"OH MY GOD, JANET!! IT'S A FREELOADER!!! AAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!"

Anti-“freeloader” hysteria drives a bipartisan push for Medicaid work requirements

Wyoming women who have children and who work low-paying, unstable jobs would be most at risk of losing access to healthcare under two proposed bills.
In 2018, voters in Utah, Idaho, and Nebraska all chose to expand Medicaid

After Wyoming’s neighbors expand Medicaid at the ballot box, state Senate suddenly decides to “study” the issue

Sen. Charles Scott, who has led the fight against Medicaid expansion in Wyoming for years, is sponsoring the measure to provide "up-to-date" information.
House Bill 171 would clarify Wyoming's confusing CBD laws and develop infrastructure for the hemp farming industry.

House committee approves bill to legalize CBD and spur Wyoming hemp farming

A 9-0 committee vote gives the bill momentum as it moves to the full House for debate. But questions remain whether the Legislature is ready to accept CBD and whether it will provide funding for hemp farming infrastructure.
Somewhere deep in the bowels of the Jonah Building, Sen. Landen makes a sketchy deal.

Bill to ban “crossover voting” is brought back to life, demonstrating the Legislature’s shady tactics

The primary voting bill died—again. But the situation showed how back-door pressure, sketchy committee switches, and other behind-closed-doors moves shape what's supposed to be a public process.

Senate committee shoots down bill to ban gun-free zones at Wyoming schools and other public places

Former gun lobbyist Sen. Anthony Bouchard and his co-sponsors were the only people who spoke in favor of the bill.
Rep. Richard Tass (pictured without troublesome sports jacket)

Freshman Wyoming state legislator calls his anti-abortion bill "a gift" to pregnant women

Rep. Richard Tass said a mandatory 48-hour waiting period would give women the chance to reconsider, since having an abortion is not like buying a sports jacket that doesn't fit.
(from left) Sens. Cale Case, Bill Landen, and Charlie Scott voted to kill SF-32

Wyoming Republican leadership wanted closed primaries. The rank-and-file said 'no thanks'

A bill to ban party-switching at the polls died in an all-Republican Senate committee who said they'd heard strong opposition from their constituents.
Students and teachers will both be better off with less emphasis placed on standardized testing.

House committee votes to remove standardized test scores from Wyoming teacher evaluations

The practice of judging teachers by their students' standardized test scores has been criticized since it was adopted in Wyoming prior to the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
(From left) Sens. Chris Rothfuss, Lynn Hutchings, Hank Coe, and Bill Landen voted unanimously to move Foster's bill ahead.

Foster Friess’ pet private school bill moves forward

Senators shrugged off concerns over local control and potential lawsuits to further special legislation on behalf of the billionaire's private religious academy.
Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police director Byron Oedekoven (left) leads the fight against commonsense cannabis reform with his buddy, Rep. Bill Pownall (right) pictured here while he was a Gillette sheriff.

Law enforcement lobbyists convince House committee to kill CBD bill

CBD oil is essentially harmless. But fear-mongering law enforcement officials convinced legislators that "harmless" is still too dangerous for Wyoming adults.
"Handmaiden's Tale" Illustration by Tran Nguyen

Here come the abortion bills

Two bills threatening Wyoming women's reproductive rights are moving through the state legislature. Many more are expected to come.
Amanda Barnes at home in Laramie (photo: wyomingrenegadeimages.com)

Profile of a hard-working Wyoming woman barely getting by — STATE OF INSECURITY

Meet Amanda. She's a typical low-wage worker in Wyoming. Like tens of thousands of others she's doing her best with a crummy hand made worse by the Wyoming State Legislature.