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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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100: A Price Too High? The $3.5 Trillion Reconciliation Bill
September 28th, 2021 | 20 mins 37 secs
Congress is debating the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill proposed by the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats. What impact would this unprecedentedly large tax and spending proposal have on the American economy? Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Jonathan Williams, Chief Economist and Executive Vice President for ALEC, to discuss the details of this reconciliation bill and the ramifications for Americans like you.
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99: The Fall of Afghanistan and Return of the Taliban w/ MP Liam Fox, Ambassador Kelley Currie, Ilan Berman, Michael O’Hanlon and Rep. Gene Ward
September 2nd, 2021 | 27 mins
The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the subsequent evacuation of civilians in Kabul by U.S. and NATO forces has left America stunned. Join Karla Jones, Director of the ALEC Federalism and International Relations Task Force, as she sits down to discuss the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan with member of Parliament in the United Kingdom and former Shadow Defense Secretary Dr. Liam Fox, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Kelley Currie, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council Ilan Berman, Director of Research in Foreign Policy for the Brookings Institute Michael O’Hanlon and Hawaii Representative Gene Ward.