The Blog at MSPC

In moments of crisis or uncertainty, free societies are tempted to hand their problems to a "strong man"—someone who promises swift, decisive action when the slow machinery of constitutional delegation feels too unwieldy.

Concluding the measure was "administrative" in nature, rather than a policy matter, justices claimed it couldn't be brought to voters. The state Supreme Court was the only court to rule that way, with other courts upholding the measure calling it a "classic vagrancy ordinance."

We all have our favorite president. For me, it’s Ronald Reagan. My admiration of the Gipper began as a young child. You can imagine the...

There are two fundamental truths about open government laws. First, it is essential for citizens to have robust and easy access to public...

While district elections can help cities have members who highlight issues from specific neighborhoods, there are drawbacks. For example,

Though time is said to heal all wounds, the scars from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns remain fresh as the nation experienced executive...

Lawmakers in Washington State and Wyoming are taking two radically different approaches to Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Washington...

President Donald Trump has big plans to tackle government efficiency and accountability during his new administration. This includes...

Several lawmakers in Washington state have proposed a bill to study the creation of an official open government ombudsman. The details...

Lawmaking isn't pretty, or easy. It shouldn't be. Thousands of pieces of legislation are introduced in state capitols and Washington,...

One of the most important powers secured by Idaho’s constitution is the right of the people to reject and propose laws via a referendum...

Do all states need a rule that limits a lawmaker's appetite for more and more legislation? Maybe. But we'd rather see a self-imposed diet.

Ready or not Idaho’s 2025 Legislative Session starts on January 6. Many important policies will be considered ranging from education...

Americans can vote by mail, vote in person and even vote with their feet. Indeed, policies have consequences. The latest data from the...

Legislative sessions across the Mountain States will kick off in January. We’re excited to see which of our policy recommendations...

Santa isn't the only one with a list this time of year. While we aren't in the business of making a naughty list, there are several...

The Idaho Poll is released every other December ahead of the legislative session to provide critical information regarding the state's top p

The data on voter turnout can help dispel myths about the voting policies in each state.

Idaho is one of 17 states  that requires a fiscal impact statement for a proposed ballot measure. While this is an important transparency...

The roughly $5,000 hike means, collectively, Idaho would be spending about $525,000 more on legislative salaries. This represents .00009% of