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Michael Von Flatern
Michael Von Flatern (Republican Party) was a member of the Wyoming State Senate, representing District 24. He assumed office in 2005. He left office on January 4, 2021.
Flatern (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Wyoming State Senate to represent District 24. He lost in the Republican primary on August 18, 2020.
Biography
Flatern received his diploma from Saint Bernard's High School in 1972.
Flatern was owner and president of Von's Welding, Incorporated from 1979 to 1997. Beginning in 1997, he was the owner and president of Innovative Mining and Equipment, Limited Liability Company. He has also worked as a pilot.[1]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Flatern was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Judiciary Committee
- Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee, Chairman
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee, Chairman
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Wyoming committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Minerals, Business and Economic Development, Chair |
| • Rules and Procedure |
| • Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development, Chair |
| • Joint Rules and Procedure |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Von Flatern served on the following committees:
| Wyoming committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Joint Judiciary |
| • Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Minerals, Business and Economic Development, Chair |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Von Flatern served on the following committees:
| Wyoming committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Revenue |
| • Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs, Chair |
| • Joint Revenue |
| • Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs, Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Flatern served on these committees:
| Wyoming committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Joint Appropriations |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Flatern served on these committees:
| Wyoming committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Transportation and Highways |
Issues
Fuel tax support
The Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee voted October 11, 2010 to support a graduated increase in the state tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. The phased in tax increase would have added an additional 10 cents to Wyoming’s existing 14 cents a gallon tax by 2013.
"It’s been 12 years, headed for 13 years, since we raised the fuel tax. I think it’s time we did it," said Senator Von Flatern.
The committee voted 11-3 to sponsor the legislation after hearing from the Wyoming Department of Transportation about the deteriorating condition of the state’s highways.
Based on funding trends to that point, WyDOT projected it would have $294 million for highways, but would need $428.5 million to preserve the state’s existing investment in roadways, according to a WyDOT report presented to the committee. The state would have needed $134.5 million more than projected under the current formula to keep the roadways from worsening.
To make improvements to the highway system, the report showed the state needed to spend $651.2 million.
For every dollar not spent on timely preventive maintenance, $4 to $8 would be needed for complete reconstruction a few years later, said Kevin Hibbard, WyDOT’s budget officer.
The tax would have likely generated $73 million, if the entire 10-cent hike had gone into effect on July 1, 2013, according to projections at the time. WyDOT would get $49.3 million. Counties would have received $16.9 million, and cities would have been allocated $6.9 million. The first 3 cents would be levied beginning July 1, 2011, and would have raised an estimated $21 million. The tax would be raised to 6 cents a gallon in July 2012, garnering $43 million.[2]
Although this 2010 effort to increase the gasoline tax failed, Von Flatern supported a successful effort to increase the gasoline tax in February 2013, which triggered a 10 cent per gallon increase in the gasoline tax, effective July 1, 2013.[3][4]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Wyoming State Senate District 24
Troy McKeown won election in the general election for Wyoming State Senate District 24 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Troy McKeown (R) | 95.1 | 6,822 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.9 | 351 | ||
| Total votes: 7,173 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wyoming State Senate District 24
Troy McKeown defeated incumbent Michael Von Flatern in the Republican primary for Wyoming State Senate District 24 on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Troy McKeown | 63.4 | 2,374 |
 | Michael Von Flatern | 36.3 | 1,360 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 11 | ||
| Total votes: 3,745 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
- See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Wyoming State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 16, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 27, 2016.
Incumbent Michael Von Flatern ran unopposed in the Wyoming State Senate District 24 general election.[5]
| Wyoming State Senate, District 24 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Michael Von Flatern Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Wyoming Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Michael Von Flatern defeated Rod Mathis in the Wyoming State Senate District 24 Republican primary.[6][7]
| Wyoming State Senate, District 24 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Michael Von Flatern Incumbent |
57.16% | 1,652 | |
| Republican | Rod Mathis | 42.84% | 1,238 | |
| Total Votes | 2,890 | |||
2012
- See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2012
Von Flatern won re-election in the 2012 election for Wyoming State Senate, District 24. Von Flatern ran unopposed in the August 21st primary and defeated Bradley Edward Kramer (Wyoming Country Party) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Bradley Edward Kramer | 15.9% | 1,112 | |
| Republican | Michael Von Flatern Incumbent |
83.7% | 5,853 | |
| Write-Ins | Various | 0.4% | 26 | |
| Total Votes | 6,991 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Von Flatern won re-election to the Wyoming State Senate, District 24. He ran unopposed.[9]
Von Flatern raised $1,460 for his campaign.[10]
| Wyoming State Senate, District 24 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Michael Von Flatern (R)
|
6,014 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Von Flatern did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Wyoming scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from February 10 to March 12.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2019, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from January 8 through February 28.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from February 12 to March 15.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 3.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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|
In 2016, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from February 8 through March 4.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 12.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from February 10 through March 7.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from January 8 to February 27.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from February 13 through March 9.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Wyoming State Legislature was in session from January 11 through March 3.
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Wyoming Liberty Index
The Wyoming Liberty Index, a study created in 2003, issues a Scorecard that rates all final bills in the Wyoming State Legislature on whether the bills supported or hindered liberty. Legislators are also given a "liberty score" based on their voting patterns. The Wyoming Liberty Index 2012 report was issued on the 61st Legislature during the 2012 budget session. Scores range from the highest score (100%) to the lowest (0%). A higher score indicates a higher level of "aye" votes on bills considered pro-liberty and "nay" votes on what the organization considers anti-liberty bills.[11] Von Flatern received a score of 44% in the 2012 scorecard, ranking 12th out of 31 members of the Wyoming State Senate. Although there are 30 members of the Senate, a 31st "hypothetical legislator" voting nay on every bill was also included.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Michael and his wife, Margie, have two children.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004
- Michael Von Flatern on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ Wyoming-Cowboy State Free Press, "Legislative committee sponsors graduated fuel tax increase," October 12, 2010
- ↑ The Billings Gazette, "Governor signs Wyoming fuel tax increase into law," February 15, 2013
- ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Wyoming fuel tax hike kicks in," July 1, 2013
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Official General Election Results," accessed November 29, 2016
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate Roster," accessed May 31, 2016
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Offiial Primary Election Results," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2012 Candidate List," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2008 Official State Senate Election Results," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 Candidate Contributions," accessed June 10, 2014
- ↑ Wyoming Liberty Index, "2012 Wyoming Liberty Index," accessed April 30, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Wyoming Senate District 24 2005–2020 |
Succeeded by Troy McKeown (R) |
