2022 WY Legislative Scorecard 2021-
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Wyoming Legislature in 2021 and 2022 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
This is our first state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.
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SB118 allows the Governor to create new government programs to spend federal funds. This legislation appropriates federal ARPA funds to capital construction, K-12 education and higher education, and rental assistance programs.
The Wyoming State Senate has passed SB118 on April 6, 2021 by a vote of 24 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the spending of taxpayer money for purposes not authorized under Art. 1 Sec. 8 of the U.S. Constitution tightens the federal-state lockstep on redistribution of income. Additionally, distribution of federal taxpayer dollars comes with contingencies and requirements, forcing states into situations that violate the U.S. Constitution.
HB253 prohibits the University of Wyoming and community colleges from expending funds on abortions or insurance coverage for abortions.
The Wyoming State Senate has passed HB253 on April 2, 2021 by a vote of 25 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the U.S. Constitution. Taxpayer money and state funded education systems should not be used to perform abortions and abortion procedure training.
HB236 prohibits financial institutions from discriminating against firearm related businesses. A financial institution shall not refuse business if they are engaged in lawful commerce of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition products.
The Wyoming State Senate has passed HB236 on April 2, 2021 by a vote of 23 to 6. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and there should be no infringement on those rights.
HB75 requires that acceptable identification be presented before voting in person. Acceptable identification includes, but not limited to a Wyoming driver's license, tribal identification issued by the government, United States passport and Military card.
The Wyoming State Senate has HB75 on April 1, 2021 by a vote of 28 to 2. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because strengthening our voter ID laws is crucial in the preservation of our election process and election integrity. Article IV, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution provides that “citizens” of the United States “shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities,” such as the “right of citizens of the United States” to vote as prescribed in the 26th Amendment.
SJ2 requests that Congress calls for a convention for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution.
The Wyoming State Senate shot down SJ2 on March 17, 2021 by a vote of 14 to 16. We have assigned pluses to the nays because a so-called “Convention of the States” would not be of “limited” purpose. The vague and contradictory text contained in this joint resolution dangerously permits what Article V of the U.S. Constitution describes as a “Convention for proposing Amendments” or second constitutional convention. Notably, Article V of the U.S. Constitution was designed to correct structural deficiencies in the federal government, not the behavior of its elected officials. SJ2 should be opposed in favor of less risky, more precise, and immediate solutions that would restore power back to the states and to the people, such as clear-cut proposals in Congress to repeal bad amendments or state nullification of specific unauthorized federal laws.
SF34 requires that any physician performing an abortion shall take steps to preserve the life and health of the baby if born alive.
The Wyoming State Senate passed SF34 on March 5, 2021 by a vote of 26 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the U.S. Constitution. Further, there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that would prevent states from passing well-constructed statutes or adopting amendments to their state constitutions that provide even greater and more specific protections for the right to life than those provided by the 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments.
