American Legislative Exchange Council Announces The Center for Excellence in Federalism and The Center for Innovation and Technology
American Legislative Exchange Council Announces The Center for Excellence in
Federalism and The Center for Innovation and Technology
Washington, D.C. (December 4, 2014)—The American Legislative Exchange Council today announced the creation of two new centers: The Center for Excellence in Federalism and the Center for Innovation and Technology. The centers will focus on promoting policy innovation using the ALEC principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. The announcement comes as ALEC members convene for the 2014 States and Nation Policy Summit in Washington, D.C.
“As the recent elections demonstrated, the American people have spoken. Americans believe Washington, D.C. is on the wrong track and the states are on the right track,” said Iowa House Majority Leader and ALEC National Chair Linda Upmeyer. “This Federalism Center will create new opportunities and understanding around the appropriate balance of power between the states and the federal government.”
“ALEC members and the American people want responsive, efficient government focused on policy innovation, and the creation of these two centers is about pioneering new ideas for the country in 2015 and beyond,” said Lisa B. Nelson, CEO of ALEC. “These centers will address the most pressing issues facing the states and offer research, guidance and policies dedicated to supporting economic growth, entrepreneurship and federalism.”
The centers are designed to provide an open forum to address issues that cross traditional boundaries. The Center for Excellence in Federalism will focus on increasing citizen engagement in government, while the Center for Innovation and Technology, led by Bartlett Cleland, will explore new ways to apply technology to healthcare, education, communications systems and more. The creation of these two centers follows the successful model of the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform, which focuses on state budget issues, pension reform and state tax issues. Founded in 2011, the goal of the center is to restore economic competitiveness in the states.
“There is no better place than ALEC for policy and idea exchange because our members are deeply invested in their communities and the people who create opportunity in the states,” said Nelson. “These new centers will answer the American people’s desires for a fiscally responsible and more efficient, innovative government.”
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a 501(c)(3) educational organization that provides nonpartisan research, study and analysis. ALEC facilitates interaction between public and private sector leaders, think tanks and citizen groups through meetings and model policy development.
To learn more about the American Legislative Exchange Council, visit www.alec.org.
Contact: Molly Fuhs
mfuhs@alec.org
202-870-1603
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The American Legislative Exchange Council is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the Board of Directors and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of private, foundation and think tank members. For more information about the American Legislative Exchange Council, please visit: www.alec.org.