Record Number of State and Local Legislators to Convene at the ALEC States & Nation Policy Summit
Reflects States’ Increasing Influence and Issue Alignment
More than 1,000 legislators and stakeholders are expected at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) – States & Nation Policy Summit in Nashville on December 6 – 8, setting a new bar for this annual gathering. This year’s large participation is due to the leading role ALEC plays in state policy at a time when the federal government has a renewed focus on returning power to the states.
As the largest membership organization of state legislators, ALEC is uniquely positioned to offer state-level policy leadership. And each year, the States & Nation Policy Summit is where it comes together, where effective state solutions are shared across the country to benefit hardworking taxpayers and reduce the cost of everyday life.
“Today, states are where the action is,” said ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson. “Following major 2017 state policy decisions like right to work in Kentucky and Missouri and Pennsylvania Pension Reform, ALEC members are coming together to chart a course and exchange ideas for 2018.”
“ALEC provides a forum for robust exchange—it allows legislators to become rich with information and ideas to improve efficiency in government and ultimately better people’s lives,” said Jim Buck, Indiana State Senator and 2017 ALEC Chairman.
This year, a major federal policy concern with state and local implications is tax reform. Both the House and the Senate drafted competing bills that are seeing a flurry of amendments in the hopes of reconciliation before Christmas. Early in the process, ALEC and its member-legislators signed a letter calling for the elimination of the state and local tax deduction, a divisive state issue. Based on this success, ALEC is drafting a letter to Congress to be signed in Nashville calling for ending the Death Tax, an onerous penalty that’s been blamed for decimating the family farm.
Keynote speakers at this year’s Summit include: economics experts – Larry Kudlow, Steve Forbes, Dr. Art Laffer, and Steve Moore; public officials from all levels of government – Tennessee Governor Haslam, Senator Lamar Alexander, Representative Diane Black and State Senator Mark Green; Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin; and, former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Attendees will hear and debate the latest policy proposals on issues such as health care, free speech, education, pensions, occupational licensing and energy policy.
The States & Nation Policy Summit also marks a leadership transition for ALEC and its legislative members. The meeting will welcome North Carolina State Representative Jason Saine into the role of Chairman, succeeding current Chairman, Indiana State Senator, Jim Buck.
With Washington, DC looking to the states for what works best, the States & Nation Policy Summit will provide a valuable forum where innovative, limited-government and free-market solutions are discovered.
To view the States & Nation Policy Summit agenda and a full list of ALEC reports, visit www.alec.org