Our American StatesOur focus in this podcast is state securities administrators. These are the agencies in every state that oversee investor protection and efficient capital formation. Their key focus is protecting consumers who purchase inv

Unpacking the Housing Crisis | OAS Episode 162

Jul 10th, 2022

Our American StatesWhile estimates vary, there is agreement that the U.S. is short several million homes. Many who study the housing situation in the U.S. have dubbed it a housing crisis.Housing has usually been seen as a local issue, but

How States Are Planning for an Aging Population | OAS Episode 148

Dec 19th, 2021

Our American StatesThe U.S. population is aging. In a little more than a decade, people 65 and older will outnumber children. Those older adults face economic, social and other challenges including the need for an array of long-term servic

Peter Groff: Leading Is All About Relationships | LTIS Episode 4

Dec 12th, 2021

Legislatures: The Inside StoreyThe guest for this episode of the podcast is Peter Groff, the former Senate president in Colorado, who also served in the Obama administration as head of the Faith Based Initiative Center for the U.S. Departmen

The Critical Role of Newborn Screening | OAS Episode 147

Dec 5th, 2021

Our American StatesNewborn screening in the U.S. is the practice of testing every child in the country for a number of disorders, many of which can be addressed if caught early. States are in charge of newborn screening and receive advice fr

Mike Haridopolos on Politics, Power and Navigating the Legislature | LTIS Episode 3

Nov 28th, 2021

Legislatures: The Inside StoreyMike Haridopolos, former Senate president in Florida, talks with Tim about how he went from teaching college history to taking the reins as the president of the Senate in one of our largest states.Haridopolos

Living to 100: The Policy Implications |OAS Episode 81

Dec 12th, 2019

For the first time, around 2040, there will be more older adults than children. By 2060, the U.S. Census Bureau says, nearly 1 in 4 Americans will be 65 years and older. And in that same year, the number of people 85 years and older will tripl

Teens in Foster Care: Challenges and Solutions | OAS Episode 80

Dec 5th, 2019

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services latest “Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System” says more than 430,000 people were in foster care in the last fiscal year. About a quarter of those in the system were teenagers.

How Kids Learn | OAS Episode 79

Nov 14th, 2019

Researchers and scientists continue to make advancements in determining how young people learn and how their brains develop. State legislatures devote significant time to education policy and approve considerable state resources to improve the

States Build Paths to Employment for Vets With Disabilities | OAS Episode 78

Nov 7th, 2019

Of the 18 million military veterans living in America today, about one-fourth of them with a service-connected disability. For post 9/11 veterans, that percentage increases to 41 percent. With Veterans Day 2019 approaching, our attention turne

Power Play: States Address U.S. Electric Grid | OAS Episode 77

Oct 31st, 2019

Much of the nation’s network of electricity generation, transmission and distribution resources is aging and major upgrades are needed to for new technologies, changing market dynamics and shifting consumer preferences. This analysis comes fro

U.S. Supreme Court: What to Watch This Term | OAS Episode 76

Oct 24th, 2019

The U.S. Supreme Court opened its current term on the first Monday of October. The court is considering several cases of direct interest to state legislatures. For starters, the court will decide whether the Department of Homeland Security’s d

Redistricting: Partisanship, Politics, Power | OAS Episode 75

Oct 10th, 2019

Once every 10 years, America’s political landscape changes. While most people are aware the U.S. census takes place in years that end in zero, a smaller percentage know the data collected helps determine how the nation’s political power is div

Homeless Youth: Risk Factors of the Vulnerable | OAS Episode 74

Sep 26th, 2019

A 2017 study by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago discovered that around 4.2 million people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience homelessness at least once during the year. Of those, 700,000 are 17 or younger. And, the study found,

How States Are Reacting to Drugged Driving | OAS Episode 73

Sep 12th, 2019

Determining if a driver has too much alcohol in his or her system is now easily measured. But with more states approving the sale and use of recreational marijuana, knowing whether a driver is impaired with that drug—or other substances—is muc

"Almanac" Offers Inside Track on American Politics | OAS Episode 72

Aug 22nd, 2019

Columnist George Will says it’s “the bible of American politics.” Started in 1972, the “Almanac of American Politics,” has been a valuable resource tool for people needing to have comprehensive knowledge of Congress, congressional districts an

End of an ERA at NCSL: Bill Pound Retires | OAS Episode 71

Aug 8th, 2019

For the last 32 years, the National Conference of State Legislatures was led by Executive Director William Pound. He worked for NCSL for 44 years, starting soon after the organization was started in Denver. He retired in mid-July and is being

States Embrace Flexibility in Medicaid Strategies | OAS Episode 70

Jul 25th, 2019

Medicaid is a state-federal health insurance program designed to provide relief for the less fortunate, including low-income people, the elderly and people with disabilities. The program is a significant part of state budgets. State expenditur

Supreme Court and the States: 2019 Wrapup | OAS Episode 69

Jul 18th, 2019

In every term, the U.S. Supreme Court makes decisions that affect state and local governments. In 2019, the court addressed several such issues, including a blockbuster decision on political gerrymandering and an issue of critical importance t

Criminal Justice Reform: A Bipartisan Issue | OAS Episode 68

Jul 11th, 2019

While the country mostly hears how the political parties don’t work together, criminal justice reform is an untold story of how bipartisanship works. States are working together to reduce recidivism, provide released inmates a course for a pro

The Latest in Online and Digital Privacy Laws | OAS Episode 67

Jun 27th, 2019

Last year, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 was signed into law, and the landmark bill has become a model for other states when it comes to online privacy. This year, the California State Legislature is looking to modify the bill to

Measles, Vaccinations and the Role of Government | OAS Episode 66

Jun 20th, 2019

Government and health officials from across the country have expressed concern in recent months as cases of measles have been reported in limited areas of the country—the most reported since 1992. The disease was declared all but eliminated in

It’s Legit to Get Financially Fit | OAS Episode 65

Jun 13th, 2019

What do children know about taxes, credit reports, mortgages, money management, insurance or investing? For that matter, what do parents know about these topics?In this episode, we explore financial literacy. We talk with two guests who are

Moon Landing at 50: STEM, States, Science | OAS Episode 64

May 23rd, 2019

On July 20, the United States will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with traveling exhibits and special ceremonies at museums, the Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center.In honor of the historic feat, w

For Victims, Policies on Rape Kits Hard to Understand | OAS Episode 63

May 16th, 2019

An estimated 25 million Americans are rape survivors. The Bureau of Justice Statistics three years ago estimated only 23 percent of rapes or sexual assaults are reported. For those that do report their assaults, they are confronted with medial