Wyo Democratic legislator’s caucus provides glimpse into session

by Phil Noble, Cowboy State Free Press Bureau Chief

CHEYENNE—The 60th Wyoming Legislature will convene in a Joint Session of the Wyoming Senate and House of Representatives on Monday at 10 a.m., during the first day of legislative proceedings of the 2010
Budget Session. At that time, Governor Dave Freudenthal will deliver his annual State of the State message to the Legislature, followed by the State of the Judiciary message, delivered by Wyoming Supreme Court
Chief Justice Barton Voigt.

The day before the session, on Sunday, both Republican and Democrat legislators held caucuses to outline session concerns. Democratic legislators have always opened their caucuses to the public and media but this year opened it to all elected officials as well. Gov. Freudenthal addressed the group as usual, but this year the Republican leadership addressed the Democrat legislators also.

Senate President Sen. John Hines, R-Campbell County, told the democrats his office is open to hearing from them during the session with questions or concerns, an olive branch across the aisle not typical in most states.

House Speaker Colin Simpson, R-Park County, urged the democrats to notify him of bills they haven’t yet filed that are controversial in nature. “I’m not trying to tell you that you can’t file something controversial,” Simpson said, “just that there have been very few bills filed and I know there are more out there and if you have something I should see please come to me with it.”

Simpson reminded the group that this coming Wednesday is the deadline for filing bills—just three days into the legislative session.

Others noted the small number of bills filed at this point in the session also—fewer than 60 in the House—a number that is about one-third fewer than normal. Some of the speakers at the Democrat’s session attributed that to the fact that there is less money to spend this year.