Across the States

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.

56: Vaccine Development During a Global Pandemic w/ Rep. Oliverson and Pfizer

September 2nd, 2020  |  36 mins 32 secs

Because of COVID-19, a vaccine and the topic of vaccines are on everyone’s mind. Joining the podcast to discuss the development of a COVID-19 vaccine is Pfizer Global COVID Vaccine Medical Lead David Swerdlow and Texas State Representative Tom Oliverson, who is a medical professional. Pfizer has committed to deliver millions of vaccine doses by the end of 2020, and it has been operating within a unique regulatory environment because of COVID.

55: New MLK, Civil Rights Curriculum Initiative for the States

August 26th, 2020  |  21 mins 9 secs

There is currently an opportunity and a need to reinforce the history and the teachings that are based on Dr. King’s non-violent social justice philosophy. This means the adoption of a special curriculum. Fortunately, there is one highlighting MLK and the civil rights movement, and it has already been implemented in multiple states. Today’s podcast discussion covers this curriculum. Guests include: ALEC Vice President of Policy Advancement Sherry Street, Texas State Representative Tan Parker, Howard University Associate Provost and Assistant Vice-President for Enrollment Management Anthony Jones and Institute of World Politics Chair of Law and Human Rights Dr. Matthew Daniels.

54: Localism, Youth Involvement in Government and 100 Years of 19th Amendment w/ State Legislator of the Month Rep. Tory Arnberger

August 19th, 2020  |  16 mins 4 secs

State Legislator of the Month Rep. Tory Arnberger works hard every day as a young state legislator to advance the principles of limited government and federalism in Kansas. And during the pandemic, she’s lead her constituents with an emphasis on local control in the face of state mandates and discussions on education in the COVID-19 era. Now, she joins host Dan Reynolds to discuss this and more.

53: New ALEC Report Rich States, Poor States: A Primer

August 12th, 2020  |  30 mins 17 secs

In this special episode of Across the States Dan Reynolds is joined by two ALEC policy experts to discuss the newest edition of Rich States, Poor States: the ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index – which released today. Report co-author, ALEC EVP for Policy and Chief Economist Jonathan Williams and Senior Director of the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform Lee Schalk discuss the background of the report, the two state rankings it awards and most importantly, how state leaders can use this year’s findings to advance economic growth following a global pandemic.

52: How to Fix the Safety Net w/ FGA

August 4th, 2020  |  29 mins 21 secs

Balancing state budgets is always important, but during the pandemic, doing it right is even more important. On the podcast today to discuss this is FGA Director of Government Affairs Roy Lendardson, FGA Senior Fellow Scott Centorino and ALEC Executive Vice President of Policy Jonathan Williams. Listen in on how the federal government has handcuffed states with “fraud by design” welfare programs, how states can actually improve budgets while still keeping welfare programs and more.

51: Certificate of Need Laws w/ Pacific Legal Foundation

July 20th, 2020  |  13 mins 48 secs

What are Certificate of Need laws and how do they affect businesses across the country? Anastasia Boden, Senior Attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, weighs in on CON laws and COVID-19, how the Pacific Legal Foundation is defending individual liberty in the states and what states can do now to protect medical freedom.

50: Criminal Justice Solutions w/ MI Rep. Graham Filler

July 9th, 2020  |  14 mins 14 secs

This episode of Across the States, recorded in early 2020, takes us back to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where host Dan Reynolds sits down with MI Representative Graham Filler, a speaker at the event and Chair of the MI House Judiciary Committee, to discuss criminal justice solutions at the state level. Following the FIRST STEP Act, based on ALEC model policy, what is the “second step” states can take to lower recidivism rates in America? Rep. Filler weighs in.

49: Education Reform w/ Jim Blew from the U.S. Department of Education

July 2nd, 2020  |  21 mins 5 secs

In this special episode of Across the States recorded at the U.S. Department of Education in early 2020, host Dan Reynolds sat down with Jim Blew, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, and Sherry Street, ALEC Vice President of Policy Advancement to highlight the work done advocating for education choice. What’s the reality behind charter schools, what does education reform look like today and how might it look in the years to come? One thing is clear from both the federal and state perspective: it should be about empowering the educators, the parents and the students.

48: The Road to Higher Taxes w/ Stephen Haner

June 26th, 2020  |  18 mins 54 secs

On this episode of Across the States, host Dan Reynolds is joined by Senior Fellow of State and Local Taxes at the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy Stephen Haner, ALEC Vice President of Policy Jonathan Williams and ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform Legislative Manager Skip Estes. The Thomas Jefferson Institute recently released a brochure, The Road to Higher Taxes, which outlines the nearly two dozen changes in Virginia tax laws passed by the 2020 General Assembly. Now in the podcast studio, the group defines what this will mean for taxpayers come July 1.

47: State Labor Reforms for Public Sector Unions w/ Vincent Vernuccio

June 23rd, 2020  |  16 mins 25 secs

In the 2018 case Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court reshaped the interaction between public sector employees and unions, affirming the 1st Amendment rights of individual employees. Joining host Dan Reynolds to discuss this landmark decision, its ramifications and the “Post-Janus” environment today is Vincent Vernuccio, Senior Fellow at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.