ON THE ISSUES
AGRICULTURE
As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Brian is a strong supporter of Wyoming’s rural communities. He has successfully defended effective natural resource management programs such as predator control and weed and pest programs. These programs not only help our ag producers, but are also vital to other aspects of wildlife management, including keeping the Sage Grouse off the endangered species list.
Brian has also led the charge to provide ranchers and consumers options for getting Wyoming's livestock to market. Due to these efforts Wyoming has significantly increased the number of small and mid sized USDA packing plants over the past two years. Pushing back against ineffective, often foreign owned meat packing monopolies will continue to be a priority on the Agriculture Committee under Senator Boner's leadership.
ENERGY
Wyoming must pursue an all of the above energy strategy. The fossil fuel industry has served us well and will continue to do so for decades to come. However, it never hurts to diversify into alternative forms of energy which are not dependent on volatile commodity prices. This will provide both jobs for our communities and stability for the businesses which support our energy industry. As technology progresses and tax credits sunset, wind energy is an economically feasible supplement, though not a replacement, for fossil fuels on our energy grid.
Senator Boner has a strong track record of successfully working with the federal government to lessen the burden on our oil and gas industry while protecting the private property rights of landowners. He also led the effort to bring industry, ranchers and tribes together to establish a protocol to protect human remains on private and state land in Wyoming. He has also successfully passed legislation which provides much needed tax relief to Wyoming's uranium industry.
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MILITARY
As the nation faces growing threats from near-peer competitors, it is more important than ever to advocate for the strategic deterrence mission of Wyoming's F.E. Warren Air Force Base. The state must also continue to support the vital work at Platte County's Camp Guernsey. This facility will continue to play an important role in both the local community and as a training area for units from all over the country.
Senator Boner has ensured veterans continue to get a hiring preference in state government and has succesfully passed multiple laws which protect the rights of deployed National Guard members. Brian has also succesfully passed laws which protect the nuclear missiles deployed in Wyoming - the same strategic weapons he operated as a young officer. Additionally, he was instrumental in establishing Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility as a state historic site. This site gives the State of Wyoming the unprecedented opportunity to explain the active nuclear mission within its borders to the public at large.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Senator Boner has used his military experience to ensure Wyoming taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Since Brian joined the Senate in 2015, biennial general fund expenditures have been reduced by almost $1 billion. While the budget for our state agencies is almost balanced, Senator Boner will continue to advocate for effective spending in the day to day operations of our state budget.
He has fought hard for Wyoming’s communities by pushing back on self protecting bureaucracies who place the burden of budget cuts solely on the people they are meant to serve without finding efficiencies in their own operations. Even after years of cuts, state government is still organized as if it is experiencing significant budget surpluses. Moving forward, Brian will continue to advocate for reforms which incorporate sound organizational management principles into state government.
EDUCATION
As statewide revenues continue to fluctuate, Wyoming must empower local school districts by moving away from a wasteful, top-heavy, bureaucratic statewide education system. This statewide system is the product of decades old lawsuits - not sound organization management principles - and has failed to change with the times. Our students and teachers have been held back for too long by a system which puts the redistribution of wealth before classroom success.
Senator Boner has been a tireless advocate for our students, teachers and school districts. Whether it be ensuring a safe learning environment in our schools or increasing the amount of fresh, local protein in school lunch programs, he has always put classroom needs before politics. Even as the legislature cut all other spending by 25% and drew down the state's savings, he has voted to increase K-12 funding four out of five years in the legislature.