Across the States

Episode Archive

Episode Archive

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

  • 116: Small Business Reform with State Legislator of the Month Rep. John Wills

    March 10th, 2022  |  16 mins 43 secs

    Small businesses are responsible for more than 60% of all new jobs created in the United States. In Iowa, Representative John Wills is leading the charge to invest in the entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, and cottage industries who make up the backbone of our economy. On today’s episode of Across the States, ALEC’s February State Legislator of the Month and Board of Directors member Representative Wills joins Gretchen Baldau, Director of the Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force at ALEC, and Matt Fisher to discuss his efforts in the state legislature in Des Moines to support small businesses and deliver results for constituents.

  • 115: Strengthening Law Enforcement w/ Nino Marchese and Rob O'Donnell

    March 8th, 2022  |  15 mins 20 secs

    Law enforcement officials face new and emerging challenges everyday. At CPAC 2022, Nino Marchese, Director of the ALEC Task Forces on Civil Justice and Criminal Justice, sat down with Rob O'Donnell, author for Law Enforcement Today, to discuss the status of police reform and how America can invest more in those who vow to serve and protect their communities and country.

  • 114: Crisis in Ukraine w/Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, DCM Yaroslav Brisiuck, Chris Holzen, Alan Mendoza, DCM Margus Särglepp, and Damon Wilson

    February 25th, 2022  |  34 mins 50 secs

    On February 16, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ALEC recorded a Policy Hour podcast featuring Lisa B. Nelson, CEO of the American Legislative Exchange Council and Ms. Karla Jones, Senior Director of the ALEC Federalism and International Relations Task Force as they discuss the then unfolding crisis in Ukraine with Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, Yaroslav Brisiuck, DCM of the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States, Chris Holzen, Senior Advisor for Europe and Eurasia at the International Republican Institute, Alan Mendoza, Executive Director and Founder, Henry Jackson Society, Margus Särglepp, DCM, Estonian Embassy to the United States, and Damon Wilson, President and CEO, National Endowment for Democracy.

  • 113: School Choice by EdChoice w/Jason Bedrick, Michael McShane, and Andrew Handel

    February 17th, 2022  |  24 mins 51 secs

    School choice has become a national movement in statehouses across America. To learn more about this innovative policy of empowerment, join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Jason Bedrick, Director of Policy, Michael McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice, and Andrew Handel, Director of the Education and Workforce Development.

  • 112: Don’t Wait on Washington for Healthcare Reform w/Brian Blase, Naomi Lopez, and Matt Mitchell

    February 10th, 2022  |  38 mins 2 secs

    The debate over healthcare dominates the national political discourse, but state lawmakers possess significant power and ability to bring about positive reforms for their constituents. Join us as Matthew Fisher sits down with Brian Blase, founder of the Paragon Health Institute, Naomi Lopez, Director of Healthcare Policy at the Goldwater Institute, and Matt Mitchell, Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Equal Liberty Initiative at Mercatus Center, to discuss their publication Don’t Wait for Washington: How States Can Reform Health Care Today courtesy of the Paragon Health Institute. Learn how your state can lead the charge for better healthcare for all Americans.

  • 111: State of Georgia w/ State Legislator of the Month Sen. John Albers

    February 8th, 2022  |  21 mins 58 secs

    Senator John Albers of Georgia is not only a strong supporter of ALEC. He is a lawmaker with a resume of results. And on today’s episode of Across the States, he joins us to share his thoughts on the state of Georgia politics and how he and his family have overcome trials to better serve his constituents.

  • 110: Loudoun County and the Struggle for Parents Rights in Education

    February 3rd, 2022  |  27 mins 25 secs

    In Loudon County, Virginia, the struggle for parents rights in education has captured the public’s attention. On today’s episode of Across the States, we sit down with John Whitbeck, partner at WhitbeckBennet Family Law firm and former Chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, Bill Ashworth, Vice President of Public Affairs and Engagement, and Andrew Handel, Director of the ALEC Taskforce for Education and Workforce Development. Whitbeck also serves as a Professor of Law at George Mason University and has been active in the movement for parents rights in education.

  • 109: The Pro-Business Approach for Struggling States w/ Carla J. Sonntag and Jonathan Williams

    January 27th, 2022  |  17 mins 10 secs

    State legislatures are assembled, and lawmakers are debating how best to foster economic growth in their states. Join us as we sit down with Carla J. Sonntag, President and Founder of the New Mexico Business Coalition, and Jonathan Williams, ALEC Chief Economist and Executive Vice President of Policy, to discuss what changes need to be made in states like New Mexico struggling with high taxes and overbearing regulation.

  • 108: Social Media Censorship and Free Speech w/ Jonathon Hauenschild

    January 18th, 2022  |  23 mins 9 secs

    Content moderation on social media has sparked vigorous debate over freedom of speech in online forums. From the permanent suspension of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal Twitter account to the Heroes of Liberty controversy at Facebook, the intersection of the 1st Amendment and the Internet are only growing in importance. Matthew Fisher sits down with Jonathon Hauenschild, Director of the ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force to discuss Twitter, Facebook, and other social media giants while exploring ways lawmakers can get involved.

  • 107: Protecting Children with Foster Care Reform w/Sen Nancy Barto and Rebecca Masterson

    January 11th, 2022  |  15 mins 14 secs

    America’s foster care system is in need of reform to protect children and give them a chance to grow up in a stable environment. On this week’s episode of Across the States, we sit down with Senator Nancy Barto of Arizona and Rebecca Masterson, Chief Counsel of Gen Justice, to discuss policies that will empower law enforcement and our foster care system to protect America’s youth.

  • 106: Remedies for Homelessness w/ Carol Hollowell and Andre Cushing

    December 6th, 2021  |  28 mins 13 secs

    The crisis of homelessness is spreading throughout the United States impacting over half of a million Americans. But organizations like the Switchpoint Community Resource Center are working to make a difference. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Carol Hollowell, Executive Director of Switchpoint, and Andre Cushing of the American City County Exchange as they discuss remedies to the homelessness that empower and uplift communities.

  • 105: Winners and Losers of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, from Cryptos to EVs

    November 17th, 2021  |  18 mins 58 secs

    The U.S. House of Representatives has approved and sent the bipartisan infrastructure bill, H.R. 3684, to President Biden’s desk for his signature. While a noteworthy investment in America’s critical infrastructure, not all is excellent or praiseworthy. Join Matthew Fisher and Jonathon Hauenschild, Director of the Communications and Technology Task Force at ALEC, as they delve into the Bitcoin tax and preferential treatment of select corporations and industries.

  • 104: Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform w/ Rep. John Andrews, Senior Attorney Dan Greenberg, and Nino Marchese, and October State Legislator of the Month

    November 9th, 2021  |  35 mins 23 secs

    Civil asset forfeiture presents numerous legal and constitutional problems for state and local authorities. Join Nino Marchese, Director, Civil Justice and Criminal Justice, as he sits down to discuss the civil asset forfeiture and efforts at reform with John Andrews, State Representative from Maine, and Dan Greenberg, Senior Attorney at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

  • 103: IRS Power Scheme w/ NE Treasurer John Murante

    October 20th, 2021  |  15 mins 24 secs

    The Biden administration and Congressional Democrats are actively pushing a massive expansion of power for the Internal Revenue Service that would directly impact hundreds of millions of Americans and their bank accounts. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with John Murante, Nebraska State Treasurer, to delve into the details and consequences for states and businesses of this proposal, as well as what state and local lawmakers can do.

  • 102: Israeli-U.S. Relations After Trump w/ Aryeh Lightstone and Karla Jones

    October 13th, 2021  |  33 mins 29 secs

    The Abraham Accords constituted a historic leap forward in Israel’s relations with the Arab world. But what does the future hold for the United States and Israel after the Trump presidency? And how can local lawmakers get involved? Join Karla Jones, Senior Task Force Director for Federalism and International Relations, as she sits with Aryeh Lightstone, advisor to former United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Special Envoy for Economic Normalization, to discuss where both nations go from here.

  • 101: The Dangers of Budget Reconciliation w/ Stephen Moore, PA Rep. Seth Grove, Lee Schalk, and Jonathan Williams

    October 1st, 2021  |  31 mins 23 secs

    The budget reconciliation bill proposed by the Biden administration and congressional Democrats would fundamentally change the way our economy operates with trillions in new spending and a myriad of complications and problems for the private sector. Join Lee Schalk, Vice President of Policy at ALEC, as he sits down to discuss the reconciliation bill and its potential impact with FreedomWorks Chief Economist Stephen Moore, Pennsylvania Representative Seth Grove, and ALEC Executive Vice President Jonathan Williams.