The Blog at MSPC

After months of rigorous coursework, mentorship, and public voting, Avery Nichols has been selected as the first-place scholar, earning the $5,000 Tim Hennessey & Holly Harrison Scholarship.

The Gem State recently took two important steps demonstrating its commitment to unleashing the potential of nuclear energy.

Washington state’s ban on thin plastic grocery bags is increasing the amount of plastic used by shoppers and overall environmental harm, contrary to the intent of the law.

With a federal government shutdown upon us and even more importantly, ballooning national debt jeopardizing the solvency of Social Security and Medicare in less than 10 years and other basic government functions, states must start preparing for changes in federal support.

The campaign will include the launch of a website to answer questions, a robust series of public town hall meetings across the state, a multi-phase media effort, and legal support to protect the law from special interest challenges.

Idaho is once again in the national spotlight for its willingness to innovate and modernize. The latest effort? Fighting fires from space. During the 2025 Legislative Session, AI cameras for detecting fires became a "hot" topic of discussion.

If the courts adopt the unions’ radical theory, Idaho’s tax code could be turned upside down, creating chaos for families, uncertainty for schools, and higher costs for everyone. That’s not justice—it’s activism at its worst.

Mountain States Policy Center is proud to announce the four finalists for the 2025 Sawtooth Leadership Academy scholarships.

Idaho’s top real estate agents are not cashing commissions in Boise—they’re writing tax laws in Olympia. Washington legislators keep raising the cost of doing business so fast that they may as well set up a relocation desk for Idaho.

Public schools and education choice are not enemies. They are complementary tools that serve the same purpose: ensuring every child has access to a quality education that fits their needs.

It is noteworthy that despite the reduction, revenues are still projected to grow overall in Washington, yet there is still a $421 million deficit forecasted. As already occurred in Idaho, the Evergreen State needs to right-size its budget by reducing spending.

Technology today has a variety of built-in tools to help parents keep their children safe on the internet. Apple’s Screen Time and Google’s Family Link allow you to set app limits, block adult content, and control when a device can be used. Similarly, gaming consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch have controls for screen time, spending, and age-appropriate titles.

There is no mention of improving outcomes for Idaho children. Instead, petitioners spend nearly nine pages of the legal filing arguing they have standing and another nine pages begging the court to require taxpayers reimburse their attorney fees.

Fifty years ago, government shutdowns didn’t exist. But now, each fall, the nation groans as Congress turns one of its most fundamental duties—passing a budget—into a manufactured crisis.

Moscow’s school board isn’t standing up for students. Instead, it's standing in the way of parents, punishing taxpayers, and trying to take choices away from Idaho families who need them most.

The Treasure State is taking important steps to help control the exploding costs of Medicaid while providing critical care to the neediest. Montana is submitting a 1115 Medicaid Demonstration waiver application to allow experimentation with reform. Other states should follow this good example.

Across our region, policymakers have been taking action that significantly moves the economic needle: cutting waste and trimming red tape. It’s a key reason Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming regularly show up among the least-regulated states in the country, and is a major draw to families, job creators, and taxpayers alike.

The latest bad news is on top of numerous cost overruns and delays associated with the Sound Move, and ST2 plans. With approximately 3.4 million people in the district, the new cost estimates equate to about $55,000 for every man, woman, and child within the district.

In Teton County’s twisted logic, forcing residents to pay higher building fees to support “workforce housing” is the solution to its chronic housing shortage for lower-income residents. The fees apply even if those building include plans for rental units that would ease the problem.

The proposal was loose in its oversight, not designating the specific parcels of land. This detail was the match to ignite protests against any sale or transfer of federal lands.