Mark Gordon in State of Wyoming Archives
On Budget & Economy:
Make the state the digital asset epicenter of the U.S.
We continue to see success as a leader in digital asset banking. In September, we approved the first Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) bank charter. It was Wyoming's first state bank charter in more than 14 years. We should continue our
efforts to make the state the digital asset epicenter of the U.S. Our delegation and I remain committed to aggressively pushing for the necessary federal actions to assure Wyoming benefits from this important innovation that Wyoming pioneered.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Wyoming legislature
Mar 2, 2021
On Energy & Oil:
Crazed pursuit of 100% green energy will cripple the nation
Wyoming has long recognized the need for a broad energy portfolio that is reliable in reality, and not just on paper. The energy and environmental policies of Washington, D.C. have changed; radically changed. This crazed pursuit of 100% "green"
energy ignores the urgency of finding better ways to capture, use, and sequester carbon. It fantasizes that crippling our own nation is somehow good for our world. Nothing could be more off the mark.
Wyoming is embracing solar and wind development. Both are emerging and important parts of Wyoming's total energy portfolio. But, we are not fooled by false promises either. We want to see what can be done. Our long history of working with coal, oil
and natural gas, and regulating its related impacts to protect and enhance other natural resources, such as wildlife, is well established. Wind and solar development must be held to the same standards.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Wyoming legislature
Mar 2, 2021
On Energy & Oil:
Coal will help make Wyoming net negative in CO2 emissions
I will not waiver in my efforts to protect our industries; particularly, our coal industry. Paradoxically, it is the very industry which offers the best chance and most efficient way to remove C02 from our atmosphere. We can provide the means necessary
to make C02 capture a reality in Wyoming and preserve one of our most important industries. Many states talk about the importance of net zero carbon emissions. But, today, I challenge you to join me in making Wyoming net negative in C02 emissions.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Wyoming legislature
Mar 2, 2021
On Homeland Security:
We will partner with other states to address veteran suicide
Wyoming continues to see far too many individuals struggling with mental health issues resulting in high suicide rates. I am especially concerned about an ongoing epidemic of suicide that has plagued our armed forces and our veterans.
We will be partnering with other states to address veteran suicide. Work we began last year to address this issue in active duty service must also continue.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Wyoming legislature
Mar 2, 2021
On Health Care:
Kept state "open for business" during pandemic
We have all kept our states "open for business" and delivered food and other goods Americans need during this pandemic. Like other states, we did have to close pieces of our economies temporarily. To meet this challenge, our states moved quickly to
cut red tape and allow private employers to pivot to new business models.As we move into the next phase of managing the pandemic and consider
President Trump's guidelines for "Opening Up America Again," we are applying our propensity for planning to reopen the segments of our economies that temporarily closed. Each of us has identified triggers for when regions of our states and sectors of
our economies should reopen, based on metrics tailored to our unique circumstances. We are sharing expertise and best practices on how to safely reopen restaurants, churches, gyms and other businesses while continuing to slow the spread of infection.
Source: WaPo OpEd by 5 governors for 2022 Wyoming gubernatorial race
May 5, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Others vilify fossil fuels--not on my watch!
By now Wyoming citizens know too well how a myopic national political attitude to vilify fossil fuels has affected our energy industry. Twenty-eight states have enacted either renewable energy standards or low-carbon policies.
These are targeted at the industries that have helped raise our standard of living, built our schools, funded public infrastructure, and made us the premier economy in the world. We produce energy better, more safely, and with more
attention to the environment than anywhere else on the planet, and yet our industries are still discriminated against, maligned, and decried as dead. Well, not on my watch! Know this --
Wyoming will always advocate for our industries, whether it be to protect against unconstitutional restraint of trade, or in their endeavors to deliver cleaner, more dependable, more affordable, and safer energy to our nation.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to 65th Wyoming legislature
Feb 10, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Lower severance taxes on natural gas industry
The problem we face is not burning coal. The problem is that we have not recognized or seized the opportunities to burn it cleaner, to use its byproducts more beneficially, or to remember its role as our country's most reliable source of electricity for
over a hundred years. We in Wyoming are leading the way.It is our duty to verify that the proposed early closures of coal-burning units are truly warranted and economical, and not just philosophical or political. Wyoming genuinely welcomes
renewable resources like wind and solar. However, we will not recklessly abandon our most abundant and reliable energy source just because it is unpopular with some people.
I note with particular urgency the state of our natural gas industry.
Today, only two rigs are drilling for natural gas in Wyoming. That is the lowest number in the last 20 years. I seek the Legislature's support in crafting a temporary, price-based reduction in severance taxes for those most in need.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to 65th Wyoming legislature
Feb 10, 2020
On Environment:
Allow a few corridors for big game migration
Regulations are important but can impede development. My Big Game Migration Corridor Advisory Group crafted a recommendation that provides a practical way to identify, designate, and protect a few migration routes without offending private
property rights. It is absolutely not a land grab. The order simply establishes a way to designate a handful--single digits--of corridors to protect our state's great treasures: our wildlife, our hunting, and our opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to 65th Wyoming legislature
Feb 10, 2020
On Government Reform:
One-time bonus to retain state employees
Let me sum up this problem: We continually need to train new employees, who then become better candidates for positions in other states with better pay scales. This is unacceptably expensive, and it is costly. We should be thinking about keeping the
people who know what to do and how to do it. I have proposed a one-time bonus aimed at recognizing and retaining talent. If we truly want to reduce government, we can only do it with motivated people who know how to do their jobs.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to 65th Wyoming legislature
Feb 10, 2020
On Health Care:
Improve mental health care; launch in-state suicide hotline
We need to improve mental health care through innovative approaches and coordinating agency policies for a more seamless delivery of services. One area of focus is on the prevention of suicide. This issue struck close to home when
I heard from classmates of my own kids who have struggled with these dark thoughts. Too many of our residents are suffering -- and sadly, far too many are acting on it. I have supported funding to launch an in-state suicide hotline.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to 65th Wyoming legislature
Feb 10, 2020
On Abortion:
Enacted new reporting requirements for abortions
HB103: This bill establishes additional information that a physician is required to report when an abortion is performed.BetterWyoming blog summary:Requires the Board of Medicine to investigate any complaints that an abortion provider
has failed to comply with reporting requirements. The board can impose fines up to $25,000 and forfeiture of medical licenses.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 46-12-2 on 2/25/19; Passed Senate 20-9-1 on 2/25; Signed by Governor on 3/8.
Source: Jackson Hole Buckrail on Wyoming voting records SF14
Mar 15, 2019
On Education:
Enacted exemption for private schools from zoning authority
SF49: An act exempting private schools from county zoning authority.Jackson Hole Buckrail summary:The bill would exempt private schools--specifically Jackson Hole Classical Academy (JHCA)--from county zoning authority, as public schools
are currently exempted. JHCA could begin construction on a new campus in South Park.
Legislative Outcome:Passed House 33-26-1 on Feb/25/19; Passed Senate 25-3-2 on Feb/25/19; Signed by Gov. Gordon on Mar/15/19
Source: Jackson Hole Buckrail on Wyoming voting records SF14
Mar 15, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Encourage sale of coal-fired power plants to keep in use
SF159: This bill provides that the rates charged by a utility shall not include recovery of costs associated with new facilities built to replace retired coal fired electric generating facilities unless the utility made a good faith effort to sell the
facility to another person prior to its retirement.Utility Dive e-zine summary:Wyoming lawmakers passed a bill to encourage the sale of coal-fired power plants in a bid to extend their lives amid an industrywide trend of retirements.
Senate File 159 would direct utilities to attempt to find new buyers for coal plants before retiring them and proposing replacement generation. It passed both legislative chambers by wide margins.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed House 50-8-2 on Feb/26/19; Passed Senate 27-0-3 on Feb/25/19; Signed by Governor Mark Gordon on Mar/8/19
Source: BetterWyoming blog on Wyoming voting records SF159
Mar 8, 2019
On Health Care:
Signed legislation extending Wyoming's health insurance pool
WY HB0007: AN ACT relating to insurance; extending the sunset date for the Wyoming health insurance pool; clarifying the types of health insurance to which the pool applies; amending pool eligibility; removing maximum benefit limitations; amending the
entities who provide coverage and benefit related recommendations.Program summary frm Wyoming Department of Insurance: The Wyoming Health Insurance Pool (WHIP) was created by the 1990 Wyoming Legislature to provide health insurance
coverage to residents of Wyoming who are denied adequate health insurance. However, due to the ACA, individuals can no longer be denied traditional health insurance due to their existing medical conditions, thus essentially eliminating the need for the
Non-Disabled WHIP plan. [The WHIP pools are an alternative to ObamaCare - Ed.]
: Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 28-1-1 on 2/7/2019; Passed House 57-0-3 on 1/24/2019; Signed by Gov. Gordon; assigned Chapter Number 16 on 02/14/2019.
Source: BillTrack50 on Wyoming legislative voting records: WY HB0007
Feb 14, 2019
On Budget & Economy:
Define Rainy Day Account for "steady as she goes"
I believe our best times will come when we assure a reliable and stable fiscal future. It is hard to find a consistent path forward when one chases revenue, hopes for windfall, or reacts drastically to downturns. It is important that we find a course
where "steady as she goes" becomes the watchword.Wyoming has been responsible in putting together savings that can help stabilize the downturns. If we are to chart our own future, we must also be disciplined and refill and even augment those savings
in the good times.
We must be wise with our savings, using them when we need them. I support a bill to better define the purpose of the Rainy Day Account, or LSRA, so that those nearly $2 billion can be invested in a way that, first and foremost,
assures the money in it will be there for rainy days and second that it can earn incrementally better returns than it does now. This definition will also clarify when, how much, and for what purposes we have set aside these specific savings.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Crime:
More funding for local police and sheriff's offices
We need to support our local police departments, sheriff's offices, fire halls; our local communities. I believe the best decisions are made closest to where the impact of those decisions is felt. It is also at the local level where individuals and
entrepreneurs can spur new businesses that align with a community's values and assets.
I applaud Governor Mead's dedication to providing funding to locals these past eight years, and I will continue that work. But beyond dollars, I hope to move forward with improving the tools required for cities,
towns and counties to prosper. This means finding ways to enhance the services of the State Loan and Investment Board.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Education:
Wyoming Works: tech education to enable nimble workforce
Over the course of the last couple of years Wyoming, like a lot of states, is suffering from a lack of a skilled workforce. Education is changing. Our economy is changing. Today, more than ever we need to provide the educational opportunities to enable
a nimble workforce to find a job with companies right here in Wyoming.That is why I support a suite of proposals including Wyoming Works, which promise new ways for high school students and even adults to continue their technical education and this
would also stand up career and technical education programs in our community colleges. I believe Wyoming should create a new Trust Fund under the Amendment A provision, with private industry's support and a Wyoming match, would offer scholarships for
Career and Technical Education. I look forward to making Wyoming Works a reality. I applaud those bills that would help Wyoming students move more seamlessly from high school to college and from community colleges to the University of Wyoming.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Coal for decades to come, so let's improve usage
Energy must continue to be one of the pillars of our economy. In 2018, Wyoming hit a record for permit applications to drill for oil and gas. I want to take just a moment to talk about coal. Coal continues to power this country and,
despite market trends and politics, it will remain an essential part of America's energy portfolio for decades to come.
[Improved] technologies, when paired with Powder River Basin coal, can reduce the overall carbon emitted to the atmosphere.
That is progress that should be a gut cinch for those advocating to control carbon emissions.
There are promising new uses of coal that can provide advanced building materials and innovative new products. Some of these are being developed at UW and others by private industry.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Make Wyoming a leader in advancing carbon sequestration
Wyoming is the nation's leader in advancing carbon sequestration and has launched the Integrated Test Center which is working on turning a byproduct like carbon dioxide into a valuable and marketable product.
Here in Wyoming, we will continue to seek innovative solutions that support coal, address climate change, and grow our economy.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Environment:
Research controlling invasive species at state colleges & UW
Wyoming, like many western states, is struggling to contend with the spread of invasive species like cheatgrass, leafy spurge, and medusahead wildrye. These species are degrading our range, threatening agricultural viability, impacting big game, and
raising fire risks across the West.In our quest for UW to be a top-tier agricultural school, certainly one mission we should consider expanding is our research into better ways to expunge and control the spread of invasives.
In support of that effort, I plan to work with UW's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, our community colleges and the state's weed and pest districts to put together a
program that will combine research with management, aiming to make sure Wyoming is a leader nationally on combating invasive species.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Free Trade:
Level the playing field for oil, gas, and mineral exports
The world demands what Wyoming has to offer, especially when it comes to our mineral and energy sectors. Wyoming continues to be a global leader in trona, uranium, and bentonite production. We must continue to advocate for all of these industries,
including fighting for level-playing fields internationally.
Around the globe technology keeps advancing, there is progress benefitting our world by burning coal more cleanly and efficiently. Japan and Korea have built the most efficient clean
burning fleets of coal fired electric generation ever.
Technologies employed there, when paired with Powder River Basin coal, can reduce the overall carbon emitted to the atmosphere. And yet, our access to these
Asian markets remains restricted, tied up in permit after permit. I believe this to be an unconstitutional restraint of trade. And I will strongly advocate for access to all markets.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Free Trade:
Establish trade offices in Taiwan, Japan, and across Asia
I am excited that we established a trade office in Taiwan last year and one of the first products to sell there was Wyoming beef.
It is evidently much sought after in Taipei's finest restaurants. And I am thrilled that after a hiatus, Wyoming lamb is again going to Japan. We need to expand on these efforts across Asia.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Gun Control:
Disarm students immediately when they bring guns to school
I believe we can take steps towards making our schools safer. There's a bill and a budget proposal that I believe can make a difference for the safety of our kids.Last fall, a young person stepped forward to tell Principal Terry Quinn about a fellow
student who planned an attack in his school. After hearing this information Principal Quinn immediately acted to locate and disarm the student, who was carrying a pistol and had another gun in his locker. When confronted, the student revealed that he
had wanted to shoot as many students as he could. It is a sad thing that these sorts of incidents can happen.
But, Principal Quinn and the staff at Sage Valley Junior High have created a school culture that fosters confidence in students to do the
right thing and come forward when necessary.
Principal Quinn is here with us today and I would like to acknowledge the courage of that young person and the quick and decisive action which averted a potentially devastating tragedy.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Health Care:
Craft a state-led course on healthcare
I will support our hometowns as they chart their own courses into the future. Likewise, I will always stand up for Wyoming charting our own course. This is certainly the case with healthcare. We have been given an opportunity to craft a Wyoming solut
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Homeland Security:
Establish Wyoming's first Veterans Skilled Nursing facility
I join with the Legislature in support of the military and our veterans. Let us commit to do more during this session.I commend to you the work of establishing Wyoming's first Veterans Skilled Nursing facility. It has been a long time in coming.
Building this facility will mark an important step forward for our veterans.
More broadly, I believe we have an obligation to improve access to mental healthcare for our veterans, our first-responders, and ultimately for all citizens.
Substance abuse, moral injury (the impact of actions which violate core moral values), suicide and PTSD, these are all concerns we as a state need to address. We can do more in our communities to help support those who are struggling with crisis.
Happily, in Wyoming there are many organizations working to help those wrestling with these traumas. Through improved coordination of these non-profit, public, & private programs, we can provide better mental health services in places where people live.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Technology:
Improve broadband internet for rural tele-health & more
I support the ongoing effort to improve access to broadband internet coverage throughout the state. This has been an appropriate partnership between government and private industry. Not only does broadband give our students a tool to compete
with the rest of the world, it is necessary for healthcare delivery - especially in rural areas where other specialized doctors are not available. Lives are being saved now because of advances in tele-health.
Neurologists in Casper are connected by internet-video to emergency rooms and can help treat stroke patients by getting them life-saving drugs in time for them to have the most benefit.
Advancements in technology like this improve the quality of life in Wyoming, solve complex challenges, create jobs and will allow entrepreneurs and established businesses to see even our smallest towns as fertile ground to grow a company.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature
Jan 9, 2019
On Budget & Economy:
Balance budget by living within your means
Ensuring Wyoming has a balanced budget and that our government is living within its means is absolutely essential. This means prioritizing needs versus wants. Wyoming's revenues are down significantly and while recent economic
forecasts have been promising, we are not out of the woods yet. We must rein in our spending today to ensure fiscal stability tomorrow.
Source: 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial website GordonForWyoming.com
Sep 18, 2018
On Corporations:
Defend Wyoming values of limited government and low taxes
A lifelong conservative, Mark works to defend the Wyoming values of limited government, low taxes and personal responsibility. He understands the importance of local control and has fought to keep Washington out of Wyoming.
Mark is a staunch protector of the Constitution. He believes in putting families first and is pro-life.
Source: 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial website GordonForWyoming.com
Sep 18, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Protect energy sources with eye on future technologies
Wyoming's natural resources are second to none. Be it oil, gas, coal, uranium or wind. And there are no greater stewards of these energy and natural resources than the people of WY. Mark will ensure responsible development of our state's natural
resources while protecting open space and access to public lands. He will work to position Wyoming as the leader in advanced energy technologies including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and new carbon-to-product markets.
Source: 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial website GordonForWyoming.com
Sep 18, 2018
On Gun Control:
Lifelong member of the NRA; defender of the 2nd Amendment
Mark is a lifelong member of the NRA and believes the right to bear arms is fundamental. Growing up on a ranch, owning guns is part of his way of life. Mark hunts, taught all his kids how to shoot and owns a firearm for personal protection.
Mark will continue to be a relentless defender of the Second Amendment.
Source: 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial website GordonForWyoming.com
Sep 18, 2018
On Jobs:
Train workforce to meet the needs of today and tomorrow
We also need to align our workforce training with industry needs. Wyoming's community and technical colleges must be proactive and adaptive so we can quickly train workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow. The Wyoming Lodging & Restaurant Associations
ProStart Program, a two-year curriculum that prepares high school students for careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry, is a terrific example of how the private sector can successfully drive workforce training within the public system.
Source: 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial website GordonForWyoming.com
Sep 18, 2018
On Technology:
Support Blockchain technology: uptick in trust companies
Treasurer Mark Gordon applauded Wyoming legislators for their leadership in implementing legislation to drive Blockchain technology and virtual currencies at the first meeting of the Blockchain Task Force in Laramie.ÿWyoming's State
Treasurer noted the uptick in registration for trust companies in the state of Wyoming in recent months as a result of strong state leadership exerted in both the finance and technology sector.
OnTheIssues explanation: "Blockchain technology" is a peer-to-peer electronic encryption method that requires no central authority nor government oversight. "Virtual currencies," such as Bitcoin, similarly require
no government intervention, unlike other currencies which are created and backed by national governments. Therefore, both technologies are preferred for international Internet-oriented transactions.
Source: 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial website GordonForWyoming.com
Sep 18, 2018
On Abortion:
Pro-life except for incest, rape, or maternal life
The forum consisted of a series of questions asked of all the candidates. All said they were pro-life and believe life begins at conception. Only two said they would make an exception to those beliefs:
Gordon in cases of protecting the life of the mother, incest or rape, and Foster Friess for the life of the mother.Four are Wyoming natives, including Gordon, who was raised on a ranch west of Kaycee. Gordon is the state treasurer.
Source: Gillette News Record on 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial race
Aug 14, 2018
On Gun Control:
Pro-family, pro-guns and conservatives
The forum consisted of a series of questions asked of all the candidates, a rapid-fire round that began after they were all asked a question about gun-free zones in Wyoming schools, and another regular round of
questioning in the event that continued for nearly two hours.All said they were pro-family, pro-guns and conservatives. All six said they don't feel the University of Wyoming has the right to ban guns on its campus.
Source: Gillette News Record on 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial race
Aug 14, 2018
On Abortion:
Anti-abortion, with exceptions like rape cases
There was also general agreement on most of the night's topics. All of the candidates said they were anti-abortion, though Gordon said he believed in exceptions in the case of rape, incest or if the mother's life were at risk.
That drew some grumbles from the packed crowd.
Source: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle on 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial debate
Aug 3, 2018
On Education:
Focus on efficiency studies; ensure teachers are well paid
Touching on education, Gordon said the state needs to focus more on efficiency studies. "We want to make sure we have well paid teachers - that is one of the big draws for Wyoming and one of the big enhancements of why it is such a great place
to raise your family here," he said. "But when we get the block grants to the district, the district's job is to do their best to make sure they negotiate the salaries with their teachers."
Source: Rawlins Times on 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial race
Jun 9, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Reorganize government instead of raising taxes
[Asked about revenue], "I'm absolutely about economic diversification," Gordon said, but "I don't think we need to raise taxes. There are other ways. We can reorganize government." Gordon has not signed a no-tax pledge.He acknowledged the question
will arise if Wyoming chooses to grow beyond the minerals industry. "If we are committed to diversifying into other sectors that will not augment our mineral industry," he said, "then we're going to have to talk about what that tax structure means."
Source: Casper Star-Tribune on 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial race
Jun 9, 2018
On Environment:
We understand responsibility of stewardship AND development
Since I was a little kid driving with my dad to rodeos all over the state, I have loved what Wyoming offers in every part of the state: I grew up with people who understood the responsibility of stewardship. I have spent my life, as have many other
ranchers, promoting that sense of stewardship to a country increasingly losing touch with the land. I have worked across party lines, with environmental groups and oil companies to advance the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt's famous quote, "Conservation
means development as much as it does protection." I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that
come after us."
Even though a significant portion of Wyoming is affected by the federal government through federal agencies; it is our private lands that make up some of the most valuable open spaces and high quality wildlife habitat.
Source: 2008 Wyoming House campaign website gordon08.com
Nov 1, 2008
On Families & Children:
Culture has lost track of old fashioned American values
Every day that I spent raising my children, I witnessed how hard it can be to parent in today's world. Daily, children are assaulted with messages from a culture which has lost track of old fashioned American values.
Luckily for my daughters, we lived in Wyoming, a state which puts great value on families and children [including] parents and grandparents who hold community service and kids above all else. For my children this made all the difference.
I understand the struggle parents go through to raise their kids, and I will uphold the values that keep families strong, allowing them to raise children to be happy, productive committed citizens and leaders.
Values are best taught by loving parents, institutions of faith, and mentors, not pamphlets, regulations, or decrees. Family decisions should be made around the kitchen table, not conference tables in Washington.
Source: 2008 Wyoming House campaign website gordon08.com
Nov 1, 2008
On Health Care:
Competition and personal responsibility, not single-payer
When I started a ranch in Buffalo, we could attract talented people because we could offer health insurance at a reasonable rate. At that time, in the late `80s, maternity coverage was affordable and it covered most of the cost of having a baby. That
same coverage today is vastly more expensive and doesn't even really cover the price of a standard delivery. What we offered as a perk has become a financial drain.To keep small businesses in Wyoming on Main Street and make sure others open we have
to address the rising cost of health care. This can be done by allowing individuals to deduct the cost of health insurance from their federal income taxes. Larger corporations already do this and small business owners must be able to benefit as well.
We should allow businesses and individuals to pool across state lines to lower overall costs.
The solution does not lie in a single payer system or nationalized health care. Competition and personal responsibility must be part of the solution.
Source: 2008 Wyoming House campaign website gordon08.com
Nov 1, 2008
On Homeland Security:
Provide a national defense second to none
If there is one critical responsibility of our federal government, it is to provide a national defense second to none, something central to the Republican platform. Without a persuasive, well-equipped, and properly deployed military we cannot maintain
our sovereignty and affect diplomacy.In this troubled time, it is crucial that we not shrink from this obligation. Our world is becoming increasingly complex. In addition to our ongoing travails with Islamic extremists, we must also remain vigilant
about threats emerging elsewhere from places like China, North Korea, and Venezuela.
I believe in a strong national defense that is properly deployed throughout the world. With that as a foundation, we need to have the best equipped, best rested and
rotated military. We need to grow the armed forces to support the high operational tempo of current military operations. I am in favor of the addition of Special Forces, soldiers and Marines to meet the security challenges of the 21st Century.
Source: 2008 Wyoming House campaign website gordon08.com
Nov 1, 2008
On Immigration:
Enforce the law; deport the criminals; secure the borders
It is long past time to secure our borders, enforce the laws on the books, and immediately deport the criminals that are living here illegally. No amnesty!Wyoming has experienced a shortage of labor, but that is no excuse to allow illegal immigrants
to overload our schools and healthcare systems. Moreover, people who are here illegally are here at risk of exploitation too. It is lose-lose for everyone except those who set out to break the law.
Undercutting wages and taxing our domestic services
costs taxpayers twice while allowing the unscrupulous few to compete unfairly against those who try to do it right. That is un-American and wrong.
Let's stop talking about securing the borders and get it done with technology, boots on the ground,
streamlined coordination between local and federal law enforcement, and better security deployed at the first point of contact. We need to emphasize security on all our borders, our southern and northern borders as well as our coasts and skies.
Source: 2008 Wyoming House campaign website gordon08.com
Nov 1, 2008
On Immigration:
Reform temporary work visas so they work for businesses
Wyoming has experienced a shortage of labor, but that is no excuse to allow illegal immigrants to overload our schools and healthcare systems.We need an adequate, efficient, and secure temporary worker system for people like sheep herders and
shearers, students, and hospitality workers wanting to work or study here legally. These programs need visas that are traceable, verifiable, tamperproof, and with biometric safeguards.
I will work to reform the H2-A and H2-B visa system so that it works for Wyoming's businesses.
No more empty promises on the immigration issue. Let's get on with securing our country, and let's let business get on with business, but on a fair and
equal footing that emphasizes American workers first. It is time we reformed the process, enhanced our national security, and made temporary work visas more secure, efficient, appropriate and suitable for the workforces our great nation needs.
Source: 2008 Wyoming House campaign website gordon08.com
Nov 1, 2008
On Principles & Values:
Widower with two daughters; married single mom with two sons
Families come in all sizes and configurations with special challenges and considerations. Mine started out slowly. My wife and I struggled for years with infertility but with faith and perseverance we were eventually blessed with two daughters; Bea and
Anne. Then in the rush of an early morning, [my wife] Sally died; the victim of a traffic accident. Suddenly, I was a single parent with a daughter one month away from entering kindergarten and another not yet ready for preschool. Later, I met Jennie
Muir, herself a single parent, and together with her two sons, Aaron and Spencer, we put together the strong family we have today.Our family includes three sets of grandparents, all of whom are critically important to our children.
We believe all of the members of our family deserve to feel safe, loved, and secure. As a nation, and as people, we have an obligation to make sure our families stay strong, secure, and safe.
Source: 2008 Wyoming House campaign website gordon08.com
Nov 1, 2008
Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021