Wyoming lawmaker introduces doomsday bill
By JEREMY PELZER Star-Tribune capital bureau
23 February 2012 CHEYENNE – State Rep. David Miller, R-Riverton, has seen the national debt rise above $15 trillion and protest movements grow around the country. Wealthy Americans are fleeing the country, he says, and confidence in the dollar has taken a hit around the world. If America’s economic and social problems continue to escalate and spiral out of control, Miller said, Wyoming needs to be ready. So, he’s introduced legislation to create a state-run government continuity task force, which would study and prepare Wyoming for potential catastrophes, from disruptions in food and energy supplies to a complete meltdown of the federal government. It would even look at the feasibility of quickly providing an alternative currency in Wyoming should the U.S. dollar collapse entirely. […] Miller said he didn’t anticipate any major crises hitting America anytime soon. But Wyoming, which has a comparatively good economy and sound state finances, needs to make sure it’s protected should any unexpected emergency hit the United States. “Things happen quickly sometimes — look at Libya, look at Egypt, look at those situations,” Miller said. “We wouldn’t have time to meet as a Legislature or even in special session to do anything to respond.” Miller said the task force would look at whether, in the event the dollar loses value entirely, Wyoming should issue its own state currency or rely on old U.S. currency that would still have value. While Miller said that doomsday scenario is unlikely in the short-term, the dollar has been losing value for years, and a gridlocked federal government has been unable to deal with enormous budget deficits. “If we continue down this course, this is the way any society ends up — with a valueless currency,” he said. […]
