When the Wyoming Freedom Caucus took control of the House, its leaders promised big changes. Speaker Chip Neiman famously declared to Politico: “We have 42 of 62 votes. We’re going to do big things.”
Wyoming voters deserve to ask a simple question:
What were those big things?
Leadership should be measured by results — not press releases, social media posts, or political rhetoric.
After two years of Freedom Caucus control, the record raises serious concerns.
The House budget proposed deep reductions to state government, including eliminating the Wyoming Business Council, cutting funding for the University of Wyoming, reducing support for Native American health care programs, denying market-based raises for state employees, killing fire relief funds and shifting costs to local communities.
Many of these proposals were rejected or significantly changed by the Senate because legislators from both chambers believed they would do more harm than good.
Speaker Neiman’s leadership team had to suspend the rules and add an extra day to cram 200 plus amendments ti the budget down house members throats.
Pressure from the public forced them into the public’s will. The Neiman led Confrence committee folded to the Senate position in less than 30 minutes..
The Freedom Caucus also opposed putting significant surplus revenue into Wyoming’s Permanent Mineral Trust Fund and other long-term savings.
Wyoming has built its financial strength by saving during prosperous years to protect future generations during downturns. Choosing not to save when revenues are strong is a major departure from decades of conservative fiscal policy.
This Legislature also failed to pass a supplemental budget—the first time in decades Wyoming went without one. Instead of resolving issues collaboratively, legislative leaders allowed political gridlock to replace practical governance.
Education became another battleground. The recalibration process, led by Freedom Caucus leadership, drew criticism from school districts across Wyoming.
Local officials warned about unintended consequences, reduced local flexibility, and funding formulas that ignored real operating costs. Rather than listening to those concerns, the Freedom Caucus led recalibration committee doubled down.
Their actions significantly took local control away and consolidated the power in Cheyenne
Economic development also suffered.
Proposals to eliminate the Wyoming Business Council would have jeopardized programs that help recruit employers, expand existing businesses, and create jobs in rural Wyoming. Conservatives should always demand accountability, but eliminating an agency without a transition plan is not reform—it’s abandonment.
Throughout the session, the focus often seemed to be on ideological fights instead of solving Wyoming’s most pressing challenges: keeping communities strong, supporting local governments, maintaining infrastructure, improving health care access, diversifying the economy, and preparing for the next energy transition.
Conservatism has traditionally meant careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars, planning for the future, supporting private enterprise, and making government work efficiently. It has never meant governing through constant conflict or measuring success by the number of headlines generated.
Wyoming deserves leaders who ask not, “How much can we cut?” but “What produces the best value for taxpayers?” There is a difference.
The real measure of legislative leadership is whether Wyoming is stronger when you leave than when you arrived.
They also brought in one of the biggest scandals in Wyoming history — "Check Gate" — tarnishing the entire legislature — forcing even more rules.
So the question remains:
If the Freedom Caucus promised to do “big things,” are Wyoming families better off today? Are local governments stronger? Are schools better prepared? Is the economy more diversified? Have permanent savings increased? Has the Legislature become more productive?
Those are questions every voter should answer based on the record—not the rhetoric.
Because in Wyoming, results still matter more than slogans.
Sen. Ogden Driskill
Driskill represents Senate District 1 in Wyoming and lives in Devils Tower
