December 23, 2020 Introduction & Context As the 65th Wyoming State Legislature completed its budget session in March of 2020, Americans were just beginning to learn about the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this unprecedented emergency and its resulting economic fallout, the 116th U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic …
December 9, 2020 From Chris Merrill for WyoFile If there was ever a more important time for government transparency and public access and participation at the Wyoming Legislature, I can’t think of it. Since July, the state’s already lean budget has been cut by an additional 15% — with health, education and family services taking …
Opinion: The problem of public access during a pandemic Read More »
November 23, 2020 On November 24, the Wyoming State Legislature’s Management Council will decide whether to postpone the upcoming legislative session—which is scheduled to begin on January 12—until later this spring. As part of that discussion, they’ll consider this recent memo from the Legislative Services Office detailing the staff’s recommendations for postponing the session. Today …
ESPC’s Position on Delaying the 2021 General Session Read More »
November 20, 2020 Transparency experts on our latest People’s Review: LIVE! had a lot to dig into as they talked about how to ensure Wyomingites aren’t being shut out of the legislative process at a time when COVID-19 is changing the way lawmakers hold meetings and how citizens can participate. Panelists kicked off the discussion …
November 17, 2020 LARAMIE, Wyo — As part of its monthly People’s Review: Live! online series, the nonpartisan Equality State Policy Center will host a panel of transparency experts to discuss the importance of ensuring the public can observe and have access to lawmakers during the 2021 General Session. “As the Legislature makes plans to meet at …
Shut Out? Ensuring Public Access to Lawmakers—Even in a Pandemic Read More »
Join us on Thursday, Nov. 19 for the People’s Review: LIVE! Will Your Voice Be Silenced? The Legislature’s plans for the 2021 General Session could leave the public out. Our panel of transparency experts will discuss the importance of keeping the people’s work visible and accessible—even in a pandemic. Meet our panelists, Darcie Hoffland, Shannon …
Shut Out? Ensuring Public Access to Lawmakers…Even in a Pandemic. Read More »