Matthew Fisher

97: Hydrogen: Powering the Future w/ Rep. Melissa Ballard

July 9th, 2021  |  16 mins 16 secs

The State of Utah is not resting on its first-place finish in Rich States Poor States. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Representative Melissa Ballard of Utah and ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Manager Carly Good, to discuss how the Beehive State is investing in the future of energy with Hydrogen. Find out how Representative Ballard’s efforts to enact Alternative Fuel Incentives Amendments are helping diversify and grow Utah’s economy on this edition of Across the States.
*Correction: 1/3 of total GDP goes through Utah.

96: The FORUM Act and Free Speech: Protecting the First Amendment on College Campuses w/ Rikki Schlott

June 26th, 2021  |  13 mins 9 secs

Freedom of speech has become a hotly contested matter on college campuses but the State of Montana is taking a stand for the First Amendment. Listen in as Matthew Fisher sits down with Rikki Schlott, freelance journalist and writer, and Andrew Handel, Director of the ALEC Education and Workforce Development Task Force, to discuss Montana’s recently enacted FORUM Act and how it protects free speech in postsecondary education.

95: Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Pride Month with State Legislator of the Month Rep. Phil Christofanelli

June 23rd, 2021  |  13 mins 20 secs

In just the last four months, the Missouri House of Representatives has passed sweeping education reform and HIV/AIDS prevention legislation thanks to State Legislator of the Month, Representative Phil Christofanelli. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Rep. Christofanelli to discuss the passage of both his Empowerment Scholarship Accounts plan and his proposal to expand access to pre- and post-HIV exposure medications.

94: Pay It Forward: How Bucksport, ME, Triumphed over COVID-19 w/ Susan Lessard

June 9th, 2021  |  20 mins 24 secs

Small businesses and localities felt the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the small town of Bucksport, Maine, found a way through the crisis through innovative policies and neighborly compassion. Listen in as Matthew Fisher sits down with Bucksport Town Manager Susan Lessard and Penobscot County Commissioner Andre Cushing to discuss the success of Lessard’s ‘Pay It Forward’ program and how her hometown navigated the pandemic.

93: Tackling Recidivism w/ Kim Moser

June 4th, 2021  |  18 mins 48 secs

The criminal justice system is no stranger to the long-time cycle of inmates in and out of prison with little hope for a second chance in society. But thanks to Kentucky Representative Kim Moser and her HB 497, the Bluegrass State could break that cycle. Listen in as Matthew Fisher sits down with Representative Moser and ALEC Policy Analyst Lourdes Bautista as they dissect the issue of recidivism and how her recently enacted bill could change the game when it comes to inmate reentry into the workforce.

92: Crisis in Belarus w/ Hanna Yahorava

June 2nd, 2021  |  34 mins 48 secs

The recent detainment of journalist and activist Roman Protasevich by the Belarusian government has led to a wave of condemnation against the authoritarian Lukashenko regime. Listen in as Matthew Fisher sits down with Hanna Yahorava, Activist in the Belarus United Civic Party and Director of United Mass Media, and Karla Jones, Senior Director of the Federalism and International Relations task forces for ALEC, to discuss the recent developments in Belarus, the corruption of President Lukashenko and the suffering of the Belarusian people.

90: Making Government Work w/ Tan Parker

May 26th, 2021  |  18 mins 7 secs

America faces many challenges that demand action. In his new book, Making Government Work, Texas State Representative Tan Parker brings together the best and brightest of public servants and policy minds to propose innovative solutions for state lawmakers. Join Representative Parker and Matthew Fisher as they discuss “Making Government Work” and how policy reforms based on federalism offer America a better future.

89: Drones and Federalism w/Brent Skorup

May 21st, 2021  |  14 mins 59 secs

drones, states

Drones are a constant source of debate in America. But how do UAVs relate to federalism? Join Brent Skorup, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center, and Karla Jones, Senior Director of the ALEC Task Forces on International Relations and Federalism, as they sit down with Matthew Fisher to discuss how state and local lawmakers are leading the way when it comes to managing and utilizing the emergence of drones in everyday life.

87: China’s Rise, America’s Response w/ Dr. Weifeng Zhong

May 14th, 2021  |  28 mins 32 secs

China’s rise and determination to become the preeminent global economic and military power is one of the most complex foreign policy issues facing the United States today. On this episode of Across the States, Matthew Fisher sits down with Dr. Weifeng Zhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and Karla Jones, Senior Director of Federalism and International Relations at ALEC, to discuss current challenges between the two nations and optimal US responses.Weifeng Zhong’s previous Across the States podcast on Chinese propaganda

86: Rich States, Poor States: The New Edition

May 12th, 2021  |  34 mins 9 secs

The newest edition of Rich States, Poor States tells the story of the free-market ideals that build prosperous states after COVID-19 and beyond, and outlines the policy priorities that helped states stay ahead in 2020. Join report coauthor and ALEC Chief Economist Jonathan Williams and Senior Director of the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform Lee Schalk for a discussion on the winners and losers of the 14th Edition, and the policy priorities that can help.

84: ALEC Brief Filing to SCOTUS: Donor Disclosure and the 1st Amendment

April 27th, 2021  |  24 mins 45 secs

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday, April 26th, for Americans for Prosperity v. Becerra - a case concerning donor disclosure and the First Amendment. ALEC submitted an amicus brief to the court concerning this case in early March, bringing to light what happens when donor privacy isn’t preserved—when ideological opponents harass and intimidate people and organizations because of the causes they support. Today the report authors, former FEC Chairman and attorney Lee Goodman, Director for the ALEC Task Force on Communications and Technology Jonathon Hauenschild and Counsel and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Bartlett Cleland sit down to discuss the implications of this case and why ALEC chose to take a stand.

83: Truth in Taxation w/ Jonathan Williams and Lee Schalk

April 23rd, 2021  |  15 mins 43 secs

Property taxation is complicated, but thankfully change is on its way. Join Jonathan Williams, ALEC Chief Economist and Executive Vice President of Policy, and Lee Schalk, Senior Director of the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform, as they discuss the states enacting Truth in Taxation reforms and how lawmakers can bring the benefits to their states.

82: Real Solutions for Energy Independence w/Landon Stevens

April 20th, 2021  |  11 mins 53 secs

When there are challenges facing the country’s energy sector, every American feels it. Landon Stevens, Director of Policy & Advocacy at the Conservative Energy Network, and Carly Good, Manager of the ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture task force, join Matthew Fisher to discuss obstacles in the energy sector and the free market approach to developing America’s vast energy potential.

80: Regulatory Sandbox w/ James Czerniawksi of Libertas and Jonathon Hauenschild

April 9th, 2021  |  20 mins 21 secs

alec, economy, libertas, politics, regulation, sandbox

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have severely impacted business across America. But the state of Utah recently passed legislation to give businesses a major break from coronavirus regulations. Join James Czerniawksi, Policy Analyst for Tech & Innovation at Libertas, and Jonathon Hauenschild, Director of the ALEC Communications and Technology Task Force, as they discuss how state lawmakers can use regulatory sandboxes to spur innovation and growth.

79: Protecting Privacy w/ James Czerniawski and Jonathon Hauenschild

April 6th, 2021  |  18 mins 47 secs

nsa, police, politics, privacy, surveillance, washington

The federal government usually dominates the debate over surveillance and privacy. But what about the states and local authorities? James Czerniawski, Policy Analyst for Tech and Innovation at Libertas, joins Jonathon Hauenschild and Matthew Fisher to discuss the importance of privacy and how lawmakers can address the issue going forward.

77: The Texas Energy Crisis w/ Michael Jewell and Carly Good

March 30th, 2021  |  14 mins 49 secs

conservatives, energy, politics, renewables, texas

Many wondered what caused Texas Energy Crisis. On today’s episode of Across the States, Michael Jewell of the Conservative Energy Network and the Conservative Coalition Research Institute join Matthew Fisher and Carly Good to break down what happened in the Lonestar State in February and explain how state lawmakers can lead the way in delivering secure and affordable power and electricity to the people.