In a recent statement, Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, a prominent figure within the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and current chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, accused Governor Mark Gordon and previous Joint Appropriations Committees of violating state spending laws, Casper Star-Tribune reports.
Bear’s allegations center around budget recommendations that he claims exceeded statutory limits on the use of the state’s rainy day fund, formally known as the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account (LSRA).
Bear’s findings are based on a 2016 state law restricting the governor from recommending appropriations from the LSRA exceeding 5% of the account’s balance at the start of the fiscal year. According to Bear, Governor Gordon’s budget recommendations have repeatedly surpassed this limit, contradicting the governor’s frequent emphasis on fiscal responsibility.
“This law is about living within our means — something our governor has touted with each budget provided to the Legislature during his tenure,” Bear wrote in his statement.
He did not specify how the funds were allocated but stressed that the deviation was a recurring issue.
Governor Gordon defended his budget recommendations, asserting that they comply with both the state constitution and applicable statutes.
In a statement to WyoFile, Gordon emphasized his administration’s cooperation with the Joint Appropriations Committee and highlighted the fiscal strain caused by devastating wildfires.
“The direct firefighting cost exceeded $55 million. This fully depleted the funds appropriated for firefighting, my contingency account, and virtually all of the governor’s authority to borrow from the LSRA,” Gordon said.
He noted that his Chief of Staff had already addressed Bear’s concerns and offered to work collaboratively with the Appropriations Committee to resolve any issues.
Gordon also urged Bear to focus on helping Wyoming recover from recent wildfires rather than engaging in political posturing.
Bear’s accusations extended beyond the governor to former appropriations members, including unnamed lawmakers who allegedly failed to disclose the spending deviations during the 2019 and 2024 legislative sessions.
Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, who served on the Appropriations Committee during both sessions, dismissed Bear’s criticisms with a lighthearted analogy to The Andy Griffith Show.
“Just because Andy went to Mt. Pilot for the day and left Barney in charge doesn’t necessarily mean that all his observations are accurate,” Larsen remarked.
He defended the integrity of past committee members and insisted that discussions with the governor’s office were always transparent.
Bear framed the investigation as a fresh approach to budget oversight by the Freedom Caucus-led House Appropriations Committee.
“We have learned a lot,” he wrote.
Thus Bear promised to hold the state accountable to its fiscal laws.
