This situation in Wyoming has triggered a significant dispute between Rep. John Bear and Gov. Mark Gordon over the handling of the state’s budget, particularly regarding the use of the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account LSRA.
Bear is accusing Gordon of exceeding the 5% limit on appropriations from the rainy-day fund, a restriction that was established by a 2016 state law. Bear claims that Gordon’s budget recommendations, which drew from the LSRA, have violated this law more than once, although specifics on how the funds were used are not mentioned in Bear’s statement.
Gov. Gordon is standing by his budget proposals, emphasizing that the state was dealing with an extraordinary fiscal situation due to severe wildfire costs.
He argues that his budget recommendations are both constitutional and within legal bounds. Additionally, the governor’s team has offered to work with the Appropriations Committee to resolve any concerns, suggesting that Bear’s focus should be on aiding Wyoming’s recovery efforts from the wildfires rather than making political points.
The tension is exacerbated by accusations from Bear against past appropriations committee members for not highlighting the alleged discrepancies during previous legislative sessions, further stirring the pot in what seems to be a political standoff.
Rep. Lloyd Larsen’s comparison to the fictional character Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show adds a layer of humor to the conflict, but also highlights the seriousness with which some are taking Bear’s claims, questioning their accuracy and the broader implications for past legislative decisions.