BY News Release / KNEB News Staff | January 26, 2021
The top administrator at the Wyoming Department of Education says funding for public education in her state and several others has been eviscerated by the Biden Administration’s federal ban on oil and gas leases.
Superintendent Jillian Balow says she was taken aback by the swift orders executed by Acting U.S. Interior Secretary de le Vega after months of rhetoric around bringing unity to the nation, noting that Wyoming depends on some $150 million a year in oil and gas federal mineral royalties to fund K-12 schools.
“Shockingly, this move hurts the students in soon to be Interior Secretary Haaland’s home state of New Mexico substantially worse. A University of Wyoming study estimates that Wyoming and seven other top federal oil and gas producing states stand to lose hundreds of millions in revenue for their schools
Wyoming Supt.: Oil And Gas Lease Ban Will Defund Schools
Ian Waldie, Getty Images
Wyoming State Superintendent Jillian Balow says a recent order by the Biden administration suspending new oil and gas leases for 60 days eviscerated funding for public schools in Wyoming and other western states.
Balow issued this statement on Tuesday: I was taken aback by swift orders executed by the Biden Administration last week after months of rhetoric around bringing unity to our nation. Funding for public education in Wyoming and other states has been eviscerated by an order issued by Acting U.S. Interior Secretary de le Vega. A federal ban on oil and gas leases will defund schools. Wyoming depends on some $150 million a year in oil and gas federal mineral royalties to fund our K-12 schools.
By Brendan LaChance on January 26, 2021
2020 Midwest graduation. (Dan Cepeda, Oil City)
CASPER, Wyo. Wyoming Superintendent Jillian Balow says that the Biden administration’s temporary ban on new oil and gas leasing and permits will decrease funding for Wyoming schools.
“I was taken aback by swift orders executed by the Biden Administration last week after months of rhetoric around bringing unity to our nation,” Balow said in a Monday press release. “Funding for public education in Wyoming and other states has been eviscerated by an order issued by Acting U.S. Interior Secretary de le Vega.”
That order issued last Wednesday halts new oil and gas leasing and drilling on federal lands for 60 days.
The following statement is from Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow.
“I was taken aback by swift orders executed by the Biden Administration last week after months of rhetoric around bringing unity to our nation. Funding for public education in Wyoming and other states has been eviscerated by an order issued by Acting U.S. Interior Secretary de le Vega. A federal ban on oil and gas leases will defund schools. Wyoming depends on some $150 million a year in oil and gas federal mineral royalties to fund our K-12 schools.
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“Shockingly, this move hurts the students in soon to be Interior Secretary Haaland’s home state of New Mexico substantially worse. A University of Wyoming study estimates that Wyoming and seven other top federal oil and gas producing states stand to lose hundreds of millions in revenue for their schools and governments due to this moratorium. There are also Native American reservations negative