From challenging monarchs to corporate monopolists, historically, the anti-monopoly movement began in the states. The future of the anti-monopoly movement remains in the states too, and there is incredible momentum on our side. From modernizing antitrust law, to trailblazing public options, to tackling junk fees, price fixing, right to repair, and employee non-competes—state legislators, alongside workers, local businesses, and consumers are on the frontlines of innovation, leading the way in passing new laws to rein in corporate power and empower working families. This session will first provide a foundational understanding of corporate concentration in the United States, including the historic links of corporate monopolies to white supremacy. We will then profile bold anti-monopoly efforts across the country, where across rural, urban, and suburban communities—state legislators, workers, consumers, and local businesses are united and building state economies that advance justice and work for the many, not the elite few.
While state budgets prepare for revenue shortfalls, the ultra-rich, corporations, and their lobbyists have rigged the rules to redirect resources from our communities to their country clubs, from our classrooms to their ballrooms, and from our public parks to their private jets. But state legislators, in collaboration with grassroots organizations, organized labor, and local businesses, are stepping up and organizing year-round to deliver for our families with tax systems to ensure the ultra-rich and corporations pay the taxes they owe and working families get what they’re due. From wealth taxes, corporate tax policies like worldwide combined reporting, and child tax credits, this workshop brings together lawmakers, organizers, and policy experts from states across the country working together to transform the state revenue and budget landscape to support working families rather than the wealthy.
This session will convene state legislators, researchers, policy experts, and healthcare providers to discuss gender-affirming care (GAC) for transgender youth. Attendees will hear from providers and learn how their insights can support lawmakers when developing defensive and proactive policy strategies. Researchers and policy experts will update participants on the evolving national healthcare landscape for trans youth. By the end of the session, participants will have access to new communication strategies designed to depolarize the narrative around trans youth and their access to care.
