Across the States

As part of Women’s History Month, ALEC Senior Task Force Director Karla Jones sits down with one of the nation’s foremost experts on international trade Gabriella Beaumont‐Smith of the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies. They look at the international trade aspects of the ongoing baby formula crisis in the United States. Data shows that there is enough supply of baby formula in the market, so why are parents still seeing empty shelves in stores? Jones and Beaumont-Smith also discuss barriers preventing American parents from freely buying infant formula from safe trading partners that most of us would consider safe such as Canada. Finally, they consider options state government have to ensure their citizens have access to baby food formula. Special Guest: Gabriella Beaumont-Smith.

ALEC Education and Workforce Task Force Director Andrew Handel and ALEC Executive VP of Policy Jonathan Williams host a policy hour on the Education Freedom Moment in the United States. States are reimaging education in their states. ALEC is joined by Sen. Jim Dotson of Arkansas, Sen. Pat Rucker of West Virginia, Speaker Pro Tem. John Wills of Iowa and economist Steve Moore. They discuss universal education savings accounts and other sweeping reforms that are empowering students and their parents. Special Guests: Jonathan Williams, Rep. John Wills, Sen. Jim Dotson (AR), Sen. Pat Rucker, and Stephen Moore.

In recognition of January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, ALEC’s Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development (CIED) Task Force hosted a webinar addressing this issue. Guest speakers from the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Summit Beverage, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discussed ongoing efforts to help prevent and end human trafficking. • ALEC’s 2022 Annual Meeting Plenary Session on Combating Human Trafficking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFVg374UT00 • NBWA's Distributors Against Human Trafficking https://nbwa.org/initiative/distributors-against-human-trafficking/ • NBWA Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ • Sentinel Project Information https://mbwda.org/sentinel-project • AHLAF No Room for Trafficking program (includes a legislation overview) https://www.ahlafoundation.org/human-trafficking • AHLA Trafficking Prevention https://www.ahla.com/issue/human-trafficking-prevention • AHLAF-supported Anti-Human Trafficking Training modules https://www.ecpatusa.org/hotel-training • Chamber of Commerce Task Force to Eradicate Human Trafficking https://www.uschamber.com/major-initiative/task-force-to-eradicate-human-trafficking • Chamber of Commerce Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation Tracker https://www.uschamber.com/major-initiative/task-force-to-eradicate-human-trafficking/anti-human-trafficking-legislation-tracker • It’s a Penalty Testimonial Videos https://itsapenalty.org/the-problem/

Join the American Optometric Association's Dr. William T. Reynolds and ALEC Senior Director of the ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Brooklyn Roberts for a discussion on how states can play a critical role in addressing growing problems with vision plan providers. The American Optometric Association said too often vision plan providers are getting between patients and doctors and making it hard for patients to get the best care at the best price. Special Guest: Dr. William T. Reynolds, O.D..

On this episode of Across the States, Matt Fisher sits down with Jenny Schmitt, an accomplished advocate for the Nurse Anesthesiology profession, and Mike MacKinnon, the owner of MacKinnon Anesthesia and the Program Director for National Anesthesia Services. Together with ALEC's Director of Health and Human Services task force, Brooklyn Roberts, they discuss the significance of anesthetics and why it plays a critical role in healthcare.

Matt Fisher hosts a conversation between New York Post Columnist Rikki Schlatt, ALEC Education and Workplace Task Force Director Andrew Handel and Executive Director of Speech First Cherise Trump about free speech on campuses and the battle for the First Amendment in higher education.

On this episode of Across the States, Matt Fisher hosts Will Estrada, the President of Parental Rights, to talk about school choice, charter schools, and the issues behind the discussion of educational freedom.

If you’ve discussed cryptocurrencies or talked to people who work in the digital technologies space, “blockchain” is a term you’ve likely heard before. But what does it actually mean? Join Leo Briceno on this episode of Across the States as he interviews Yan Pritzker, the CTO of Swan Bitcoin and a blockchain expert, and Jonathon Hauenschildchild, ALEC’s Communications and Technology Task Force Director, to learn the fundamentals of what blockchain actually is and how it works.

Criminal justice reform is an issue of growing national importance. Join Nino Marchese, ALEC Task Force Director for Civil and Criminal, and Catherine Mortensen as they sit down with Lew Evangelidis, Sheriff of Worcester County, Massachusetts, who is making his community safe again by reforming his jail and holding people accountable by following the motto "There is no dignity in dependence." YouTube Video of Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdoVe_PhXwU)

The recent acquisition of social media giant Twitter by Elon Musk has sparked vigorous debate. Joining Across the States to discuss what Musk’s purchase of Twitter means and how governments have been pressuring social media companies to remove content is Harmeet Dhillon, CEO of the Center for American Liberty and long-time civil rights and free speech attorney, and Jonathon Hauenschild, Director of the ALEC Task Force on Communications and Technology Task Force. Video Version of the Podcast, YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LZyw4tPoZU)

The American Legislative Exchange Council's Chief Economist Jonathan Williams unveils the 2022 Rich States, Poor States annual ranking of states based on how well they are governed. How does your state rank? Video edition of podcast: Why are Some States Rich and Some States Poor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvvunbGAWn8) Rich States, Poor States website (https://www.richstatespoorstates.org/)

Inflation reached record heights in March as prices soared by 8.5%. With working families paying more for gas and groceries, Lee Schalk, Vice President of Policy at ALEC, and Joe Trotter, Director of Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force, joined ALECtv and Across the States to discuss this latest development with Matt Fisher and Catherine Mortensen.\ Video Version of Today's Podcast, Runaway Inflation w/ Lee Schalk and Joe Trotter (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw60UoroWHo) The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Inflation Accelerated to 8.5% in March, Hitting Four-Decade High (https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-consumer-price-index-march-2022-11649725215#:~:text=U.S.%20inflation%20surged%20to%20a,constraints%20and%20strong%20consumer%20demand.)

Results from the recent school board elections across Wisconsin sent a strong message to elected officials that parent empowerment matters. Joining Bill Ashworth and Catherine Mortensen on ALECtv and Across the States this week are three individuals who won seats on their respective school boards in Wisconsin, Matthew Phipps, Matthew Spaulding, and Tony Vlastelica, about what inspired them to get involved and run. Link to ALECtv Video Version of Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtqECQ5RcHI

Last week, the American Legislative Exchange Council released the second edition of the 2021 Laffer-ALEC Report on Economic Freedom, Grading America’s Governors. Jonathan Williams, ALEC Chief Economist and Executive Vice President of Policy, and Lee Schalk, Vice President of Policy, joined Matthew Fisher to break down the best and worst governors of America, what the report measures, and highlight the work governors and statehouses are doing in 2022. 2021 Laffer-ALEC Report on Economic Freedom, Grading America’s Governors Report: https://alec.org/publication/2021-laffer-alec-report-on-economic-freedom-grading-americas-governors/ Rank Your Governor and Compare it at: https://www.rankmygovernor.org/

The Russian invasion of Ukraine combined with regulations at the state and federal level have presented a myriad of challenges for rural Americans and the agriculture industry. Join Matthew Fisher and Joe Trotter, Director of the ALEC Task Force on Energy, Environment, and Agriculture, as they sit down with Phil Green, Representative from Michigan's 84th District and Chair of the ALEC Subcommittee on Agriculture, to discuss the potential of food shortages, job losses, and more. The Crisis in Ukraine Has Major Implications for the Agricultural Sector and Global Food Security (https://alec.org/article/the-crisis-in-ukraine-has-major-implications-for-the-agricultural-sector-and-global-food-security/), by Karla Jones and Joe Trotter Learn more about the Russian invasion of Ukraine with our two part series Ukraine: On the Frontlines in Kyiv Part w/ Mykola Vorobiov and Karla Jones: Part I (https://podcast.alec.org/118) Part II (https://podcast.alec.org/119)

In the second of a two-part Across the States special on the War in Ukraine, Mykola Vorobiov, Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellow & Journalist based in Kyiv, Ukraine, sat down for another interview on March 15, 2022, with Karla Jones, Sr. Director of the ALEC Task Force on International Relations and Federalism offers his eyewitness testimony on the situation on the ground in Ukraine as Ukrainians resist the Russian invasion and describes what Ukraine/Russia peace negotiations might look like. Mykola expresses gratitude to the US for our assistance and his opinion of Zelenskyy has evolved from cautious skepticism of the neophyte politician’s ability to command a nation at war in Part I to describing him as “The leader of the free world!” in Part II. Link to Part I of Ukraine: On the Frontlines in Kyiv (https://podcast.alec.org/118) Mykola Vorobiov Twitter: @komitet2012 (https://twitter.com/komitet2012) Other Links: ALEC Statement (https://alec.org/article/alec-statement-on-the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/) on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Ukraine Policy Hour and Podcast Featuring Cong. Victoria Spartz, Chris Holzen (IRI), Alan Mendoza (Henry Jackson Society, a British national security think tank), Damon Wilson (NED) and diplomats from Estonia and Ukraine Policy Hour Video to Policy Hour (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaRFwGXI05w) Across the States Podcast Episode from Policy Hour (https://podcast.alec.org/114) Link (https://thehill.com/opinion/international/594119-putins-ukraine-gambit-unites-western-democracies-he-sought-to-divide) to ALEC Article on Ukraine op-ed in the Hill Garry Kasparov Quote on NATO and Ukraine toward the end of the podcast “NATO leaders have all the weapons and no courage and Zelenskyy has courage and not enough weapons.” (https://mobile.twitter.com/Kasparov63/status/1497317332837937152) ALEC Model Policies Resolution (https://alec.org/model-policy/draft-resolution-supporting-the-united-states-commitment-to-the-north-atlantic-treaty-organization-nato-during-the-year-the-alliance-celebrates-its-70th-anniversary/) Commemorating NATO’s 70th Anniversary Victims of Communism (https://alec.org/model-policy/draft-victims-of-communism-memorial-day-resolution/) Memorial Day Resolution CORRECTION: Quote from anti-Communist Ukrainian Leader Stepan Bandera (erroneously attributed to Winston Churchill) toward the end of the podcast “When the people choose bread between bread and freedom, they eventually lose everything including bread. If the people choose freedom, they will have bread grown by themselves and not taken away by anyone.”

The ongoing war of Russian aggression against Ukraine has demonstrated the brutality of Vladimir Putin and the heroism of the Ukrainian people. In in the first of a two-part special by Across the States on the war in Ukraine, Mykola Vorobiov, Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellow & Journalist based in Kyiv, Ukraine, joined Karla Jones, Sr. Director of the ALEC Task Force on International Relations and Federalism, on February 22, 2022. Mykola gives us a picture of life in Ukraine during the days leading up to the invasion, some helpful background on how we got to the edge of war and his predictions on the impact the impending conflict might have on his nation. Link to Part II of Ukraine: On the Frontlines in Kyiv: (https://podcast.alec.org/119) Mykola Vorobiov Twitter: @komitet2012 (https://twitter.com/komitet2012) Other Links ALEC Statement (https://alec.org/article/alec-statement-on-the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/) on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Ukraine Policy Hour and Podcast Featuring Cong. Victoria Spartz, Chris Holzen (IRI), Alan Mendoza (Henry Jackson Society, a British national security think tank), Damon Wilson (NED) and diplomats from Estonia and Ukraine Policy Hour Video to Policy Hour (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaRFwGXI05w) Across the States Podcast Episode from Policy Hour (https://podcast.alec.org/114) Link (https://thehill.com/opinion/international/594119-putins-ukraine-gambit-unites-western-democracies-he-sought-to-divide) to ALEC Article on Ukraine op-ed in the Hill Atlantic Council Article (https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/how-modern-ukraine-was-made-on-maidan/) on the Orange Revolution referenced during the podcast Atlantic Council Article (https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-yalta-conference-at-seventy-five-lessons-from-history/) on Yalta referenced during the podcast ALEC Model Policies Resolution (https://alec.org/model-policy/draft-resolution-supporting-the-united-states-commitment-to-the-north-atlantic-treaty-organization-nato-during-the-year-the-alliance-celebrates-its-70th-anniversary/) Commemorating NATO’s 70th Anniversary Victims of Communism (https://alec.org/model-policy/draft-victims-of-communism-memorial-day-resolution/) Memorial Day Resolution

At CPAC 2022 in Orlando, Florida, John Cardillo, conservative commentator, sat down for an interview with Matt Fisher at the ALEC booth to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and more.

Small businesses are responsible for more than 60% of all new jobs created in the United States. In Iowa, Representative John Wills is leading the charge to invest in the entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, and cottage industries who make up the backbone of our economy. On today’s episode of Across the States, ALEC’s February State Legislator of the Month and Board of Directors member Representative Wills joins Gretchen Baldau, Director of the Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force at ALEC, and Matt Fisher to discuss his efforts in the state legislature in Des Moines to support small businesses and deliver results for constituents. Related ALEC Resources Off to Work from Home: Lifting Restrictions on Home-Based Businesses (https://alec.org/article/off-to-work-from-home-lifting-restrictions-on-home-based-businesses/) Home-Based Business Fairness Act (https://alec.org/model-policy/the-home-based-business-fairness-act/) Food Freedom Act (https://alec.org/model-policy/food-freedom-act/)