This is the latest news from one of only two states not getting third-worlders resettled within their borders (Montana is the other, so far!).
Before you read this article from the Wyoming Tribune Eagle be sure to see our extensive archive on the battle for Wyoming’s sovereignty and freedom from UN/federal government dictatorial decisions on refugee resettlement for the state. We were shocked back in February 2014 to learn that Wyoming’s Republican Governor Matt Mead had actually (the previous year!) invited the Dept. of Health and Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement in to set up shop in Wyoming.
Here is Mead’s letter (before he ran into a grassroots citizen buzz saw). Notice that in 2013, the Governor was saying that he had unilaterally “elected to pursue” a program for the resettlement of refugees to Wyoming.
Now to the Tribune Eagle (hat tip: Joanne):
CHEYENNE – Wyoming is the only state in the nation without a refugee resettlement program.
And a bill being considered by the Legislature would require lawmakers’ approval to change that.
The House Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee voted Friday to advance a bill that blocks the governor from unilaterally setting up a state program that would help refugees who arrive directly or indirectly in Wyoming.
Instead, House Bill 47 would require public hearings and a majority vote in the Legislature before the state could set up a plan that would be needed to get federal funding for a refugee program.
Rep. Tom Reeder, R-Casper, is sponsoring the bill. He said this is not about recruiting refugees or deciding whether refugees can or cannot relocate in Wyoming.
“The 1980 Resettlement Act says if the (federal government) accepts a refugee, they can move freely throughout the United States,” he said. “This is just whether we want to develop a program that would help people, and this is really a funding mechanism.”
The bill says the state plan would include how it intends to promote economic self-sufficiency for the refugees, offer language programs and decide what state, federal or private costs would be associated with the relocation efforts.
It also would provide recommendations on who would be responsible for coordinating public and private resources.
The question of whether Wyoming should set up a refugee plan has been a contentious topic since Gov. Matt Mead notified federal officials in 2013 that he was exploring setting up public-private partnership for the resettlement program.
The issue then became a topic during the 2014 gubernatorial campaign with some candidates and citizens criticizing the governor over the move.
Now he says this:
But Mead has maintained he has not made a decision on whether to set up such a program.
Continue reading here.
Make no mistake! It is citizens fighting back in Wyoming that has kept the state free of resettled refugees for the last two years. If no one had spoken up Mead’s resettlement office (originally planned for Casper) would be up and running!
See this FY2014 map where federal bureaucrats in Washington had prematurely placed Casper, WY as a resettlement site!
