In response to COVID-19, the Wyoming Legislature will most likely hold its first special session in 16 years.
“A failed capital construction bill containing numerous, necessary projects, potential purchase of 5 million combined acres of land from Occidental Petroleum, and the infusion of $1.25 billion in emergency funding directly to the state from the federal government could all prompt the calling of a special session,” according to the Casper Star-Tribune. The house has been working very closely with Governor Mark Gordon as policies change to accommodate this time, according to House District 37: Representative Steve Harshman.
Due to the parallels between the United State’s current economic state and the Great Recession that occurred in 2008, Congress is preparing to discuss the impacts of the virus while still in what Governor Mark Gordon referred to as “the early days.” The legislature will be able to gauge better when the proposed special session will occur and what exactly will be discussed following a management council meeting held by the legislative leadership on April 16, according to Harshman.
“The United States Treasury Department will lease the guidance on this federal bill which will tell us how and if we can spend it… They might say it’s only for medical type issues… So it just kind of depends on this guidance. If it’s really broad, maybe we’ll even do a stimulus package to get people working,” stated Harshman when asked how the money might be spent.
A looming concern among the Wyoming government is the state of the petroleum industry. Oil and gas prices have plummeted, reflecting a suffering economy.
“Our gas prices now are cheap… they’re all under 2 dollars… And it’s nice, except for if you live in Wyoming because it pays about half of our bills. And so we’d like gas to be about 3 dollars a gallon … Think of all the tourists … You close down Yellowstone National Park, and it wouldn’t have the same effect as closing down the Jonah Gas Field. It’s not even close. Oil and gas are like five times more jobs, more revenue, all those things. So don’t get me wrong, the tourism thing is important, [but] what’s coincided with this COVID-19 thing is Saudi Arabia and Russia institute a price war on the rest of the world, particularly the United States, because we’ve gotten so good at fracking. … So about the same time this thing broke, they… increase production [to] at least 10 million barrels and discount the price… I was told [by the Petroleum Association] that if this continues [they] don’t think [they’ll] have a grid working in Wyoming come June 1, 2020. That part is devastating to our economy,” stated Harshman.
Special sessions in Congress “can be called only by lawmakers or the governor themselves [and] are not without precedent,” stated Reynolds of the Star Tribune. There are two types of special sessions- the first involves the governor calling the session, which would occur in a time of emergency and not necessarily have to take place in the seat of government, meaning they could meet online. The second type involves the House, Representative Harshman, and President Drew Perkins in the senate calling the session. The session would be held if there was a majority vote in favor of both houses. Harshman stated that if the pandemic continues and they do have to call themselves into session, then they’d have to meet in a large area where they could spread out.
Despite the tragedies and challenges coming alongside this global pandemic, it can be viewed as an impetus for change. “How do we get back on our feet? What do we look like when we come out of this? I think that’s our job in the legislature- we got to plan to come out of this stronger and better and smarter and with new skills,” stated Harshman.
