Ten months after Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon’s line-item vetoes in the current two-year budget, the Joint Appropriations Committee, heavily influenced by the Freedom Caucus, has moved to reinstate vetoed provisions in the supplemental budget, Oil City News reports.
In March 2024, the Freedom Caucus called for a special session to override the governor’s vetoes but was unsuccessful. However, during Friday’s supplemental budget discussions, lawmakers revisited several vetoed items.
House Appropriations Chairman Rep. John Bear (R-Gillette) noted the importance of revisiting these issues.
“The bodies, both House and Senate, were unable to come back and override these vetoes,” Bear said. “So we’d like to look at these vetoes.”
The committee voted to reinstate various provisions, including funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at the University of Wyoming, which had been a contentious issue. The new language prohibits the use of state funds for any DEI-related programs, activities, or functions.
Gov. Gordon vetoed this language in 2024, citing concerns over federal funding. He argued that banning DEI programming could jeopardize $120 million in federal grants tied to efforts benefiting underrepresented and underserved populations, such as veterans, people with disabilities, and Native Americans.
Despite these concerns, Sen. Darin Smith (R-Cheyenne) supported the language, calling DEI programs “anti-American at its very core.”
Gordon has warned about the potential repercussions of reinstating vetoed items. Speaking at a press luncheon, he expressed concern about the committee’s lack of experience.
“You have a Joint Appropriations Committee with a lot of new members,” Gordon said. “I’m not clear that they all have a full understanding of exactly what happens when you get rid of this or add that.”
The governor’s concerns were echoed when Rep. Ken Pendergraft (R-Sheridan) requested additional explanation on a motion, citing uncertainty about its implications.
The supplemental budget still requires approval from both legislative chambers. Additionally, the governor will have another opportunity to issue vetoes when the bill reaches his desk. If this happens, lawmakers could attempt another override.
