NCSL Podcasts show

NCSL Podcasts

Summary: Learn about the people, policies and politics of America's state legislatures with NCSL's three podcasts: "Our American States," "Legislatures: The Inside Story" and "Building Democracy."

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  • Artist: NCSL
  • Copyright: (c) National Conference of State Legislatures

Podcasts:

 Putting the “Human” in Human Resources | OAS Episode 34 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

In this edition, we talk with the president and CEO of the world’s largest human resource association, Johnny Taylor. His organization, the Society for Human Resource Management, represents human resource professionals in 165 countries and has more than 300,000 members. Taylor provides his expertise and discusses how state legislatures can benefit from stronger human resource offices and policies. We get his advice for human resource directors and he explains why it’s important to have those directors at the table when important organizational decisions are being made. He leaves us with a look at the biggest trends affecting human resource management today: workforce, artificial intelligence and culture. Taylor will be featured as a keynote speaker at NCSL’s Legislative Summit this summer. Additional Resources Transcription of Episode 34 2018 NCSL Legislative Summit

 Mindfulness: Legislative Staff Elixir | OAS Episode 33 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Working in state legislatures is a very demanding job. State legislative serve in an institution where workload changes can come often and swiftly. The shifting nature of legislation and the mixture of public opinion, rules, procedures and process make session work stressful. But for the estimated 30,000-plus legislative staff that work in legislatures during session, most will tell you the work is rewarding. This week, the National Conference of State Legislatures is celebrating Legislative Staff Week and we’re devoting this episode of “Our American States” to the topic of mindfulness—keeping oneself in the present and maintaining a calm demeanor even under stressful conditions. Our guests are: Tammy Wright, who is the clerk of the New Hampshire Senate. She talks about how she uses mindfulness in her role as she works with leadership and her staff during the legislative session. Megan Jones Bell, the chief science officer of Headspace, a company that merges technology and meditation. She will be a featured speaker at NCSL’s annual meeting in Los Angeles this summer. Additional Resources Transcription of Episode 33

 Online Sales Tax Decision Up to the Supreme Court | OAS Episode 32 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that online retailers did not have to collect sales or use taxes unless the company had a physical presence in a state. Soon after, the National Conference of State Legislatures and other state and local government organizations, championed efforts in Congress and in the states to fix the remote sales tax issue.  NCSL President and South Dakota Senator Deb Peters (R), who has been active with NCSL in addressing this matter, filed legislation in her state designed to challenge the issue. On April 17, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case, South Dakota v. Wayfair, which could result in retailers collecting the sales tax owed on purchases. We discuss the legislation and background leading up to the case with Senator Peters, and also talk with Supreme Court expert Lisa Soronen, who is executive director of the State and Local Legal Center. Additional Resources Additional Resources Remote Sales Tax Collection Transcription of Episode 32

 700 Billion Reasons to Care About the Census | OAS Episode 31 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

In 2020, the U.S. will conduct its next census. The result of that census will determine the amount of federal funds appropriated to states—nearly $700 billion federal aid is at stake. It also will determine the number of seats in Congress a state receives, as well as redistricting for state legislative and local seats. This episode will explain why an accurate count is critical to government, businesses, nonprofits and other organizations. Preparations are underway and states are taking a lead role, with many already creating statewide complete count commissions to ensure accurate counts. Our guests will explain the process of collecting the data of more than 327 million people and what will happen between now and when official data are collected. They also say state legislators have a critical role to play in the process. Our three guests are: Tim Olson, associate director for field operations, U.S. Census Bureau. Terri Ann Lowenthal, census consultant and former staff director of the House Census Oversight Committee. Patrick Potyondy, a legislative policy specialist and ACLS-Mellon public fellow in NCSL’s Elections and Redistricting program. Additional Resources Transcription of Episode 31

 Students and Legislatures—A Two-Way Street | OAS Episode 30 | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: Unknown

The list of duties and responsibilities for state legislators is long. Still, a number of state senators and representatives carve out time from their busy schedule—which often includes another full-time job—to talk with students about government and the importance of participating in the process. The National Conference of State Legislatures encourages state legislators to take part in its “America’s Legislators Back to School” program, offering tips on how to engage with students. We get two unique perspectives on how talking with students has an impact. Kentucky Senate Pro Tem Jimmy Higdon, who represents a largely rural area, and Boston metropolitan state Representative Christine Barber, offer their perspectives on engaging students. They will reveal how students not only learn, but how young people can have an impact on state issues. Additional Resources Transcription of Episode 30 America's Legislators Back to School Program

 The Economic Argument for Early Childhood Education | OAS Episode 29 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

For a little more than two years, states have been implementing a federal law called the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a bipartisan federal education law that the Wall Street Journal characterized as “the largest devolution of federal control to the states in a quarter-century.” ESSA enhances state’s ability to close “opportunity gaps,” which occur when one group of students consistently receives more educational inputs than another group. In this podcast, economist Art Rolnick explains how investing in early childhood education can pay off in big ways for the states, by closing opportunity gaps before they become achievement gaps. Through research, he has quantified the economic benefits to states. We also talk with Utah state Senator Howard Stephenson (R), who shares how working with incarcerated youth in his state changed his perspective on the value of early childhood education programs. For more on early childhood education and closing opportunity gaps, review NCSL’s research. Additional Resources Transcription of Episode 29

 Pot Puts States, Feds at Odds | OAS Episode 28 | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: Unknown

For the nine states and the District of Columbia that have approved the sale of recreational marijuana, and the 29 states and three territories that allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, there is great concern about the federal government’s desire to seek criminal prosecution over the possession of marijuana. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made it known he would like to enforce federal laws that prohibit the possession of marijuana for any purposes. This could be of special concern for the estimated 2.5 million Americans who use the drug for medicinal reasons. Our guests, both experts from the National Conference of State Legislatures, guide us through this issue. Susan Frederick, senior federal affairs counsel at NCSL, walks us through the attorney general’s actions and explains what is at stake for states. Karmen Hansen, a program director in NCSL’s health program, breaks down the statistics on state laws, including how much revenue is being generated and what is on the horizon following the attorney general’s actions. Additional Resources Transcription of Episode 28

 Place Your Bets: States, Sports Gambling and Fantasy Sports | Episode 27 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

With the completion of Super Bowl 52 this past weekend, we decided to take a look at states and sports, in particular the laws that regulate sports gaming and daily fantasy sports. An estimated $150 billion or more is wagered illegally on sporting events each year. Currently, sports gambling is allowed only in Nevada and a few other exceptions. A case before the U.S. Supreme Court, which is looking at The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, could allow more states to allow these types of wagers. And it could open the doors for greater acceptance of daily sports fantasy contests. Providing background, insight and perspective on these issues are Ethan Wilson, policy director of NCSL’s Commerce and Financial Services Standing Committee,  and Jake Lestock, an NCSL policy specialist in the State-Federal Relations Division.  Transcription of Episode 27

 Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Legislature | OAS Episode 26 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Sexual harassment, spurred primarily the #metoo movement, has been front to the forefront of every sector—including government. In this episode, we talk with three experts to get a sense of what types of changes are happening in state legislatures and to find out what types of best practices they should consider. First we talk with Jonathan Griffin, a program principal at the National Conference of State Legislatures, who tracks state legislative policies and procedures regarding sexual harassment. He provides an overview of some of the major changes happening in state legislatures. Jenny Yang, a recent commissioner on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, provides her perspective on sexual harassment. She discusses how it is tied to discrimination, proper procedures and why institutions should consider changes in culture and behaviors. Closing out the program is Jonathan Segal a recognized national expert on sexual harassment issues. He shares his thoughts on accountability, the role of leadership and how to restore trust in sexual harassment systems. And, he points out that we all have a responsibility to take a stand when we observe or overhear inappropriate behavior.  Transcription of Episode 26

 State of State Legislatures 2018 | OAS Episode 25 | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: Unknown

William Pound, executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures, offers his insight on major issues state legislatures will be addressing in their 2018 sessions. Based on a January article in State Legislatures magazine, “Top 10 in 2018,” we get his insights on: States reaction to the federal tax cut bill State revenue health Opioids Recreational and medical marijuana Immigration Reduction of federal regulations Cybersecurity Health Education Driverless vehicles Energy Infrastructure Sexual harassment Election administration Resources Transcription of Episode 25

 The ABCs of After-School Programs | OAS Episode 24 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Following each school day, more than 10 million students take part in afterschool programs in this country, taking advantage of a system that provides additional educational opportunities, social engagement, exposure to new skills. For parents, those programs provide comfort, knowing their child is safe and in a structured environment. The Afterschool Alliance says data demonstrates significant value for students that take part in these opportunities, but acknowledge that the quality and accessibility of afterschool programs varies across the country. They estimate that more than 11 million other children take care of themselves each day after school. In this episode of “Our American States,” we talk with Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance to find out what is happening nationally, and Texas State Representative Trent Ashby, to get a perspective on how these programs work on the state level. Transcription of Episode 24

 The Best Jobs of My Life: Legislative Staff Reflect | OAS Episode 23 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

About 31,000 people work for state legislatures, serving in a variety of jobs. The National Conference of State Legislatures is celebrating Legislative Staff Week. So we decided to take this opportunity on  “Our American States” to interview three legislative staffers and find out more about what it's like to work for a legislature in today's political environment. They tell us about their jobs, how they got there and why it's the best job they've ever had.  None of them entered the workforce considering a public service career in state legislatures. One person moved from the public information office to the budget office. Another volunteered for a campaign and is now directing an important legislative department. And our other guest had an exciting career as a television news anchor, but has now found a position that she enjoys more. All of them appreciate the fact that every day presents new challenges. And, they all agree that young people should consider public service jobs in the legislature.  Our guests on this episode are: Chuck Truesdell, legislative fiscal analyst, Budget Research Office, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky Martah Wigton, director, House Budget and Research Staff, Georgia Lauren Hieger, communications director, Senate Majority Caucus, Missouri Resources Transcription of Episode 23

 Can We Just Be Civil? | OAS Episode 22 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

"Our American States" took its first road trip to Fort Collins, Colo., to watch a legislative town hall in session. Despite being the Saturday before Thanksgiving, temperatures in the low 40s and a Colorado State University football game kickoff game less than three hours away, about 70 people crammed into a library conference room to learn and ask questions about transportation issues.  Town halls are held by state legislators across the country on a regular basis, and this meeting is just one example. The citizens of Fort Collins have a strong history of attending community forums. We provide a taste of this forum, and talk with an expert on legislative community engagement to find out what's happening around the country. In this episode, we talk with Colorado state Representative Joann Ginal (D) and Angela Andrews, program director of the Legislative Staff Services Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures. In addition to the Fort Collins example, we find out about outreach in other states such as Massachusetts, West Virginia and Hawaii. We'll discuss trends in engagement outreach such as tele-town halls, logistics, safety, reaching Millennials, and how to have better and deeper conversations with citizens. And, both our guests bring up the value of circles. Transcription of Episode 22

 Serving the Nation's Veterans | OAS Episode 21 | File Type: audio/mp3 | Duration: Unknown

America owes a great debt to the men and women who have served in this nation's military. The National Conference of State Legislatures several years ago created the Task Force On Military & Veterans Affairs to examine issues affecting military-community relations and the health and well-being of service members, veterans and their families. As we approach Veterans Day, we asked the new co-chairs of the task force—Representative Tina L. Orwall (D) of Washington and Representative Dan Saddler (R) of Alaska—to talk about the future work of the task force. We discover how several major policy issues affect the well-being of former soldiers, and get a glimpse of why the two legislators are deeply invested in veterans issues. Issues they say the task force will be looking at include jobs, energy, health care, transition, environment, courts, addiction recovery, economic development, mental health and suicide prevention.  Military and Veterans Homepage Transcription of Episode 21

 U.S. Supreme Court Cases to Watch This Term | OAS Episode 20 | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: Unknown

Five cases that the U.S. Supreme Court has put on its docket for the current term could have a significant impact on states. State legislatures are waiting for decisions on these cases, and could cause them to change state laws depending on how the court rules. And a potentially explosive sixth case is waiting in the wings. Our guests on this episode of “Our American States” are Lisa Soronen, executive director of the State and Local Legal Center, and Susan Frederick, senior federal affairs counsel at the National Conference of State Legislatures. The cases we examine are: Gill v. Whitford, a Wisconsin case in which the court may decide whether partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional. Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, looks at whether Colorado's public accommodations law violates a cake artist’s First Amendment free speech and free exercise rights. Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees the court will address whether unions can collect dues from nonmembers. Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute looks at Ohio’s procedures to remove voters from their rolls after four years of inactivity. Christie v. National Collegiate Athletic Association may decide how far Congress can regulate states and localities in the absence of comprehensive federal regulation. And, as a bonus, we’ll discuss what could happen if the court accepts a South Dakota case that could overturn the 1992 Quill Corp v North Dakota, which said states could not force business to collect sales or use taxes unless it has a physical presence in a state. Transcription of Episode 20

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