CHEYENNE—In a budget markup session Tuesday, the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee moved to strip tens of millions of dollars in requested fund increases from the Wyoming Department of Health budget.
Led by Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, and members aligned with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, the JAC’s actions were rooted in a desire to stop the acceleration of government growth, even as some lawmakers warned the cuts could trigger costly lawsuits and harm the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
This division was showcased during the discussion of a $58 million reduction in federal spending authority for the Indian Health Service, a federal program responsible for providing health services and programs for Native Americans. The funds were intended to cover federally mandated All-Inclusive Rate increases for tribal medical facilities.
Because the money is 100% federal funds, the cut does not save the state’s general fund any money, yet it prevents tribal facilities from receiving the higher reimbursement rates required by the federal government.
The move sparked strong pushback from some committee members.
Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, warned that the refusal to adopt mandated rates was a legal land mine.
“Some of these actions are going to lead to lawsuits that probably cost us more money than it does save money,” Driskill said, adding that the state has a constitutional obligation to care for those who cannot care for themselves. “What you’re doing is denying health care. If that’s what you want to do, you own it.”
Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, echoed these concerns, noting that medical costs are rising for everyone.
“I understand the theory about stopping [government] acceleration … but what you’re doing is, while trying to slow down the train, you’re throwing our tribal members under it,” he said, calling the proposed cuts “draconian.”
Rep. Ken Pendergraft, R-Sheridan, who proposed many of the day’s largest cuts, defended the stance by quoting a Ronald Reagan fiscal philosophy.
“We have become addicted to government intervention, and a lot of people have become dependent upon government,” he said.
Pendergraft argued that his motions were necessary to prevent a future fiscal “wreck” by slamming the brakes on spending increases now.
Chairman Bear supported this view, stating, “Any time you increase spending in government, any time you are putting a burden on the taxpayer … somebody needs to look out for the taxpayer.”
The JAC voted to remove the $58 million in exception funds requested by the health department. The Indian Health Service did not respond to a request for comment before publication time.
This anti-acceleration strategy extended to maternity and OB services. Lawmakers voted to deny an $8.5 million general fund increase and an $8.5 million federal match intended to raise reimbursement rates to 100% of cost for Critical Access Hospitals that maintain labor-and-delivery units.
Driskill criticized the cut as a “death by 1,000 cuts” that would force expecting mothers to deliver in neighboring states like Utah or South Dakota.
“If there’s not maternity care, you’re not going to live in Wyoming,” he said. “… It’s painful to go through withdrawal. It’s also painful to kill your state one piece at a time, and we’re working on that.”
However, Rep. Abby Angelos, R-Gillette, argued that reimbursement rates weren’t the root issue, pointing instead to malpractice insurance costs. She suggested that funding might be found elsewhere, specifically through the Rural Health Transformation Program. At the end of 2025, Wyoming was awarded $205 million in federal funds for the first year of the five-year program.
The committee also approved several other multi-million-dollar cuts, including removing $344 million in federal funds for the Rural Health Transformation Program from the biennium budget, with the intent to run it as an independent bill to ensure legislative oversight.
I don’t know why we are expected to support a foreign entity. Reservations have always said they are independent entities that are not part of the US. And if they live and work on the Rez they don’t have to pay state taxes.
Let me get this straight, the Indian Health Service in Wyoming is eligible to receive $58 million dollars of Federal Funds for health care for Wyoming citizens but some pin heads in Cheyenne won’t approve and pass the money on because Ronald Regan wouldn’t like it? Don’t they know he died a long time ago? The Republican Party, living up to their moniker, the Party of unnecessary cruelty.
Vote for idiots, get idiots.
“Wyoming is leading the country in suicide rates, but it’s a mental health issue, not a gun issue.” “Also, let’s defund our already-paltry programs that support mental health issues.” These guys are such a joke. They couldn’t govern any worse if they were actively trying to be abject failures.
Oops, I thought this was a DIFFERENT new budget cut they just passed. This one is equally nonsensical and cruel. Outlaw abortion, but also defund maternal and infant healthcare. Make it make sense 🙁
The legislature has turned away the Medicaid expansion for decades. Because of this many people that needed it the most have gone without medical treatment, hospitals can’t compete with neighboring state, hospital services have been discontinued, many people who are the most vulnerable have gone without medical help and many have died because the legislature doesn’t want to take money from the federal government. The funds have gone unused that are rightfully the people of Wyoming.
Exactly.
To one of your points: accepting Medicaid is a form of economic development as well as the decent, humane thing to do.
They want to ban abortion and defund maternity care. Does anyone see an issue here?
It’s hard not to conclude that they hate women.
“Driskill said… ‘What you’re doing is denying health care. If that’s what you want to do, you own it.'”
The Freedom Caucus denying health care now is an ironic echo of the Republican’s shrill cries of “Death Panels!!” when the AHC was under consideration. The AHC never became the threat Republicans warned it would, but all Wyomingites should worry about their current attempts to undermine what little health care is still available here.
Chairman Bear supported this view, stating, “Any time you increase spending in government, any time you are putting a burden on the taxpayer … somebody needs to look out for the taxpayer.”
Clarification of the above statement would be helpful. Does the taxpayer refer to property taxes, sales tax, or gas tax?
The millionaires and billionaires that don’t want to pay their fair share. Got to make sure they keep all their money while the rest of us bleed.
If I recall correctly, Bear (and other freedom caucus members) received PPP funds, thereby putting a ‘burden’ on the taxpayer. Lets vote these misogynist goofs out of office.
I’m having trouble believing I am actually reading this. Cutting healthcare will guarantee sicker people in Wyoming. If government isn’t here to support the health, safety and education of its citizens then why is it here? Wake up folks. We are now gutting healthcare for our native citizens?! Who are we…. This is truly shameful and pathetic governance. Lordy lord💔🇺🇸
I am not even sure where to begin so I will make it simple and say that the Freedumb caucus is destroying WY. The most hypocritical part is that they pretend to love WY when in fact they are taking their marching orders and money from out of state. Cruelty is the point.
Please call your state legislators and don’t stop calling until they do the right thing. This is horrific and nothing short of genocide. How many indigenous women and babies will die or be seriously injured trying to make the drive to an out of state IHS facility to give birth? Cruelty is not a Wyoming value.
Vote them out of office
Stupid is as Stupid does…
The mean spirited fake christians strike again.