UPDATE: As of late Wednesday afternoon, supporters of House Bill 10 were trying to get a suspension of the rules to reconsider the bill. As this article is written, the outcome of that effort was unknown.
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus is accusing the Wyoming Senate of wasting time on dancing and pizza parties while important bills died by not meeting a deadline on Tuesday.
Tuesday was the last day for bills to be approved by the Committee of the Whole. Bills that fail to meet that deadline are dead for this session.
Bill On Sexually Explicit Materials In Libraries Misses Deadline
The bills that died included one of the more high-profile bills of the session, House Bill 10. That bill was intended to keep sexually explicit materials out of areas of school and county libraries where they are accessible to children.
Rep. Ann Lucas {R-Laramie County}, who has been vocal in supporting the legislation, told Townsquare Media on Wednesday that she thought Senate leadership intentionally stopped the bill from being considered:
“The Senate pushed HB10 down in the COW repeatedly the last few days. I think they planned to not debate this bill, despite enormous public appetite for this topic Although HB10 was crafted by a bipartisan, bicameral committee, I always felt some ownership because I ran Obscenity Amendments last session and participated in all of the Judiciary Committee meetings during the interim. We have not seen the last of this issue.”
But Wyoming Equality Executive Director Sara Burlingame took a very different view:
“”The Freedom Caucus overplayed their hand and Wyoming voters rejected their characterization of our libraries as dens of iniquity. We know our libraries serve home schoolers, genealogists, gardeners, teens, the elderly and everyone in between. Libraries are the heartbeat of our communities in Wyoming and they work very hard to be responsive to all residents. The Freedom Caucus came after the wrong profession- librarians defend liberty.”
The Freedom Caucus posted the following statement on their Facebook page:
“Last night, Senate Leadership teamed up with the democrats to kill your priorities. They recessed for multiple hours, filibustered, danced, and held a pizza party on your dime — all while bills to protect the 1st and 2nd Amendments, life, parental rights, election integrity, and your wallet were left to die without debate”
Thursday is the last day for Third reading for bills in the second house.
Friday is the deadline for Joint Conference Committee Reports; All JCC Reports due to front desk by 2:00 p.m.; Potential veto overrides; Last day for bills to be sent to Governor for potential veto overrides.
The legislature is slated to adjourn by midnight on Wednesday, March 11.
Wyoming’s Oldest Churches: From Prairie Tents to Steepled Landmarks
Gallery Credit: Wyoming State Archives, Historic Photograph Collection; Kolby Fedore
