Leo Wolfson
Leo Wolfson is the State Government and Politics Reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. He is responsible for covering Wyoming politics on a federal and statewide level.
Leo led Cowboy State Daily's coverage of the 2022 Wyoming primary election, including the highly contentious race between former congresswoman Liz Cheney and her successor U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. He also managed CSD's coverage of the 2023 State Legislature, which was by far the most extensive and timely media coverage of a legislative session in the state's history.
Before joining Cowboy State Daily, Leo was a general assignment reporter for the Cody Enterprise Newspaper in Cody from 2018-2022. Prior to that, he reported for a suburban newspaper outside Denver.
Latest from Leo Wolfson
$40M For Wyoming 988 Suicide Hotline Barely Alive With $900 Million Gap To Fill
A bill that would have put $40 million into a trust for Wyoming’s 988 suicide centers failed last week. Meanwhile, a $40 million budget amendment for the same purpose is still alive, but barely as the House and Senate look to bridge a $900 million budget gap.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 26, 2024
Wyoming Property-Sales Tax Swap Barely Passes After Drama-Filled House Debate
A bill that would exempt about 97% of Wyoming homeowners from paying property tax in exchange for a 2% sales tax hike barely passed the state House on Friday after an emotional, drama-filled debate.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 24, 2024
Poll Shows Illegal Immigration Is No. 1 Priority For Wyoming Republicans
A recent survey shows that stopping illegal immigration is by far the most important issue for Wyoming Republicans.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 24, 2024
$900 Million Rift Separates Wyoming Senate And House Budgets
The Wyoming Senate and House both completed their biennial budgets late Thursday night with a massive fiscal rift of roughly $900 million separating the two. Last year’s supplemental budget featured a $30 million difference between the two chambers.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 23, 2024
House Hikes Benefits For Family Of Slain Sheridan Cop, But It’s Not Unanimous
Some Wyoming House members spoke against raising the death benefits for the family of a slain Sheridan cop Thursday, but it passed easily anyway.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 23, 2024
Wyoming Senate Axes $118M In Major School Construction Projects From Budget
On two close votes, the Wyoming Senate voted Thursday to cut the entire $111.8 million budgeted over the next two years for major school constructions projects.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2024
Amendment Ties Kelly Parcel Sale To Fate Of Controversial BLM Rock Springs Plan
The Wyoming House passed an amendment late Wednesday night that would tie the sale of the Kelly Parcel to the National Park Service to the fate of the BLM’s controversial Rock Springs management plan.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2024
‘Monolith Of Wokeness’: Senate Votes To Defund UW Gender Studies, Diversity Office
One of the most heated budget debates in the Wyoming Legislature on Wednesday was around amendments to defund the UW Diversity Office and Gender Studies program. Sen. Charlie Scott called the UW a “monolith of wokeness.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2024
Swapping Property Tax For Sales Tax Good For Wyoming Homeowners, Bad For Renters
A proposal by Rep. Steve Harshman of Casper that would swap property tax for 2% hike in sales tax for most Wyomingites is good for homeowners, but bad for renters.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2024
National Activist Chloe Cole Testifies Against Transgender Treatments For Minors In Wyoming
Activist Chloe Cole, who has "detransitioned" after receiving transgender surgeries as a minor, testified on Wednesday against the controversial treatments, saying "no adult has any right to do this to any child, whether it be a parent, a doctor, a counselor, anyone.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2024
Lummis Calls For Mayorkas Impeachment Trial
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis on Tuesday demanded Minority Leader Mitch McConnell call a Senate trial into the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2024
Tempers Boil Over On Wyoming House Floor After Accusation Of Vote Swapping
Wyoming House Speaker Albert Sommers didn't hold back in chastising a Gillette legislator on the House floor Tuesday after he accused another member of “logrolling” — political speak for trading votes.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2024
Blockbuster Bill Would Eliminate Most Wyoming Property Tax, Hike Sales Tax 2%
Rep. Steve Harshman's blockbuster tax reform proposal that would eliminate most property tax in Wyoming in return for hiking the sales tax by 2% passed the House Revenue Committee on Tuesday. “Our people need this and want this,” he said.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
Senate Committee Passes Bill Banning Credit Card Tracking Of Gun Purchases
A bill prohibiting financial institutions from assigning credit card codes to track firearms purchases in Wyoming advanced to the Senate on Tuesday. The bill passed the senate committee by a unanimous margin.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
Wyoming Senate OKs $2 Million To Help Texas With Border Fight
The Wyoming Senate on Monday approved a $2 million budget amendment as aid for Texas to secure its southern border with Mexico.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
Wyoming A Step Closer To Requiring Abortion Clinics To Be Licensed
Supporters of a bill requiring abortion clinics to be licensed in Wyoming say its purpose is to protect the health of women, detractors say it’s a ploy to restrict abortion more.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
172 Bills Axed -- Short Wyoming Budget Session Makes First Week A Legislative Massacre
With only 20 days allotted in a budget session, bills can die a quick death. After the first week of the 2024 session that was completed on Friday, 172 bills either failed to be introduced or were not considered at all.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2024
Lawsuit Claims Two Teton County Commissioners Conspired To Oust Fire Chief
A Jackson resident has filed a lawsuit against two Teton County Commissioners, claiming they conspired to get former Fire Chief Stephen Jellie fired and wants them removed from the commission.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2024
Handful Of Property Tax Bills Advance, Including 5% Cap On Year-To-Year Hikes
The House Revenue Committee advanced a handful of property tax relief measures Friday, including one that would cap year-to-year tax increases at 5%.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 17, 2024
Slain Sheridan Police Sgt. Krinkee Honored By Wyoming Legislature
The Wyoming Legislature honored Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee on Friday, who was shot and killed Tuesday in the line of duty. Sheridan’s loss is one “felt across our entire state,” said Senate President Ogden Driskill.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 17, 2024
Wyoming Caucus Blasts Freedom Caucus Republicans For Killing Firearms Bill
Rep. Barry Crago blasted the Freedom Caucus on Friday for voting against a bill aimed to protect Wyomingites from being tracked for buying and owning firearms. "The same legislators who claim to be principled staunch advocates for the Second Amendment then turn around and vote against it," he said.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024