Across the States

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103: IRS Power Scheme w/ NE Treasurer John Murante Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

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 what state and local lawmakers can do.
Taxing Times in Washington: What Every State Legislator Needs to Know, by Jonathan Williams and Lee Schalk
https://www.alec.org/article/taxing-times-in-washington-what-every-state-legislator-needs-to-know/
CBS News Report on IRS Reporting Proposal
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/treasury-proposal-to-report-bank-information-600/

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102: Israeli-U.S. Relations After Trump w/ Aryeh Lightstone and Karla Jones Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

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 to Israel David Friedman and Special Envoy for Economic Normalization, to discuss where both nations go from here.
Failure of Palestinian Governance and the Latest Conflict between Israel and Hamas, by Karla Jones and Anna Small
https://www.alec.org/article/failure-of-palestinian-governance-and-the-latest-conflict-between-israel-and-hamas/
Strengthening the U.S. Israel Economic and Strategic Partnership
https://www.alec.org/article/strengthening-the-u-s-israel-economic-and-strategic-partnership/

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101: The Dangers of Budget Reconciliation w/ Stephen Moore, PA Rep. Seth Grove, Lee Schalk, and Jonathan Williams Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

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 Economist Stephen Moore, Pennsylvania Representative Seth Grove, and ALEC Executive Vice President Jonathan Williams.
ALEC Blog Post on Reconciliation Bill, Taxing Times in Washington
https://www.alec.org/article/taxing-times-in-washington-what-every-state-legislator-needs-to-know/
Wall Street Journal, The Next Medicaid Blowout
https://www.wsj.com/articles/affordable-care-act-obamacare-medicaid-expansion-insurance-health-care-reconciliation-11632259356
Committee for a Responsible Budget study on Reconciliation bill
https://www.crfb.org/blogs/true-cost-budget-plan-could-exceed-5-trillion

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100: A Price Too High? The $3.5 Trillion Reconciliation Bill Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

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 ramifications for Americans like you.
ALEC Blog Post on Reconciliation Bill, Taxing Times in Washington
https://www.alec.org/article/taxing-times-in-washington-what-every-state-legislator-needs-to-know/
Wall Street Journal, The Next Medicaid Blowout
https://www.wsj.com/articles/affordable-care-act-obamacare-medicaid-expansion-insurance-health-care-reconciliation-11632259356
Committee for a Responsible Budget study on Reconciliation bill
https://www.crfb.org/blogs/true-cost-budget-plan-could-exceed-5-trillion

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99: The Fall of Afghanistan and Return of the Taliban w/ MP Liam Fox, Ambassador Kelley Currie, Ilan Berman, Michael O’Hanlon and Rep. Gene Ward Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

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 United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Kelley Currie, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council Ilan Berman, Director of Research in Foreign Policy for the Brookings Institute Michael O’Hanlon and Hawaii Representative Gene Ward.
ALECtv Roundtable with Afghan Ambassador to the United States Roya Rahmani, Ambassador Currie and Michelle Bekkering of the US Global Leadership Coalition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkErrNzFnJk
ALEC Resolution Urging Evacuation and Protection of Interpreters and their Families and Other Afghan Nationals Who Assisted the United States https://www.alec.org/model-policy/resolution-urging-congress-and-potus-to-evacuate-and-protect-interpreters-their-families-and-other-afghan-nationals-who-assisted-us-and-nato-forces-before-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/

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98: Keeping the Promise to Retired Public Employees: The ALEC Debt Trilogy Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

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 Center for State Fiscal Reform as they discuss the newest release of the ALEC Debt Trilogy: Other Post-Employment Benefit Liabilities, Unaccountable and Unaffordable and State Bonded Obligations. Learn how ALEC is helping states steer their way onto stable financial ground.

Other Post-Employment Benefit Liabilities 2020 report: https://www.alec.org/publication/other-post-employment-benefit-liabilities-2020/
Unaccountable and Unaffordable 2020 report: https://www.alec.org/publication/unaccountable-and-unaffordable-2020/
State Bonded Obligations 2020 report: https://www.alec.org/publication/state-bonded-obligations-2020/
CNBC Article on Unaccountable Unaffordable 2020, “Kelly Evans: Moving to Tennessee”: https://www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/06/24/kelly-evans-moving-to-tennessee.html
Jonathan Williams Article on State Bonded Obligations 2020: alec.org/state-bonded

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97: Hydrogen: Powering the Future w/ Rep. Melissa Ballard Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

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 Incentives Amendments are helping diversify and grow Utah’s economy on this edition of Across the States.
*Correction: 1/3 of total GDP goes through Utah.

LINKS
Energy Affordability Report 2021: https://www.alec.org/publication/energy-affordability-report/
ALEC Model Policy for Hydrogen: https://www.alec.org/model-policy/hydrogen-tax-incentives-act/
Rep. Ballard: Realizing Utah’s clean energy potential, Utah Policy: https://utahpolicy.com/archive/26502-rep-ballard-realizing-utah-s-clean-energy-potential

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96: The FORUM Act and Free Speech: Protecting the First Amendment on College Campuses w/ Rikki Schlott Jun 26, 2021

Show notes

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 postsecondary education.
The FORUM Act in Reason: https://reason.com/2021/04/20/montana-becomes-latest-state-to-protect-free-speech-with-the-forum-act/
ALEC on the Passage of FORUM Act: https://www.alec.org/article/montana-passes-legislation-to-protect-free-speech-of-college-students/

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95: Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Pride Month with State Legislator of the Month Rep. Phil Christofanelli Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

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 post-HIV exposure medications.
Rep. Phil Christofanelli in the Missouri Times: https://themissouritimes.com/phil-christofanelli-is-headlining-this-legislative-session/
MO HIV/AIDS bill in the St. Louis Post: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/changes-to-hiv-laws-moving-in-missouri-legislature-but-anti-discrimination-win-proves-elusive/article_9384594b-880c-5aef-b4d6-0b1b4af5bb39.html
ESA bill passage in the Missouri Independent: https://missouriindependent.com/2021/06/02/missouri-lawmakers-passed-a-tax-credit-program-to-fund-school-choice-how-will-it-work/

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94: Pay It Forward: How Bucksport, ME, Triumphed over COVID-19 w/ Susan Lessard Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

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 how her hometown navigated the pandemic.
Pay It Forward Plan: https://www.bucksportmaine.gov/vertical/sites/%7B1700581E-144E-4C5D-B026-79CCA6D1E656%7D/uploads/Proposals_for_Council.pdf
Fox Bangor Coverage of Pay It Forward: https://www.foxbangor.com/news/item/bucksport-pays-it-forward/
WABI Channel 5 Coverage of Pay It Forward: https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Bucksport-councilors-approve-relief-for-businesses-and-residents-569345791.html

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