Dear Editor,

Last Wednesday’s paper had two columns by our District 3 Senator, with her take on the 2024 budget session, a view far different from many of her constituents.

The constitutionally mandated purpose for this session is to pass a balanced budget. Also, various committees were tasked last session to work on multiple serious issues, and come up with bills to address those issues. Those were not our senator’s goals.

Her priorities, despite insisting that she wants to work for the liberties of all Wyomingites, have actually been to work in opposition to the liberties of Wyoming’s transgender youth and their parents, women, students at UW and their education choices. Aren’t those Wyomingites included in her representation? Apparently not.

She fought hard, though, to assure that Wyoming citizens are forced to pay for private schools and home schooled students, siphoning, in a probably unconstitutional ploy, up to $6,000 per eligible student away from our public school students. Meanwhile, she also applauds concealed-carry in public schools. I wonder if the religious schools we’ll be supporting will allow armed people. 

Our Senator also fought hard against pay raises for state employees, raises sorely needed to attract and retain the people with the skills we need. 

Unfortunately it will take more than higher pay to draw new workers. Young families also seek excellent public schools and medical resources, both of which the senator’s priorities lie in destroying. We already have 19 teacher vacancies in Goshen County, with more in the offing before the end of the school year. Ten of the 23 counties no longer have no ob-gyn care, with the recent anti-women’s health care laws contributing to the losses.

Did the District 3 Senator serve all of her constituents, or did she serve only her party and her church? The view of many of us is the latter.

Marci Shaver