EDITORIAL: WTE offers thumbs up and down 9-16-17

Sept. 16--UP to the Wyoming High School Activities Association for providing free concussion insurance for every high school and middle school student participating in a WHSAA-sponsored activity.

Wyoming is the fifth state to participate in the HeadStrong Concussion Insurance Program. Every student in grades 5-12 participating in any practice or game is covered, thanks to more than $37,000 the association received from its agreement with the National Federation of State High School Associations.

When claims must be filed, the participant's personal insurance will be billed first, with the HeadStrong insurance serving as secondary coverage to help with unpaid deductibles or co-pays. The maximum benefit is $25,000 per injury, and there is no deductible per claim.

We applaud the association for taking this proactive step to protect our youth, and we're proud Wyoming was one of the first states to do so.

UP to the members of the Cheyenne City Council who believe property owners should have to opt in to a new historic district or expansion of an existing one, rather than opt out.

This position isn't unanimous among council members, and it won't be popular with some in the community who believe old buildings should be preserved at all cost. But we agree with Councilman Pete Laybourn, Mayor Marian Orr and some others on the council who believe that private property rights should come first.

Even Historic Preservation Board Chairwoman Christina Bird agrees with the change in approach, saying it would lead to more buy-in from building owners who opt in.

Yes, this change could make efforts like the current one to add two dozen buildings to the Downtown Historic District more difficult. But in the long run, if those who opt in do a better job of preserving their historic property, it will be a worthwhile change.

DOWN to U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, both R-Wyo., for their recent votes against a $15 billion federal assistance package in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Many of those who voted against the package in both the Senate and House of Representatives said their main opposition was to it being tied by Democrats to a short-term increase in the nation's debt limit and funding the federal government for three months. This was true of Mr. Enzi, who "is an advocate for fiscal discipline and restraint, but the Senate package embodied neither," according to a spokesman.

Mrs. Cheney, on the other hand, said she voted against the final House bill because it delays her top priority: increasing defense spending. (She earlier voted in favor of a no-strings-attached Harvey aid package.)

Of course, the main problem here is that once again leaders in the U.S. Congress and President Donald Trump decided to inject politics into what should have been a basic humanitarian action. They just can't help themselves.

But this is hardly the first time a bill containing something important that everyone can agree on has been sullied by injecting something controversial. We agree with U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and the overwhelming majority in Congress that in this case the aid package was most important. The other items can be addressed in the storm's wake.

UP to the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce for using Facebook Live to bring short training programs to the local business community through its new 22@Noon program.

These free, 22-minute sessions aren't super-slick, highly produced presentations. They aren't meant to be. But they contain good information in a tight timeframe to meet the needs of busy professionals.

The initial series focuses on the value of a trained workforce. We encourage all local businesspeople to have a look at www.facebook.com/GreaterCheyenneChamber.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: Contact us via email at [email protected].

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