Lawmakers practice checks and balances

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - On Wednesday, there was a little controversy in the House chambers as lawmakers rehashed the budget in a bit of a ping pong of legislation.

In an active maneuver of keeping each branch in its place, the House vetoed Governor Mark Gordon’s veto.

”This is how government works, and there’s multiple checks and balances that allows the Governor to check what the Legislature is doing and allows Legislators ...Legislature to check what the Executive branch is doing,” said Rep. Lloyd Larsen, H.D. 54.

On Wednesday, the House added six amendments to the most recent veto of the General Government Appropriations budget.

The earlier bill was sent to Gordon for signing but was vetoed by the Governor and sent back to the chambers.

Some of these new house amendments include...

A Supreme Court requested an additional attorney’s position. The House voted to supersede the Governor to ensure that it passed.

The House also countered Gordon on ** enterprise inflation cost meaning fuel, food, electricity and healthcare for state agencies, voting to stay specifically for this fiscal year.

Also, the House voted for specific wording for specific positions instead of allowing the state department to have general funds.

“At the end of the day, with this action today if this is the worst problem we have in the interaction between the Legislature and the Executive branch we are in such good shape,” said Larsen.

The amended bill leaves the House and heads to the Senate again.

”I think the real good news...I mean, it’s kind of like every year; it’s the good, the bad and the ugly, you know. The real good was the budget and then saving about $1.4B. I mean, it’s incredible, the most we’ve ever directly saved for the future. So that’ll just continue to increase our permanent account,s and that keeps our taxes... low,” said Rep. Steve Harshman, Chair of House Revenue, H.D. 37.

If the bills leave the House and Senate without amendments, they will head to the Governor’s desk again.

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