Across the States

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 o...

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.

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 homeless...

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...

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. ‘Innocent Victims of C...

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...

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 t...

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...

Congress is debating the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill proposed by the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats. What impact would this unprecedented 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 ra...

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...

Did you know the states owe more than $20,000 per person in unfunded liabilities? Millions of Americans and their hopes of a secure retirement are vulnerable to mismanagement and poor accounting by statehouses. Join Matthew Fisher as he sits down with Jonathan Williams, ALEC Chief Economist, Lee Schalk, Senior Director of the Center for State Fiscal Reform and Thomas Savidge, Research Manager for...

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...

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 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 po...

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...

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...

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 forc...

Politicians often treat energy and education as two separate topics. But on the local level, the two have more in common than one may think. Join Hunter Hamberlin as he sits down with Weld County Commissioner and former Colorado State Representative, Lori Saine, and Chief of Staff of the Wyoming Department of Education Dicky Shanor to discuss how oil and gas development can be a catalyst for impro...

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...

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 eme...

Join former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson on a special episode of Across the State as they discuss the emergence of China as a global power. In a conversation about China’s aggressive ambitions to America’s flawed approach to Beijing in the past, find out what the United States can do to counter Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party in...

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 Re...

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...

What is urban mobility? And how does it impact the growth and vitality of local economies? Jonathon Hauenschild sits down with Hunter Hamberlin to discuss the importance of urban mobility and how state and local lawmakers can navigate the hurdles and barriers to its development. Jonathon Hauenschild Profile: https://www.alec.org/person/jonathon-hauenschild

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...