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Preview: Key recommendations for transportation in our region
Transportation systems are the backbone of a strong local economy, allowing people and goods to move efficiently and effectively. At its...

Bob Pishue
Jan 18, 20232 min read


Will Wyoming pull plug on electric vehicle sales?
Call it the opposite approach. As some states (California and Washington, for example) move to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles in...

Chris Cargill
Jan 16, 20231 min read


Governor Little focuses on education, taxes in state of the state address in Boise
Governor Brad Little welcomed members of the Idaho State Legislature today with his state of the state address, pressing a theme of...

Chris Cargill
Jan 9, 20231 min read


Competing COVID-19 reports difficult to compare
The federal, state, and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic vary based on region, and sometimes based on political party...

Madilynne Clark
Jan 5, 20233 min read


Our role during the legislative sessions
The 2023 legislative session is already underway in Montana. In Idaho and Washington, lawmakers gavel into session on Monday. Wyoming...

Chris Cargill
Jan 4, 20231 min read


U-haul data shows Americans voting with their feet
If you didn't believe the census numbers released just a few weeks ago, the latest U-haul migration data is here to add to the case. The...

Chris Cargill
Jan 3, 20231 min read


Voting with their feet - Americans fleeing high tax, big government states
Call it a confirmation of what most of us already knew - the population of the mountain states is surging. The U.S. Census Bureau has...

Chris Cargill
Dec 24, 20221 min read


Does it pay to not work? In these states it might
A new study is proving that, depending on where you live, government benefits make it pay not to work. The federal government and most...

Chris Cargill
Dec 21, 20221 min read


10 policy ideas for upcoming legislative sessions across the region
Nearly 500 lawmakers across Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, and Montana begin meeting in January for their state’s regular legislative...

Chris Cargill
Dec 20, 20221 min read


The results of MSPC's 2022 Idaho Poll
Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC), in cooperation with the Boise-based GS Strategy Group, is proud to announce the results of our 2022...

Chris Cargill
Dec 14, 20221 min read


How do our states rank on economic freedom?
The Fraser Institute’s latest report on economic freedom contains few surprises. The Canadian-based think tank ranks states and provinces...

Chris Cargill
Dec 7, 20221 min read


Thanksgiving gatherings cost 20 percent more in 2022
Be grateful - for the first time in three years, families are gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving in person. However, the cost of the...

Madilynne Clark
Nov 22, 20223 min read


The people deserve gas tax transparency at the pump
As gas prices continue to surge, who do we blame? The president’s policies are always a point of contention. So, too, are the profits of...

Chris Cargill
Oct 12, 20223 min read


Farmworker shortage leads to grocery shopping difficulties
‘Help Wanted’ signs are reaching their full yield potential this time of year. An on-going labor shortage exists on most farms, packing...

Madilynne Clark
Oct 4, 20222 min read


Is work-from-home increasing the population in the Mountain States?
Idaho and Montana are two of the fastest growing states in the country. Stop us if you’ve heard that before. The latest data from the...

Chris Cargill
Sep 20, 20221 min read


Ban plastic bags? The research says no
Cities, towns and some states across the country have adopted various plastic bag bans. Some environmental activists and politicians in...

Chris Cargill
Sep 13, 20222 min read


Idaho's road network - Part 2
Like other states, Idaho’s transportation infrastructure is the backbone of the state’s economy. Much of Idaho’s $77.9 billion Gross...

Bob Pishue
Sep 8, 20223 min read


Idaho's road network - Part 1
Like other states, Idaho’s transportation infrastructure is the backbone of the state’s economy. Much of Idaho’s $77.9 billion Gross...

Bob Pishue
Sep 2, 20221 min read


The most important - and underreported - part of Idaho legislature's special session
Depending on the results of Thursday's special legislative session, Idaho could be joining the “Flat Tax Revolution.” As we noted in our...

Chris Cargill
Aug 31, 20223 min read


The tale of the shrinking economies
There is no question the American economy is shrinking. Whether it has reached a recession is still a question. Technically, a recession...

Chris Cargill
Jul 5, 20221 min read
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