John Stephenson

John StepheJohn Stephensonnson is the State Government Affairs Manager for the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). In this role, John is responsible for NTU's lobbying efforts at the state and local levels, by advocating for lower taxes and smaller, more transparent government. He also works to mobilize NTU's extensive grassroots network to fight against tax increases at local levels.

John brings broad experience in policy, politics, and the law to his work at NTU. Previously, John served as a Legislative Assistant with U.S. Congressman John Shagegg (R-AZ), where he worked on agriculture, appropriations, defense, education, government reform, labor, and science issues affecting Arizona. Prior to joining Congressman Shadegg's staff, he completed internships for four different members of the U.S. Congress from his home state of Pennsylvania. He has also volunteered on several state and federal political campaigns. More recently, John was a judicial intern for the Honorable Jose L. Linares, a U.S. District Judge in New Jersey, and an intern with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program at the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

John graduated magna cum laude from Lafayette College with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Government & Law. Outside of work, John is an active member of the State Society of Arizona and works on various community service projects. He also enjoys running, photography, and auto racing.

 

  • BLOG: WISCONSIN

    Showdown in Wisconsin

    by John Stephenson | February 18, 2011

    By reforming collective bargaining, governors and legislators would have a stronger hand in contract negotiations to demand concessions to balance budgets and save taxpayers money. Some argue that reforming collective bargaining and labor laws could be a more realistic alternative to dealing with health care and pension costs than state bankruptcy. The stakes are high for both sides. Whatever happens in Wisconsin over the next several days will have ramifications for the rest of the nation.

  • BLOG

    Experts debate state bankruptcy

    by John Stephenson | January 31, 2011

    In the two months since David Skeel, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, published an article arguing in favor of a bankruptcy code for the states, public policy experts have been vigorously debating the merits and drawbacks of such a radical prescription to the states' fiscal ills.

  • BLOG

    Costs of Medicaid and Obama's health care reform weighing on states

    by John Stephenson | January 25, 2011

    State budgets are already in bad shape due to years of overspending and a weak economy. But the problems could get a lot worse in the months ahead as two health matters come to the fore of the budget debate: the rising costs of Medicaid and the implementation of provisions of the Obama administration's health care reform law.

  • Policy Brief

    States Bracing to Pay for High Cost of Unemployment Insurance Loans

    by John Stephenson | January 11, 2011

    Starting this year, the states will have to make $1.4 billion in interest payments on those loans. This could mean higher taxes on the struggling business community or further strains on already broken state budgets, but it also presents an opportunity for reform.

  • BLOG

    States Bracing to Pay for High Cost of Unemployment Insurance Loans

    by John Stephenson | January 3, 2011

    Starting this year, the states will have to make $1.4 billion in interest payments on those loans. This could mean higher taxes on the struggling business community or further strains on already broken state budgets, but it also presents an opportunity for reform.


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