Across the States

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

52 episodes of Across the States since the first episode, which aired on March 16th, 2019.

  • 20: Improving Safety for Foster Children w/ Gen Justice

    March 12th, 2020  |  16 mins 14 secs

    Darcy Olsen, Founder and President of Gen Justice, sits down with Across the States host Dan Reynolds to discuss the organization’s work in improving safety for more than 35,000 foster children. Gen Justice seeks to give abused and abandoned foster children something they lack—an advocate and a voice. Gen Justice reforms include requiring kids to be quickly moved from government care to permanent homes and, in addition, the organization has built a network of attorneys to provide free legal help when bureaucratic failures trap kids in the foster system.

    Learn more about Gen Justice: www.genjustice.org

    ALEC Model Relative Search Act: https://www.alec.org/model-policy/relative-search-act/.
    ALEC Model Family Stability Act.
    Darcy Olsen with AZ Governor Dough Ducey at the 2019 ALEC States and Nation Policy Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rONf8TvubRI.
    Gen Justice Wins Inaugural Peterson Prize at the ALEC States & Nation Policy Summit: https://www.alec.org/press-release/generation-justice-wins-inaugural-peterson-prize-at-alec-states-nation-policy-summit/.

  • 19: Understanding the Drug Crisis: A New Perspective

    March 5th, 2020  |  26 mins 49 secs

    Christina Dent is the founder of End It for Good, a conservative nonprofit that offers alternatives to the Drug War. Dent sits down with host Dan Reynolds to discuss the organization’s approach to solving America’s drug crisis – beginning by challenging the way we understand the core of the crisis itself.

    https://www.ted.com/talks/christina_dent_end_the_war_on_drugs_for_good

  • 18: From Autonomous Vehicles to Licensing Reform in Oklahoma

    February 27th, 2020  |  11 mins 26 secs

    In this episode of Across the States, Oklahoma Senator and February’s ALEC-FreedomWorks State Legislator of the Month Micheal Bergstrom discusses his work on policies, such as autonomous vehicles to occupational licensing. This month, Senator Bergstrom introduced Senate Bill 1678, the Occupational License Review Act, which ensures that occupational license regulation keeps people safe while also improving the workforce.

    Read Senate Bill 1678 here: http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1678&Session=2000

  • 17: Trying to Reform Taxes in North Dakota

    February 20th, 2020  |  23 mins 9 secs

    This episode of Across the States features North Dakota Representatives Vicky Steiner and Craig Headland, who filed House Bill 1530 in 2019 to repeal the state personal income tax. While this bill didn’t pass, the story is one other state legislators should consider when attempting to move the ball forward on sound tax policies. They are joined by ALEC Executive Vice President for Policy, Jonathan Williams.

  • 16: The Presidency, States, and Federalism

    February 13th, 2020  |  21 mins 54 secs

    At the time of this posting, Presidents’ Day is right around the corner. The Constitution gives instructions and limits on power, including the President’s power. But how does the Presidency relate to the local states? Former Utah state representative Ken Ivory joins Across the States to discuss this intersection. Ivory currently serves as the Chair of the ALEC Center to Restore the Balance in Government — a research center focused on promoting federalism.

    Purchase Ivory’s book “Where’s the Line?” here: https://www.amazon.com/Wheres-Line-States-Protect-Constitution-ebook/dp/B01N9UUBZQ/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=where%27s+the+line+ken+ivory&qid=1581089974&sr=8-2.
    Or, read the digital-only version here: http://3greatrights.com/wherestheline.html.

    Check out the ALEC Center to Restore the Balance in Government here: https://www.alec.org/policy-center/center-to-restore-the-balance-of-government/.

  • 15: State Energy Policy w/ Life:Powered

    February 6th, 2020  |  20 mins 34 secs

    Jason Isaac is a former Texas state representative who is now the senior manager at Life:Powered — a new policy initiative from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He joins Dan Reynolds on Across the States with Grant Kidwell, the ALEC director of the energy, environment and agriculture task force, to discuss his time as a state legislator, and to discuss energy policies that improve the quality of life for all people.

    Learn more about Life:Powered here: https://lifepowered.org/.

  • 14: Your Primer on State Sports Betting

    January 17th, 2020  |  17 mins 19 secs

    A 2018 Supreme Court decision freed states to allow - or disallow - sports betting on their own volition. New Jersey took advantage of this opportunity and has seen success, including an increase in government revenue. In December, Michigan just allowed sports betting. This is a growing trend in states across the country and something for which state legislators should prepare. Ronald Lampard, the Senior Director of the Criminal Justice and Civil Justice task forces at ALEC join to discuss recent trends in sports betting across the country and what this issue means for you.

  • 13: Solutions in Sumner County, TN

    January 15th, 2020  |  25 mins 38 secs
    county, education, efficient, federalism, local government, localism, tennessee

    A lot of effort and energy is spent looking at the issues in the national and state governments. Rightly so - they both need a lot of fixing. But county governments by-and-large affect your day-to-day life more than other governments and certainly more than you expected. From education to road funding, county governments are often where the rubber meets the road on these issues. Learn from Sumner County Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield about the challenges and opportunities he faces in Tennessee.

  • 12: Victims of Communism Day w/ PA Rep. Dush

    November 7th, 2019  |  16 mins 17 secs

    This podcast is part of a double-feature for Victims of Communism Day, which is on November 7 each year. Pennsylvania Representative Dush is spearheading the charge to educate those in Pennsylvania - including his fellow lawmakers - about the tragedy of communism and its true story. Dan Reynolds and Karla Jones from ALEC sit down with him to learn more about his work, and what more we should be doing.

  • 11: Victims of Communism Day w/ WV Sen. Rucker

    November 7th, 2019  |  19 mins 22 secs

    This podcast is part of a double-feature for Victims of Communism Day, which is on November 7 each year. West Virginia Senator Rucker is a first generation immigrant from Venezuela. Dan Reynolds and Karla Jones from ALEC sit down with her to learn more about her personal story with communism and socialism, and what more we should know about this issue on the Victims of Communism Day

  • 10: Adoption in the States

    October 30th, 2019  |  9 mins 14 secs

    Getting adoption right is imperative for policy makers everywhere – but it is especially important for state legislators. Felicia Curcuru is the co-founder and CEO of Binti, an organization dedicated to ensure every child is raised by a loving family. The ALEC General Counsel Bartlett Cleland was adopted and adds his own unique perspective on this issue.

  • 9: The ALEC for State Financial Officers

    October 7th, 2019  |  14 mins 19 secs

    State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) President Derek Kreifels, sits down with two of his board members, Seth Metcalf and Ron Crane, to discuss its priorities for state financial officers

  • Saving Lives with Health Care Tech

    October 4th, 2019  |  31 mins 56 secs

    Wearable technology like smart watches are becoming more and more popular. They aren’t just great to stay in touch with your friends and family or stay on top of your business relationships – they can have a significant benefit to your health.

  • 7: TX Rep. Tan Parker, Sept. State Legislator of the Month

    September 24th, 2019  |  15 mins 2 secs

    Rep. Parker discusses medical freedom and how important it is for individual liberty.

  • 6: The Dangers of Drug Importation

    September 23rd, 2019  |  23 mins 15 secs

    ALEC Director of the Health and Human Services Task Force Brooklyn Roberts and Policy Coordinator from the ALEC Center for Innovation Anna Parsons sit down with Senior Research Fellow Bob Graboyes from the Mercatus Center to discuss drug importation.

  • 5: States Prefer a Low “SALT” Diet

    September 23rd, 2019  |  7 mins 34 secs

    ALEC Chief Economist Jonathan Williams joins to discuss SALT tax deductions.