Michael Melendez

Michael Melendez

Executive Vice President

michael@libertas.org

Michael is the Executive Vice President, overseeing Libertas’ policy operations, including policy analysis, government affairs, and organizational strategy.

Prior to joining Libertas he was a legislative aide for a Utah state senator and the state government affairs manager for Waterford Institute, a digital education non-profit. Michael has also managed and worked on dozens of campaigns around the country, which included directing the Trafalgar Group’s nationally recognized polling operations in 2016.

Michael Melendez's Articles

A new report released today by the Utah State Auditor shows that while government employees receive salaries lower than market rates, they are given compensation packages, including a pension, that are higher than what private citizens enjoy on average.
While Utah strives to maintain an image of “best for business” and “best managed,” its 88,150 restrictive regulations reveal a much different picture.
Like Santa, SWAT's making a list… and, hopefully, checking it twice before they invade someone's home.
Utah has become very good at winning what could be called, “best of the worst” awards: “Best Managed State”, “Best State for Business”, “Best Economic Outlook." But as a deeper reading of the recently published Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America 2017 report shows, Utah has large room for improvement.
As we enter the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, let's remember that today is Giving Tuesday. We’ve had our fun with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but may we remember the reason for the season.
Beware the graveyard of bad policy ideas. Just when they seem to be defeated once and for all, they rise up from the grave again. We affectionately call these policy ideas “zombies.”