Spokane’s Prop 1: The Community Safety Sales Tax
Like many cities across Washington state, the city of Spokane is facing a public safety crisis. Graffiti and garbage line many downtown...
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WHAT WE COVER
WHAT WE COVER
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ELECTION 2024
Jason Mercier
Sep 223 min
Montana’s CI-126 and CI-127: Enacting a Top 4 primary and 50% election threshold
This November, Montana voters will decide whether to adopt two separate constitutional amendments: CI-126 to require a non-partisan Top...
Jason Mercier
Sep 174 min
Idaho’s Prop 1: Enacting Ranked Choice Voting and a Top 4 Primary for State Elections
This November, Idaho voters will decide whether to enact Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for statewide elections while using a non-partisan...
Jason Mercier
Sep 93 min
State worker contract secrecy benefits no one
Note: This is a joint op-ed with Elizabeth New ( Washington Policy Center ) and Jackson Maynard ( Citizen Action Defense Fund )....
Jason Mercier
Aug 154 min
Open primaries bill introduced in Congress
The debate about open primaries may soon occur in the halls of Congress. A group of bipartisan lawmakers last month introduced the “ Let...
Jason Mercier
Aug 51 min
Wyoming Governor appoints Public Records Ombudsman
Governor Gordon recently announced that he re-appointed Darlena Potter as the Cowboy state’s official Public Records Ombudsman. According...
Chris Cargill
Aug 12 min
States should protect the integrity of the Electoral College
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have joined in an agreement to award their Electoral College votes in a U.S. election to...
Chris Cargill
Jul 262 min
Legal challenge filed to Idaho's open primaries/ranked choice voting initiative
As we previously reported, coupling the issues (open primaries and RCV) together in the same measure raises serious constitutional concerns.
Jason Mercier
Jul 162 min
Washington versus Idaho on celebrating 250 years of America
Most states are getting ready to proudly celebrate 250 years of our Republic. One state isn’t so sure though. Compare and contrast the...
Chris Cargill
Jul 154 min
Delays and dollars: Ranked Choice Voting's stunning Idaho cost
Idaho's Secretary of State Phil McGrane has sent legislators a detailed memo on the implementation of such a drastic change in Idaho electio
Jason Mercier
Jul 153 min
Now Available: The Mountain States Policy Manual
The Mountain States Policy Manual is a 200-page guide filled with facts, figures, research and more than 80 recommendations – it is an...
Chris Cargill
Jul 42 min
248 years later, are we worthy of the sacrifice?
John Adams said that “liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.” On this 248th celebration of America’s...
Chris Cargill
Jul 23 min
97,000 signatures... but still major question marks
Supporters of an Idaho ballot measure that would open primaries and adopt ranked choice voting likely delivered enough signatures to the sta
Amber Gunn
Jul 23 min
Double whammy: U.S. Supreme Court deals two decisive blows to unelected federal regulators
After forty years in the agency-policymaking wilderness, the U.S. Supreme Court signaled its clear intention to restore the balance of...
Chris Cargill
Jun 282 min
What the Supreme Court ruling on homeless encampments really means
The court's ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson is welcome news for cities and towns up and down the west coast, as the ball now returns to the
Chris Cargill
Jun 272 min
No more secrets: Open the door to public employee contract talks
Collective bargaining in government is controversial, but it should never be a secret. Collective bargaining talks are the negotiations...
Jason Mercier
Jun 122 min
Montana’s Secretary of State details her opposition to Ranked Choice Voting
We’ve previously highlighted Washington’s Democratic Secretary of State’s concerns about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). Showing the...
Chris Cargill
Jun 73 min
Long live the legislative branch
All three branches are now trying to make laws – an effort that is dramatically changing the size, scope, and confidence in government. Thi
Madilynne Clark
May 283 min
Improve government transparency by providing details of policies under consideration
An engaged citizenry should be the pursuit not the torment of democracy. Adopting policies favoring government transparency at all levels...
Chris Cargill
May 241 min
Surprising population data highlights need for policy trifecta
Policies matter and they have real consequence. Perhaps the starkest example of this is the ability of a citizen to vote with their feet.
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