Controversial bills tend to at least get debated in the Wyoming Legislature, but this year lawmakers killed Medicaid expansion without uttering a phrase.
“To drastically cut our school budgets will cripple our children's ability to build the skills they need for our state to compete in the future economy. We will become a backwater, poor state that offers no hope for its people.”

Screw the schools, screw the youth: Wyoming lawmakers refuse tax proposals to fund education (and everything else)

Wyoming’s population is shrinking and aging, and the Good Ol’ Boys in the Legislature staunchly oppose new taxes. But younger generations who would like to build their lives here are starting to speak up against budget cuts that would cripple the state’s education system and economy.
"I'm not really here to solve problems. I just like wearing a suit!"

Wyoming faces the biggest financial crisis in its modern history. Lawmakers respond by doing nothing.

The Legislature’s Revenue Committee has one job: to develop proposals that allow Wyoming to adequately fund its public services and infrastructure. Now that fossil fuel mining taxes are going away, the committee has failed at its single job again and again and again.
Wyoming towns and counties rely on state funds to help pay for local services. But state funds are drying up.

Legislature passes a bill making it easier for Wyoming communities to tax themselves

The increased ability for towns and counties to raise revenues is a nod toward diversifying Wyoming's tax structure. But because the new revenues will come from sales tax, they will come at the highest cost to the state's poorest residents.
For the fourth straight year, the Senate will try to defund Wyoming education while the House will attempt to shield schools from harmful cuts.

Four ways to cut school funding: House and Senate at odds as education budget negotiations begin

The Senate is proposing nearly $40 million less than the House for the state education budget, looking to cut funding for cost-of-living raises, transportation, discretionary funds, and compensation for National Board Certified teachers.
The $19 million a year raised by the tax won't come close to fixing Wyoming's budget problems. But it's a start.

“An honest first step”: Wyoming Senate passes statewide lodging tax

The Legislature’s approval of an actual tax increase suggests that lawmakers understand cuts alone can’t fix Wyoming budget crisis.
While the Legislature cuts funding for public institutions, the House advances a plan to decrease revenue.

Wyoming House advances oil tax break that would cost the state millions

A proposed severance tax break for Wyoming oil and gas companies is meant to prop up the industries. But markets—not tax rates—have historically determined production levels.
Rep. Bob "Marco Coal-o" Nicholas charts a trade route to exotic lands.

Lawmakers seek a new route to "the Orient" for Wyoming's "green coal"

A bill would give a tax break to coal companies who ship their coal from Wyoming to Asia through ports in Canada and Mexico.
People from around the world travel to Wyoming and stay at hotels like the Old Faithful Inn.

Wyoming House advances statewide lodging tax bill

The proposal would impose a 5 percent tax on hotel stays, generating an estimated $19 million per year mostly from out-of-state visitors.
When these kids grow up, the Wyoming Legislature will have likely spent the state's Rainy Day Fund because they didn't want to raise taxes.

Wyoming House kills bill to create new school funding source, will instead spend state savings

The House declined to hold an introductory vote on a proposed corporate income tax that would have generated tens of millions of dollars each year for Wyoming schools.
Controversial bills tend to at least get debated in the Wyoming Legislature, but this year lawmakers killed Medicaid expansion without uttering a phrase.

Wyoming House wastes no time—or words—killing Medicaid expansion

A bill to expand Medicaid failed an introductory vote Monday, just hours after the Legislature convened, leaving tens of thousands of Wyomingites without healthcare … again.