Gordon Pushes Back as Lawmakers Tighten the Purse Strings

The original story by Klark Byrd Oil City News.

Gov. Mark Gordon isn’t buying the Legislature’s push toward austerity – and he made that clear during a blunt, wide-ranging speech at the Wyoming Press Association’s annual convention on Friday, Jan. 16.

Speaking to reporters and University of Wyoming students, Gordon criticized proposed budget cuts coming out of the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee, arguing they put Wyoming’s long-term economic growth, higher education and social services at risk. In his view, lawmakers are crying “fiscal cliff” to justify pulling back, even as the state sits on nearly $500 million in unallocated cash.

That gloomy budget narrative, Gordon said, amounts to “painting the devil on the wall” – and it runs counter to Wyoming’s tradition of planning ahead instead of hunkering down.

Much of the governor’s concern centered on the University of Wyoming, which could be facing a reported $40 million cut. Gordon said he hadn’t seen the final numbers yet, but didn’t need a spreadsheet to grasp what that would mean.

“That’s cutting the guts out of our university,” he said, especially as UW is trying to pivot toward research and innovation that can help diversify Wyoming’s economy.

For Gordon, slashing university funding sends the wrong signal at a time when the state is trying to keep young people, attract talent and build industries beyond oil, gas and coal.

Gordon also took aim at what he sees as skewed priorities in the proposed budget. He contrasted lawmakers’ hesitation to fully fund food assistance programs like SNAP and Summer EBT with their willingness to put more money into a state shooting complex in Park County.

While Gordon said he supported the original idea behind the shooting complex, he questioned additional spending on it while social safety nets are being trimmed.

“I hope all our kids learn how to shoot,” he said. “But at the same time, I hope they can also eat.”

Another target of proposed cuts is Wyoming Public Media, and Gordon didn’t mince words there either. He called efforts to defund the network “incredibly shortsighted,” pointing to its role in emergency communication during recent wildfires in Campbell and Weston counties.

Radio repeaters operated by Wyoming Public Media were critical, he said, and the network also provides historical programming and public debates that simply don’t exist elsewhere in the state.

On K–12 education, Gordon addressed the Legislature’s push to expand charter schools. While he said he’s not opposed to charter schools in principle, he warned that mandating them in every district without a clear funding plan effectively doubles administrative costs.

“That’s not free,” he cautioned, urging lawmakers to think through the long-term financial impact.

Gordon also weighed in on rising tensions between the Legislature and the judicial branch following a recent Wyoming Supreme Court decision. He warned against retaliatory moves, particularly proposals to shift to elected judges.

An elected judiciary, Gordon argued, would undermine independence and create the perception that justice could depend on campaign donations – a slippery slope for the rule of law.

Despite the budget battles, Gordon pointed to signs that Wyoming is making progress on economic diversification. He highlighted the Wyoming Stable Token initiative, a new nuclear reactor project in Kemmerer and the arrival of data centers bringing high-paying jobs while tapping into the state’s energy resources.

He also pushed back on claims by the Joint Appropriations Committee that it slashed a billion dollars from his budget, calling that “gamesmanship.” Some cuts, he said, were simply shifted into separate bills rather than eliminated outright.

Gordon wrapped up by encouraging young professionals to stay in Wyoming, saying the state’s small size and flexibility make it well-positioned to adapt to new industries. And while the budget process is far from over, he made one thing clear: his administration plans to fight hard to ensure the final budget reflects what Wyoming actually needs – not just what looks good on paper.