Over this last weekend it was my distinct honor to serve the Wyoming Republican Party as the chairman of our Resolutions Committee at our bi-annual Convention in Douglas. All over Wyoming, at various County gatherings and committee meetings, thousands of grassroots Republicans gather and discuss what actions they’d like their legislators to take.
We’re aware that our resolutions are not law but are often treated just as carefully. We debate finer points and issues as we hone our arguments. We consider the ramifications of our proposed actions, and what the wisest approach may be. This year, this bottom-up process resulted in 375 separate resolutions submitted to the State Committee for consideration. At the Convention, delegates chosen from each county meet to discuss changes to by-laws, resolutions, our platform and other party issues.
Of the 375 submissions, 52 dealt with Election Integrity and election reform ideas. Republicans want to have unwavering confidence in our elections, but too many do not. It is obvious that many see room for improvement in our election process. Simple actions such as hand counting a sample of ballots in random precincts would do wonders to quell suspicions of the accuracy of our voting machines. Securing the chain of custody of ballots would make fraud more difficult if not impossible.
Thirty-seven submissions dealt with obscenity in school and public libraries. Twenty-seven dealt with transparency in government, calling for audits and unencumbered public access to meetings. They requested broadcasting of school board, civic and county commission meetings. These resolutions also often call for accountability measures including recall or punitive actions for public servants who abuse their positions.
Republicans across the state were concerned with Wyoming sovereignty, federal overreach and resisting international laws. We expressed concern over subsidized “woke” energy development and the abandonment of our traditional extractive industries. Many harbor resentments of overreach during COVID and feel we still lack protection in the face of mandates or the use of certain vaccinations, fluoride and glyphosate. Concerns persist where public and private property rights intersect and in balancing the conservation of our wildlife with the preservation of our livestock. Other issues were addressed, but these were the most raised.
As I considered these resolutions, I was reminded of the often-parroted claim that the “extreme far right” are only concerned with national issues, and ignore the needs and wants of Wyoming’s people. Looking back at where our legislative focus has been, it appears to me that we’re right over the target. That’s where the flak is the heaviest.