Latest news with #WyomingFreedomCaucus
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some Wyoming residents voice support for voter registration changes
CHEYENNE — Beginning July 1, Wyoming voters will be required to provide proof of state residency and U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, something Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray has been advocating for years. The move comes after the Wyoming Legislature passed House Bill 156 in February, a piece of legislation Gov. Mark Gordon let go into law without his signature. The public comment period for rules related to the change began May 5 and lasts until June 20. Wednesday afternoon, Gray's office held an in-person and virtual meeting to allow people to voice their opinions about the proposed rules. All attendees who spoke during the meeting expressed support for the new law, and made some minor recommendations for the Secretary of State to consider before a final version of the law is published. Wyoming voters will be required to be a state resident for at least 30 days before casting their ballots, and must present proof of residency and citizenship when registering to vote. Last year, a similar piece of legislation was approved by the Wyoming Legislature, but vetoed by Gordon on the grounds that the regulations exceeded Gray's legal authority. The 2025 legislation grants the Secretary of State that authority. 'Providing proof of United States citizenship and proof of residency has been a key priority of our administration,' Gray said Wednesday, 'and this rulemaking marks over a year-and-a-half-long standoff with Gov. Mark Gordon and myself concerning the need for documentary proof of citizenship and residency to ensure a reasonable means to follow our constitutional obligations of ensuring only U.S. citizens and only Wyomingites are voting in Wyoming elections.' Gray said the veto last year was very troubling, and there were a lot of inaccurate statements made by the governor. 'We didn't give up. We went to the Legislature, and the people won, weighing the governor back down, and the bill became law without his signature,' he said. Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, and the former chairman of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a hardline group of Republican lawmakers, was the primary sponsor of the bill. He spoke during Wednesday's public hearing, saying this bill will build confidence in Wyoming elections. 'Prior to introducing this bill, we conducted a poll of likely voters in the state of Wyoming. It was a very scientific poll, and this particular issue had over 74% support, and we saw that as we traveled the state,' he said. Voter Meeting From left, Elena Campbell speaks on Zoom, while C.J. Young, Election Division director; Jesse Naiman, deputy secretary of state; and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray listen during a public comment meeting about voter identification rules in the Capitol Extension on Wednesday. Platte County Clerk Malcolm Ervin, who also serves as chairman of the Wyoming County Clerks Association, weighed in Wednesday, as well, with a few minor suggested changes. One recommendation concerned the use of Wyoming student identification cards as a document to prove residency for voter registration. He suggested the ID cards be required to display the voter's legal name, not a chosen name. He said most of his concerns regarding the 2025 legislation were quelled by the fact that there is a 'last-ditch' effort that allows people to show proof of residency or citizenship if they don't have the required documentation to vote outlined in the new law. If someone doesn't have valid identification forms or lacks a Wyoming driver's license and a Social Security number to prove residency, they can provide other documentation, such as a utility bill, bank statement or a pay stub under the proposed rules. To prove U.S. citizenship, one must produce a document already outlined in law, including a Wyoming driver's license, Wyoming ID card, a valid U.S. passport, a certificate of U.S. citizenship, a certificate of naturalization, a U.S. military draft record or a Selective Service registration acknowledgement card, a consular report of birth abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State, or an original or certified copy of a birth certificate in the U.S. bearing an official seal. 'I want to be clear that we see that adaptation as a last-ditch effort, if we've exhausted all other options. It's our last option on the table, specifically to ensure nobody is disenfranchised from voting,' Ervin said. The other concern he had that was addressed in the new legislation is that post office boxes in Wyoming will only count as proof of residency if the person lists their residential address on their voter registration application form. Another virtual attendee spoke in favor of the new law. Mark Koep, chairman of the Crook County Republican Party, echoed Rep. Bear's statements of statewide support. 'Overwhelmingly, the voters of Wyoming — and I talk to a lot of people — support these rules that you have in place,' he said. 'And so, I just want to make that heard on this chat to the media in the room: the people of Wyoming want these rules.' Since 2000, there have been four convictions of voter fraud in Wyoming, according to The Heritage Foundation, all involving U.S. citizens. When the public comment period closes on June 20, it will once again be up to Gordon to accept or reject the proposed rules. Under Gray's proposed rules, a valid Wyoming driver's license will be adequate proof of identity, residency and U.S. citizenship, so long as it lists a Wyoming address. Tribal identification cards issued by either the Eastern Shoshone or Northern Arapaho tribes, or other federally recognized tribes, will also count as proof of residency if a Wyoming address is listed. If the applicant doesn't have the forms of identification present at the time of registration, they must provide on the voter registration application form their Wyoming driver's license number and one of any of the following documents: U.S. passport; a driver's license or ID card issued by the federal government, any state or outlying possession of the United States; a photo ID card issued by the University of Wyoming, a Wyoming community college, or a Wyoming public school; an ID card issued to a dependent of a member of the United States Armed Forces; or a tribal identification card issued by the governing body of the Eastern Shoshone tribe of Wyoming, the Northern Arapaho tribe of Wyoming or other federally recognized Indian tribe. These documents would also need to list a Wyoming address to prove state residency. If a person seeking to register to vote doesn't have a valid driver's license, they must provide the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with one of the previously mentioned documents in the proposed rules. None of the documents will suffice if the applicant is not a U.S. citizen. Online comments on the proposed rules can continue to be submitted by email to the Secretary of State's chief policy officer and general counsel, Joe Rubino, at until June 20.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cheyenne town hall hosted by Reps. Lucas, Brown and Johnson gets a little heated
CHEYENNE – Conversation got tense during a town hall hosted by Cheyenne Republican state Reps. Ann Lucas, Gary Brown and Steve Johnson at the Laramie County Library Saturday afternoon, with a special appearance by Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray. The three representatives had just finished serving in their first session with the Wyoming Legislature, which ended three weeks ago. Lucas livestreamed the event, which is available on her Facebook page, "Ann Lucas for Wyoming." During the town hall, each representative took turns explaining some of the major bills that went into law. A majority of the bills discussed Saturday were widely supported by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline Republicans that recently gained majority control of the state's House of Representatives. None of the three representatives at the town hall are declared members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. Legislation discussed during the town hall included major property tax relief, a statewide repeal of most gun-free zones, universal school choice and new anti-abortion policy, which is currently being challenged in court in Natrona County, according to While most of the 60 attendees voiced their support during the town hall, a few spoke in heated opposition to some of the bills, and voices were raised more than once. The discussion on House Bill 172, "Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act," was particularly intense. This bill allows Wyomingites with a concealed carry permit to walk into most places with a concealed firearm, including K-12 public schools, public college campuses, and governmental and legislative meetings. 'Where's the proof that (repealing) these gun free zones make children safer?' asked Cheyenne resident Joe Ramirez. 'This is not the Wild West.' Suzie Meisner-Esquibel, wife of former Democratic Wyoming lawmaker and current Cheyenne City Councilman Ken Esquibel, said she was in a Starbucks 10 years ago when a woman dropped her purse with a gun in it. The firearm went off, Meisner-Esquibel said, but luckily no one was hurt. 'My question is this: Who is going to safeguard me from someone carrying the weapon?' she said. Around this point, several people began speaking at once, and Meisner-Esquibel raised her voice to be heard over the rumblings before the room was called to order. After decorum was quickly restored, the representatives noted that this legislation already went into law and will be effective July 1. During his presentation of HB 172, Brown also noted conditions and exemptions to where concealed carry is not allowed, which includes school and college events where alcohol is served and areas where firearms are federally prohibited. 'To get into the emotion of all this right now, I don't believe that's the thing we need to do,' Brown said. 'The bill is law, so let's keep it to that discussion.' Property taxes Senate File 69 provides a 25% property tax exemption on the first $1 million of a single-family home's fair market value. Critics of the bill have argued the resulting revenue loss could mean cuts in services provided by local governments and special districts across the state. Officials previously told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that Laramie County Fire Authority will likely face a $200,000 budget cut, and Laramie County Fire District 1 could face up to a $100,000 budget cut. However, Lucas told people during the town hall that the government is 'inflation-proof' because it collects taxes. 'As clever as our government seems to be at getting money, we're going to recover OK from this 25% cut,' Lucas said. 'This is the time for our local governments and our state government to take a little bit of a hit for the people, because we've got people who are truly hurting.' Cheyenne resident Deacon Maggard, who told the WTE that he lives in Brown's district, asked the representatives how they planned to retain young working professionals amid rising costs of child care, inflation and housing. 'What are you guys doing to, I guess, harness young professionals so that we can actually have people here?' Maggard said. 'We're bleeding people, and I know that from seeing and working with people.' Lucas told Maggard she didn't 'have a great answer' for him about retaining a young workforce. She acknowledged that there aren't a lot of high-paying jobs in Wyoming. 'And I don't know the answer to that, necessarily,' Lucas said. 'I know that we cannot sell our souls to get big business here when we do not have housing for them and we do not have infrastructure for them.'
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Freedom Caucus in Wyoming claims victory with approval of most priorities
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Leaders of the first Freedom Caucus majority in a U.S. statehouse took a victory lap in Wyoming on Friday after wrapping up a legislative session in which most of their conservative priorities were passed, including a steep property tax cut and ban on diversity programs in government. The Republican lawmakers aligned with a growing Freedom Caucus movement nationwide also passed stricter registration and residency requirements for voters. A fourth bill now before the governor would not allow driver's licenses issued to unauthorized immigrants by other states to be recognized in Wyoming. The four bills — out of a wish list of five at the outset of Wyoming's legislative session in January — echo the priorities of President Donald Trump, something Wyoming House Freedom Caucus leaders weren't shy about pointing out in an end-of-session news conference. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'Just like President Trump is bringing common-sense change to Washington, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is bringing common-sense change to Cheyenne,' said Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, chairwoman of the caucus that took control of the Wyoming House in the November election. Compared to Trump's blunderbuss approach to firing federal workers and doing away with agencies, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus has been doing its work quietly. Even during negotiations over how much to cut property taxes — 50% or the 25% ultimately negotiated — there was little vitriol even by Wyoming standards. 'Stuff got done,' summed up House Speaker Chip Neiman, a Freedom Caucus member. Always conservative, Wyoming is almost completely dominated now by Republicans who control the governor's office, congressional delegation and 91% of the Legislature. One result is that the differences between Freedom Caucus members and traditional Republicans have become more meaningful than those between Republicans and the state's few Democrats. The true spirit of the GOP in Wyoming is the Freedom Caucus, Williams said. "We're very well connected with the temperature of Wyoming and the culture of Wyoming as a whole," Williams said. 'The Freedom Caucus in Wyoming really is the conscience of the Republican Party.' Wyoming's more traditional Republicans include Gov. Mark Gordon, who last year drew Freedom Caucus ire by vetoing property a 25% property tax cut. With his concern about the minerals industry having to make up for the lost revenue addressed this year, Gordon signed off on it this time. Skeptical that the Freedom Caucus really represents most Wyoming residents, Gordon has pointed out that many got elected last year in a Republican primary with low turnout. Yet he has so far signed three of the five bills in the Freedom Caucus 'five and dime' plan to pass five priorities out of the House in the first 10 days of the legislative session. All five cleared the House on schedule. But the Senate declined to take up a ban on environmental, social and governance, or ESG, investing by the state. Three of the five bills are now law. A fourth bill that has passed, a stricter identification and residency requirements for voters, still awaits Gordon signature or veto. Bills vetoed by Gordon, including one to require women to have an ultrasound before a pill abortion and one to lift the state's cap on its number of charter schools, were overridden with Freedom Caucus help. Any hard feelings toward Gordon were water under the bridge on Friday, however. 'We have an awesome relationship with our governor. We have the kind of relationship I think we need to have between the executive and the legislative branch," Neiman said. Freedom Caucus victories in other states Freedom Caucus chapters in other states also have had some success this year. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed legislation Thursday barring the taking of private property to build a carbon dioxide pipeline, an issue championed by the state Freedom Caucus. Missouri's Freedom Caucus, which clashed with Republican state Senate leaders last year, has worked closely with new GOP leaders this year to advance its priorities, including measures that would permanently ban transgender treatments for minors and transgender athletes in women's sports. 'I'm excited about the nationwide movement to create Freedom Caucus movements in other states,' Williams said. "What we have proven in the state of Wyoming as a caucus really should be a model for other states, especially in this administration.' ___ Associated Press writer David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.
Associated Press
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Freedom Caucus in Wyoming claims victory with approval of most priorities
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Leaders of the first Freedom Caucus majority in a U.S. statehouse took a victory lap in Wyoming on Friday after wrapping up a legislative session in which most of their conservative priorities were passed, including a steep property tax cut and ban on diversity programs in government. The Republican lawmakers aligned with a growing Freedom Caucus movement nationwide also passed stricter registration and residency requirements for voters. A fourth bill now before the governor would not allow driver's licenses issued to unauthorized immigrants by other states to be recognized in Wyoming. The four bills — out of a wish list of five at the outset of Wyoming's legislative session in January — echo the priorities of President Donald Trump, something Wyoming House Freedom Caucus leaders weren't shy about pointing out in an end-of-session news conference. 'Just like President Trump is bringing common-sense change to Washington, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is bringing common-sense change to Cheyenne,' said Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, chairwoman of the caucus that took control of the Wyoming House in the November election. Compared to Trump's blunderbuss approach to firing federal workers and doing away with agencies, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus has been doing its work quietly. Even during negotiations over how much to cut property taxes — 50% or the 25% ultimately negotiated — there was little vitriol even by Wyoming standards. 'Stuff got done,' summed up House Speaker Chip Neiman, a Freedom Caucus member. Always conservative, Wyoming is almost completely dominated now by Republicans who control the governor's office, congressional delegation and 91% of the Legislature. One result is that the differences between Freedom Caucus members and traditional Republicans have become more meaningful than those between Republicans and the state's few Democrats. The true spirit of the GOP in Wyoming is the Freedom Caucus, Williams said. 'We're very well connected with the temperature of Wyoming and the culture of Wyoming as a whole,' Williams said. 'The Freedom Caucus in Wyoming really is the conscience of the Republican Party.' Wyoming's more traditional Republicans include Gov. Mark Gordon, who last year drew Freedom Caucus ire by vetoing property a 25% property tax cut. With his concern about the minerals industry having to make up for the lost revenue addressed this year, Gordon signed off on it this time. Skeptical that the Freedom Caucus really represents most Wyoming residents, Gordon has pointed out that many got elected last year in a Republican primary with low turnout. Yet he has so far signed three of the five bills in the Freedom Caucus 'five and dime' plan to pass five priorities out of the House in the first 10 days of the legislative session. All five cleared the House on schedule. But the Senate declined to take up a ban on environmental, social and governance, or ESG, investing by the state. Three of the five bills are now law. A fourth bill that has passed, a stricter identification and residency requirements for voters, still awaits Gordon signature or veto. Bills vetoed by Gordon, including one to require women to have an ultrasound before a pill abortion and one to lift the state's cap on its number of charter schools, were overridden with Freedom Caucus help. Any hard feelings toward Gordon were water under the bridge on Friday, however. 'We have an awesome relationship with our governor. We have the kind of relationship I think we need to have between the executive and the legislative branch,' Neiman said. Freedom Caucus victories in other states Freedom Caucus chapters in other states also have had some success this year. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed legislation Thursday barring the taking of private property to build a carbon dioxide pipeline, an issue championed by the state Freedom Caucus. Missouri's Freedom Caucus, which clashed with Republican state Senate leaders last year, has worked closely with new GOP leaders this year to advance its priorities, including measures that would permanently ban transgender treatments for minors and transgender athletes in women's sports. 'I'm excited about the nationwide movement to create Freedom Caucus movements in other states,' Williams said. 'What we have proven in the state of Wyoming as a caucus really should be a model for other states, especially in this administration.' ___
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Trump protesters demonstrate outside Wyoming State Capitol
CHEYENNE — Dave Gustafson is a U.S. veteran who fought in the Vietnam War. Now, he sees the country representing and supporting values that are the opposite of those he fought for. 'This is where it starts. When I was in Vietnam, they taught you the best time to escape if you become a prisoner-of-war is right at the start, before they have time to get you to a more secure spot,' Gustafson said. 'It's absolutely true here. The time to stop this fascism going on, trying to take hold in our country, is right at the start, before they can consolidate. If we don't do it, it's to our own peril.' In the 2024 election, Wyoming voters had the highest margin of support for President Donald Trump out of all 50 states. On Wednesday, Gustafson and other opponents of Trump and the Republican Party gathered outside the Wyoming State Capitol to demonstrate against the direction the country is headed in. Organized by Cheyenne resident Joe Ramirez as part of protests against Trump scheduled to happen Wednesday in all 50 states, around 40 people attended to share their stories and speak against conservative policies, particularly those currently being put forth by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, which obtained the first Freedom Caucus majority in a state legislative branch in the nation this year. 'When I went to Vietnam as a young man, they told me I was fighting for my country, and I have since found out, through my reading and research and everything, that I was helping to prop up probably the most corrupt government in the world at the time, the South Vietnamese government. ... It had nothing to do with American freedom, it had nothing to do with protecting our rights here at home. It had everything to do with greed and corruption,' Gustafson said. 'And now, as an old man, I see these people out here fighting for our rights that are actually being taken away, as we speak, by a corrupt billionaire. And I really feel like I'm plundering my oath to the Constitution.' He spoke against all bills put forth by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, particularly ones concerning education. These include one that would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion programming in higher education and another that would create a universal school voucher program. Opponents of the latter bill, House Bill 199, argue that it would benefit wealthy families while removing significant funds from a struggling public school system. Several students from the University of Wyoming traveled from Laramie to attend the demonstration to share their concerns with how conservative policies may negatively impact minority populations. 'Minorities have worked too hard for the rights that they have finally received to have them taken away from them, and I don't want that to happen,' said Lucas K, a UW freshman. 'I don't want the rights that we have worked hard to achieve so that we're equal to others to be taken away and that we're seen as less of people, when we're not.' Another UW freshman, Ashley Y, took particular issue with Senate File 62, which would prohibit transgender people from using communal facilities, like restrooms and changing facilities. Attendees from outside the state also came to show their support for the cause of the demonstration. One person, who wished to remain anonymous out of fear for their personal safety, came with a group of people from Fort Collins, Colorado. A similar protest occurred Wednesday in front of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. She said she wanted to come to Cheyenne because she had lived in Dubois and Lander for 15 years. 'There's plenty of people showing up in Denver, and we knew that our brothers and sisters in Wyoming needed some support, more bodies to represent,' she said. '... It doesn't matter what state you're in, what Elon Musk and his goons are doing is blatantly unconstitutional and illegal. They are stealing the data of the American people, and they are making decisions that they are not authorized to make. Not as private citizens, and not as the executive branch. If you respect the Constitution, respect the Constitution.' Several attendees made speeches and started chants throughout the demonstration as cars driving down 24th Street honked in support of their cause. Before the event concluded, the protesters marched around the Capitol while waving flags, including the transgender flag, the LGBTQ flag and the American flag. Gustafson said it was inspiring to see young people at the event fighting and protesting for what he believes to be the true American values. 'If we keep this up and don't let it go and keep fighting for what America really stands for, we will prevail,' he said. 'If we cower, if we hide in our holes, if we don't speak out, then we will lose our democracy. Guaranteed.'
