The "Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index" is an annual report published by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Center for State Fiscal Reform. It ranks states' economic competitiveness using fifteen equally weighted policy variables, including various tax rates, regulatory burdens, and labor polic...

In this episode of "Eye on the Issues," we sit down with Rep. Ken Clouston, the House of Representatives member for District 32, to delve into the recent Wyoming legislative session. This year's session, primarily focused on budget and finance, covered a diverse range of crucial topics. One of the standout discussions was on the Education Savings A...

In the latest episode of "Eye on the Issues," State Treasurer Curt Meier joins host Mike Garofalo. The Treasurer shares his views on the recent legislative session and a breakdown of what a State Treasurer does. Together they discuss where the Treasurer stands on Wyoming's efforts to develop a stable token plus ESG Laws and what they mean for Wyomi...

Video footage is from the House Minerals, Business and Economic Development meeting held on January 25, 2023. Be sure to watch as legislators ask important questions about this bill. House Bill 91, a "news source shield law" that is now before the Wyoming Legislature, relies on a narrower definition, and would prevent the government from forcing in...

A tipping point is a condition that seems to be reached suddenly but is in fact the end result of a longer chain of events. The tipping point is a place where there is no going back to a previous condition- the change is permanent. The only remedy is to start over.One of the best examples of tipping point is an avalanche. The pile up of snow is vis...

An Analysis of the British Columbia Model to Cut Red Tape – How They Eliminated 1/3 of all Regulations in 3 Years. Wyoming is a society afflicted by distrust when it comes to taxes, an economy reliant on minerals, and government spending. Support for reducing regulation is broad-based as the general public supports such initiatives while lawmakers ...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff As a political economist I am the first to admit that the final word on any policy reform goes to facts and impartial analysis. There are many times when I have recommended against reforms even though they were ideologically desirable, simply because the economic and fiscal aspects of the reform did not work out right...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff The State of Arizona has an ESA program (Empowerment Scholarship Account) that is often discussed in the national debate over education choice. What would an ESA program look like in Wyoming? Main finding: A Wyoming version of the Arizona ESA, with universal eligibility for the K-12 student population in the state, co...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff With the reported change in personal income in Wyoming, from work-based to equity-based and sourced from entitlements, it is valid to ask what the implications are for consumer spending. Main finding: Consumer spending is relatively weak. Basic necessities, including insurance take up a larger share of consumer spendi...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff Imagine someone walking into a hotel in New York saying "the same hotel room would only cost $80 in Wyoming, so you should only charge me $80 for this $250 room". Absurd? Of course it is. The cost of doing business varies from state to state, even from county to county. Taxes vary, market wages vary, the regulatory bu...