CPAC Foundation’s Nolan Center for Justice recently penned a letter to Chair of the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee Aaron Freeman urging the adoption of policies that would allow elderly and seriously ill inmates to request sentence modifications. Last year, the Indiana legislature considered House Bill 1648 that proposed early releases for elderly and terminally ill inmates reasoning that these individuals historically have low recidivism rates and are more costly to the state prison system. The bill was passed by the House and was referred to the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee upon arriving in the Senate. The Nolan Center for Justice’s letter cited data from the United States Sentencing Commission and the Indiana Department of Corrections on the low recidivism rates for these groups and from the National Institute of Corrections on the higher costs of these inmates. Director of the Nolan Center for Justice Patrick Plein urged Chairman Freeman “to support and advance fiscally prudent, conservative policies that would provide a narrow, but meaningful opportunity for geriatric and medical sentence to a population that poses no risk to public safety.” Read the full letter here.

The fight to end modern day slavery involves complex challenges that make it hard on law enforcement, advocates, and community leaders to identify survivors and hold criminals accountable.  We know that most of these crimes are prosecuted in local jurisdictions across this country and require committed resources from State and municipal governments to drive these traffickers out of the dark into the light. That’s why CPAC’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking took to the road, joining Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s Counter Human Trafficking Unit Task Force for a roundtable focused on best practices and policies to bring these bad actors to justice. During the forum held in Jefferson City, Missouri, CPAC and the AG’s Task Force discussed the evolving challenges facing law enforcement when it comes to collecting digital evidence of abuse, overcoming language barriers with victims, and ensuring cops, prosecutors, and victim service providers have the resources needed to serve their community. A recurring theme during the roundtable was the struggle of the public to find ways to support those serving survivors and prosecuting traffickers and one solution became clear – conservatives must push lawmakers to do more. Bridging the resource gap for those serving on the front lines of anti-trafficking is one of the most important problems facing communities across the country. Voters across the country can make solving this challenge a reality by calling for funding, staff, and housing that supports survivors while also giving the police the tools they need to root out the sophisticated criminal traffickers. As the country defines its most vital issues in an election year, the message from the State and local communities must remain consistent: law enforcement and victims’ advocates should be prioritized when policymakers set the agenda for 2024 and beyond.

In recent years, one’s party affiliation has become the key indicator as to whether a legislator is conservative or liberal. In the House of Representatives, Republicans scored an average of 81% while Democrats scored only 2%. The situation was hardly different in the Senate. Republicans averaged 79% and Democrats averaged only 2%.These results are peculiar because they point to, with the added context of CPAC’s decades of Congressional research, major shifts in both parties with the Democrats leaning especially to the Left. Consider the ratings of Maryland’s representatives from CPAC’s first edition of the congressional ratings in 1971. If you were to be told that one member of congress from Maryland posted a 75 rating while another achieved a “0," you would assume the Republican received a higher number. But the opposite was true. Montgomery County Republican Gil Gude is attached to the “0” rating while Democrat Goodloe Byron, representing conservative western Maryland for many years, achieved the 75. Similar results could be found around that time in the Senate. In 1972, two Republican Senate veterans, Jake Javits of New York and Clifford Case of New Jersey, each earned a “0” while Democrats John Sparkman of Alabama and John Stennis of Mississippi achieved perfect 100 scores. Nowadays, it’s rare to find a Democrat that breaks into the teens. Republicans, while less uniform in their conservatism, typically don’t fall below 30%. Clearly, the parties have polarized into opposite ends of the political spectrum. When did this change come about? While the reasons for this shift are manifold, one of the main catalysts for this phenomenon occurred when conservative Democrats started losing their party’s primaries in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Take Congressman Kent Hance of Texas, the man who had defeated George H.W. Bush to win his House seat, as a prime example of this. In 1984, he lost the primary for a Senate seat to Austin liberal Lloyd Doggett by 509 votes out of 1 million cast, a shock that convinced conservative Democrats in Texas they could no longer win their party’s primaries. After this upset, many threw in their hat and became a Republican. This trend of purging conservative Democrats has been replicated time and again in the decades since, with the most instance of this occurring in Arizona with the complete rejection by Democrats of Kyrsten Sinema. Whether this phenomenon is best, I will leave for the country to decide.

Internships are a crucial step in bridging the gap between college education and a professional career, offering a way to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings, enhance resumes, and build professional networks. My journey with CPAC shows this transition, having been a great experience that allowed me to grow from intern to Policy Fellow, and currently to a part-time role while I pursue my studies at The George Washington University. During my six-month internship at CPAC, I gained invaluable insights into analyzing congressional hearings, understanding proposed regulations, and engaging with government officials and members of Congress. This experience not only honed my professional skills but also deepened my appreciation for the impactful work CPAC is involved in. I was fortunate to attend CPAC 2024 in Washington, D.C., an opportunity that significantly expanded my professional network and allowed me to connect with peers and seasoned professionals alike. The welcoming atmosphere at CPAC's office leads to growth and learning. It is a place where dedication and effort are met with rewarding and engaging work, offering a unique opportunity to excel. I am immensely grateful for the doors CPAC has opened for me, fostering both my professional and personal development. To those considering an internship with CPAC, be prepared for a journey that will challenge, inspire, and ultimately, equip you with the skills and experiences necessary for a successful career. If you're up for the challenge, your application for a Summer 2024 CPAC internship today at CPAC.org/internship!

Had a blast at CPAC in DC 2024 and can’t wait for our next national conference? Start making your plans for CPAC in DC 2025 today! We’ll be returning to the beautiful Gaylord National Harbor February 19-22 for more great speeches and special events. Tickets are on sale now for CPAC 2025 and start at just $95. Our variety of ticket options including a youth ticket, general admission, and premium experiences as well as options to add-on experiences like the women’s breakfast and Ronald Reagan Dinner, give you the flexibility to create a CPAC experience best fit for you. So what are you waiting for? Start planning today at CPAC.org

Hawaii earned itself the distinguished and exclusive title of “Least Conservative State” in CPAC’s 2023 state ratings. This is the second year in a row the Aloha State has made such a name for itself. So what exactly did Hawaii legislators do to warrant such a designation? Hawaii lawmakers expanded radical gender ideology, abortion, and environmentalist provisions to extreme levels all with the lowest number of Republican legislators in the country. The overwhelmingly blue legislature passed at least three bills that solidify radical gender delusions as official state law. HB 485 now allows transgender individuals the ability to change gendered language on their marriage records to reflect their new identity. SB 109 replaces the words “father” and “mother” with “non-birthing parent” and “birthing parent” in public laws. SB 944 takes a step toward eradicating the nuclear family altogether by authorizing a task force to remove traditional family and gender roles from current parentage laws. Lawmakers in Hawaii coupled the destruction of the family with the destruction of life. SB 1 made Hawaii a sanctuary state for abortion and replaced the word “female” with “pregnant people” in abortion laws. SB 1167 proposed going further to declare abortion a right in state law, but the bill was not passed into law. Extreme environmentalist provisions really took the cake with at least six bills that advanced a radical climate agenda at the expense of consumer freedom, industry, quality of life, and taxpayers’ money. HB 192 regulates the products available for consumers to purchase by banning the sale of flourescent lamps. SB 54 levied a statewide ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. SB 691 gives the Chief Energy Officer the authority to set efficiency standards for items like ventilator fans and air purifiers. SB 1024 requires the state to establish a zero-emissions ground transportation system. HB 608 proposed to again interfere with consumer freedom and industry by subsidizing organic foods but the bill was not passed into law. Lastly, HB 1415 abuses taxpayers’ money by funneling it build EV charging stations. Hawaii launched assaults on other freedoms as well. Hb 426 allows lawsuits against firearm manufacturers for failure to implement “reasonable controls” in their products, and SB 1230 expands gun-free zones to universities, public parks, courthouses, and more. SB 19 is a blow to election integrity and allows the ballots of deceased individuals to be counted in Hawaii elections. See more of the crazed legislation from Hawaii in 2023 on CPAC's scorecard at CPAC.org.

Fulton County, Georgia DA Fani Willis remains on the case that accuses Trump and four other individuals of interference in the 2020 election after word of Willis' affair with prosecutor Nathan Wade came to light. Willis remains in control of a corrupt investigation that is just one part of the Left’s all-out lawfare against conservatives. Last month at CPAC in DC 2024, Matt Schlapp and Jim Jordan sat down on the CPAC stage to talk the Left’s strategic efforts to weaponize the justice system and federal government to eliminate political opponents. “We talk about the weaponization of government just look at President Trump and the escalation that the Left and the government have taken to going after this guy. I mean it started with spying on his campaign. Then it was the Mueller investigation. Then it was impeachment. Then it was a raid on his home. Then it was the Fourteenth Amendment,” said Jordan. “It’s gotten ridiculous.” Trump may be the primary target the Left’s lawfare, but he’s really a scapegoat for all conservatives. As evidenced by the January 6 trials, K.T. McFarland’s legal battle, the targeting of Jeffrey Clark, and others, the corruption has not stopped at the Left’s direct attacks on Trump but has tortured and financially drained numerous other individuals (some private citizens) simply for professing a conservative position or supporting President Trump. Jordan is leading the conservative charge in the House of Representatives to put an end to the federal government’s terrorizing of its citizens. He broke news on the CPAC stage when he revealed that his and his colleagues’ efforts have helped a whistleblower from Willis’ office sound the alarm on the inappropriate use of federal funds by the District Attorney. It goes to show that the corruption runs deep. Jordan and his fellow Republicans in Congress are working to be an obstacle to its growth and hold Willis and other justice officials accountable before the corruption becomes too great to surmount. Watch the full conversation on Rumble @CPAC.

When Liz Truss became Prime Minister of England in September of 2022, she had a plan to bring economic prosperity, national sovereignty, and stability back to the country. She planned to finalize the Brexit deal, expand domestic fracking and end reliance on Russian and Chinese energy, shrink the bloated administrative state, clean up the immigration system, cut taxes, and stop the spread of “wokenomics”.  In short, she aimed to put a stop to the Left’s growing control of the world and calculated erosion of freedom. Indeed, as she stated in her speech at CPAC in DC 2024, “The reality is the West has been run by the Left for too long and we’ve seen that it’s been a complete disaster.” The Left reinforced this reality with its attacks on Truss’ policies through the media, corporations, and government agencies, including the Office of Budget Responsibility and the Bank of England, attacks that ultimate stunted Truss’ plans. She even faced attacks from the IMF and President Biden who ironically took issue with her economic policies. Further still, Truss’ plans, though seemingly basic conservative policies, were even thwarted by some of her fellow Tories. “The reality is with that level of antagonism, I simply was not able to implement those policies, which I believe and conservative party members believe, would have delivered for our country, and frankly, I didn’t have enough support from conservative MPs as well in order to be able to do that. So, this is the lesson that I have learnt. I’ve learnt it’s not enough just to have the right policies. It’s not even enough to get the position of power that you need to deliver those policies because conservatives are now operating in what is a hostile environment, and we essentially need a bigger bazooka in order to be able to deliver,” she explained. Truss’ experience demonstrates that conservatives face challenges from all sides. Not only are conservatives finding opposition from the Left but also from within their own parties from unprincipled sellout CINOs and RINOs. Fortunately, Truss offers another plan to counter these challenges and take back conservative parties in the West. “I think we have got to challenge the institutions themselves. We’ve got to challenge the system itself, and we’ve got to be prepared to take that on as conservatives,” she proposed. She urges conservatives worldwide to take inspiration from the American Founding Fathers who challenged the established government to advocate for the will of the people. Renewed realization of the exceptionality of countries like England and America, the teaching of fact-based history, and electing strong, reliable conservatives are key to defeating the Left’s growing chokehold on the world. Truss declared, “We have ten years to save the West. Let’s get to it now.” Watch Truss' full remarks on Twitter @CPAC.

The CPAC in DC 2024 national conference wrapped up last month with exceptional turnout, history-making speakers, and fun conservative fellowship. The excitement of our national conferences doesn’t have to end after the conference. For CPAC Circle Members, it lasts all year round. Circle Members have the benefits of staying in the know of all things CPAC with special communication and special events throughout the year. Our Circle Members have the opportunity to tune into exclusive conversations with CPAC leaders and elected officials. Last year, they had the opportunity to experience more of the fellowship and empowering atmosphere of CPAC conferences with special events including our Summit to Save America and the premiere of blockbuster movie Sound of Freedom. Circle Memberships are available in six different levels. Explore them all today and experience CPAC year round!

CPAC’s 2023 state ratings called Arkansas “a state overflowing with conservative policy”. Arkansas legislators earned their state this title with at least twenty bills that promoted and preserved freedom in the Natural State. Five of those bills took a strong stance in defense of Arkansas children and students. HB 1156 keeps gender specific areas separate in schools and prevents individuals from entering areas designated for the opposite sex. HB 1468 requires schools to receive the consent of parents before using different pronouns for their child. SB 199 went further to deem some gender transitioning procedures on minors to be malpractice and under certain circumstances, subject doctors to civil liability. SB 294 champions school choice and education integrity by outlining a plan to achieve universal school choice by 2025 and by allowing the removal of teachers who perform their responsibilities inadequately. SB 556 protects the religious freedom rights of students, preventing the discrimination of students based on their voluntary religious expression. Another four bills gave eviction notices to DEI and ESG initiatives in the state. HB 1307 requires the removal of state funds from financial institutions that invest according to ESG guidelines and discriminate against the energy and firearm industries. SB 62 reinforces this with a ban on the state entering contracts with such entities. HB 1559 eliminates implicit bias training for public school employees and prohibits the punishing of individuals who refuse to undergo implicit bias training. Lastly, SB 71 kicks state-sanctioned discrimination out of Arkansas by removing Affirmative Action initiatives from some state operations. Other notable accomplishments include reducing individual income tax and corporate tax rates in SB 8 (SS), removing municipal income tax with HB 1026, removing the option of ballot drop boxes with SB 258, and removing a provision that allowed for the licensing of abortion clinics through SB 138. Overall, Arkansas legislators said ‘No’ to woke and stood up for freedom in 2023. It was truly “a state overflowing with conservative policy”. View CPAC’s full assessment of Arkansas at CPAC.org.

On the morning of Day 3 of CPAC 2024, a panel on Bidenomics was held, featuring FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, noted economist Steve Moore, and former Member of Congress Doug Collins (GA-9). Though a wide-ranging discussion about the economic impact of the Biden Administration was had, Rep. Collins focused much of his remarks on the Biden Administration's proposal to seize certain patents in the name of engaging in price controls, under the "march-in" provisions of the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act. The Bayh-Dole Act has been a cornerstone in the U.S. policy of promoting technology transfer from academic institutions to the marketplace. By allowing universities to own and commercialize inventions developed with federal funding, the Act spurred a wave of innovation, leading to the creation of products and services that have significantly impacted both the economy and everyday life. However, the recent proposal by the Biden Administration to reinterpret the Act's March-in provisions represents a seismic shift. This change could allow the government to forcibly license patents to third parties, ostensibly to lower drug prices or ensure wider availability of healthcare products. This reinterpretation could undermine the very foundations of innovation by introducing uncertainty and diminishing the incentives for private investment in new technologies. Rep. Collins said, "What this is literally is marching in to where they have people who have taken government funds to find new and innovative solutions across the spectrum of products in which they come to our markets. What they're wanting to do, though, is if you've taken government money, the government wants to come in and then take your patent, take your intellectual property, and then they can do whatever they want to with it. This will send us back to pre-1980 Ronald Reagan." Panel Moderator, Andrew Langer, Director of the CPAC Foundation's Center for Regulatory Freedom added, "The greatest expansion of pharmaceutical research occurred in the years after the Bayh–Dole bill was passed in 1980. The Biden administration wants to take us back." The role of PBMs in the pharmaceutical supply chain further complicates the landscape. PBMs were originally intended to reduce prescription drug costs and ensure patients' access to medication. However, the consolidation of power among a few major PBMs has led to practices that many argue actually increase prices and limit access. By exercising significant control over formularies, PBMs can dictate which drugs are available to patients and at what cost, often prioritizing medications that provide the highest rebates from manufacturers rather than those that are most cost-effective or beneficial to patients. Collins had this to say, "There's a little evil thing out there and it's three letters called PBM, pharmacy benefit managers. Thank you. If you understand, if you get it, if you not look it up, pharmacy benefit managers are what is strangling your neighborhood pharmacies. They're making costs go up and they're doing it on government taxpayer dollars and state health benefit plans across this country... When you are taking businesses and you're causing healthcare costs to rise, opposed to what they actually say and you're making businesses go out of business because they want to control everything, then this is where the Biden administration with their help. They would rather go after "big bad business" instead of going after these businesses that are actually taking dollars out of your pocket." This dynamic raises fundamental questions about the balance between innovation, access to healthcare, and the role of government in regulating both. While innovation is critical for developing new treatments and advancing public health, there must be mechanisms to ensure that these advancements are accessible to those who need them most. The debate over the Bayh-Dole Act's March-in provisions and the power of PBMs underscores the need for policies that encourage innovation while also safeguarding public interest and welfare. Furthermore, the potential of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to become innovation hubs highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to the benefits of technology transfer and innovation. Efforts to secure funding for HBCUs and facilitate their participation in tech transfer activities represent a vital step toward democratizing innovation. By supporting diverse voices and perspectives in the innovation ecosystem, we can foster a more inclusive and dynamic environment that benefits all segments of society. The discussions around the Bayh-Dole Act and PBMs reflect broader challenges in aligning innovation, access, and cost within the American healthcare system. As we navigate these debates, it is crucial to prioritize policies that support both the creation of new technologies and the public's ability to benefit from them, ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for all.

CPAC Shabbat convened for its 13th year of serving as a hub for Jewish conservatives attending CPAC. Organized by Young Jewish Conservatives and CPAC, the Shabbat program has become a cherished opportunity for like-minded Jews from around the US and beyond to connect around shared faith and political orientation. Anyone walking the halls of CPAC couldn't help but notice the dynamic Jewish presence at the conservative movement's most influential gathering. This year's program capped off a conference which already featured numerous programs and speeches dedicated to Israel, fighting antisemitism, and shining a light on the barbaric treatment of Israeli hostages by Hamas. The Shabbat program, held at the Residence Inn right across the street from the main CPAC venue, kicked off with a candle lighting with Rep. Elise Stefanik. Congresswoman Stefanik led the fight against the festering antisemtism at Ivy League schools and is on a shortlist of Trump VP candidates. More than 130 participants then joined together for traditional Jewish prayers, gala kosher meals, and an exclusive opportunity to hear from VIPs including Member of Knesset Simcha Rothman, Member of Knesset Ohad Tal, Amb. Rick Grenell, "The Great One" Mark Levin, and many others. Participants included congressional staffers, media personalities, grassroots activists, and many others. Rabbi Daniel Lapin provided Jewish religious leadership and inspiration. Activists shared the invigorating feeling of belonging and felt embraced by CPAC leadership and attendees. One attendee commented "being part of the rich cultural tapestry of CPAC while enhancing my sense of jewish identity is an experience that I will never forget". Program organizers, including this writer and Julie Strauss Levin, emphasized how important CPAC's leadership is on this project and how much it means to be integrated into the CPAC program.