September CEO Update

I don’t know about you, but as we prepare for a crazy fall election season, I have been heartened to see some common sense coming back to American enterprise and the business C-Suites.

In fact, we’ve noticed companies like Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply, and John Deere reassessing as they step back from progressive policies and return to the fundamentals. It’s not just a smart move; it’s an essential response to the employees, shareholders, and customers of these great American brands.

What we’re witnessing is a return to common sense. Companies across all industries—whether it be farming, finance, publishing, or retail—are getting back to what they do best: running a profitable business so they can grow, creating more value for customers, and employing more hardworking Americans. It’s almost shocking that they strayed from this path in the first place. These companies are returning to common sense—and focusing on profitability. The question that lingers is: What forced them to veer off course in the first place?

We’ve experienced a similar phenomenon firsthand at ALEC. Around the time I joined in 2014, a handful of companies caved to the pressure of progressive extremists and chose to sever ties with ALEC. It still happens occasionally. But let me ask you: Is universal education freedom offering every child the same opportunity extreme? Is ensuring that America has access to affordable and reliable energy extreme? Is demanding transparency from hospitals about the costs of services and goods extreme? I think not, and I hope you agree.

The truth is business needs partners like ALEC more than many realize. At ALEC, we aren’t fixated on the latest political trends of the cycle. We focus on the state policies that help businesses and the American people thrive over the long term.

Speaking of state policies that matter, look at Chevron’s recently announced plans to move from California to Texas. They left because Texas offered lower taxes and fewer burdensome regulations. As Dr. Art Laffer often says, “It’s not rocket surgery.”

As we have pointed out for nearly two decades in our annual Rich States, Poor States report, if you create a business-friendly environment, job creators will come. Economic growth will follow. But if you keep stacking up tax after tax and regulation after regulation, then they’ll vote with their feet in favor of a better state policy landscape.

At ALEC, we have the educational tools to ensure your state never falls behind by standing still. Following the Supreme Court’s summer decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which removed power from an unelected federal bureaucracy, many ALEC members are capitalizing on this momentum by eliminating agency deference at the state level. As Bloomberg Law noted a few days ago, “All of the state measures have language similar to model legislation by ALEC, mandating that courts scrap agency deference by reviewing agency interpretations of their own.” That is just one great example of ALEC’s trusted policy solutions and the positive impact they have for all Americans.

On a more global note, I just returned from a trip to Taiwan with ALEC’s Board Member and West Virginia Senator Patricia Rucker, International Relations Task Force Senior Director Karla Jones, and a bipartisan group of several other ALEC leaders. Taiwan, much like Israel, stands as a beacon of freedom and democracy in a challenging geopolitical landscape.

The people of Taiwan are remarkably optimistic and driven by the same values that we hold dear. Not only did we meet with frequent ALEC speaker and current Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim, but also leaders throughout the country including Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, who just happens to belong to a different political party than Vice President Hsiao. Much like here at home, we don’t care about party affiliation as long as you support the principles of limited government, free markets, and federalism.

It was inspiring to see ALEC’s principles thriving on another continent with a people who were not born under the protection of the red, white, and blue, but under the shadow of mainland China. Much like Israel, their struggle is both real and constant as their neighbors see them not as partners, but as a sickness that needs to be cured. Still, they fight. They go on. They persevere. Doing anything less would be to surrender – not just of their rights or of their freedoms, but of their very souls.

It’s a lesson I think we tend to lose sight of here in America. We are the lucky few who were fortunate enough to be born in a land where freedom is expected, where life is celebrated, and where our only true limitations are the ones we place upon ourselves. It may not be perfect, but as Abraham Lincoln said, America continues to be the “last best hope” for freedom the world has to offer.

As we continue working, both domestically and internationally, it’s essential to remember that ALEC is a policy organization, not a political one. It’s about making a difference—whether supporting Taiwan’s fight for democracy or advocating for sound economic policies here at home. You should be part of that difference. Join ALEC. Get involved with our Legislator Academies this fall on energy, emerging technology, economic competitiveness, and more. Attend our States and Nation Policy Summit this December in Washington, DC. You’ll be inspired by the speakers, prepared for the 2025 legislative sessions, and captivated by the nation’s capital under a December sky.

As we approach the year’s final stretch, let’s stay focused, strong in our resolve, and ready to seize the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to lead, inspire, and make a lasting impact—both here and around the globe.