OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF WYOMING

WYOMING IS IN TRANSITION

The sudden, precipitous decline of Wyoming’s coal industry has laid bare the precarious nature of Wyoming’s economy, leading to major bankruptcies, layoffs, and billions of dollars in lost revenues to Wyoming’s state and local governments. Utilities are transitioning away from coal—an industry that has been the underpinning of Wyoming’s tax structure for nearly 40 years—and the market is collapsing much faster than anybody in Wyoming’s leadership predicted.

If we are to emerge from this crisis with a viable, modern economy, we’ll need to expand the electorate, develop and support the next generation of community leaders, and promote smart, long-term policy solutions that make Wyoming a healthy place to live, with shared economic success, and a democracy that works for all.

WHY ESPC’S MISSION IS ESSENTIAL

The Equality State Policy Center’s mission is to improve the lives of all Wyoming’s people through transparent government, fair elections, and thriving communities.

Transparent Government

is the foundation of a healthy, functioning, durable democracy. We envision a Wyoming where the government is more open, more equitable, and more responsive to its people. A transparent government is essential to achieving this vision.

Fair Elections

are the most basic and direct way that we the people exercise our power over the government and, as a result, protect our rights as citizens and bring about policies that benefit the people.

Thriving Communities

  • are fair and just communities that offer a wide range of economic and civic opportunities for their residents regardless of ancestry, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or any other superficial or cultural differences. Justice is achieved when all community members receive equal treatment and due process under the law and have more equal opportunities to flourish.
  • are free and healthy communities that ensure freedom of speech and religion. They support our constitutional rights to assemble, protest, speak our minds, and form private associations such as congregations and clubs. They also maintain a healthy environment for residents that includes clean air and safe drinking water. These communities also provide access to high-quality health care and services.
  • invest in their children and families. They provide access to high-quality education and maintain a social safety net and services for those in need.
  • focus on the quality of life. They educate, attract and retain people of all ages and provide the infrastructure needed for the economy to flourish.

HOW DO WE HELP WYOMING ACHIEVE THIS VISION?

Invest in Thriving Communities. Embrace Diversity.

  • Fostering, advocating, and improving civic engagement in Wyoming year-round
  • Changing the face of the Legislature through nonpartisan leadership development and voter engagement
  • Changing the conversation to fill ongoing gaps in public discourse and in legislative meetings related to how policies affect marginalized communities

HOW DO WE GET THERE FROM HERE?

  • As a state:
    • Focus on educating, attracting, and retaining people.
  • As leaders serious about economic diversification:
    • Get off the boom-and-bust economic rollercoaster. Modernize our tax structure so that education, infrastructure, and other essential funding isn’t subject to the whims of commodities markets. Invest in developing and maintaining state-of-the-art infrastructure.
  • As citizens and residents:
    • Invest in our own government and education system by engaging with school boards, community colleges, and the University of Wyoming.
    • Support a state income tax! If we’re going to escape the “resource curse,” we’ll need to stop relying on the oil, gas, and coal industries to fund public education and other essential government services. If the public wants to have political power, we’ll need to have skin in the game. We’ll need to pay our fair share.
    • Once the Legislature relies more heavily on the people for revenues, it’ll be much more responsive to our goals and aspirations for this state.
    • We need to ask lawmakers to modernize the state’s tax structure and revenue streams, invest in infrastructure, advocate equal access to high-quality education; support a social safety net and social services for people in need; and help ensure that our local communities offer safe, reliable, and affordable childcare for working parents.
  • As elected officials:
    • Recognize that our current, overreliance on the energy industry is a dead end—and take leadership roles in (1) explaining this fact to the public, (2) modernizing the state’s tax structure and revenue streams, and (3) presenting an achievable vision for a brighter future where Wyoming is no longer caught in the boom-and-bust trap.
  • As voters:
    • Elect leaders willing to take on this difficult work.
  • As political party leaders, advocates, and voters across the political spectrum:
    • Elect a State Legislature that is more diverse and is a better reflection of the people and population of Wyoming.
  • As non-partisan advocates:
    • Help a more diverse range of candidates throughout the political spectrum learn about what it takes to run a successful campaign for elected office in Wyoming.
    • Help regular people who don’t have the opportunity to run for office to effectively monitor and engage with their government and legislators.
  • As civic-minded community members:
    • Help our cities and towns be fair, just, free, and healthy.
    • Invest in children and families, and focus on the quality of life we offer our residents.
  • As policymakers:
    • Invest in education and attracting and retaining people. Ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to participate in our government and economy.
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