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House committee cuts Wyoming Business Council budget; floor erupts into extended debate
Summary
The Joint Appropriations Committee sharply reduced funding for the Wyoming Business Council on Feb. 13, prompting extended floor debate about program effectiveness, potential job losses and whether the committee should restructure the agency or preserve programs such as SBDC and broadband administration.
The House on Feb. 13 heard an extended debate after the Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) moved to strip the Wyoming Business Council (agency 085) of most of its budgetary authority, leaving $2 million and transferring some functions or contracts to other agencies.
Representative Smith presented section 85 and summarized JAC's approach: the committee denied many of the council's requests, reduced the regular budget from $54.6 million to $52.6 million in JAC action, and prioritized funding for services described as direct returns to vulnerable populations (for example, DD waivers). Members pressed whether the committee conducted a program-by-program review or instead opted to eliminate positions and programs broadly.
Floor debate highlighted sharply divided views. Representative Pendergraft and others argued JAC…
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