The Blog at MSPC

In states where every dollar and opportunity matters, such as Wyoming and Montana, improving transparency could be just as important as expanding access, ensuring that students who attend college truly benefit from it.

Over the course of six rounds and more than 150 questions, students competed on topics ranging from the Constitution and the structure of government to key moments in American history.

The hits keep coming for Washington state’s poor fiscal management. The latest comes in the form of the recent credit ratings. At the same time, Idaho and Montana continue to receive high praise on credit reports for their fiscally conservative budget practices.

A temporary gas tax suspension is not a radical proposal. It’s a pragmatic one. It acknowledges that while we argue about the future of energy, people still have to live in the present.

Taxpayers want to get off this endless express train to their hard-earned money.

The real issue isn’t that Idaho spends too little—it’s whether we’re getting results for what we spend. And right now, the data suggests something important: We can do better without simply spending more.

Mountain States Policy Center recently had the opportunity to have a conversation with former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels to discuss his thoughts on spending discipline, health care reforms, improving education outcomes, higher education affordability, regulatory reforms, the national budget outlook, and civility.

Montana could continue to improve its economic outlook by building on its impressive income tax reforms by moving to a flat income tax rate.

Governor Kempthorne’s career in public life spanned decades and reflected a deep and abiding commitment to the people of the American West. From his leadership as Mayor of Boise, to his service as a United States Senator, Governor of Idaho, and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, he approached every role with humility, conviction, and a steady sense of purpose.

Our republic needs to continue to support the importance and power of the states, and the Electoral College is a prime pillar of that ideal.

To be clear, not every community will attract a grocery store overnight, even with fewer barriers. There are places where the economics are genuinely difficult. But that makes it all the more important not to sabotage the projects that are viable.

Wyoming legislators should make strengthening the Public Records Act and other government transparency initiatives their center of attention in next year’s legislative session. This would build on the progress made this session for medical cost transparency.

House Bill 516 does not ban unions. It does not prevent teachers from joining them. It does not end collective bargaining. Even critics admit as much. What it does is far simpler — it stops government from acting as the middleman for union operations.

Over the past decade, Idaho lawmakers steadily reduced the state’s top income tax rate—from 7.4% in 2014 to a flat 5.3% today. Critics warned of budget shortfalls, underfunded services, and fiscal instability. Instead, Idaho is collecting more revenue than ever.

Idaho’s Parental Choice Tax Credit launched with strong momentum, supported by careful and deliberate planning by the legislature. From the outset, policymakers were intentional about designing a program that would be both accessible to families and administratively workable.

Washington continues to rack up poor rankings as one of the most unaffordable states in the country. A recent report shows the Evergreen State as the 5th most expensive state in the United States.

Local governments across the country are engaging in a slow-motion seizure of private property rights—but in Idaho, lawmakers just put a stop to it.

This is a simple case coming down to one question: Do Washingtonians own their income?

This week brought welcome news for many Idaho parents who applied for the inaugural Parental Choice Tax Credit program, which began accepting applications on January 15. The Tax Commission has started notifying applicants by email and Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) portal messaging regarding credit awards.

Lawmakers across our region were very busy during the 2026 Legislative Sessions. More than 2,300 combined bills were introduced in Washington (1,157), Idaho (817), and Wyoming (335). There wasn’t a legislative session this year in Montana. Several of Mountain States Policy Center’s (MSPC) recommendations were among those to make it across the finish line.