About the Equality State Policy Center

The ESPC's Mission

The Equality State Policy Center, a broad-based coalition of Wyoming interests, works through research, public education and advocacy to hold Wyoming state and local governments accountable to the people they represent, and to encourage and assist state residents to participate effectively in public policy decision-making.

Who we are

The Equality State Policy Center (ESPC), a Wyoming nonprofit corporation with 501c(3) status, is a nontraditional coalition of Wyoming organizations working together on state government accountability and citizen access issues. The ESPC also encourages state citizens to get involved in their representative democracy by voting in elections and seeking to influence public policy decisions.

Policy initiatives were begun in 1994 under the direction of Sarah Gorin, then the ESPC board chair. During the fall of 1998, Tom Throop, former director of the Wyoming Outdoor Council (an ESPC member group), was hired as the first full-time ESPC director. Throop retired in 2005 and Dan Neal took over as the new executive director. Bob Spencer, a retired Episcopal priest who represents Wyoming Equality on the board, was elected board chair in December 2007. The ESPC coalition currently is comprised of 30 member organizations.

The ESPC is a progressive "think tank" that utilizes research, public education and advocacy to advance a cooperative work program designed to establish and maintain accountability in state government and to substantially increase citizen participation in and influence over public-policy decision-making.

The ESPC publishes the Wyoming LAP* Book (Legislative Accountability Project), a compilation of each legislator's campaign contributions and voting record on key legislative issues. In addition, the ESPC is working on "good government" legislation, including Wyoming's campaign finance and lobbyist disclosure laws, and state tax policy and accountability. Click here to view archived editions.

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