The policy resolutions formally approved at the 2019 Winter Meeting in Las Vegas include:

WGA Policy Resolution 2020-01, Strengthening the State-Federal Relationship

Improving state-federal communication and coordination is among the Western Governors’ highest priorities.  In the absence of a Constitutional delegation of authority to the federal government, state authority should be presumed sovereign.  Each executive department and agency should have a clear and accountable process to provide states with early, meaningful and substantive input in the development of federal regulatory policies.  Where authority has been delegated by the federal government to the states, states should be granted the maximum administrative discretion possible and should be treated as partners and co-regulators. Read, download the resolution.

WGA Policy Resolution 2020-02, States’ Share of Royalties and Leasing Revenues from Federal Lands and Minerals

The federal government has codified into law several historic agreements and programs to compensate western states for costs associated with the presence of tax-exempt federal lands within their borders.  The federal government must honor its statutory obligations to share royalty and lease payments with states and counties.  States, as recipients of revenues from these programs and agreements, should be provided meaningful and substantial opportunities for consultation in the development of federal policy affecting those revenues. Read, download the resolution.

WGA Policy Resolution 2020-03, Tax-Exempt Federal Lands and Secure Rural Schools

The federal government must honor its historic Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) agreement with states and counties in the West to compensate them for the presence of tax-exempt federal lands within their borders.  Predictable and full payments under the PILT and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) programs are vital to the provision of state and county public goods and services, such as roads, emergency response, and wildlife and natural resources protection.  Western Governors support legislative efforts to improve the predictability and reliability of PILT payments and ensure forest counties receive stable SRS payments. Read, download the resolution.

WGA Policy Resolution 2020-04, Financial Assurance Regulation

The effective reclamation of western mines and other industrial facilities is needed primarily for water protection.  It is therefore appropriate and consistent with Congressional intent to recognize the states’ primary role in regulating water-related impacts of mine reclamation, including associated financial assurance requirements.  Western Governors believe that states have financial assurance regulatory programs in place that are working well and that those programs should not be preempted or duplicated by any federal program. Read, download the resolution.

WGA Policy Resolution 2020-05, Physical and Behavioral Health Care in Western States

Access to quality physical and behavioral health care services is an important factor in maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in western states.  The resolution identifies health care challenges affecting western states, including healthcare industry personnel shortages and limited access to behavioral health and substance use disorder services.  It also outlines the Governors’ policies to address these challenges, including the deployment of broadband to promote telehealth and telemedicine access, and the importance of strong state-federal collaboration to ensure that all levels of government are working together to promote the best interests of the West’s citizens. Read, download the resolution.

Western Governors enact new policy resolutions and amend existing resolutions on a bi-annual basis. All of WGA’s current resolutions can be found on our Resolutions Page.