The Role of the States with West Virginia Speaker Roger Hanshaw
The Political Life
For the first The Political Life taping of 2026, sits down with West Virginia Speaker of the House of Delegates, The Speaker shares his professional and political path and how they intertwine to serve his constituents and state, current conditions impacting federalism, and his participation in the new Assembly for State Legislative Leaders. Finally, he previews the West Virginia legislative session which kicks off this month.
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Showing the Value of State Government Affairs with Deana Lykins of Haleon
The Political Life
In today's episode, sits down with Lead for State Government Affairs at Haleon. A Kentucky native and now New Jersey resident, Deana has worn essentially every hat in state policy making and advocacy. From campaigns to state capitol aide before crossing over to the private sector where she's held roles as a contract lobbyist, running a state association, and now her role in the corporate sector. Learn how she thinks about the work and where she's found success in communicating and demonstrating the value of state government affairs internally.
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Entering the MultiState Group Chat: 2026 Issues Forecast
The Political Life
For The Political Life's final episode of 2025, and to prepare our listening audience for state legislative sessions in 2026, we stood up a MultiState Group Chat to discuss all the emerging issues that may be coming to a state capitol building near you. This fall, MultiState released a 2025 Issues Review and 2026 Forecast Report. An extensive and large undertaking, the report pulls from the expertise of MultiState's Issue Management team who review hundreds of thousands of bills each year. To illuminate the report's findings, hosted colleagues , and - all...
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2026 Midterms: Attorneys General Preview with Adam Piper, RAGA
The Political Life
Next year is huge for gubernatorial races, but don't take your eye off the 30 state attorneys general races set for 2026. Increasingly, AGs play an outsized role in state policymaking, multistate investigations, and federal activity. Beyond that, more of them are ascending to higher office including governor, Congress, and federal cabinet positions. In the eight 2024 gubernatorial races, three AGs (plus one former) ran and won the governorship in Washington, North Carolina, West Virginia, and New Hampshire. To get a read on the landscape ahead, hosted two recent conversations...
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2026 Midterms: Attorneys General Preview with Sean Rankin, DAGA
The Political Life
This week and next week's episodes on 2026 attorneys general races are rebroadcasts of recent MultiState client webinars. Next year is huge for gubernatorial races, but don't take your eye off the 30 state attorneys general races set for 2026. Increasingly, AGs play an outsized role in state policymaking, multistate investigations, and federal activity. Beyond that, more of them are ascending to higher office including governor, Congress, and federal cabinet positions. In the eight 2024 gubernatorial races, three AGs (plus one former) ran and won the governorship in Washington, North...
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Meet State Senator James Maroney –a Leading Policy Expert on Artificial Intelligence and Currently Vice Chairperson on the NCSL Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Privacy
The Political Life
Senator James Maroney was first elected to represent the 14th District (Milford) in 2018. Senator Maroney currently serves as the Co-Chair of the General Law Committee. In his time as co-chair of the committee, he has passed comprehensive consumer data privacy laws, children and consumer health data privacy laws, a law governing state government use of AI, laws modernizing and expanding the practice of pharmacy in Connecticut, among others. Recently Senator Maroney was named to the inaugural Leadership Council of the Future of Privacy Forum Center for Artificial...
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2025 Virginia Election Preview with David Hallock, Two Capitols Consulting
The Political Life
In this week's episode, hosts president of Two Capitols Consulting in Virginia. With 30 years of experience working in the Virginia Governor’s office and General Assembly, the United States Senate, and the private sector, David is one of the most seasoned and respected operatives in the Commonwealth. Maggie and David walk through the evolving dynamics in this year's statewide election including gubernatorial and attorney general races and what could be in store in the closing weeks ahead of November's election.
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New Jersey Gubernatorial Election Preview with Bill Maer, Public Impact Strategies
The Political Life
In today's episode, hosts , senior partner wtih Public Impact Strategies. Bill is a well-respected New Jersey lobbyist and onetime political operative with a career spanning more than 30 years. He was appointed to Governor Phil Murphy’s 2018 Transition Committee to advise the incoming Administration on State related policies. Maggie and Bill discuss the Garden State's colorful political dynamics and how historical trends could or could not apply to this year's gubernatorial race betweeen Jack Ciattarelli (R) and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D).
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Remembering Charlie Kirk with Sen. Julia Coleman
The Political Life
On today's special episode, hosts Minnesota state to reflect on the life and legacy of her friend and mentor Charlie Kirk. The conversation took place on September 12, two days after he was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. Sen. Coleman began her political career on the staff of Turning Point USA and later became the youngest woman elected to the Minnesota state senate.
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Meet Amanda Nguyen, President & CEO of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance
The Political Life
On today's episode, hosts President & CEO of the Amanda, an accomplished attorney and seasoned government affairs executive, recently took the helm at ADSA. The two discuss Amanda's time working in a state legislature, her path to Washington, D.C. and raising her daughter as a single mom while building a successful career.
info_outlineBill Kramer has been with MultiState since 2011. Recognized for his wide breadth of state legislative and policy knowledge, Bill oversees the firm's research services, advises clients on strategic government affairs initiatives, develops and manages coalitions and associations, and pens the weekly Morning MultiState newsletter, among other problem-solving endeavors.
At the onset of the 2020 pandemic, Bill was integral in quickly organizing internal resources to create MultiState's COVID-19 State and Local Policy Tracker, a resource library and data dashboard providing clients and the public with timely, accurate information on the state and local government responses to COVID-19. Subsequently, Bill has launched similar policy tracking projects focused on reproductive health care and artificial intelligence policy.
He is an experienced lawyer and association executive who served as deputy executive director of the Council of State Chambers (COSC) — the association of state chambers of commerce — and built the COSC Policy Center from the ground up. Bill is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) where he was a member of the Government Relations Section Council and chaired the State Relations Subcommittee from 2016 to 2019. Bill became a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 2018 and is a member of both the State Bar of California and the DC Bar.
Bill has addressed and presented to dozens of trade and professional organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Public Affairs Council (PAC), State Government Affairs Council (SGAC), and The Council of State Government (CSG). Major publications have quoted Bill as a policy and industry expert, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Politico, Pluribus News, and Governing Magazine.
His previous experience includes the U.S. Senate, California State Assembly, and Legislative Counsel's Office of California. Bill earned his bachelor's degree in history from Ohio University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the McGeorge Law Review. Bill considers himself a policy generalist but has a passion for technology and infrastructure issues. He also enjoys developing future leaders, and as such, initiated and coordinates MultiState's internship program.