Utah on Top 19 Years and Counting: May CEO Update
"ALEC is a 50-state organization. No matter the politics, we are working to deliver our principled policies to every state."
Last week, President Trump welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States on an official state visit. When Queen Elizabeth II came to the U.S. for a state visit in 1982, I was a senior at UC Berkeley studying political science and I volunteered to drive in the motorcade when the Queen and President and Mrs. Reagan visited de Young Museum in San Francisco.
That event confirmed my love of politics and led to me working on President Reagan’s landslide 1984 election victory, the 1994 Republican wave and the Contract with America, my time in the private sector, and now at ALEC. Some of our ALEC team attended the welcome ceremony for the King and Queen—I hope they are just as inspired as I was over 40 years ago!
Speaking of UC Berkeley, Reagan economist and ALEC Board of Scholars member Dr. Arthur Laffer will be participating in a Young Americans for Freedom debate on the wealth tax on Berkeley’s campus this Tuesday, May 5, from 6-8 p.m. Pacific time. You can watch that debate here. Places like Washington, California, Illinois, and New York City have or are attempting to impose a wealth tax. This has already led to major corporations fleeing to avoid this monstrosity; Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announced that his family would be leaving Washington for Florida (a state with no income tax) and that some of the company’s operations would be shifting to Tennessee (another state with no income tax). People vote with their feet, and the implementation of a wealth tax can only lead to job creators leaving for greener pastures. ALEC has been a leader in the fight against discriminatory taxes for decades — whether on car rentals, internet access, food and beverages, and everywhere in between. The fight is far from over, and you can count on ALEC leading the charge.
In mid-April, we joined the Utah legislative delegation to meet with cabinet secretaries and senior staff at the White House, followed by our Tax Day debut of the 19th edition of Rich States, Poor States at the U.S. Capitol building. It was a fitting place to host this standing-room only event, as many states are leading the way on how to grow your economy and foster opportunity for all Americans.
Utah is known for its beautiful scenery and incredible people—but for the last 19 years, it’s also been atop the Rich States, Poor States economic outlook rankings. To learn more about their formula for success, check out my conversation with Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, and our ALEC policy team.
And in case this is your first time reading our hallmark report, I’d encourage you to watch our new video featuring the Rich States, Poor States co-authors: Reagan Economist Arthur B. Laffer, economic expert Stephen Moore, and ALEC President & Chief Economist Jonathan Williams:
Last week, in a major victory for free speech, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled to protect donor privacy in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, Inc. v. Davenport. ALEC was pleased to issue an amicus brief in support of First Choice to help defend the First Amendment rights of nonprofits across the country.
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Common Sense Comeback of the Month
Those are the words spoken by JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon at The Hill and Valley Forum, held in late March of this year. Mr. Dimon was chatting about why people are leaving New York and he hit on the factors that make The Empire State 50th for economic outlook in ALEC’s Rich States, Poor States: high taxes and anti-business sentiment. I encourage you to watch this short clip of his remarks. |
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As we inch closer to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, ALEC recently debuted a new video series called This Week in American History. It’s a celebration of the people, places, and events that have shaped our nation. Our first episode highlights the establishment of the Library of Congress, the Texas militia’s victory at San Jacinto, and the deployment of the Hubble Telescope. I hope you’ll follow ALEC on social media, watch our new series, and share with your friends.
As we near the halfway point of 2026, I’m excited to share that ALEC has now been to 30 states from coast to coast, sharing our trusted policy solutions and growing the ALEC state delegations. What I’ve said before bears repeating: ALEC is a 50-state organization. No matter the politics, we are working to deliver our principled policies to every state.
And one final note—our 53rd ALEC Annual Meeting is approaching! Join us July 22-24 in Orlando and meet fellow legislators, policy experts, and industry leaders for three days of meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and forward-looking policy solutions. It promises to be a great time. Sign up today and reserve your spot!
See you in the states!