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Prepare Students for the WorkForce
As the leader of one of Wyoming’s premier technology companies Sam is committed to closing the gap between what our businesses need in employees and what our Wyoming schools teach our kids. Sam has a plan to ensure our kids have the skills necessary to get good-paying jobs right here in Wyoming.
Create High-Paying Jobs in Wyoming
As the successful leader of both national and global billion-dollar technology businesses, Sam has a history of turning around troubled companies, creating high-paying jobs, and managing thousands of employees across the globe.
Get Government Out of the Way
Sam knows all too well that competition drives progress but government can stop both. As a self-made successful businessman, Sam understands firsthand the need for government to work with business, not against it, to create more good-paying jobs for the people of Wyoming. He’ll work with the Trump Administration to increase Wyoming’s control over all of our natural resources.
Pardons
Pardons will be considered on a case by case basis. Generally speaking, pardons will only be issued in exceptional circumstances.
2nd Amendment
I support the right to keep and bear arms and does not believe that any further regulation of firearms is necessary or warranted.
10th Amendment
The Tenth Amendment is key to defining the proper role of the federal and state governments and is an important basis for pushing back against improper federal overreach.
Unvetted refugees
I believe it is important that we know the identity and background of anyone seeking refugee status and supports rigorous background checks and vetting for all applicants prior to their admission to the United States. I also believe that it is important that Wyoming have access to all available data and information on any refugees present in Wyoming.
1st Amendment
I support the freedom of speech and the freedom to practice one’s faith free of government interference or coercion. This means both the freedom to worship and act in accordance with ones faith and the freedom not to be forced to act in opposition to it. It also means that the government should not punish those for their beliefs or for advocating for those beliefs, even if those beliefs are unpopular.
Convention of States, Article V of the US Constitution
I support a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Our nation continues to spend beyond its means, and the only way to force the federal government to rein in its out of control spending is through a Constitutional amendment. Congress has refused to act on this necessary amendment, so it is up to the states to lead the way. I support an Article V convention solely for the purpose of proposing a balanced budget amendment.
State Employees
First and foremost, I grew up in Cheyenne, my father and uncle and other family members and friends were all state employees. I have people on my campaign team that are state employees. I care deeply about the state’s workforce and I know that for any governor to be successful its the employees that make it work. As with any large organization, my first and foremost priority is to ensure state employees have the tools to do their job and are rewarded for their work as a team for the benefit of the people of Wyoming. My plan is to look at the operations of state government for effective practices and efficiencies, and part of that is ensuring that we have employees who are compensated at a fair rate. I would be interested in finding funding for an employee investment study to be conducted to identify where we are at on a competitive basis with salaries and benefits with both the private sector and other government entities in the region. I would also like to explore how we can use PMI to once again implement a merit pay system for state employees.
Public lands
Growing up in Wyoming, I was raised to love public lands and cherish my access and time on public lands. Having said that, I do not support the transfer of federal lands to the state of Wyoming. As Governor, I will work night and day to make sure that Wyoming has the most control possible of the public lands within our state to promote the full use and enjoyment of those lands for all Wyoming citizens. I will work cooperatively with the Trump Administration to restore as much decision-making ability to the State of Wyoming as is possible using a strict multi-use model. This means more of the decisions on how Wyoming’s lands are managed are made right here – in Wyoming, by the people of Wyoming.
Marijuana
I do not support the legalization of recreational marijuana. If the medical community determines that there are benefits to medical marijuana-then WY medical professionals should be allowed to prescribe in a highly controlled manner under the directive of the legislature.
Taxation
I believe Wyoming’s problems can and must be solved without tax increases. Wyoming enjoys a low tax environment which is essential for economic growth. And while we may be facing serious budget challenges, this is simply the wrong time to be considering raising taxes. To the extent we “grow revenue” that must be done by growing the economy. I have spent my life leading people and organizations in the pursuit of solving large complex problems and I know the best solutions are almost never simple.
Big Game Migratory Corridors
I applaud the efforts of the State to take a proactive role in managing big game migratory corridors to ensure that our wildlife resources are healthy and thriving. I support the current strategies adopted for improving habitat conditions along migratory corridors, including treatments to fight the spread of invasive weeds and grasses, fence modifications to allow easier passage for big game, protecting water sources in arid environments, and the careful use of prescribed burns. It is also vitally important for wildlife management to partner with other stakeholders when making management decisions to minimize any impact of those decisions on other parties.
Citizen involvement
Wyoming citizens must have not just a “seat at the table” but a real voice in the process of our state government. Participation should not just be a word we give lip service to but rather it should be a guiding principle to how we make decisions. Participation should have meaning to our state agencies and it should have a real impact on the decision-making process. As to transparency and access to public records, Wyoming, in many cases, has an antiquated data tracking system that needs to be brought up to modern expectations of access. This includes easy online availability of records.
Climate Change
I believe that climate does change, we can see that with our own eyes. However, the science is unsettled on what impact human activity has or can have on that process. It would not be wise to impose climate change regulations that would have a devastating impact on our state economy and result in a sweeping expansion of government based on unsettled science. Further, it is bad policy to put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage when other governments such as China and India are not making the same commitments. Our industries do an excellent job of staying proactive and minimizing environmental impacts, because being a good steward of the environment makes good business sense. Accordingly, I do not believe that it would be wise or prudent for state government to base its regulatory decisions on climate change theories at this time. Flaring, venting or leaking natural gas: I do not believe that further restrictions are necessary or warranted regarding flaring, venting, or leaking of natural gas in Wyoming’s oil and gas fields. Businesses involved in resource extraction do not purposefully waste saleable product, and the market and current regulations more than adequately addresses Wyoming’s needs.
Endangered Species Act
Under Governor Matt Mead’s leadership Wyoming advanced important common-sense positions regarding the ESA. Yet, there is still a long way to go. I will do everything within my power to move forward with an important agenda to protect our farmers and ranchers. Western states need to have a more equal partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in determining what species deserve protection and crafting laws that makes sense.
Transparency in Government
Good leadership makes it easy to be transparent. I have the vision, skills, and perseverance to move Wyoming forward. In accomplishing that goal, I – like any good leader – must be held accountable for my actions. This requires transparency. As Governor, my office will have a strong commitment to transparency and public access. Our Constitution requires that government act with the consent of the people, and that consent can only occur when government is transparent.
Health Care in Wyoming
A health care system that meets Wyoming needs is one of my prerequisites to growing the private sector. We need block grant funding of Medicaid, improve selling insurance across state lines, and allow groups to pool insurance. No one in Washington is going to solve health care delivery for Wyoming. We are rural, have a low population, but those two elements are opportunities given telemedicine. Wyoming is the perfect laboratory for innovating health care solutions. We need to move care of our aging population as close to home as we can, and tele-medicine is one of the ways we can do that.[2]
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