Our state legislators will soon be busy. At times they’ll be burning the midnight oil — or at least sitting through late night legislative sessions — and getting going before the regular session start for early morning committee meetings.

They’re so busy we at the paper have had to find specific times to chat with our legislators each week when they’re in session as there are generally only small windows when they’re not sleeping or working. It was enlightening recently to talk with Sen. Dan Laursen and Rep. Paul Hoeft, both R-Powell, and hear them compare with each other their busy schedules. 

Yet our local legislators are popping up all over the county this month, squeezing in numerous chances to talk with constituents before making the trip down to Cheyenne for the budget session starting Feb. 9. 

Whatever you think of their ideas, they ought to be commended for being available so much just before they say goodbye to friends and family for at least each week, if not weekends as well, for the fast-paced 20-day session. 

It’s helpful for constituents who want to get in their two cents worth to the person who will soon be representing them, and for us in the press to see them interact with constituents and fellow politicians. 

Legislators have proven to be responsive to their constituents. As evidenced, one can look at how much the recalibration process for school funding has changed. After talks with many teachers and administrators around the state — Superintendent Jay Curtis and others from Powell even spent time testifying — many of the changes that worried Curtis and others the most have been scaled back or changed. 

Legislators do listen. And even when they do head down to Cheyenne they’ll still be available. Shoot yours an email to ask a question, comment on a piece of legislation, or otherwise share your opinion. A good legislator should be happy to hear from constituents. 

And, for our readers, we’ll be reaching out to our area representatives and senators weekly for updates as to what they are doing and thinking down in Cheyenne, and offering space for their opinion pieces as well. Some readers may not eagerly await legislative news in each issue, but these sessions are important and what is decided in Cheyenne is often hugely impactful for Park County. 

So look out for more stories on the Legislature, whether from other papers across the state or updates from our local legislators who, I hope, have taken this pre-session time to heart and will head down to Cheyenne armed with the true wishes of their constituents. 

To follow along with the Legislature, visit wyoleg.gov.