Taxing for grizzlies, federal DUIs proposed

by Cat Urbigkit

As the 57th Wyoming Legislature convened this week, there were more than 500 bills pre-filed for consideration, and the cut-off date for new bills is weeks away.

Sublette County falls within the boundaries of the districts represented by Representative Monte Olsen of Daniel, Stan Cooper of Kemmerer and Senator Delaine Roberts of Etna.

As he was preparing for the session to start this week, Olsen suffered a personal tragedy when his father unexpectedly passed away in Cheyenne Saturday morning.

Contacted by telephone, Olsen said the response from his fellow legislators was wonderful.

"This whole body, the House and the whole legislature, has rallied behind me," Olsen said, with both the speaker and the floor leader of the Wyoming House attending his father's services.

Cooper said in an interview Tuesday that he has been working with Representative Pat Childers of Cody on getting a bill drafted that would place a 1-percent sales tax on all sales within Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and this money would be used by the state for issues involving grizzly bears and gray wolves, federally protected predators. Cooper said the money could also be used for areas outside of the parks that have been impacted by these species, and if there is any money left over, the money could be used within the parks themselves.

"We want to put the onus back on those who want to see wolves and grizzlies," Cooper said.

Cooper said he plans to co-sponsor a bill carried forth by Senator Delaine Roberts that would reiterate the state's authority over wildlife within the boundaries of the state. Cooper said this is a bill supported by the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association.

Roberts and Cooper are also teaming up with Representative Randall Luthi on a federal driving-under the-influence (DUI) bill. The draft version of this bill would provide for a jail sentence up to five years and a maximum fine of $10,000 if a person is convicted of five DUIs within seven years. Representative Mike Baker of Thermopolis is working with Cooper on revising existing law so that pioneer hunting licenses would be more easily available to those persons at least 70 years old who have resided in the state for at least 40 years. Cooper said this issue is generating interest from folks in the Big Piney area especially.

Wyoming Legislature

Bill status line (to learn the status of up to five bills per telephone call) 1-800-342-9570

Voter hotline (to leave a message recommending a vote for or against a particular bill)

1-866-996-VOTE

To request a return call from a legislator, call the receptionist in the correct legislative

chamber. House receptionist 307-777-7852 Senate receptionist 307-777-7711

Sublette County's legislators

Rep. Monte Olsen, Plains Hotel in Cheyenne 307-638-3311, ext. 528 monteolsen@wyoming.com

Rep. Stan Cooper, Hitching Post in Cheyenne 307-638-3301, ext. 224 tolkyn@wyoming.com

Senator Delaine Roberts, Lincoln Court 307-638-3302, ext. 162