Across the States

Latest Episodes:

33: An Electoral College Primer w/ John Ryder May 01, 2020

Show notes

The Electoral College: what does it do, why does it do it and is it a good thing? Serving as your Electoral College primer, in this episode of Across the States host Dan Reynolds is joined by John Ryder, the former General Counsel of the Republican National Committee, and Karla Jones, ALEC Director of the Federalism and International Relations Task Force to fill us in.

Conservatives Mobilize in Defense of the Electoral College: https://www.alec.org/article/conservatives-mobilize-in-defense-of-the-electoral-college/

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32: Reform Occupational Licenses During COVID-19 w/ MO Rep. Grier and Shoshana Weissmann Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

The COVID-19 pandemic has made visible many of the existing, hidden barriers to enter the workforce: barriers in front of health care professions, those paying off student loans or new to the workforce. These barriers existed before the pandemic. But it’s time to free our workforce from unnecessary shackles if we want to get America back to work. Having the right occupational licensing policies is a smart way forward during the pandemic, and a successful long term strategy for what comes next. On the podcast to discuss this is Missouri State Representative Derek Grier, R Street’s Digital Media Manager Shoshana Weissmann, and ALEC Director of the Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Michael Slabinski.

ALEC Draft Model Policy – Occupational Licensing Review Act: https://www.alec.org/model-policy/occupational-licensing-review-act/

MO Chamber Priorities for the Abbreviated Session: https://mochamber.com/news/2020prioritylegislation/

R Street – Small Regulatory Reforms That Can Help People During the Pandemic: https://www.rstreet.org/2020/03/18/small-regulatory-reforms-that-can-help-people-during-the-pandemic/

R Street – Open the Telehealth Floodgates to Combat Coronavirus: https://www.rstreet.org/2020/03/23/open-the-telehealth-floodgates-to-combat-coronavirus/

R Street – Rein in the Regs to Beat Coronavirus: https://www.rstreet.org/2020/03/25/rein-in-the-regs-to-beat-coronavirus/

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31: How a National Federalism Task Force Would Deal with COVID-19 Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

How could a National Federalism Task Force benefit the country during the COVID-19 pandemic? Dive into the answer in this episode of Across the States, where host Dan Reynolds is joined by Karla Jones, ALEC Senior Director of the Federalism and International Relations Task Force, and Former Representative Ken Ivory, the ALEC Chair to Restore Balance in Government and American Federalism professor at Utah Valley University to discuss the concept.

ALEC Draft Model Resolution Calling for the Creation of a National Federalism Task Force: https://www.alec.org/model-policy/resolution-calling-for-the-creation-of-a-national-federalism-task-force/

Federalism and International Relations Task Force: Policy Prescriptions to Address Economic and Health Care Challenges in the Face of COVID-19: https://www.alec.org/article/federalism-and-international-relations-task-force-policy-prescriptions-to-address-economic-and-health-care-challenges-in-the-face-of-covid-19/

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30: How Utility Companies are Supporting Consumers during COVID-19 Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

As we fight on during the COVID-19 pandemic, the private sector has stepped up to support consumers. Utility companies are just one, but they have an important role to play. To discuss the topic, host Dan Reynolds is joined by Grant Kidwell, ALEC Director of the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force; Laura Schepis, Senior Director of National Security at Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and David Batz, Senior Director of Cyber and Infrastructure Security at EEI.

Learn more about Edison Electric Institute: https://www.eei.org/ma/Pages/default.aspx

Learn more about the ESCC: https://www.electricitysubsector.org/

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29: Legislative Response to COVID-19 w/ State Legislator of the Month Rep. Jena Powell Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

As a COVID-19 response, many states have delayed their tax deadlines, but have done so via executive order or by a government agency’s decision. However, one bill in Ohio stands out. On this episode Dan Reynolds is joined by the April 2020 ALEC-FreedomWorks State Legislator of the Month, OH Rep. Jena Powell, to discuss the bill she sponsored with fellow ALEC member Rep. Derek Merrin, that authorized the Ohio Tax Commissioner to extend the deadlines for personal income tax filing and payment for OH taxpayers from April to July 15, as well as rolling back licensing requirements, increasing flexibility for school choice programs and many more pro-liberty responses to the pandemic.

Read the full bill here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-HB-197

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28: Locally Executed Solutions During COVID-19 w/ ACCE Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

To discuss the local response efforts during COVID-19, host Dan Reynolds is joined by Jon Russell, Director of the American City County Exchange (ACCE), an ALEC sister organization working to advance free market solutions at the local level. Also joining the podcast are Billy Hewes, Mayor of Gulfport, MS and Benny Zhang, Councilman of Williamsburg, VA. From local partnership with the private sector to recommendations for local decision-makers during this unprecedented time, this episode takes a dive into the locally executed and federally supported action taking place in America’s communities.

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27: Civil Justice Policy Solutions for COVID-19 w/ Ronald Lampard Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Across the States, host Dan Reynolds is joined by ALEC Senior Director of the Civil Justice and Criminal Justice Task Forces, Ronald Lampard to discuss COVID-19 policy solutions and how they can help civil justice and regulatory reform. Listen in on the responses to the pandemic, and how they play a part in reducing regulatory red tape, resolving potential court backlogs, limiting liability for volunteers and charitable organizations and ensuring individuals have access to information online.

Policy Solutions to Address COVID-19’s Impact on Issues Pertaining to Civil Justice and Regulatory Reform: https://www.alec.org/article/policy-solutions-to-address-covid-19s-impact-on-issues-pertaining-to-civil-justice-and-regulatory-reform/

Civil Justice Task Force: Policy Prescriptions to Address Economic and Health Care Challenges in the Face of Covid-19: https://www.alec.org/article/civil-justice-task-force-policy-prescriptions-to-address-economic-and-health-care-challenges-in-the-face-of-covid-19/

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26: Use Virtual Learning During COVID-19 w/ K12 Inc. Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

Following national school closures due to COVID-19, all schools have been forced to transition to remote learning. In this episode of Across the States, host Dan Reynolds is joined by Jeff Kwitowski, K12 Inc. Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Communications; Dr. Tony Bennett, K12 Inc. Senior Vice President of Academics and External Relations, former State Superintendent in Indiana and Commissioner of Education in Florida and Scott Kauffman, Director of the ALEC Education and Workforce Development Task Force. Listen in on their discussion around how the pandemic has impacted online schools and the U.S. public education system, and what educators and policymakers should be thinking about now to rise to the challenge.

Visit the K12 Inc. website for free resources: www.k12.com/coronavirus

Read the ALEC Education and Workforce Development Policy Solutions to COVID-19 here: https://www.alec.org/article/education-and-workforce-development-task-force-policy-prescriptions-to-address-economic-and-health-care-challenges-in-the-face-of-covid-19/

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25: Criminal Justice Solutions to COVID-19 w/ Ronald Lampard Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

How is COVID-19 impacting the criminal justice system? Host Dan Reynolds is joined by Ronald Lampard, ALEC Senior Director of the Criminal Justice and Civil Justice Task Forces, to scratch the surface on how the pandemic is affecting law enforcement personnel; fines, fees and drivers licenses and jail and prison considerations. Listen in on Lampard’s proposed policy solutions that ensure continued safety and effectiveness in our criminal justice system.

Policy Solutions to Address COVID-19’s Impact on the Criminal Justice System: https://www.alec.org/article/policy-solutions-to-address-covid-19s-impact-on-the-criminal-justice-system/

Criminal Justice Task Force: Policy Prescriptions to Address Economic and Health Care Challenges in the Face of COVID-19: https://www.alec.org/article/criminal-justice-task-force-policy-prescriptions-to-address-economic-and-health-care-challenges-in-the-face-of-covid-19/

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24: Reforming the Jones Act w/ Colin Grabow from the Cato Institute Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Across the States, host Dan Reynolds is joined by Colin Grabow, Trade Policy Analyst at the Cato Institute, and Karla Jones, Senior Director of the International Relations and Federalism Task Force at ALEC. The topic is the Jones Act: what it is, how it affects how we transport goods between states, which specific states it affects (spoiler: it’s all of them) and what this means for trade in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.

Rust Buckets: How the Jones Act Undermines U.S. Shipbuilding and National Security: https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/rust-buckets-how-jones-act-undermines-us-shipbuilding-national

The Jones Act: A Burden American Can No Longer Bear: https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/jones-act-burden-america-can-no-longer-bear

ALEC Model Resolution in Support of Lifting Federal Restrictions on Crude Oil Exports: https://www.alec.org/model-policy/resolution-support-lifting-federal-restrictions-crude-oil-exports

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