I was lucky enough to be on the radio in Cheyenne with Glen Woods Friday morning. He asked a pretty inciteful question that is worth a little examination.
I don’t remember the exact wording, but it boiled down to this, “People say Wyoming is one of the most conservative states in the union. But when conservatives in Wyoming hear that we shake our heads and laugh, because to us, at least it just isn’t true.
Just ask yourself these questions: If Wyoming is so conservative, why doesn’t new groundbreaking conservative legislation get made each year? Why is it Wyoming never takes the lead on gun rights, pro-life laws, or even something as simple as cutting the budget before seeking new taxes?
What it boils down to is leadership, especially in the Wyoming House of Representatives. Let’s look at the data on the House members of the Management Council:
Wyoming House Management Council Members
It can’t be plainer than that. Only two members of leadership vote like the average Republican legislator. If two-thirds of the House Legislative Management Council votes closer to the average Democrat, which issues do you think will make it to the floor of the House of Representatives?
There’s no question you get to political leadership if you are a skilled politician, and I mean that in the very worst sense to the word. That said it isn’t a surprise that what Republican leadership says (declare themselves Republican) and what they do (vote like Democrats) are two different things.
