News
State Lawmakers Are Fighting for Communities + Rule of Law
In a new op ed for Talking Points Memo, State Futures President Gaby Goldstein argues that the arrest of 11 New York state legislators and the viral video of an Illinois lawmaker racing down a suburban street confronting masked federal agents capture something too often overlooked: while the federal government carries out a deeply unpopular agenda, state lawmakers are fighting back visibly and boldly. A hopeful story is unfolding as legislators defend communities with their voices and their bodies, uphold the rule of law, and embody a vision of government that protects rather than persecutes.The next step is to knit these efforts together so the energy in Illinois, New York, and beyond becomes a coordinated front.
Immigration + Rule of Law
State Futures today released a new Issue Brief spotlighting the surge of state-level action on immigration. The memo is packed with examples of bills, hearings, lawsuits, and communications from across the country. It’s a compendium for lawmakers, activists and journalists looking for ideas and examples of how states can assert authority in response to an emboldened federal immigration agenda.
Washington, DC — State Futures today released a new Issue Brief spotlighting the surge of state-level action on immigration. The memo is packed with examples of bills, hearings, lawsuits, and communications from across the country. It’s a compendium for lawmakers, activists and journalists looking for ideas and examples of how states can assert authority in response to an emboldened federal immigration agenda.
“Last week, the Supreme Court greenlit racial profiling in immigration enforcement,” said Gaby Goldstein, Founder and President of State Futures. “If Washington cannot - or will not - protect communities and the rule of law, states must. Not timidly or in isolation, but creatively, aggressively, and collaboratively. The good news is, they already are - if you know where to look. There is a massive swell of state activity - but until now, concrete examples have been scattered and siloed. This Issue Brief pulls them together in one place: a clear framework, dozens of case studies, and a roadmap for how states can act.”
Highlights from the Issue Brief include:
Legislation: From New York’s “Avelo Airlines bill,” to bills in 3 states to withhold federal taxes if DC owes the state funds, to 7 states banning local ICE partnerships.
Oversight & Investigations: State lawmakers in Florida and New York forcing access to detention facilities, holding “people’s hearings,” and creating task forces.
Litigation: Legislators are serving as plaintiffs and witnesses in lawsuits against federal detention practices and facilities.
Strategic Communications: Cross-state press conferences, floor speeches, and social campaigns making the fight visible.
The Issue Brief comes on the heels of a cross-state policy convening hosted by State Futures, where legislators shared ideas and learnings, as well as a recent national mobilization call - co-hosted by State Futures with Public Citizen, Indivisible, MoveOn, and Stand Up America - that drew thousands of participants into a conversation about the crucial role of state electeds in protecting the rule of law.
About State Futures
State Futures is a national nonprofit that supports a network of 550+ values-aligned state policymakers, including legislators and State Financial Officers. Our network helps state leaders learn from each other, innovate together, and take coordinated action across states.
Media Contact:
Gaby Goldstein, President
www.statefutures.org
A Labor Day Call for Action From the States
In this Labor Day op ed for Talking Points Memo, State Futures President Gaby Goldstein and NYU Wagner Labor Initiative Director Terri Gerstein argue that as the Trump administration and conservatives in Congress eviscerate workers’ rights, this is a moment for states to act — and not timidly or in isolation. States have extraordinary untapped power, especially if they choose to wield it together. As federal labor protections crumble, states must fill the void, thinking boldly, cooperatively and creatively about how to build a country that supports working people.
Blue State Dems Are Having an Overdue Reckoning With Their Own Power
In this op ed for Talking Points Memo, State Futures President Gaby Goldstein explains that while immediate headlines are about redistricting, the more significant story is the growing willingness of blue states to use power more forcefully in an era of declining federal reliability and rising authoritarian threat. If gerrymandering is now back on the table, then the real opportunity lies in something broader: a more serious and strategic approach to wielding blue state power.