Cowboy State Politics

Monday Reload - Albert and the Fragrant Pieces 4/20

The Wyoming left continues to push the narrative that there were "cuts" to the budget in the 2026 Budget Session.  Really, there is almost a half a billion dollar increase.  Politicians like Chi-Comm Som are using the lie that there were as a campaign issue.  Was there money moved around?  Yes, but there wasn't a cut. Interestingly, after getting schooled on this point by Rep Pendergraft, Jake in the Cow Pie continues to insist that there were cuts. As is always the case, the truth is very different than the story the Redcoats are telling. Link to the Gov's budget book, Look at page 15 and 19: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CV-WakvtiWWolS2pI5VgKWGOK0JuiKb3/view [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CV-WakvtiWWolS2pI5VgKWGOK0JuiKb3/view]

Weekend Update - Luke Reiner: EV Dreams to HD8 4/18

Luke Reiner was the WYDOT Director.  Now he's running for the Wyoming House in District 8.  While at WYDOT, Reiner championed a plan to build EV charging stations every 50 miles of Wyoming's Interstate Highways.  He was told no.  A fawning puff piece in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle fails to bring up how Reiner spent months trying to convince Wyoming Citizens to go along with the EV push.

Shifting Senate Stories - Cowboy State Politics Live April 15

Legislators gathered for a town hall April 14 in Sheridan.  Most of the evening was a question and answer about what happened during the session.  There were, however, two exchanges in which senators were asked why a list of bills did not get heard.  The stories shifted the more the evening wore on.  First, they ran out of time; then, it was blamed on the Majority Floor Leader and finally, the bills wouldn't pass to begin with. Senators weren't the only people changing their stories.  Gail Symons is attempting to explain away her column that asked Democrats to cross over to the Republican party.

Monday Reload - It's All a Question Mark 4/13

Before the filing period, no one really knows anything about the election--who's in, who's out or anything.  The only thing we can do is speculate.  However, there are a few candidates who do have voting records.  Those we can be critical of--and there's a stark difference.  In an election with a lot of candidates, they'll all be desperate for your attention.  The important part is to do your homework before you talk to them. Article on the Congressional Race: https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/227ae4e7-62be-4204-93f0-1c7f79800fef [https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/227ae4e7-62be-4204-93f0-1c7f79800fef]  Articles on Eric Barlow:     His environmentalism: https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6726ce97-3f3b-472c-9220-318e56e2b605 [https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/6726ce97-3f3b-472c-9220-318e56e2b605]      His "Non-Profit:" https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/4edb1ff6-5f0b-47c7-a540-8963bbe48eaf [https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/4edb1ff6-5f0b-47c7-a540-8963bbe48eaf]  Article on Degenfelder: https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/992a97aa-447f-4085-9e4e-cab1df307676 [https://www.openrangerecord.com/news/992a97aa-447f-4085-9e4e-cab1df307676]

Weekend Update - Cooper's Throwin' Vaseline Balls 4/11

Sen Ed Cooper can't seem to keep his story straight.  Before the session, he told a newspaper the Freedom Caucus is given $30,000 donations if they vote right.  After I interviewed State Freedom Caucus President Andy Roth, he retracted it.  He then told our journalist that he made a mistake.  Now he's back claiming that what he said there's money spent on Freedom Caucus candidates.  During that same appearance, he couldn't keep his own voting record straight while accusing other people of lying.