Government & Politics
News
Wyoming’s Republican Factions Face Off For Battleground GOP Primary
Now that the 2024 legislative session is over, Wyoming’s political focus shifts to the Republican primary, which could be a battleground between the state Republican Party’s two main factions, the Wyoming Caucus and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.
Leo WolfsonMarch 14, 2024
Hageman Votes To Ban TikTok In The U.S. If Chinese Owner Doesn’t Sell
Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman voted in support of legislation Wednesday that would ban the use of TikTok in America as long as it’s owned by a Chinese company. "TikTok is a clear and present danger to our national security,” she said.
Leo WolfsonMarch 13, 2024
Sparks Already Fly In GOP Showdown Between Cody Mayor, National Committeewoman
A Republican showdown between Cody Mayor Matt Hall and GOP National Committeewoman Nina Webber is already getting personal as they square off for a potential swing seat for the Freedom Caucus in the Wyoming Legislature.
Leo WolfsonMarch 13, 2024
Judge Tosses Lawsuit Seeking To Oust 4 Of 5 Sheridan County Commissioners
A lawsuit filed by the Sheridan County Republican Party seeking to oust four of that county’s five commissioners was tossed out by a judge Monday. The judge found the Sheridan GOP lacked standing to bring its lawsuit and failed to meet the burden of proof of any wrongdoing.
Leo WolfsonMarch 13, 2024
Former Colorado Political Operative Running For Wyoming Legislature
A former Colorado political operative has announced her candidacy for the Wyoming State House in Sheridan, and the seat of one of the most prominent members of the Wyoming Caucus, Cyrus Western.
Leo WolfsonMarch 13, 2024
Laramie County GOP Out Of State Party’s Doghouse, Raising Big Money
What a difference a year can make. That’s about how long it’s taken the Laramie County Republican Party to go from being an outcast and in the doghouse of the Wyoming Republican Party to hosting the upcoming state GOP convention in April.
Leo WolfsonMarch 12, 2024
To Veto Or Not To Veto: Gov Gordon Has 55 Bills On His Desk
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has 55 bills on his desk awaiting his signature, the veto pen, or he can allow them to go into law without a signature. They include a bills to outlaw gender change surgeries for minors, eliminate gun-free zones in the state, and state regulation of abortion clinics.
Leo WolfsonMarch 12, 2024
Lander Educator Surprised With Prestigious Milken Educator Award For Wyoming
Lander Assistant Principal Megan Park was surprised Tuesday morning with a $25,000 cash prize as part of the Milken Educator Awards. The national award is known in education circles as the “Oscars of Teaching.”
March 12, 2024
Lummis Teams Up With Fetterman To Cut Red Tape For Federal Home Repair Money
In a rare show of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill, Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis is co-sponsoring legislation with Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman that would establish a five-year pilot program to make it easier for homeowners to get help with critical home repairs.
Leo WolfsonMarch 12, 2024
Govs Freudenthal, Sullivan Praise Legacy Of Former State Auditor Dave Ferrari
Former State Auditor Dave Ferrari died last week at age 80. Wyoming Govs. Sullivan and Freudenthal praised Ferrari as a champion of government efficiency and transparency. "He was remarkably ethical," Fruedenthal said.
Leo WolfsonMarch 11, 2024
Sex Traffickers Will Have To Register In Wyoming If Gordon Doesn't Veto Bill
Of the five attempts Wyoming legislators tried to change the state’s sex offender registry this session, just one made it to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk. The bill would require human and sex traffickers be added to the state’s sex offender registry.
Clair McFarlandMarch 11, 2024
Wyoming GOP Director Kathy Russell Announces Run For Legislature
Kathy Russell, the executive director for the Wyoming Republican Party, announced Monday she’s running for the state Legislature for the seat held by veteran Cheyenne legislator Rep. Bob Nicholas. She is considered to be much more conservative than Nicholas.
Leo WolfsonMarch 11, 2024
Legislature Passes Wyoming Property Tax Cap, Two More Tax Relief Bills
Wyoming homeowners may no longer have to fear large, unexpected increases on their property taxes after the Wyoming Legislature sent three more property tax relief bills to the governor’s desk for consideration Friday.
Leo WolfsonMarch 09, 2024
Unless Gordon Vetoes Bill, Parents Can Spend Up To $6,000 For Private Schools
After some brief moments of tension, a bill giving Wyoming parents up to $6,000 per child to get private schooling advanced to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk Friday. The bill as passed includes all schooling from pre-kindergarten up to 12th grade.
Leo WolfsonMarch 09, 2024
Wyoming Legislature Ends Contentious Session By Passing $10.6 Billion Budget
The Wyoming Legislature passed its $10.6 billion budget Friday, sending it Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk on the final day of the 2024 legislative session.
Leo WolfsonMarch 09, 2024
Wyoming Power Plants Can Charge Customers For Carbon Capture Retrofits
A bill allowing Wyoming utilities to recoup the cost of carbon-capture retrofits for coal-fired power plants passed Friday, despite resistance from the Freedom Caucus who are opposed to the concept of carbon capture.
Pat MaioMarch 09, 2024
Wyoming House 1 Vote Short Of Overturning Gordon Veto Of Charter School Funding Bill
The Wyoming House fell one vote short Friday of overriding Gov. Mark Gordon's veto of a bill that would have let state-authorized charter schools get their own grants and receive funding consistently from local districts.
Clair McFarlandMarch 09, 2024
Will Gordon Sign Or Veto Bill Eliminating Wyoming’s Gun-Free Zones?
A bill that would eliminate Wyoming’s gun-free zones is on Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk. Opinions in the Legislature are mixed on whether he’ll sign it, veto it or simply let it pass into law without a signature.
Mark HeinzMarch 09, 2024
Committee Slips School Choice Bill Into Budget After House Killed It
A day after the House Education Committee killed a proposal to allow for another charter school in Wyoming, it was slipped into the budget bill, where it’s so far survived.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2024
Senate Will Close Loophole That Allowed Driskill To Remove Committee Chair
The Wyoming Senate will close a loophole before the next legislative session that allowed Senate President Ogden Driskill to remove Dave Kinskey as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee last summer.
Leo WolfsonMarch 08, 2024
Affordable Housing Coming To Jackson After Historic Teton County Commission Vote
The Teton County Commission has approved regulations for development in the northern South Park area near Jackson — a major first step in installing affordable housing for which the region’s workforce has been pleading for years.
Clair McFarlandMarch 08, 2024
Legislature Still Hasn’t Passed A Budget, But Gordon Already Makes Veto To It
The Wyoming Legislature goes into the last day of what’s been a highly confrontational 2024 session Friday without having passed a budget, but that hasn’t stopped Gov. Gordon from already vetoing part of it.
Leo WolfsonMarch 08, 2024
Only A Veto By Gov. Gordon Can Keep Wyoming’s Gun-Free Zones
A bill to eliminate Wyoming’s gun-free zones easily passed its final vote before the state’s Senate Thursday, 28-8, and is headed to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk where only his veto can stop it from becoming law.
Mark HeinzMarch 08, 2024
Wyoming Legislature Passes Bill To Ban Transgender Surgeries On Minors
The Wyoming legislature on Thursday passed a bill banning minors from receiving transgender treatments in the state. With the governor’s signature, Sen. Anthony Bouchard’s “Chloe’s Law” legislation will take effect July 1.
Leo WolfsonMarch 08, 2024