Across the States

72: The Collins Vision for Contactless Travel w/ LeAnn Ridgeway

March 9th, 2021  |  19 mins 57 secs

It has been a difficult year for airlines as domestic and international travel is down due to the pandemic. But as we begin to leave the pandemic and lockdowns behind, Collins Aerospace is ready to help Americans take flight again with their innovation in contactless travel. Join your host Bill Meierling as he sits down with Collins Aerospace Vice President and General Manager of Information Management Solutions LeAnn Ridgeway, who charts the course to how states can build consumer confidence and return to flight.

71: Smart Cities II w/ Jonathon Hauenschild

February 25th, 2021  |  13 mins 11 secs

Join us this week as we continue our discussion with Jonathon Hauenschild on an increasingly relevant issue facing our nation’s rural and urban centers: reliable, quality, cost-effective internet access. Smart Cities have existed in foreign countries for decades. Learn how barriers like government over-regulation and free-market throttling contribute to the U.S. falling behind in connecting its citizens to the web – and the solutions we can act on now.

70: Good States, Bad Cities w/ Skip Estes

February 12th, 2021  |  21 mins 34 secs

Despite the financial consequences from an economic shutdown, several states are posting impressive growth numbers. Host Hunter Hamberlin is joined by ALEC Associate Director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy task force to explore how the growing cities in these states are getting good results by exploring indicators such as job growth, wage growth and new residents. Listen to learn how these cities implement sound fiscal policies – like no state income tax – to realize the benefits of growth and prosperity.

69: “Smart” Cities w/ Jonathon Hauenschild

February 4th, 2021  |  13 mins 59 secs

Do you know how smart your city is? On today’s episode, host Hunter Hamberlin sits down with ALEC Communication and Technology Task Force Director Jonathon Hauneschild to discuss what makes a city “smart,” how it can improve communities and the risks that may come with “smart” city data.

68: Keeping Utah Resilient During COVID-19 w/ State Legislator of the Month Pres. Stuart Adams

January 28th, 2021  |  15 mins 39 secs

Join ALEC CEO Lisa Nelson as she discusses the success Utah demonstrates during the trials and tribulations of COVID-19 with the ALEC 2021 Chairman and January State Legislator of the Month, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams. President Adams offers insight into the policies and practices that have saved lives – and livelihoods – in the Beehive State. From remaining open for business since May 2020 to giving teachers raises, Utah has demonstrated that local legislative approaches couched in sound economic policies are more than capable of keeping things running smoothly.

67: Counterfeit Drugs in the States w/ Pfizer

December 17th, 2020  |  16 mins 13 secs

Counterfeit drugs have been found in all 50 states and threaten the safety and health of Americans. Industry leaders have stepped up to do their part in keeping them out of the hands of unknowing Americans. Since 2004, Pfizer has stopped over 260 million doses of counterfeit drugs in the states. On the podcast to discuss this and the state policy that plays a role are Pfizer Vice President and Chief Security Officer Lev Kubiak and ALEC Director of the Health and Human Services Task Force Brooklyn Roberts.

66: Investing in Mississippi’s Future During COVID-19 w/ State Legislator of the Month Sen. Joel Carter

November 18th, 2020  |  12 mins 10 secs

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, state legislatures across the country were faced with declining revenue and increased costs attributable to the virus, and the federal government quickly responded with the first installment of CARES Act funding. In Mississippi, because of prior fiscal restraint and a respect for taxpayer money, the legislature was able to employ these funds to not only respond to the current COVID crisis, but to invest in the state’s future. Join host Dan Reynolds and October State Legislator of the Month Mississippi Senator Joel Carter as they discuss how.

65: COVID-19: A Crisis for the Hotel Industry w/ AAHOA

November 14th, 2020  |  21 mins 8 secs

On the podcast we often discuss the impact COVID-19 had on various industries across the states. With business closures and no travel orders, the pandemic has been the worst crisis for our country’s hotel industry. Today we are joined by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the nation’s largest hotel owners association, to discuss how the hotel industry is filled with small businesses across the country, and how this pandemic has impacted these businesses. AAHOA CEO Dr. Cecil P. Staton, AAHOA Vice President for Government Affairs at AAHOA Chirag Shah and Maine County Commissioner Andre Cushing join host Dan Reynolds to weigh in.

64: 1776 Unites w/ Bob Woodson and Ian Rowe

November 11th, 2020  |  29 mins 17 secs

Imagine a nonpartisan and intellectually diverse alliance of writers, thinkers and activists, all working to find solutions to our country’s greatest challenges in education, culture and upward mobility. 1776 Unites does just that, by maintaining a special focus on voices in the black community and starting a movement to shape the American future by drawing on the best of its past. Joining the podcast today to tell us more about 1776 Unites and how its mission will play out in the states is Bob Woodson, Founder and President the Woodson Center and the Founder of 1776 Unites, Ian Rowe, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and Senior Visiting Fellow at the Woodson Center and Sherry Street, ALEC Vice President of Policy Advancement.

63: China’s Victims of Communism: The Uyghurs w/ Marion Smith

November 6th, 2020  |  32 mins 44 secs

Marion Smith, Executive Director of the Victims of Communism Foundation joins host Dan Reynolds and Senior Director of International Relations and Federalism Karla Jones to discuss China’s chilling oppression of its Uyghur minority. Secretary of State Pompeo called China’s atrocities the “Stain of the century” and The Economist described President Xi Zinping’s campaign against the Uyghurs as “today’s single worst [human rights] violation outside a war zone.” Listen in as Smith introduces the Uyghurs, details China’s genocide against them and praises US policies to counter Xi. Smith also references democracy’s future in Hong Kong and China’s threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty.

62: How School Choice During COVID-19 Affects Students w/ American Federation for Children

November 2nd, 2020  |  19 mins 5 secs

Classes have resumed for families across the states, and with it come new policies and politics in the COVID-19 era. Education policy typically hinges talks of teachers or “the system.” But on today’s episode, guests weigh in from the American Federation for Children to discuss how good education policies begin with the students and the children first. Director of External Relations Katie Linehan and two student education advocates, Walter Blanks Jr. and Nathan Cunneen join host Dan Reynolds to discuss how policies surrounding education choice affect students.

61: Health Care 'Dos and Don’ts' During COVID-19 w/ the Mackinac Center

October 22nd, 2020  |  18 mins 26 secs

The decentralized approach to the Coronavirus pandemic empowers states to take on tailored responses to management and recovery. States can learn from one another to find the best solutions and see what not to do. On the podcast today to discuss the good and the bad from the Michigan COVID-19 health care approach is Mackinac Center Vice President for Strategic Outreach and Communications Lindsay Killen.

Michigan Should Permanently Loosen Restrictions on Medical Scope of Practice, Not Reinstate Them: https://www.mackinac.org/michigan-should-permanently-loosen-restrictions-on-medical-scope-of-practice-not-reinstate-them

Five Reasons Why Reinstalling Scope-of-Practice Regulations is Bizarre and Bad for Michigan: https://www.mackinac.org/five-reasons-why-reinstalling-scope-of-practice-regulations-is-bizarre-and-bad-for-michigan

60: Wildcat PPE: A Story of American Innovation During COVID-19

October 10th, 2020  |  13 mins 16 secs

Five months ago, two business partners in Texas saw a need to help the healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic who lacked enough of the PPE they needed to keep themselves safe. Today, their new company produces hundreds of thousands of gowns, surgeon caps and face masks every day. Wildcat PPE is a story of American innovation and Texas entrepreneurship in the face of a global pandemic – employing Americans, using American material and operating in a great American state. Wildcat PPE President and CEO John Houston and Managing Partner John Fleming join the podcast to discuss their story and what sets them apart in American industry.
Find out more: https://wildcatppe.com/

59: Ranking the Governors: Teasing a New ALEC Report

September 28th, 2020  |  25 mins 43 secs

How does your governor stack up? This special episode features authors of the forthcoming ALEC publication, the Laffer-ALEC Report on Economic Freedom, which ranks America’s governors based on their pre- and post-COVID performances and equally weighted variables to bring you an answer. Host Dan Reynolds is joined by Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, Steve Moore, Donna Arduin and ALEC VP of Policy Jonathan Williams to discuss what is to come from the rankings of the 50 governors, why now is the crucial time to know how your state leader stacks up and other intel state legislators and taxpayers can look forward to learning from the report.

58: New Education Polling Data w/ EdChoice

September 16th, 2020  |  14 mins 27 secs

It’s back-to-school season, but what do many parents and caretakers think about this notion? What is the general tone of families across the states? EdChoice and its newest public opinion tracker has the answers. Here to discuss the new polling data is EdChoice’s Vice President of Research and Innovation, Paul DiPerna.

57: The Blaine Amendment Decision w/ the Institute for Justice

September 9th, 2020  |  9 mins 35 secs

What are the Blaine Amendments, how does the Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue Supreme Court Case affect school choice in the states and is your state impacted? Listen in on this episode featuring Education Choice Attorney at the Institute for Justice David Hodges, ALEC Director of the Education and Workforce Development Task Force Scott Kaufman and host Dan Reynolds to find out more.