Wednesday, July 15th 10 things states can do now to help alleviate state budget challenges by protecting the safety net and encouraging work Wednesday, July 15th @ 10 AM – 11 AM EST Today, states are facing the perfect storm: budget deficits, business closures, unemployment, and increased welfare dependency. While any of these would be considered a major challenge for elected leaders, this combination calls for a thoughtful and deliberate review of strategies to manage some of the largest drivers of state budget spending – Medicaid and other welfare programs. In this session, the Foundation for Government Accountability will show you how to tackle budget shortfalls head-on and put your state budget back on the path to prosperity. COVID-19 & Outdated Emergency Management Acts Facilitated Gubernatorial Overreach Wednesday, July 15th @ 2 PM – 3 PM EST In response to COVID-19, legislatures across the country are taking a fresh look at executive authority during an emergency like COVID-19. Some governors overstepped their authority. In Wisconsin, the Supreme Court overturned Gov. Evers’ executive order and allowed the legislature to reopen the state. And in other states, ambiguities in state emergency management acts facilitated gubernatorial power grabs during the crisis. With this context in mind, state chamber leaders will host a discussion on state executive power and overreach. Tuesday, July 21st Four Paths to a State-Drafted Voter-Ratified U.S. Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) Tuesday, July 21st @ 10 AM – 11 AM EST After COVID-19 recedes into our national memory and the PPP checks have all been cashed, the United States will need to address a multi-trillion dollar national debt. Join us for a discussion featuring former WI Governor Scott Walker and other state legislative leaders to learn about the four paths that ultimately lead to a BBA for America. We’re closer than you think to a constitutional amendment! Community Corrections and Clean Slates: Ideas States Can Undertake on Their Policy Plates – Tuesday, July 21st @ 11 AM – 12 Noon EST This panel will discuss the intersection and relatedness between community corrections and clean slate policies, which enable human opportunity and lower recidivism rates. Some states have addressed these issues and have reaped the benefits. Join us to learn how these issues can both have a transformative impact on corrections and empower individuals. Removing Barriers to Healthcare Tuesday, July 21st @ 1 PM – 2 PM EST In response to COVID-19, Americans have been thinking about ways to remove barriers in the healthcare space and allow for greater access to providers. Join healthcare experts from the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Mackinac Center for a discussion highlighting policies and regulations currently stifling access to healthcare providers and equipment. Wednesday, July 22nd Reopening Schools in the Time of COVID-19: Why Options and Innovation Matter Wednesday, July 22nd @ 1 PM – 2 PM EST As a battle brews over when and how to reopen schools, we examine what success looks like. How can federal relief both expand options for families and empower states to be innovative? And how do we prevent permanent closure of private schools serving children from lowerincome families? Thursday, July 23rd Policy Prescriptions to Expand Education Opportunities in a Post-COVID19 World Thursday, July 23rd @ 11 AM – 12 Noon EST COVID-19 is changing the way we do just about everything. That is especially true when it comes to how we are educating our children. Join legislators and education reformers in a conversation on digital, private and homeschool responses to the global pandemic.