WYOMING OFFICIALS VIEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA
October 16, 2006
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Gov. Dave Freudenthal and Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jim McBride joined a group of Wyoming political, community and educational leaders in South Dakota Friday for discussions and tours of that state’s workforce training and economic development efforts.
   Friday’s agenda included a general-discussion lunch meeting with representatives of South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development, the Southeast Technical Institute and the South Dakota Development Foundation. The group toured the Southeast Technical Institute, which offers technical education opportunities and services for individuals pursuing more than 40 career paths. Tours of the South Dakota Technology Business Center and the Sioux Empire Development Park followed.
   “This trip to south Dakota is proving to be even more informative than we’d hoped,” Freudenthal said. “We’re learning a great deal about various ways to make sure that workforce training and career development activities are delivered in a timely and efficient fashion.”
   The trip was organized by the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance (CAEDA, pronounced KAY-duh). Pasco said the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance believes that demand-driven, custom workforce training and recruitment is vital to expanding the economy in Casper and throughout Wyoming.
   “It is imperative that private and public entities work together to develop workforce solutions that align with business needs,” Pasco said. “We are thrilled that Gov. Freudenthal is joining us on the trip to Sioux Falls to review their economic development and high-tech training model. We share his desire to expand worker training efforts and create more opportunities for young people to remain in Wyoming.”
   One of the most successful efforts of recent years has been the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Training Center in Casper, which draws students from all over the country. Wyoming has also moved toward dealing with the peripheral issues that come with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, such as improving access to housing and to quality childcare.
“I expect to continue increased investment in workforce development in order to make sure that our economy can continue to prosper.”

Candidates For Governor Disagree Over Wyoming Range and Lottery
October 13, 2006
CODY, WY — Governor Dave Freudenthal and his challenger, Republican Ray Hunkins continue to disagree over protecting the Wyoming Range from drilling. During a debate in Cody this week, Hunkins argued that simply saying oil and gas drilling is not allowed in the area, unfairly ties the hands of producers. But Freudenthal thinks there are areas of the state that should be protected. Freudenthal says it is something the state markets everyday in tourism (one of the states largest sources of income) and that the people of this state want to see protected for future generations.
   Another issue that came up during the debate was gambling — more specifically the powerball lotteries other states that surround Wyoming are running. Republican candidate for Governor Ray Hunkins does not favor a powerball lottery for the state, but Governor Freudenthal says he would sign such a bill if the legislature passed it. Some are hoping Wyoming becomes part of a multi-state lottery. Hunkins does not favor additional gaming in the state and adds that Wyoming does not need the money such a lottery could bring into the state. Freudenthal has in the past gone on record as opposing such a lottery in the past but recently changed his mind about the issue. He notes that many people drive to buy the tickets across statelines and he figures he might as well help people save some gas money. But Hunkins fears that such a lottery could lead to some negative consequences for the state and citizens.

Senate OKs $24 million for Wyo Guard, Air Force Base
October 3, 2006
WASHINGTON – The Senate approved legislation recently that includes authorizations for Wyoming Air National Guard squadron operations facility and improvements for a fire crash/rescue station in Cheyenne, according to Wyoming U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi.
   “Wyoming is getting the financial backing it needs to revamp facilities in Cheyenne and Camp Guernsey. I’m pleased to see Wyoming’s military projects provide new joint operational capability. I’m particularly pleased to see the squad operations facility get the funding it needs to support its expanding mission,” Thomas said.
   "Better pay for people in our military, improved facilities and increased monitoring of how taxpayer money is being spent in Iraq and Afghanistan are just a few of the provisions included in this bill…. This was one of the last bills we wrapped up before returning home to work in our states, but it’s one of the first on a scale of necessity,” Enzi said.
   The conference report authorizes more than $24.5 million in projects for Wyoming. These projects include: $7.6 million for the Wyoming Air National Guard in Cheyenne to replace its squadron operations facility; $4.2 million for the Wyoming Air National Guard to add to and improve its fire crash/rescue station in Cheyenne, almost $1.8 million for Camp Guernsey’s multi-purpose machine gun range and $11 million for renovations at F. E. Warren Air Force Base.
   The bill also expands military healthcare coverage to all members of the Selected Reserve and their families without regard to active duty service and prohibits increases in fees until the Department of Defense can complete a study of military healthcare costs.
   The legislation strengthens Congressional oversight over current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan by requiring future budgets to include the costs of ongoing military operations there and increases oversight authorities of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
   A 2.2 percent authorization for an across-the-board pay increase for military personnel is included in the bill. The conferee report authorizes $462.8 billion for defense programs in fiscal year 2007, an increase of $21.2 billion or 3.6 percent above the amount authorized in fiscal year 2006. The conferees authorized $84.2 billion in procurement funding; $73.6 billion in funding for research, development, test and evaluation; $155.3 billion for operation and maintenance and other programs and $110.1 billion for military personnel.
   Thomas and Enzi said the Defense Authorization bill also includes provisions designed to allow the military to help civilians during times of manmade or natural disasters by requiring the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to develop plans to support civilian authorities and to maintain a database of emergency response capabilities in each state’s National Guard that could be deployed in response to a natural or manmade disaster. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Defense to preposition prepackaged food, water, communications equipment, and medical supplies to improve the ability of the Department of Defense to respond to requests from civil authorities.
   To ensure the state is paid fairly and to prevent these sorts of questions from arising locally,” said Freudenthal, who pursued additional staff in the Department of Audit during his first year in office. “We’ve added five full-time auditors, and four more federally funded auditors will start later this year, which has allowed us to be faster and more accurate in ensuring that energy companies comply with the law when they’re operating in Wyoming.”
Wyoming’s share of royalty payments looks to increase by as much as $24 million per year in coming years with the end - at the governor’s request - of the federal Royalty Rate Reduction Program in February 2006. When the program was created, it was with the recognition that good prices are the main incentive for mineral production. The language in the regulations indicated that a 25 percent increase in prices would make the incentives unnecessary. When Freudenthal requested that the program be ended, prices had already risen more than 30 percent.
   Early estimates determined that the termination would increase Wyoming federal mineral royalty payments by $10 million per year. Now, the Department of Audit is analyzing new data that indicates the increase may be as much as $24 million per year.

GOVERNOR WEIGHS IN ON OIL SHALE PROPOSAL
October 27, 2006
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Gov. Dave Freudenthal weighed in Wednesday on the federal government’s proposal for the commercial leasing of oil shale across the West.
In a letter to US Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clark, the governor offered the state of Wyoming’s views on the royalty rates, production requirements and lease sizes under consideration.
“The letter is intended to establish ground rules for the orderly, environmentally safe and commercially viable development of Wyoming’s oil shale resources,” Freudenthal said.
The governor suggested that a 12.5 percent royalty rate - standard for the BLM - may be appropriate for oil shale as well. However, he suggested that temporary royalty rate relief may be in order to spur the development of oil shale technology until producers are able to break even.
“The BLM should consider deferment of oil shale royalty rates for a small window of time for those who use new technology,” Freudenthal wrote. “By doing so, the BLM can encourage the development of new and innovative technology. The BLM should also consider giving incentives in the form of lower royalties for better and cleaner technology.” He also suggested that the BLM go slow in developing their policies as this is a new frontier.

WORKPLACE SAFETY ART CONTEST SEEKS SPONSORS
October 26, 2006
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Additional sponsors are being sought for a workplace safety art contest featuring submissions from middle and junior high schools in Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Employment, in cooperation with the Wyoming Department of Education, is promoting the contest statewide. The theme of this year’s workplace safety art contest is “Embrace Safety for Life.”
   This is the second year of the annual competition. Twelve submissions will be selected to create a workplace safety calendar. The published calendars are made available at no charge to Wyoming employers. Prizes will be awarded to each winning contestant in the form of savings bonds, donated by participating employers.
   Five Wyoming employers, including Homax Oil Sales, OCI Wyoming, Rio Tinto Energy America, Solvay Chemical and Warren Federal Credit Union, have pledged donations for the contest thus far. “We welcome any additional sponsorship from entities willing to step forward and be recognized as workplace safety promoters in our state,” Pomeroy said. “Sponsors will be credited within the calendar, and pledged donations will be accepted until the time of publication.”
   The workplace safety art contest strives to promote safety awareness to the youth of Wyoming before their initial employment years. According to the Research and Planning Program (R&P) of the Department of Employment, in 2004 Wyoming workers in private industry aged 16-24 accounted for 20.3 percent of all nonfatal, lost-time workplace injuries and illnesses in Wyoming. Nationally, this age group had a lower rate of lost time injuries and illnesses at 14.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   The 12 safety art selections to be featured in the workplace safety calendar will be announced Nov. 3. Submission for publication of the calendar is set for Nov. 15.
   Further information about sponsorship can be obtained by contacting Frank Newman (307-777-6745) at the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Division.

REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE HUNKINS: TEACHERS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CARRY GUNS
October 23, 2006
LARAMIE, WY — The Candidates clashed in live broadcast debates on Wyoming Public Radio, and one of the issues they clashed on was the right for teachers to bear arms. So school security principles can now be added to the list of issues on which Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal and Republican candidate Ray Hunkins do not see eye to eye.
   During the debate Hunkins said that schoolroom teachers should be allowed to carry firearms, so long as they're properly trained. Hunkins, a Wheatland attorney, said this is a short term solution to insure our schools stay safe while the Legislature looks at more lasting solutions. Freudenthal disagreed, citing several reasons in the process. Basically, though he stressed that teachers should be teaching, not worrying about security and whether students are carrying weapons. He also said he would support more state funds to be dedicated to school safety and safety officers, but added that it is a local decision.
    Hunkins was responding to recent school tragedies across the nation that took place at public schools. During these incidents in September and early October, three deadly school shootings (in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) shocked the nation.
    In other Wyoming related campaign news, SurveyUSA, an online nationally based resource for gauging public opinion announced that Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal has achieved a 71% favorable rating in a state that voted for George Bush in the last election.