserve better.

 

To be sure, we have our work cut out. During this session the Legislature will decide how to allocate a nearly $2 billion budget surplus. Much of this is a one-time windfall, which owes to improved revenues from oil and gas production, smart investments, and federal stimulus spending. It does not represent a wholesale change to our long-term economic outlook. 

 

As the House and Senate have in years past, we will prioritize savings—with the goal of putting these funds into short, mid and long-term endowments and savings that will benefit future generations. We are stewards of taxpayers’ money, and, as recent history has shown, it’s not a matter of whether the good times will last, but rather how long until they run out.

 

We are committed to fiscal responsibility and reducing tax burdens that are hurting the men and women who are working hardest. In fact, our state is on the cusp of a residential property tax crisis, in which hardworking families are often faced with the unimaginable decision of selling their home just to pay the tax bill. In the supplemental budget bill, the Legislature has fully funded the Property Tax Refund Program at $5 million to provide relief to our most vulnerable, like retirees and critical workers, who are facing financial hardships due to inflationary pressures. We will continue to fight for commonsense solutions to cap or rollback property tax increases and make our tax structure simpler and fairer.

 

As we consider spending, our focus will be on our state’s greatest needs, like education and infrastructure, creating efficiencies and removing bureaucratic red tape in the way of economic growth and protecting Wyoming’s most vulnerable citizens. 

 

Funding an education system that prepares all our young people to succeed is perhaps the highest duty of the Legislature. Every dollar invested wisely in our schools benefits our communities, and we will work to establish sustainable revenue streams that ensure Wyoming remains a leader in education nationally and globally. 

 

At the same time, we will strive to craft policy that fosters economic growth and diversification—to help create economic opportunity and stop the “brain drain” of young people having to move out of state to find good jobs. Over the past decade Wyoming has offset its reliance on mineral extraction revenues by nearly 20 percent. That is a remarkable accomplishment that owes to pragmatic policymaking that has made Wyoming a destination for new industries.

 

Finally, we will continue to support Wyoming’s traditional energy producers, which have been and will remain a key driver of our economy. Forward-looking investments in carbon capture and hydrogen production, as examples, are helping to secure a cleaner, independent energy future for our state and our country. And this progress is far from done.

 

Wyoming is one of only a few states with a citizen legislature. Our members come from all walks of life. The diverse personal and professional experiences each brings are tremendous assets. We look forward to drawing on that collective knowledge and working with all members to set our great state on a path of continued opportunity and prosperity. And we hope you, the residents of Wyoming, will join us.  

 

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

 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 10, 2022 

Contact: Majority of the Wyoming Legislature 

Wyolegmajority@gmail.com

 

Republican Leadership Calls for Decisiveness and Decorum at Start of 2023 General Session

 

CHEYENNE – House and Senate majority leaders began the 67^th General Session of the Wyoming Legislature today following the administration of the oath of office. 

 

The Wyoming Legislature is a 93-member citizen legislature. A total of 34 new members were sworn in during today’s proceedings. It will be the first year in office for 27 House members and 3 Senate members. The House and Senate bodies elected their leaders after one round of voting for each chamber. Albert Sommers was duly confirmed Speaker of the House and Ogden Driskill was duly confirmed President of the Senate.

 

The Republican Leadership expressed optimism in the work ahead to continue to make Wyoming the best place to live, work and raise a family. 

 

House and Senate leaders outlined several priorities leading into the 67^th General Session, including:

 

·      Smart fiscal stewardship and planning that creates future opportunities and bolsters the state’s fiscal position

·      Cultivating growth in emerging industries while keeping the mainstay energy, agriculture, and tourism sectors strong

·      Building the bench of Legislative leaders

·      Promoting a responsive, efficient, and limited government mindful of Wyoming’s most vulnerable citizens

 

“Our focus will be on thoughtful planning and saving for the future,” said Speaker of the House Albert Sommers. “We have a responsibility to leverage the recent revenue surplus to benefit generations of Wyoming people. This will be accomplished by building strategic investments, maximizing efficiencies, and placing a priority on helping the most vulnerable among us.” 

 

“Together, we must continue to develop Wyoming solutions to the challenges we face,” said Senate President Ogden Driskill. “It is our essential purpose, the expectation of the people of Wyoming, and the duty of each member to welcome robust discussion with respect for each other and for this great institution. Civil, open debate is what we owe the people we serve and it’s the best path forward to fulfill our critical obligations and create a stronger Wyoming.”

 

All House and Senate meetings are open to the public. Proceedings will be livestreamed on the Legislature’s website: www.wyoleg.gov.