{"id":500018,"date":"2026-03-02T22:31:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T22:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/500018\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T22:31:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T22:31:09","slug":"a-defining-month-in-the-states-ceo-update-american-legislative-exchange-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/500018\/","title":{"rendered":"A Defining Month in the States: CEO Update – American Legislative Exchange Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

One year ago this month, I wrote<\/a>\u00a0about Vice President J.D. Vance\u2019s address to the Munich Security Conference, where he \u201cexposed the fundamental flaws of European elites.\u201d Two weeks ago, Secretary of State and ALEC alumni Marco Rubio delivered perhaps the defining speech of his career to-date<\/a>. In this seminal address, Secretary Rubio called on Europe to join with the United States in \u201can alliance ready to defend our people, to safeguard our interests, and to preserve the freedom of action that allows us to shape our own destiny.\u201d The speech was incredibly hopeful, with an eye towards the future where \u201cthe United States will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration, driven by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign, and as vital as our civilization\u2019s past.\u201d<\/p>\n

I also spoke of Vice President Vance\u2019s remarks to the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, where he \u201claid out a vision for the future\u2014one where innovation is unleashed, not smothered by bureaucracy.\u201d It is in that spirit that ALEC just released our 2026 State AI Policy Toolkit<\/a> which lays out how states can help usher in a golden age of AI innovation. With over 1,000 AI bills introduced across all 50 states in the past year, we believe this report will serve as an important resource for ALEC state legislators.<\/p>\n

I hope you caught President Trump\u2019s State of the Union Address last week, as well. He laid out a positive vision for America\u2019s future centered around affordability, security, and economic growth. He also took time to celebrate the kind of heroes that have made America the greatest nation on earth for the last 250 years\u2014heroes like Navy Captain Royce Williams, who completed what experts called \u201cone of the greatest feats in aviation history\u201d during the Korean War, or Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, who saved 165 people during the 2025 Texas floods in his first ever recovery mission. It was refreshing to see the President use that time to honor such brave Americans!<\/p>\n

Last weekend, I was honored to join a gathering of 450 top conservatives across the country in Dana Point, California. This group has done incredible work for the last 45 years advancing our shared values. ALEC is always proud to collaborate with our partners across the country in organizations big and small.<\/p>\n

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At the event, I interviewed New York Post reporter and host of the Pod Force Once podcast, Miranda Devine. We discussed Secretary Rubio\u2019s remarks in Munich, the future of media with the new California Post, and the policies that are driving Americans out of New York and California. It was an incredible conversation from one of the best in the news business.<\/p>\n

During my visit to the state capitol in Sacramento, I met with ALEC members, including State Senator Suzette Valladares and State Assemblyman David Tangipa, two young rising stars in the California legislature. ALEC is not giving up on California, and we are excited to work with our members there to reverse the years of mismanagement in state government.<\/p>\n

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This trip to California was part of a great swing through the Western United States that included Arizona and New Mexico, where we worked to recruit new members and share our Essential Policy Solutions<\/a>. Visiting these beautiful states was a fantastic and productive experience. Since the start of 2026, our amazing ALEC team visited 19 states from coast to coast.<\/p>\n

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Common Sense Comeback of the Month<\/p>\n

While driving across the Golden State in February, I spotted an incredible sign at several Chevron gas stations: \u201cCalifornia has the highest gas taxes and fees in America,\u201d with a QR code encouraging drivers to take action. As I paid nearly $5 per gallon to fill up, I was thrilled to see Chevron pushing back on tax-loving California! Here\u2019s hoping this is the start of a nationwide push by Chevron and its fellow fuel producers.<\/p>\n

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In last month\u2019s Common-Sense Comeback, I wrote about J.P. Morgan Chase rightly abandoning proxy-advisor firms. I was pleased to see that Wells Fargo joined Chase<\/a> by cutting ties with its proxy adviser and launching its own internal proxy service. Wells Fargo stated that it would direct proxy voting based on its clients\u2019 long-term interest\u2014exactly what businesses should be focused on!<\/p>\n

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One of the best parts of ALEC\u2019s location is that we can easily advocate for the states here in the Washington D.C. area. Last month, legislators from Michigan, led by Speaker Matt Hall, joined us at the White House to meet with Cabinet Secretaries Linda McMahon (Education), Howard Lutnick (Commerce), and Chris Wright (Energy). We\u2019re always happy to see our members up this way, and we hope that, if you are a legislative member, you will let us know when you\u2019re in D.C.!<\/p>\n

February was truly a remarkable month for ALEC. From our new amicus brief<\/a> filed in a critical Supreme Court election case to our press conference in Indianapolis<\/a> on tackling the national debt with Gov. Mike Braun and State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla, we aren\u2019t slowing down our work to empower the states any time soon. Additionally, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey and ALEC members in the state have recently fought to defend the Hope Scholarship, West Virginia\u2019s landmark, first-in-the-nation education freedom scholarship. The program is helping real families choose the best educational opportunities for their children.<\/p>\n

As we continue to celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday, we are all thrilled with the exciting gold medal win by Team USA\u2019s men\u2019s and women\u2019s hockey teams in the Winter Olympics\u2014its first since the infamous Miracle on Ice in 1980! Star player and game-winner Jack Hughes\u2019s post-game comments: \u201cThis is all about our country right now\u201d were so inspiring. I love the USA\u2026I\u2019m so proud to be American today.\u201d I hope more athletes and entertainers take a page from Hughes\u2019s patriotism as we continue to observe America\u2019s 250th year.<\/p>\n

See you in the states!<\/p>\n

PS \u2013 In commemoration of America\u2019s Semiquincentennial, the social media team at ALEC has put out some great American history content\u2014from Washington\u2019s<\/a> and Lincoln\u2019s<\/a> birthdays to our staff describing their favorite presidents<\/a> on Presidents\u2019 Day. If you aren\u2019t following ALEC on social media, I highly encourage you to do so right away! You can find us on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, and LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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