Tax Battles, School Choice, and Economic Freedom: ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson on Moore Money
From 2021 to 2025 we’ve had 16 states have passed school choice legislation.
Appearing on Moore Money with economist Stephen Moore and tax reform advocate Grover Norquist, ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson shared state-led economic reform wins and celebrated a historic victory for education freedom in Texas.
Never one to mince words, Nelson addressed recent rumors that some Republicans in Washington might consider raising the top income tax rate. She credited organizations like ALEC and Americans for Tax Reform with shutting down the proposal.
“Good for you guys and good for ALEC… for jumping on this for 10 or seven days, pounding it and then pounding it back under the table,” said Nelson. “They were trying to kind of breathe life into an idea that had to have been dead on arrival.”
The conversation turned to ALEC’s signature annual publication, Rich States, Poor States, and its analysis of economic impact based on state tax and regulatory policies. Once again, the Beehive States has risen to the top.
“Utah has figured it out for 18 years in a row,” she said. “They’ve been ranked number one for 18 years now, the senate president out there every year gets his delegation together, his caucus together, and says, you know, we can’t rest on our laurels.”
States like Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi also received praise. “Super, super excited about what the states are doing and how they’re competing for those top five spots.”
But it was education reform that took center stage. Focusing on Texas’ move to create the largest Universal Education Savings Account program in the country; Nelson celebrated the major education reform victory.
“There are about 6 million students in Texas who now will have access—funds—to be able, with their parents, to choose where they go to school,” she said. “The Texas Legislature and Governor Abbott, have been wanting to do this now for four or five years to get this passed.”
Nelson also highlighted the momentum behind similar education choice initiatives nationwide.
“From 2021 to 2025 we’ve had 16 states pass school choice legislation,” she said. “West Virginia was the first, then Arizona, Iowa, Florida, Arkansas, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Alabama, and Louisiana. This year, we added Idaho, Tennessee, Wyoming—and now, Texas.”
She emphasized that such reforms are part of a broader movement to align education with family and student values.
“A lot of parents want to send their kids to the public school—it’s convenient, it’s right down the street,” Nelson said. “But if you see that they’re teaching stuff you don’t agree with… of course you’re going to want to make a change.”
As school choice gains traction across the states, Nelson believes that leaders in the education freedom movement view Texas as a catalyst for a broader national realignment. An undertaking ALEC will gladly embrace.