ROCK SPRINGS – The budget, federal agencies, the economy and Wyoming cities and towns were just a few topics Wyoming Governor Matt Mead spoke about as he traveled to several events throughout the Rock Springs area on Monday.
The first stop of Mead’s tour was at the Rock Springs Chamber Luncheon. Mead said as he was preparing to come to Rock Springs he said he felt like he was just here. After checking, Mead said that other than Natrona County, he has visited Sweetwater County more than any other county.
“There are so many good things going on here,” Mead said.
The National High School Finals Rodeo and Capital for a Day were two events that he enjoyed attending in Sweetwater County, Mead said he was glad to be a part of them.
During a speech, he told a story about a visit to Cowboy Donuts. He said on one of his visits; the delegation went to Cowboy Donuts where he ate more this his fair share. Then just before the holidays they were working on getting donuts delivered to him, and Sen. Mike Enzi delivered a box of Cowboy Donuts to him. Governor Mead jokingly referred to Senator Enzi as his “delivery donut boy.”
Mead also spoke about his wife Carol and her program promoting early childhood literacy.
Mead joked that the First Lady continues to hear the question from children, “what does being the first lady of Wyoming mean?” He said one time a student answered that it meant she was the oldest woman in Wyoming. Another response was the governor’s first wife. Mead said there was finally one she liked, the governor’s first daughter.
With all fun aside, Mead got down to the numbers.
“This county is strong,” he said.
Mead said from 2010-1012 the population was up while the unemployment rate was down to 3.4 percent. That is lower than the state average.
“This is a hard-working community,” Mead said.
He said Wyoming was ranked the friendliest state to business because of the tax climate. That and the work ethic combined to make Wyoming the ninth ranked state in business overall. Mead also said Wyoming is the second best ran state according to Wall Street 24/7. Wyoming has also received the highest credit rating by S&P.
Stepping aside from the economic numbers, Mead pointed out Wyoming has the third lowest poverty rate, is the fifth lowest in violent crime, has the cleanest air and of course “the best license plates in the country.”
Budget
Governor Mead spoke about the upcoming budget session. He said in his budget he is asking for $175 million. He explained he had watched as the rainy day fund grew from millions to $1.7 billion. He also pointed to almost $17 billion in saving.
Mead said it was important to save and invest, but he wants this money for local cities and towns. He said investing in Wyoming and Wyoming’s cities and towns is “a good investment.”
“I know what a mile of road is worth,” Mead said. “I know what a good sewer and water system means. If every town and county is strong then the state is strong.”
Along with strong cities and towns, Mead also said he is asking the state legislature to increase broadband across the state. He explained he is asking to the legislature to support him on a unified network.
Mead explained, with the help of the legislature, they will have what is called an IPv6 and Wyoming would be the first state to have that.
“We will be a beacon for tech companies,” Mead said about showing technology companies that Wyoming is the place to be.
With energy being the top industry in Wyoming, Mead pointed to the second industry, tourism. He is asking the Legislature for a little over $4 million to expand tourism. $1.5 million will expand marketing Wyoming in foreign markets. He said Sweetwater County is very important because of a major asset, the Flaming Gorge, which helps with fishing and hunting industries.
Another important piece of this is airline services.
“In Wyoming air service can be a challenge,” Mead said.
He explained he was asking for the legislature to add money to the air enhancement program.
Overall, Mead said he has remained fiscally conservative, as well. His budgets have been relatively flat and, even with asking the Legislature for money to spend in these different programs, it will be again this year.
“I even left the legislature $200 million on the table for them to decide what to do with,” Mead said,.
EPA
Another thing Mead vowed to continue to fight is the Environmental Protection Agency. He said recently the EPA has came in and told the state they are changing the boundary on the Wind River Reservation.
“They didn’t even notify me,” Mead said.
The EPA has said Riverton does not belong to the state anymore but rather to the reservation. He said the danger here is a federal government agency can come into any state and change whatever they want.
Mead said while he respects the tribes point of view; he wants to see how the state courts rule.
“I am not honoring the EPA,” Mead said. “If I am sent to jail I hope someone sends me some donuts.”
Another EPA battle Mead has been involved in is the State Haze Plan. Mead explained the only difference between the state plan and the federal plan: the state plan will get to the point where they want it to be a couple years later than the federal plan.
He said the Black Hills are the most healthy forests he knows. He also said Wyoming needs to do a better job cleaning up beetle kill trees and timbering.
“We are trying to be as proactive as possible,” he said.
