Gov. Gordon has requested modest funding increases for the Department of Health, including for maternity care. The Legislature has a budget surplus, but Freedom Caucus allies claim Wyoming healthcare spending is already too high.
Wyoming legislators wanted to give property tax relief to seniors on fixed incomes, but gray-haired lawmakers couldn’t help giving a bit of relief to themselves—despite the Baby Boomer generation being the richest in history.
Fortunately, other successful property tax proposals this session were more thought-out.
Session recap: Harrison Ford and other needy Wyoming seniors receive property tax relief Read More »
With multiple bans already in place but tied up in the courts, the Wyoming Legislature’s attempt to criminalize abortion this year was at once an attempt at a back up plan in the likely event that the state Supreme Court rules in favor of abortion access, and at the same time and admission that the procedure is, in fact, healthcare.
SESSION RECAP: Vetoed abortion bill provides a preview for fights to come Read More »
The “small government” group voted to spend nearly a billion dollars each year of Wyoming taxpayer money to prevent private businesses from requiring masks or vaccines.
Making sure electricians are safe? Yawn. Training more rural nurses? Booo-ring. Scholarships for community college students to learn trades? What a snooze fest!
These are just some of the bills that House Majority Floor Leader Chip Neiman singlehandedly killed by not allowing them to proceed to the House floor for debate.
Session recap: How Chip Neiman killed dozens of “boring” problem-solving bills Read More »
With a windfall of tax revenue from high gas prices, the Wyoming Legislature increased state employee and teacher pay and funded some economic development. But lawmakers failed to meaningfully address the state’s growing housing crisis, and they still would rather invest billions in Wall Street than our own local communities.
Session recap: The good, the bad, and the ugly of Wyoming’s 2023 state budget Read More »
Lawmakers acknowledged in 2023 the problems of Wyoming’s crushing suicide rate (including teen suicide) and lack of basic mental healthcare access for rural communities and uninsured people. But resistance by the Freedom Caucus to any form of government program whatsoever helped defeat several proposals that could have saved lives.
Session recap: Legislature falls flat confronting Wyo’s mental health and suicide crises Read More »
Rising home values have increased Wyoming property tax bills. The Legislature responded with targeted relief that will benefit nearly 10,000 households while untangling complicated issues with the state’s tax structure to allow for further reforms. They managed this while avoiding the slash-and-burn approach favored by the Freedom Caucus that would have gutted funding for local towns and counties.
Session recap: Relief and reform for rising Wyo. property taxes Read More »
Four transgender students participate in Wyoming high school sports. For a decade, a policy governing trans student eligibility in athletics has gone unused, because local communities have handled situations on a case-by-case basis. But the so-called Freedom Caucus shares the national media’s obsession with transgender people. So, confronting this trendiest of boogeymen became a priority during the 2023 session, while other issues that affect tens of thousands of Wyoming residents went ignored.
After years of attempts, the Wyoming Legislature passed a law banning voters from switching parties to cast a ballot in the primary of their choice. The result will be confusion, disenfranchisement, and a whole herd of RINOs joining the GOP.
Session recap: “Crossover voting” is banned in Wyoming. Now what? Read More »
