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First came a bill to designate an official state gun.

Then another, inexplicably sponsored by Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff, R-Jackson, to exempt guns from sales tax.

And now House Bill 104, which would make any federal attempt at gun control, no matter how reasonable and justified, unenforceable in Wyoming. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, who represents Wilson and Hoback.

Not to be left out of all the rootin’ and tootin’ over shootin’, Rep. Keith Gingery, R-Jackson, is among the sponsors of yet another bill that would prohibit towns and counties from regulating firearms.

Then there’s the “Citizens’ and Students’ Self-Defense Act,” which would permit concealed weapons inside elementary and secondary schools and at any school, college or professional athletic event.

As usual, The Onion makes a forceful and sane counterargument.

Update 1/13: Co-sponsors Petroff and Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, filed their bill two days before the Newtown massacre and could not withdraw it.

Posted under Crime, Politics, Republican Party, Wyoming Legislature

Tags: keith gingery, rednecks, ruth ann petroff

Depriving comedians and headline writers of quality material, the Wyoming House of Representatives defeated today the so-called “doomsday bill” that would have created a task force to plan for the failure or shutdown of the federal government.

The bill failed on a 27-30 vote, with three legislators excused. Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff, R-Jackson, voted for the bill, while Reps. Keith Gingery, R-Jackson, and Jim Roscoe, D-Wilson, helped kill it.

The legislation made national headlines over the last week as observers chuckled at some of the more outlandish provisions, including Wyoming instituting a draft, forming an army and ordering an aircraft carrier. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Dave Miller, R-Riverton, who has a libertarian bent.

On Friday, the House sunk Miller’s battleship by removing the aircraft carrier provision, dashing Wyoming Public Radio news director Bob Beck’s dream of becoming admiral of the Wyoming Navy.

Comics, take heart. The House did advance today the bill calling on Congress to declare New York’s Central Park a wilderness area, thereby delivering a gift to the New York tabloids. Petroff voted in favor, with Gingery and Roscoe opposing.

To follow the action from the Legislature (today is the last day for bills to pass house of origin), search hashtag #wyleg on Twitter or follow @ButterBob.

Posted under Economy, Humor, Politics, Republican Party, Wyoming Legislature

Tags: boondoggles, jim roscoe, keith gingery, Media, ruth ann petroff

Fresh off his drubbing by Rick Santorum in Tuesday’s caucuses, vulture capitalist and Thurston Howell impersonator Mitt Romney has assembled a Wyoming “leadership team” as he looks ahead to the next round of GOP primaries.

Among those on the team are Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff, R-Jackson, and Sens. Leland Christensen, R-Alta, and Dan Dockstader, R-Afton.

Our state legislators no doubt will help Romney corral Wyoming’s 29 delegates (a handful compared to the 1,144 needed for nomination), but given that Teton County is a hotbed for political giving, they also ought to help Romney wrangle what he loves most: MONEY.

This might put them at odds with many of their constituents, considering Barack Obama won 61 percent of the vote in Teton County in 2008, compared to 37 percent for John McCain. In Petroff’s District 16, Obama carried 63 percent.

Heading Romney’s Wyoming team is U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., who has inherited the flair for vituperative hyperbole of her predecessor, Barbara Cubin. Here’s what Lummis had to say about Mitt:

“Wyoming has faced first-hand the consequences of President Obama’s big-government over-regulation that has hindered our state’s economic development. Mitt Romney knows that the best thing Washington can do is to get out of the way of job creators. President Obama’s approach to government has been to balloon government and put us on a path toward Greece.”

Greece! Break out the ouzo and smash a plate, we’re headed for sun and olives.

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Posted under Economy, Politics, Republican Party

Tags: barack obama, foster friess, keith gingery, leland christensen, mitt romney, ruth ann petroff

Not all the news coming out of Cheyenne this legislative session is depressing.

Rep. Jim Roscoe, D-Wilson, succeeded last week in getting the House to approve his bill that would construct a natural gas filling station for vehicles along Interstate 80 and require the Wyoming Department of Transportation to retrofit its fleet to operate on natural gas. Other agencies of state government also could use the facility.

House Bill 235 passed final reading on a 33-26 vote and awaits debate in the Senate, where the Transportation and Highways Committee first will take up the measure.

“I’m a firm believer in natural gas as a transportation fuel,” says Roscoe, whose district encompasses gas fields in Sublette County. “It’s a whole lot cleaner, a whole lot better for the air.”

Implementing the bill would cost about $1 million initially, but that investment would be recouped in about five years because of reduced fuel costs, Roscoe says. The measure also would expand the market for Wyoming’s natural gas.

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Posted under Democratic Party, Economy, Environment, Politics, Republican Party, Wyoming Legislature

Tags: jim roscoe, keith gingery, leland christensen, oil and gas, ruth ann petroff

Step back from the edge. On a whole, the election results weren’t as bad as they could have been. Voters saw through what one friend described as a “fog of irrationality” to elect good candidates locally. The county, another friend said, will continue to have “cohesive, responsive, logical leadership.”

Nationally, Democrats still control the Senate by essentially a 53-47 margin, with 51 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the party. No matter what wacko legislation comes out of the Republican-led House, the Senate will cool the wilder impulses.

How now, Tea Partiers? Ye wingnuts who have railed against government woke up this week to find out, guess what, you ARE the government! That means you bear the responsibility for getting things done, not just ranting angrily. Odds are these “outsiders” become just like everyone else elected to Washington, feel voters’ wrath and get tossed out next election.

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Posted under County Government, Democratic Party, Politics, Republican Party, Wyoming, Wyoming Legislature

Tags: keith gingery, leland christensen, matt mead, Media, ruth ann petroff