top of page
The Blog at MSPC



U.S. Supreme Court upholds the exclusive taxing power of Congress
Whether tariff tax increases are good or bad economic policy, the fact remains that tax increases should be introduced, debated, and voted on by Congress. Major economic policies of any kind should not be imposed by one person unilaterally. This decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholds and affirms that important check and balance of our republic.
Feb 202 min read


Why Montanans need a convention to update their constitution
The only way the people of Montana can systematically update their constitution is to commission a state convention to propose a new one.
Feb 193 min read


Idaho's ed choice parents are helping save the state budget - they deserve our thanks
Much has been said about Idaho’s new $5,000 education tax credit and the $50 million price tag attached to it. Critics have framed it as a costly new entitlement at a time when the state faces budget pressures. But there’s a critical fact missing from much of the debate: When a student leaves the public school system and uses the tax credit instead, the state saves money. Here’s why. Idaho spends roughly $9,000 per student, per year, of state funds on public education. Under
Feb 183 min read


Nearly 11,000 Idaho students are now signed up for state's parental choice tax credit
To put that in perspective: if the students currently represented in applications formed a single public school district, it would rank as the 6th largest district in Idaho. And the application window doesn’t close until March 15.
Feb 181 min read


Public sector workers’ rights would be strengthened under new Wyoming bill
While workers in Wyoming have the ability to opt out of union membership, requiring them to proactively send dues instead of having them automatically deducted from paychecks ensures that they want to belong without doubt.
Feb 183 min read


Ready to celebrate America 250? Sign up for "We the Students" Civics Bowl
Civic education doesn’t belong to one type of school or region. It belongs to everyone. Our hope is that teams will come from across Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Eastern Washington, so students can meet peers from different communities, compete respectfully, and go home with a deeper appreciation for how our system works.
Feb 183 min read


The rule of law takes a hit in Washington state with unconstitutional income tax vote
Lawmakers willfully defying a ruling they don’t like in hopes that different judges will change a century of legal precedents, against the backdrop of voters consistently rejecting income tax constitutional amendments, is a recipe for constitutional chaos.
Feb 174 min read


Let the cameras roll: Idaho's important step toward improved transparency
Government belongs to the people. The people don’t need permission to watch it work.
Feb 163 min read


The Fast Track Permits Act could make housing more affordable and attainable in Wyoming
The Fast Track Permits Act is a great start to making housing more affordable and attainable in Wyoming. And in coming years, legislators should continue to find ways to allow more people across the income spectrum to enjoy home ownership and build generational wealth.
Feb 162 min read


Washington legislation would target parked cars to pay for light rail cost overruns
The phrase “render unto Caesar” comes into play here, but politicians should understand that they are to represent the people of Washington state, who have said time and time again that car tabs are just too damn high.
Feb 134 min read


A new framework for reviewing Washington’s K–12 education mandates
If the Legislature expects results from schools, it must also regularly assess whether its own policies are clear, relevant, and properly funded.
Feb 133 min read


Idaho online safety bill would track a child's every click
At its core, H542 does not merely regulate social media. It mandates the creation of a vast, permanent tracking system that would monitor how long every user spends online, trigger escalating identity checks, and store increasingly sensitive personal data. That should give every Idahoan pause.
Feb 123 min read


Wyoming legislators get serious about hospital pricing
The Wyoming Legislature is considering a bill that would require hospitals in the state to post prices. The language of SF 57 would essentially force hospitals to list prices for services and materials, which would allow patients to become informed consumers of health care.
Feb 122 min read


The bare necessities of emergency rule making
Idaho’s regulatory stewardship is impressive, but there is always room for improvement. HB 539 offers these favorable reforms that protect the role of the legislature and limit the ability of the executive branch to go overboard with the definition of an ‘emergency.’
Feb 123 min read


CLIMBING: 215 families per day are signing up for Idaho parental choice tax credit
Since applications opened on January 15, a total of 6,030 families have applied, covering 10,105 students. That’s not a one-day surge. That’s nearly a month of steady participation.
Feb 111 min read


Pretty little income tax lies: Why Washington’s proposed "Millionaire Tax" is Olympia’s trojan horse
It’s the oldest trick in politics: sell a major policy shift by assuring voters it only targets someone else. Olympia is now running that play with the 9.9 percent “Millionaire Tax.” For those of us who have watched Washington’s spending habits for decades, the warning signs are obvious. The “fair share” narrative depends on intellectual dishonesty—and it’s being used to wedge open the door to a permanent state income tax.
Feb 114 min read


"May hurt somebody" - Lawmakers who opposed Idaho's parental choice tax credit advance new attack
Lawmakers who opposed the Parental Choice Tax Credit last year, advanced a new bill to cut it—by 4 percent immediately and another 5 percent in 2027—before the program has even fully begun.
Feb 114 min read


Water law: Stopping the leaks in the Montana Constitution
Because water is so precious, the law governing it should be fair and certain. People are entitled to know what they can and can’t do. They need assurance that the rules will not change suddenly. Unfortunately, the Montana state constitution’s water provisions are confused and contradictory.
Feb 103 min read


Idaho considers an amendments convention
Our Founders gave us a precious constitutional right to correct the federal government when it has gone off the rails. It is our privilege, and obligation, to use it, and Idaho has the opportunity to join the majority of other states that have voted to do so.
Feb 94 min read


Cowboy State needs to protect itself from shifting federal priorities
Wyoming legislators are right to address the necessity of upholding the principles of federalism in the 2026 Legislative Session in the form of SJ 2.
Feb 92 min read
bottom of page


