Latest / Real State / Voices of the South: Leaders on What’s Next

Transcript

Voices of the South: Leaders on What’s Next · Real State

• 0:00
  This is Real State, a podcast from CSG South. Join us as we talk with policymakers and public leaders shaping state-level decisions across the South and explore how ideas move from policy to real impact.
• 0:19
  Welcome to Real State. I'm your host, Lindsey Gray. This episode is going to be a little bit different.
• 0:29
  As we look back at the Southern Legislative Conference from this year, we had the opportunity to sit down with legislators and legislative staff from across the South and ask them three simple questions.
• 0:41
  What issue will define the next five years for the legislature? What advice would they give to the next generation of public servants? And what makes the Southern region so unique?
• 0:55
  The answers were thoughtful, candid, and remarkably consistent. Let's begin with the first question.
• 1:02
  When we asked lawmakers, what is one issue every Southern state will be talking about over the next five years?
• 1:09
  There were dozens of different perspectives. Several themes emerged again and again from artificial intelligence, data centers, energy, water, housing, health care, and affordability.
• 1:24
  Here's what they had to say.
• 1:28
  Affordability means different things to different people. And so we need to really determine how to make that happen for every citizen so that everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
• 1:40
  I think the data centers seems like is the number one concern right now.
• 1:48
  It's something that every state is having issues with it and trying to prepare their state to make sure the taxpayers and the voter understands what's going on.
• 2:01
  Water is going to become a very hot topic because a lot of states don't have water and they're trying to figure out how to actually partner with other states and get water to their states.
• 2:11
  Health care, especially rural health care, all of the Southern states are currently facing the same difficulties in regards to funding for health care resources, accessibility.
• 2:24
  Energy, energy, energy. I represent San Francisco 32, which has the largest concentration of data centers globally, more than 200 and more coming.
• 2:35
  One really important issue, I focus a lot on health policy and the physician shortage is going to be a huge issue. We also know we face a great deal of poverty in many, if not all of the Southern states.
• 2:50
  And we have these health care deserts throughout the state. And so I think attracting, particularly primary care physicians is going to be a front and center for a lot of folks.
• 3:01
  I think that we're going to see more and more conversations about how we can better support those who feel like this economy is stacked against them right now.
• 3:11
  I would say Medicaid is one issue that Southern states are going to continue to examine because the reductions and reimbursement rates from the federal government is going to force our states to reexamine our funding mechanisms
• 3:30
  for our health care systems, data centers. Some individuals are seeing opportunities while others see technologies.
• 3:38
  Artificial intelligence, I serve on a national artificial intelligence committee and it is coming up in everywhere I go.
• 3:47
  I think one issue you'll see coming up repetitively over the next five years will be around data centers and energy and water use.
• 3:58
  We do something about the messaging around data centers, what they are, what they do and energy and the energy they use.
• 4:09
  Our next question moved beyond policy and into leadership. We asked each legislator what advice would you give the next generation of public servants?
• 4:20
  Their answers weren't about winning elections or passing more legislation. Instead, they focused on something much more fundamental, listening before leading, building trust, serving people over politics and remembering that public office is ultimately about improving the lives of the communities they were elected to serve.
• 4:41
  Here's their advice for the next generation.
• 4:44
  I think the most gratifying part of being an elected official is solving real problems in your community.
• 4:54
  If you have the right intentions to go in and be a public servant, you'll be way ahead of the game.
• 5:01
  If you're going to go in to public office, you've got to love get thick skin.
• 5:08
  I think when you go in, it's best to listen for a little bit. Everybody has their ideas, but when you come in and call everybody else out or stuff like that, it doesn't work.
• 5:25
  I think I wouldn't want everybody to know that in the divisive nature that we are in our country and our state, that I feel that people getting involved in public service now need to be a voice of unity.
• 5:37
  You don't necessarily do it for the money. You do it because someone has to do it. You want the job done right.
• 5:45
  Be flexible and be willing to hear everyone's ideas. You learn very quickly that most of us feel the same way and have the same goals in mind for our communities, for our government, for our state, our country.
• 5:57
  We just have different concepts on how to get there.
• 6:00
  Being in the public sector is not easy. You're constantly under fire and you have to make sure that your family's on board with being part of it because when you become in the public sector, your family does too.
• 6:13
  You're looking at going into public service and you can't listen to other folks, then it may not be a fit for you.
• 6:19
  Once you build relationships, you learn about the issues, learn about all sides of an issue and then make a decision based on the information you have and what's best for the people that you represent.
• 6:33
  I want the next generation of lawmakers to know that your voice matters and that everybody deserves a seat at the table.
• 6:42
  So, elected you for a reason and I want you to speak boldly and be ready to advocate for the needs of the folks that you represent.
• 6:50
  And our final question was perhaps the easiest to answer, but maybe the hardest to define.
• 6:56
  We asked what makes the Southern region special?
• 7:00
  Some talked about economic growth, others pointed to innovation, many highlighted lower taxes and business-friendly policies.
• 7:08
  But one answer came up over and over again, the people.
• 7:13
  I could especially talk about Tennessee leading the way because we have some of the lowest taxes.
• 7:19
  We do not have an income tax and I believe we're the only state in the union that has a constitutional amendment that prohibits an income tax.
• 7:27
  I know there are some other Southern states that are similarly situated with kind of being at the forefront of some of the AI and some of the technology, emerging technology that you wouldn't necessarily have thought that the Southern states would be at the forefront of that.
• 7:47
  But I think a lot of that has to do with available land and favorable tax environment and things like that.
• 7:58
  Not only are we bringing in different people from all across the United States and demographics, we're also starting to have true conversations on proper tax rates, proper ways to finance government.
• 8:10
  The people are what makes the South the best part of the country. It's why we see so many people from all across the nation outside of the South migrating into our area.
• 8:22
  I know that Southern hospitality is at the root of probably every single member that's here at the conference.
• 8:28
  And so I think that I'm really trying to dig into meaningful conversations and figure out where there's alignment.
• 8:35
  The climate is much nicer. We have friendly people. The people just think that's a huge part of our hospitality.
• 8:44
  And I think people are just migrating here because of those few things, climate in the people.
• 8:50
  The Southern states all kind of experience a lot of the same things. And we have a unique kind of Southern culture that kind of binds us all together.
• 9:00
  Whether the conversation was about artificial intelligence, health care, housing, or economic growth, whether the advice was listen more, work together, or stay focused on serving others, one thing became very clear.
• 9:14
  The Southern states face many of the same challenges, but they also share a willingness to learn from one another.
• 9:21
  That's exactly why gatherings like the Southern Legislative Conference matter.
• 9:25
  They create opportunities for legislators, legislative staff, and policy leaders to exchange ideas, to build relationships, and discover solutions.
• 9:35
  That can strengthen every Southern state.
• 9:38
  Thank you to everyone who took a few moments during this year's conference to share your perspectives.
• 9:44
  And thank you for listening to Real State.
• 9:46
  If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and visit CHGSAL.org for more conversations about the policies and people shaping our region.
• 9:59
  I'm Lindsey Gray. Let's keep it real.
• 10:02
  Thank you for joining us today on Real States, where we keep it real about what really matters.
• 10:09
  [MUSIC]