Wyoming Liberty Group

WyLiberty's financial analyst Bob Nelson talks about the annual cost of K-12 education in Wyoming. 

An accidental step towards real reform may benefit the charitable sector. 

Wyoming government revenues will not meet projections for the 2017-18 biennium. With a projected shortfall of between $240 and $510 million, Governor Mead responded by cutting the 2017-18 biennium budget by $248 million, or about 8-percent of the 2-year general fund budget of about $3 billion. Although this is budget cut by half, the governor may have unwittingly opened the door to real reform that will benefit patients and taxpayers alike.

At the start of Wyoming’s Joint Appropriations Committee’s interim meeting, Governor Matt Mead announced dramatic spending cuts to Medicaid and other health programs.  But rather than eliminate wasteful initiatives and prioritize effective ones, Mead’s budget cuts punish virtually every program and could potentially hurt vulnerable patients in the process.

Maureen Bader and KVOW's John Birbari talk about the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, what it commits candidates to, and who from Fremont County has signed. Given the shortfall in the upcoming biennium, you want to be sure your candidates keep their fingers out of your wallet.

Maureen Bader and Glenn Woods discuss Governor Mead's 8-percent budget cuts, how they do little to shrink the size of government to a level remaining taxpayers can afford, and how citizens can hold candidates accountable in the next election. 

Free speech is under attack from three main sources around the world.

• Government repression has increased. After the Soviet Union fell, Russia enjoyed a free-for-all. Alas, today Mr. Putin has tightened the muzzle again.
• A number of non-state actors are at that game. Journalists in Mexico who investigate corruption may end up dead. Jihadists shoot French cartoonists.
• Finally, there are people who think they have a right to not be offended, and who expect to use the state – or the university administration – to enforce that right.

Another government attack on free speech is from a coalition of environmental alarmists and law enforcement. It may be more pernicious than the first three because of its subtlety.

Maureen Bader and Gary Freeman talk about how the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and how it will help hold candidates accountable after the election, on KGAB, 680 am in Cheyenne. Maureen discusses tax reform and what this would mean should Wyoming legislators support an increase in the wind production tax. Gary and Maureen also touch on what the purpose of the rainy day fund should - and should not - be.