Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Since Ernie Reinhold named me personally in his false narrative of this ballot initiative, allow me to retort. There are three important parts in communication: facts, opinions, and opinions on facts. What is missing from your letter is the facts. 

First. The United States of America is not a democracy. It is a republic, which by definition is a representative form of government that is ruled according to a charter, or constitution.

A democracy is a government that is ruled according to the will of the majority. These two forms of government are often confused.

The main difference between a republic and a democracy is the charter or constitution that limits power in a republic, to protect the individual's rights against the desires of the majority. The Pledge of Allegiance: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USA and the Republic for which it stands..." We are a Republic since inception. 

Second. The people of the state of Wyoming are more than the fourth pillar of governance. They retain all final authority: 

Wyoming Constitution Art. 1, § 1. Power inherent in the people: All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness; for the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper. 

Third. The super wealthy provide the vibrant economy, not the middle class. The top ten percent of earners paid 74% of all income taxes and the top 25% paid 89%.

Altogether, the top 50% of filers earned 89% of all income and were responsible for 97.7% of all income taxes paid according to IRS figures and the National Tax Union.

Fourth. BCR does not suppose the cost of government remains constant. Taxes went up 87%, cost of government went up 14% and 2/3 of the excess tax revenue was diverted to statewide coffee cans. The Legislature still had enough excess funds to put over $2 billion in reserves in the last 13 months, after awarding pay and benefit package increases. Nobody in government, or out, will be hurt.

Fifth. The teachers and government employees are not poor. In the civilian sector, unemployment rose to 3% in November, wages have not risen in tandem with prices except in the government employee sector.  

The civilian sector has not enjoyed any pay raises but endure global wheat up 60%, 29% in fuels, overall commodities surged over 50% in 2022. The CPI of 3% is based only in durables, not consumables. 

From 2019 to 2020, Wyoming lost more than 16,000 jobs and total wages decreased by over $500 million. Wyoming had a 7900 drop in construction workers since 2022. Folks can't pay their government rent. Wyoming is the 7th highest taxed state in the nation.  

Sixth. Schools enjoyed a $2.1 Billion budget, all 70,000 state government employees enjoyed two pay raises since COVID and huge plus ups in benefit and retirement packages. However, achievement levels have dropped even at $20K per student higher in the nation.  

Math scores fell sharply, slouching more than 3 percentage points in the first year of testing following the onset of the pandemic. Last year, English and science proficiency fell for the second consecutive year to lows of 53.1% and 47.3% after reaching their pre-pandemic peaks.

Ernie the state you live in now has declining education, citizens fleeing the state with high taxes. 

Seventh. In Ernie World, the people pay high taxes to insure teachers and government workers can shop, while the successful who become wealthy are punished, and the children are left with no advocate. In BCRVI World, the people keep their money, pay less taxes keep their homes, buy more goods and services and children are not exposed to government-sponsored social engineering while achievement levels decline.

That makes everyone successful, not just government employees. No one loses, we stop putting unnecessary money in high-risk rainy day funds that hold $28 billion now.

This initiative cuts the home tax 50%, not county revenue. The $140 million this ballot initiative removes is one half percent (.5%) of $28 billion reserve, and 1.4% of our $10 billion budget.

For the privilege of being taxed, it cost the taxpayer $100 million for Department of Revenue Tax Assessors, Treasurer, and State Auditor to collect taxes. 

Need more money? Stop putting money in rainy day ($2 Billion), cut construction and administration from school budget ($1 billion), cut carbon sequestration and windmills, electric vehicle charging stations, welfare housing, cultural arts, frivolous construction ($1 billion). Total recapture: $4 billion.

Need more tax revenue? There are two new rare earth mineral mines in the state, estimated revenue valuation $305 billion.

Spending and taxing is the problem when it abuses authority and the people. Time for the Legislature to act and revise Title 39. Specifically repeal WS 39-11-103(b)(ii). 

Want to read about Ernie World? Pick up a book on the Russian Revolution. If you don't like reading, watch the move docu-drama Doctor Zhivago. It shows us the world and the future you advocate for.  

BCRVI stands for freedom, we took an oath, we fought for that oath for over two decades.

"...I will support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic."

Our goal is to make and keep Wyoming the freest sate in the nation and preserve our westerns culture, ideals and values.

Thank you to the editor and writer journalist author of the Times article that interviewed BCRVI and reported accurately. It is hard to make decisions without good information. 

"We at BCRVI want to empower the people" and we stand by people 100%. We are non partisan, use no labels and belong to no groups or parties. All our facts and figures are derived from official government and NGOs such as the Wyoming Taxpayers Association. 

Respectfully

Richard Weber