Capitol Dispatches Archives - Page 3 of 20

Wyoming edges toward banning abortion

A bill moving through the Wyoming Legislature would completely ban abortion in the state—even in cases of rape and incest—in the event that the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Another would immediately outlaw “abortion pills,” which can be more readily accessible for Wyoming women unable to travel great distances to end a pregnancy.

The progress of these bills demonstrates a radical shift over the past five years in the Legislature’s position on reproductive rights.

Wyoming edges toward banning abortion Read More »

2022 Budget Session, Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED

Wyoming Senate scraps “redistricting” plan in a reckless power play

County clerks, legislators, local officials, and members of the public worked for months to reach consensus on a new statewide election district map. On Tuesday, the Wyoming Senate voted to throw that plan in the trash and start from scratch with just seven days remaining in the 2022 legislative session.

The Senate’s move is a last-ditch attempt to give outsized influence to rural areas that have lost residents over the past decade, while under-representing more urban areas like Cheyenne that have experienced population growth.

Wyoming Senate scraps “redistricting” plan in a reckless power play Read More »

2022 Budget Sesssion, Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED, Voting

We, The Government, are Wasteful, Fraudulent, and Abusive: Therefore we must GROW government and increase Waste, Fraud, and Abuse!

In a guest editorial, Wyoming’s premiere legislators lay out their rationale behind Senate File 50, which would create a new branch of government to help inform on people accused of waste, fraud, and abuse.

We, The Government, are Wasteful, Fraudulent, and Abusive: Therefore we must GROW government and increase Waste, Fraud, and Abuse! Read More »

Budget (cuts, etc.), Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED

The Wyo Legislature’s “emergency” session to fight vaccines is political theater at its worst

The special session starting Tuesday in response to new federal COVID-19 directives gives politicians the chance to bluster and beat their chests. But it does little to help normal Wyomingites, even as the state faces multiple crises that have nothing to do with vaccines.

The Wyo Legislature’s “emergency” session to fight vaccines is political theater at its worst Read More »

Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED

Public health cuts hit communities across Wyoming

The Legislature cut more than $100 million from the Wyoming Department of Health’s budget this session, including tens of millions from mental health and substance abuse programs while the state is experiencing a suicide crisis.

Public health cuts hit communities across Wyoming Read More »

2021 General Session, Budget (cuts, etc.), Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED, Healthcare

The silver lining of Wyoming’s new voter ID law: A path to online registration

Wyoming’s new voter ID law will suppress turnout, as similar laws have in other states. But by forcing Wyoming residents to show IDs at the polls, the new law also eliminates the main argument against Wyoming adopting online voter registration, which increases youth voter turnout.

The silver lining of Wyoming’s new voter ID law: A path to online registration Read More »

2021 General Session, Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED, Voting

Wyo Senate scuttles education funding bill, sparing school cuts

In a last-day legislative surprise, lawmakers from the Wyoming House and Senate failed to agree on the details of a bill that would have dramatically cut public education funding. As a result of legislators’ failure to govern, K-12 schools will be spared budget cuts for now. But the structural problem of our education funding model remains.

Wyo Senate scuttles education funding bill, sparing school cuts Read More »

2021 General Session, Capitol Dispatches, Education Funding, FEATURED

Wyo Legislature looks to end fifth straight session with deep education cuts

The House and Senate have come up with two different versions of an education funding bill: One that cuts public school budgets, and another that cuts them even more. Lawmakers will end the session tomorrow debating which version will prevail.

Wyo Legislature looks to end fifth straight session with deep education cuts Read More »

2021 General Session, Capitol Dispatches, Education Funding, FEATURED

A single vote stops Wyo. Medicaid expansion, but a movement grows

Two identical bills to update Wyoming’s Medicaid program came before the same Senate committee this session. A senator who supported the first bill flipped and killed the second. But not before a movement coalesced that will continue to fight for affordable healthcare access in Wyoming.

A single vote stops Wyo. Medicaid expansion, but a movement grows Read More »

2021 General Session, Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED, Healthcare

Wyoming’s “budget crisis” is fake

Even as fossil fuel tax revenues plummet, Wyoming remains a rich state with no urgent reason to cut public services from struggling and vulnerable people. It also just received more than a billion dollars in federal aid. Why then, are Wyoming lawmakers eager to cut public funding? Because they want to.

Wyoming’s “budget crisis” is fake Read More »

2021 General Session, Budget (cuts, etc.), Capitol Dispatches, FEATURED