Eye on the Issues

Wyoming Liberty Group
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Welcome to Eye on the Issues, the podcast brought to you by the Wyoming Liberty Group. Whether you're a proud Wyoming resident, hail from the Cowboy State, or simply care deeply about the issues facing Wyoming, this podcast is your go-to resource.Join us as we delve into the heart of Wyoming's most pressing concerns, offering you insights and perspectives from a diverse range of voices. You'll hear from Wyoming lawmakers and elected officials sharing their viewpoints, along with community and thought leaders who are shaping the future of our great state. We also bring in subject matter experts to provide in-depth analysis and understanding on key issues.The Wyoming Liberty Group is committed to empowering Wyoming's future. With over 15 years of experience and impact in our state, we're more than just a think tank. While we pride ourselves on rigorous research, we go beyond that to craft innovative solutions that promote free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility, and government accountability.Tune in to Eye on the Issues to stay informed, engaged, and empowered. Together, we can work towards a brighter future for Wyoming.

  1. The Truth About Economic Development Incentives with Matthew Mitchell

    APR 23

    The Truth About Economic Development Incentives with Matthew Mitchell

    In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Matthew Mitchell of the Mercatus Center and Fraser Institute to explore the real impact of targeted economic development incentives. Drawing on years of research, Mitchell explains why corporate subsidies often fail to deliver the promised results—and in many cases may even reduce overall economic activity. The conversation breaks down the economic logic behind these findings, including how uneven tax structures can create greater inefficiencies, distort market behavior, and encourage “rent-seeking” rather than true value creation. We also examine the growing competition between states to attract businesses through incentives, and whether an interstate compact could offer a path forward. Closer to home, the discussion touches on how Wyoming’s Constitution addresses corporate subsidies—and how later provisions have complicated those original limits. For policymakers and the public alike, this raises important questions: *Are these projects happening because of subsidies—or would they happen anyway? *What are the tradeoffs, and what opportunities are being overlooked?

    15 min
  2. Reviewing Wyoming's Budget Session with Rep. Tomi Strock

    APR 23

    Reviewing Wyoming's Budget Session with Rep. Tomi Strock

    In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Representative Tomi Strock (House District 6) to reflect on the key outcomes of the legislative session and the issues shaping conversations across the state. From efforts to rein in government spending to long-overdue school funding recalibration, Representative Strock shares her perspective on what lawmakers accomplished and where challenges remain. The conversation also explores legislation focused on protecting children, expanding educational flexibility, and addressing gaps in existing statutes. Beyond the session itself, we look ahead to the issues gaining momentum across Wyoming, including water use and scarcity, property taxes, energy development, and the role of emerging industries. Representative Strock also weighs in on school choice, local economic priorities, and the ongoing discussion surrounding nuclear energy—highlighting both opportunity and concern, particularly when it comes to Wyoming’s long-term role.

    18 min
  3. Nuclear Energy, Data Centers, and the Bigger Policy Picture with Eric Epstein

    MAR 30

    Nuclear Energy, Data Centers, and the Bigger Policy Picture with Eric Epstein

    In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Eric Epstein, Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, an organization that has monitored nuclear facilities in Pennsylvania for decades. Eric brings more than 40 years of experience working on issues related to nuclear power plants, waste storage, regulatory oversight, and the long-term realities communities face when large energy facilities are built in their regions. This conversation is especially relevant as states across the country — including Wyoming — explore new energy development tied to the growing demand for electricity from AI, data centers, and advanced manufacturing. In Pennsylvania, several nuclear facilities are now being considered or restarted specifically to power data centers and large technology companies, offering a real-world example of how energy development, economic opportunity, water use, and long-term waste management intersect. As Wyoming continues to discuss nuclear energy, data centers, and large-scale industrial development, this episode provides insight from a region that has lived with large energy facilities for generations and is now navigating the new wave of electricity demand driven by AI and data infrastructure.

    15 min
  4. Wyoming Secretary of State on Elections and Economic Policy

    MAR 18

    Wyoming Secretary of State on Elections and Economic Policy

    In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sat down with Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray for a wide-ranging conversation on election integrity, business regulation, and the role of the Secretary of State’s office in shaping Wyoming’s future. Secretary Gray discusses the election-related bills from the recent legislative session that he believes would have made the biggest difference for Wyoming, including pen-to-paper ballots, a ban on ballot harvesting, stronger post-election audit transparency, and expanded recount procedures. He also reflects on reforms already passed in Wyoming, including voter ID, proof of citizenship for voter registration, bans on foreign funding in elections, and prohibitions on ranked-choice voting. The conversation also turns to Wyoming’s business climate and the Secretary of State’s role in overseeing corporate filings, combating fraudulent entities, and keeping Wyoming competitive as a place to do business. Gray explains how his office is working to improve filing efficiency, respond to fraud concerns, and strengthen Wyoming law to address foreign adversary involvement and false filings. Finally, the discussion broadens into economic development, state policy priorities, and the tension between protecting Wyoming’s traditional industries and outside pressures tied to politically driven energy agendas. It is a candid conversation about governance, accountability, and the direction of policy in Wyoming.

    18 min
  5. Rethinking Degree Requirements in Wyoming Government Jobs

    FEB 11

    Rethinking Degree Requirements in Wyoming Government Jobs

    In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we’re joined by Courtney Beene, a senior at the University of Wyoming and participant in the Wyoming Liberty Leaders internship program, to discuss her research report, Removing Barriers: A Case for Skills-Based Hiring in Wyoming. Courtney’s report examines how degree requirements across state and local government jobs can unintentionally limit Wyoming’s workforce, economic mobility, and long-term growth. With only about 30 percent of Wyoming’s population holding a bachelor’s degree, she explores why experience, certifications, and on-the-job skills should be recognized as legitimate qualifications, particularly when many positions can be performed without a four-year degree. The conversation highlights how more than two dozen states have already moved toward skills-based hiring models, with some seeing major increases in qualified non-degree hires after reforming their job requirements. Courtney explains what skills-based hiring looks like in practice, the types of government roles that could benefit from this approach, and how removing unnecessary barriers could expand career opportunities while strengthening Wyoming’s economy. The interview also addresses rising college costs, limited wage growth tied to degrees in Wyoming, workforce outmigration, and why young people often feel forced into education paths that may not offer meaningful returns. Courtney shares her internship experience with the Wyoming Liberty Group, her passion for policy research, and how empowering students to engage directly in policy work can create lasting impact across the state. To read the full report discussed in this interview and stay informed on Wyoming policy issues, visit wyliberty.org and sign up for our newsletter.

    17 min
  6. Nuclear Development and Wyoming's Public Lands: An Intern's Policy Research

    FEB 11

    Nuclear Development and Wyoming's Public Lands: An Intern's Policy Research

    In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we’re joined by Emma Hamlin, a participant in the Wyoming Liberty Leaders internship program, to discuss her research report, Nuclear Development and the Future of Wyoming’s Public Lands. Emma, a senior at the University of Wyoming studying agricultural communications with a minor in agricultural economics, brings both academic training and firsthand agricultural experience to the conversation. Raised around ranching and livestock, she approaches the growing push for nuclear development with a focus on how energy policy intersects with farming, ranching, and stewardship of public lands. The discussion explores how different states regulate nuclear development and how those regulatory frameworks affect agricultural communities. Emma compares Wyoming’s approach with states like Minnesota and Nebraska, which include agriculture explicitly in their emergency planning and testing requirements, as well as states like South Carolina, which take a far more hands-off approach despite extensive nuclear activity. Emma also shares what surprised her most during her research, why she believes states must better prepare for the coexistence of agriculture and nuclear development, and how policy choices today could shape the future of rural communities. Throughout the interview, she emphasizes that the issue isn’t whether nuclear development is coming — it is — but whether states like Wyoming are prepared to balance economic development with the protection of farmers, ranchers, private landowners, and public lands. The conversation also highlights Emma’s internship experience with the Wyoming Liberty Group, her growth as a policy researcher and writer, and how the project helped her find her voice as an advocate for the agricultural industry. To read the full report discussed in this interview and to stay informed on Wyoming policy issues, visit wyliberty.org and sign up for our newsletter.

    12 min
  7. Are Money and Donors Really Buying Wyoming Elections? New Report Breaks It Down.

    FEB 11

    Are Money and Donors Really Buying Wyoming Elections? New Report Breaks It Down.

    In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we take a deep dive into campaign finance in Wyoming with Steve Klein, author of the new report No One’s Buying Wyoming Elections: A Candid Look at a Decade of Campaign Finance Disclosure. After reviewing ten years of campaign finance reports covering more than 400 Wyoming legislative and statewide races, Klein challenges one of the most common political assumptions — that money routinely decides elections. His analysis shows that in Wyoming, the candidate who spends the most wins only about 58 percent of the time, raising serious questions about claims that donors are “buying” political outcomes. Klein also explains how Wyoming’s campaign finance system operates largely on an honor system, with little auditing or enforcement unless complaints are filed, often by political opponents. He shares surprising examples of clear reporting violations that went uncorrected and outlines why meaningful accountability should start with random audits of candidate filings before expanding regulations on outside groups and political speech. Beyond the numbers, the conversation offers an encouraging message for everyday Wyomingites considering a run for office. Klein explains how grassroots campaigning, door-to-door outreach, and relatively modest fundraising can still be enough to run a competitive campaign in many districts, preserving Wyoming’s tradition of accessible citizen government. To read the full report discussed in this interview, visit https://bit.ly/4chijMU and be sure to sign up for the Wyoming Liberty Group newsletter for more in-depth policy research and interviews

    13 min
  8. Who Really Pays? Taxes, Energy, and Long-Term Costs in Wyoming

    JAN 30

    Who Really Pays? Taxes, Energy, and Long-Term Costs in Wyoming

    Wyoming State Representative J.R. Riggins joins us to talk about the upcoming budget session and his work on the House Revenue Committee. Riggins is back at the Legislature after heart surgery last year, and this is his first full budget session. Time is tight and decisions matter for Wyoming taxpayers. We talk about his bill to cut vehicle registration fees by extending depreciation schedules. Riggins calls it one of Wyoming’s most regressive taxes and explains how it works like a property tax. He also makes clear he won’t “give a tax break with one hand and take it back with the other.” We also get into property tax relief: constitutional amendments, exemption changes, and Amendment A, plus the strain all these policy shifts put on county assessors. Energy policy is a big part of the conversation. Using Wyoming Liberty Group’s report Balancing the Scales, we dig into how oil, gas, and coal carry a heavier tax load than wind, solar, and nuclear. Riggins talks about megawatt taxation, expiring exemptions, out-of-state electricity exports, and how Wyoming often doesn’t bear the costs of renewable energy development. We wrap up with an honest talk about what happens after the power gets generated: wind turbine blade disposal, solid waste planning, and spent nuclear fuel storage. Riggins reminds us that energy development has consequences that last for decades, and policymakers need to face them head-on.

    19 min
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About

Welcome to Eye on the Issues, the podcast brought to you by the Wyoming Liberty Group. Whether you're a proud Wyoming resident, hail from the Cowboy State, or simply care deeply about the issues facing Wyoming, this podcast is your go-to resource.Join us as we delve into the heart of Wyoming's most pressing concerns, offering you insights and perspectives from a diverse range of voices. You'll hear from Wyoming lawmakers and elected officials sharing their viewpoints, along with community and thought leaders who are shaping the future of our great state. We also bring in subject matter experts to provide in-depth analysis and understanding on key issues.The Wyoming Liberty Group is committed to empowering Wyoming's future. With over 15 years of experience and impact in our state, we're more than just a think tank. While we pride ourselves on rigorous research, we go beyond that to craft innovative solutions that promote free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility, and government accountability.Tune in to Eye on the Issues to stay informed, engaged, and empowered. Together, we can work towards a brighter future for Wyoming.

Information

  • Creator
    Wyoming Liberty Group
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Eye on the Issues
  • Show Website
    Eye on the Issues