CSP135-Live Oct 16 - Open Line Friday Tom Kelly - Cowboy State Politics

David Iverson opens the show with his trademark bravado, calling out Governor Gordon’s op‑ed as a “misleading” piece that falsely claims Proposition 1 will slash all Wyoming property taxes by 50 %. Iverson walks listeners through the real math: the measure only trims residential, owner‑occupied structures – not land – by half, which translates to roughly a 6 % hit to county revenues. He stresses that constitutional mandates will keep schools, libraries, museums and county attorneys funded, so the cut won’t cripple essential services.The hour turns into a lively open‑line session. Caller Chris reminds the audience that property‑tax categories are diverse – residential, industrial, commercial, agricultural – and that Proposition 1 touches only one slice. Charlie raises the hot‑button issue of religious content in schools, prompting Iverson to recount a lawsuit by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and a Satanist group that barred a Bible class. Iverson argues for community choice, noting that “intelligent design” and other perspectives can be presented without state interference.Guest Tom Kelly joins at the top of the hour, echoing Iverson’s critique and adding that the 6 % reduction is “pocket change” for counties, not a financial apocalypse. Kelly offers his campaign email (drthomasmkelly@gmail.com) for listeners who want to discuss the measure further. The conversation also touches on the constitutional requirement to fund education and the myth that Proposition 1 would dismantle Wyoming’s entire tax system.By the end, Iverson has dismantled the governor’s hyperbole, clarified the limited scope of Proposition 1, and reminded Wyoming voters that the real question is whether a modest residential tax cut is worth the modest revenue dip. The episode ends with a call to action: dial 307‑374‑8989 to join the next Open Line Friday.

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