Dear HCN,
Paul Krza’s July 6
article on Wyoming errs in many ways – including his failure to
ever talk to any Wyoming Heritage Society representative regarding
our lasting commitment to Wyoming’s economy.
For
the record, the Wyoming Heritage Society:
*
Supports economic diversification. (Mr. Krza alleges we have not
supported economic changes or causal problems and did an
about-face.) We have had statewide forums on Wyoming’s economic
woes since 1987; done over 180 radio shows since 1991 on the
economy and needs and ways to improve it; sponsored two economic
outlook forums in 1996 and 1998; developed a Blueprint for Business
on Wyoming’s economy in 1990; and yes, actively lobbied for the
Wyoming Business Council.
* Does not have overt
influence with the Legislature. We lobby … but the uninformed Mr.
Krza never understood that over 700 individuals were getting
frequent updates on the Business Council legislation and that 61
Wyoming organizations endorsed it (more than any other legislative
initiative in the state’s history). That’s grassroots – not a
handful of business people, the governor, or the
legislature.
* Has sponsored two regional forums
on education and education improvement – one in 1997 and one in
1989. Our statement on education principles was the only one by any
group (business or education) that linked accountability and
funding and citizen/parental involvement and responsibility.
Wyoming has increased education funding for K-12 by about $100
million – that’s roughly 20 percent of our General Fund
spending.
Mr. Krza is invited to ask us questions
directly and objectively assess what we have done to support
Wyoming’s past and future economy. His biases prevent him from
wanting to recognize that this pro-business organization stepped
forward, argued the case for a broader economy, and got the
framework in place for change. No one else has done that. It has
only been in the past three years that media have begun to focus on
employment and wages. We’ve been doing it for years, and neither I
nor our president stays at the Hitch while in
Cheyenne.
Bill
Schilling
Casper,
Wyoming
The writer is
executive director of the Wyoming Heritage
Foundation.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Wyoming reporter was biased.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
