CHEYENNE--“Together you can do more than what you could do individually,” United States Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) told Wyoming Farm Bureau members on Nov. 11 at the organization’s 92nd annual meeting in Cheyenne.

Senator Enzi referred to working together in many different aspects. 

According to Enzi, the Wyoming delegation meets frequently to ensure they are covering all the issues that need worked on for Wyoming.  “I think we get fifty percent more done than other delegations because we work together so closely,” Enzi stated.

Senator Enzi also referred to working together as an organization and thanked the Wyoming Farm Bureau for their work.  “We rely on your input, especially in agriculture and natural resource issues,” He said.

Senator Enzi is one of only two accountants who serve in the Senate.  One area, according to Enzi, that an issue could be solved if everybody worked together is the budget deficit.  Senator Enzi spoke about a one percent solution to the crisis.  “If everybody cut one percent out of their budget for eight years, then in the eighth year, the budget would balance,” He explained.  “Hopefully, the agencies would cut what needs cut and not just what is visible to people to garner the most opposition.”

According to Enzi, the Deficit Commission did a good job, but the recommendations aren’t being implemented.  “The President turned in another stimulus bill rather than follow the recommendations of the Deficit Commission,” Enzi said.  “His budget failed 97-0; that should say something.  Now, we are going to be allowed to look at it in pieces.”

Enzi shared an example of the ineffectiveness of the stimulus money.  “Money was put in the stimulus for education and safety.  This was one-time money.  Now all those that were hired will have to be fired,” He explained.  “30,000 firemen and teachers will be fired across the United States so the majority in the Senate wants to raise taxes to prevent this.”

Another area of concern in our nation’s financial issues is duplication in appropriation.  “Among all agencies, $900 billion dollars of duplication occurs each year,” Enzi explained.  “The duplication is in the appropriation process.”

“Payfors” is another term Senator Enzi said is a big concern.  “How government continues to grow in Washington is they are always looking for “pay fors”,” Enzi said.  “Once something is eliminated, they use that to pay for something new.”

“We need “cuts”; we have all the “new” programs we can have,” He continued.

“The government is so big that it can’t be handled the way it used to,” Enzi said.  “If every agency would work to reduce their budgets instead of grow it we could do it.”

“It is like a business, the guy at the top has to say listen, we have to make this work,” He continued.  “The President has to take the leadership position and tell them to cut.”

Senator Enzi was asked if he would support the “Fair Tax.”  “Yes, I would support it, but we would need to transition to it,” He responded.  “We could all adjust to those changes provided we don’t have to do it overnight.”

“We have to get there because right now 51 percent of people aren’t paying income taxes in America and they are getting benefits back for not paying any income taxes,” He said.

In other issues, Senator Enzi said he appreciates Governor Mead’s effort to try and find a solution to the wolf in Wyoming.  “I’m holding my breath on this,” He said.  “Hopefully it will be a final decision rather than a decision that ends up back in the courts.”

“Representative Lummis is working on an amendment that would make it so wolves cannot be subject to lawsuits,” He continued.

Senator Enzi spoke about the congressional process.  “We get things right in Wyoming because we only have one issue per bill and there is no trading of votes,” He said.  “In Washington, the bills are comprehensive and what that means is that people really won’t know what is in the bill and that just doesn’t work.”

Additionally, regulations are a large concern.  “We have to cut regulations and stop the new ones from coming,” He said.  “In July and August alone, there were 2,025 more pages of regulations.”

“The President has found out he doesn’t need Congress,” Enzi continued.  “He can just write regulations and if they don’t have standing in the law, it will take five years to get them through the courts.  That is five years with a lot of suffering.”

Senator Enzi mentioned the regulation of dust and the regulatory overreach by EPA to try and control water as examples.

Senator Enzi thanked Farm Bureau members for what they do in agriculture.  “You have to get something from the ground or there is no economy,” Enzi stated.  “You in agriculture are the basis of our economy so I thank you for what you do.”