About the show
People spend far too much time looking just at the federal government. The same is true with podcasts. Instead, the discussions hosted on Across the States focus on state issues and state solutions within state capitols, by state legislators and with state policy experts.
The American Legislative Exchange Council is the country's largest voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States. It acts as a forum to exchange ideas and develop state-based solutions.
Across the States on social media
Episodes
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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
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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.
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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/.
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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/.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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State-Based Environmentalism
June 6th, 2019 | 26 mins 57 secs
ALEC Director of the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Grant Kidwell is joined by Adam Houser. He is the director of the collegians program at the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT).
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3: The FORUM Act w/ UT Rep. Kim Coleman
March 26th, 2019 | 22 mins 59 secs
Utah House Representative Kim Coleman joins ALEC Director Shelby Emmett to discuss the best practices a state legislator can focus on to get campus free speech right in their state.