JACKSON – As discussions around the possibility of convening a special session of the state legislature continue, Minority Floor Leader Mike Yin has voiced his opposition, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the principles of limited government.

"A special session would essentially reset the legislative process, requiring the reintroduction of bills, committee hearings, and three readings in both chambers," Representative Yin remarked. This process would allow for any new bills to be brought forward, making it impossible to limit the session to specific issues without a significant rule change approved by a two-thirds majority.

“Wyoming was established on the idea of limited government,” Yin said. The Wyoming Constitution limits the number of session days, intentionally meant to limit the volume of legislative work to ensure that only the best policy makes it all the way into law. Yin voiced concerns over the potential for growth in government if the legislature were to reconvene after every gubernatorial veto, setting a precedent for future legislative bodies to expect additional sessions every year.

Additionally, in response to the Freedom Caucus blaming “leadership” for adjourning with extra days, Representative Yin points out that the Majority Floor Leader who is both a member of the Freedom Caucus and “leadership” made the motion to permanently adjourn at the end of the budget session. There was no opposition from the Freedom Caucus to permanent adjournment. If the Freedom Caucus wanted otherwise, they could have asked for that, but they did not push to stay for additional days. Representative Yin added, “It is dishonest to blame “leadership” without accepting the caucus’s responsibility for when we adjourned.”

“Hard working Wyomingites deserve an honest, transparent government with representatives who are willing to both listen to their constituents and educate themselves on the process. Performative growth in government creates poorly written harmful policies that impede on the individual freedoms of our residents.”