JOAN BARRON Star-Tribune capital bureau | Posted: Saturday, October 21, 2006 12:00 am
CHEYENNE - In her door-to-door campaign for House District 11, Mary Throne found health care to be issue most often raised by voters.
"It is time for Wyoming to explore a comprehensive solution, and the Legislature should use the work done by the Health Care Commission as a starting point," said Throne, a Democrat making her first bid for elective office.
While the state commission has heard a presentation on the Massachusetts plan, she said the state should explore options that will work for Wyoming.
Massachusetts is "vastly different" from Wyoming, Throne added.
She does not want the state to wait for a national solution.
Throne will face another political newcomer, Roman Hildt, in the Nov. 7 general election for the open seat in east Cheyenne vacated by House Minority Leader Wayne Reese.
Regarding health care, Hildt said growing the state's tax base and finding ways to attract the younger generations back to Wyoming would do a lot for the health care system.
Health insurance rates would decrease, he said, because the cost of health care would be spread over a healthier population.
Hildt said he would like to see how Massachusetts' health insurance plan works out first before the state signs on to a similar model.
In addition to health care, Throne said school capital construction tops her spending priority list because she does not want children in her district have to attend school in modular units.
She also lists as legislative priorities making permanent the sales tax exemption on groceries; quality child care; and support for local government efforts to enhance their infrastructure, such as streets, sewer and water lines.
Hildt's priority is to increase financing for Wyoming's communities to improve quality of life and build infrastructure so they can promote economic development and create a more stable tax base.
Both candidates say highways are a critical need.
Throne said she wants to explore the option of borrowing the money from the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund and paying the loan back over time, rather than relying solely on general fund money to build and fix the roads.
As for methamphetamine treatment centers at several sites in the state, Hildt said he would need more information. He said the Legislature does need to provide guidance on cleanup of meth labs and require disclosure and testing procedures to protect potential renters and buyers.
Throne said she would support building more treatment centers but isn't sure a regional approach would be appropriate. She said she favors a public-private partnership such as the financing arrangement for Casper's meth efforts.
Both candidates favor more highway troopers but didn't recommend a specific number.
Hildt and Throne said the community colleges have the flexibility to provide work force training targeted to local and regional needs.
Capital bureau reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at joan.barron@casperstartribune.net.