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Revision as of 14:08, 14 May 2012 editBinksternet (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers496,156 edits Status as a lobbyist organization is established by reliable secondary sources. ALEC's own denials are not enough to deny status as lobbyist.← Previous edit Revision as of 19:04, 14 May 2012 edit undo209.6.69.227 (talk) Undid revision 492523175 by Binksternet Common Cause is the source of the allegation, NOT WP:RS. News reporting ON the Common Cause allegation does not mean it is confirmed by RS, Allegation already in Article,Next edit →
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The '''American Legislative Exchange Council''' '''(ALEC)''' is an ideologically ] group consisting of business interests and conservative ] for the purpose of drafting research, policy papers and model legislation to assist and influence state legislatures and promote conservative initiatives.<ref name="voice">{{cite web |title=ALEC: The Voice of Corporate Special Interests in State Legislatures |url=http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/rww-in-focus-alec.pdf |publisher=] |format=PDF |year=2011 |accessdate=March 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Brad |last=Hooker |title=Corporations Represented on ALEC's Private Enterprise Board Are Big Spenders in Washington |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/09/alec-corporations-are-big-spenders.html |date=September 12, 2011 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 28, 2012}}</ref><ref> April 21, 2012</ref> The '''American Legislative Exchange Council''' '''(ALEC)''' is an ideologically ] group consisting of business interests and conservative ] for the purpose of drafting research, policy papers and model legislation to assist and influence state legislatures and promote conservative initiatives.<ref name="voice">{{cite web |title=ALEC: The Voice of Corporate Special Interests in State Legislatures |url=http://www.pfaw.org/sites/default/files/rww-in-focus-alec.pdf |publisher=] |format=PDF |year=2011 |accessdate=March 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Brad |last=Hooker |title=Corporations Represented on ALEC's Private Enterprise Board Are Big Spenders in Washington |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/09/alec-corporations-are-big-spenders.html |date=September 12, 2011 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 28, 2012}}</ref><ref> April 21, 2012</ref>
According to the organization's website, members share a common belief that "government closest to the people" is "fundamentally more effective, more just, and a better guarantor of freedom than the distant, bloated federal government in Washington, D.C."<ref name="history"/><ref>{{cite web|title=ALEC Exposed|url=http://www.granitestateprogress.org/images/GSP%20Research%20Brief%20on%20ALEC%20Exposed%20-%20Corporate%20Special%20Interests%20%26%20Model%20Legislation%20in%20New%20Hampshire%20(Right%20to%20Work%20for%20Less).pdf |format=PDF |publisher=]|year=2012 |accessdate=March 28, 2012}}</ref> According to the organization's website, members share a common belief that "government closest to the people" is "fundamentally more effective, more just, and a better guarantor of freedom than the distant, bloated federal government in Washington, D.C."<ref name="history"/><ref>{{cite web|title=ALEC Exposed|url=http://www.granitestateprogress.org/images/GSP%20Research%20Brief%20on%20ALEC%20Exposed%20-%20Corporate%20Special%20Interests%20%26%20Model%20Legislation%20in%20New%20Hampshire%20(Right%20to%20Work%20for%20Less).pdf |format=PDF |publisher=]|year=2012 |accessdate=March 28, 2012}}</ref>
⚫ ALEC is perhaps most well known for drafting model legislation on issues such as tax treatment of corporations, tightening voter identification rules, and promoting gun rights<ref name=Bloomberg>, ''Bloomberg Businessweek'', May 7-13, 2012</ref><ref> nytimes.com April 21, 2012</ref>, that can be easily adopted by state legislators and introduced as legislation.<ref name="Kraft" />

⚫ ALEC is perhaps best known for drafting model legislation on issues such as tax treatment of corporations, tightening voter identification rules, and promoting gun rights<ref name=Bloomberg>, ''Bloomberg Businessweek'', May 7-13, 2012</ref><ref name=stealth> nytimes.com April 21, 2012</ref>, that can be easily adopted by state legislators and introduced as legislation.<ref name="Kraft" />
ALEC also serves as a networking tool among state legislators, allowing them to research the handling and "best practices" of policy in other states.<ref name = "Kraft">{{Cite book| last1 = Kraft| first1 = Michael E.| last2 = Kamieniecki ALEC also serves as a networking tool among state legislators, allowing them to research the handling and "best practices" of policy in other states.<ref name = "Kraft">{{Cite book| last1 = Kraft| first1 = Michael E.| last2 = Kamieniecki
| first2 = Sheldon| title = Business and environmental policy : corporate interests in the American political system| year = 2007| publisher = MIT Press| location = Cambridge, Mass.| isbn = 978-0-262-61218-0| page = 276| quote = American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provide direct assistance to state legislators and firms eager to minimize any state government engagement in environmental protection. ALEC's membership base includes nearly one-third of all sitting state legislators and most of its resources are derived from corporations and trade associations. It offers regular conferences and training sessions but is perhaps best known for drafting model legislation that can easily be adopted by an individual state and introduced into a legislature. | first2 = Sheldon| title = Business and environmental policy : corporate interests in the American political system| year = 2007| publisher = MIT Press| location = Cambridge, Mass.| isbn = 978-0-262-61218-0| page = 276| quote = American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provide direct assistance to state legislators and firms eager to minimize any state government engagement in environmental protection. ALEC's membership base includes nearly one-third of all sitting state legislators and most of its resources are derived from corporations and trade associations. It offers regular conferences and training sessions but is perhaps best known for drafting model legislation that can easily be adopted by an individual state and introduced into a legislature.
}}</ref> }}</ref>


ALEC currently has more than 2,000 legislative members representing all 50 states, amounting to nearly one-third of all sitting legislators,<ref name="Kraft" /> as well as more than 85 members of Congress and 14 sitting or former governors who are considered "alumni". ALEC also claims approximately 300 corporate, foundation, and other private-sector members. A list of ALEC leaders in the states shows that party affiliation is predominately Republican.<ref>{{cite web ALEC currently has more than 2,000 legislative members representing all 50 states, amounting to nearly one-third of all sitting legislators,<ref name="Kraft" /> as well as more than 85 members of Congress and 14 sitting or former governors who are considered "alumni". ALEC also claims approximately 300 corporate, foundation, and other private-sector members. A list of ALEC leaders in the states shows that party affiliation is predominately Republican.<ref>{{cite web
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| publisher = Sourcewatch.org | publisher = Sourcewatch.org
| accessdate = 9 April 2012 | accessdate = 9 April 2012
}}</ref>
⚫ }}</ref> The chairmanship of ALEC is a rotating position, with a new legislator appointed to the position each year. The current chair of ALEC is ], a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.<ref name="Board of Directors"/> Day-to-day operations are run from ALEC's ] office by an executive director and a staff of approximately 30.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Our Staff |url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/meet-our-staff/ |work=American Legislative Exchange Council |year=2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref>


⚫ The chairmanship of ALEC is a rotating position, with a new legislator appointed to the position each year. The current chair of ALEC is ], a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.<ref name="Board of Directors"/> Day-to-day operations are run from ALEC's ] office by an executive director and a staff of approximately 30.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Our Staff |url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/meet-our-staff/ |work=American Legislative Exchange Council |year=2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref>
Recently a dispute has arisen as to whether ALEC is a charitable educational organization as it insists, or what one newspaper article called a "stealth business lobbyist"<ref name=stealth/><ref name=Bloomberg/> as advocacy groups have maintained.<ref></ref><ref> ataxingmatter April 24, 2012 </ref>


==History== ==History==
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==Organization== ==Organization==
===Board of directors=== ===Board of directors===
{{Collapse top|1=<small>'''Board of Directors'''</small>}}

The ALEC board of directors is composed of the following:<ref name="Board of Directors">{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/board-of-directors/ |work=American Legislative Exchange Council |year=2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref> The ALEC board of directors is composed of the following:<ref name="Board of Directors">{{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/board-of-directors/ |work=American Legislative Exchange Council |year=2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref>
{| {|
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|} |}
|} |}
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</div>
===Private enterprise board=== ===Private enterprise board===
{{Collapse top|1=<small>'''Corporate members'''</small>}}

The ALEC private enterprise board is composed of the following.<ref>{{cite web The ALEC private enterprise board is composed of the following.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Private Enterprise Board | title = Private Enterprise Board
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| Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical
| Active | Active
|-
| Teresa Jennings
| ]
| Board Member
| Publishing
| Resigned<ref> Reuters</ref>
|- |-
| Kenneth Lane | Kenneth Lane
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| Active | Active
|} |}
{{Collapse bottom}}

</div>


===State chairmen=== ===State chairmen===
{{Collapse top|1=<small>'''State chairmen'''</small>}}
ALEC chairmen from state legislatures are:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/state-chairmen/ |title=State Chairmen |work=American Legislative Exchange Council |year=2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref> ALEC chairmen from state legislatures are:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/state-chairmen/ |title=State Chairmen |work=American Legislative Exchange Council |year=2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref>
{| {|
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|- |-
|rowspan=2|Louisiana |rowspan=2|Louisiana
| ] R <br /><small> resigned April 17, 2012</small><ref>{{cite web |first=Zaid |last=Jilani |title=Louisiana's Republican State Chairman Of ALEC Resigns From The Organization |url=http://www.republicreport.org/2012/louisiana-republican-state-chairman/ |work=Republic Report |date=April 22, 2012 |accessdate=April 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Thomaswell |title=First it was corporations bailing out; now the parade of Louisiana Legislators exiting ALEC membership begins |url=http://louisianavoice.com/2012/04/18/first-it-was-corporations-bailing-out-now-the-parade-of-louisiana-legislators-exiting-alec-membership-begins/ |work=Louisana Voice |date=April 18, 2012 |accessdate=April 29, 2012}}</ref>


|- |-
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|} |}
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</div>


==Publications== ==Publications==
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==== National Public Radio ==== ==== National Public Radio ====


National Public Radio, ], has aired several programs about ALEC and its influence in the drafting of legislation, most dealing with allegations of lack of transparency.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Laura |title=Shaping State Laws with Little Scrutiny |publisher=NPR |url=http://www.npr.org/2010/10/29/130891396/shaping-state-laws-with-little-scrutiny |date=October 29, 2010 |accessdate=April 7, 2012}}</ref> On July 21, 2011, ] interviewed Louisiana Representative ], then the national chairman of ALEC, about the role of the group's corporate members in drafting legislation and ALEC policy (prior to the leaking of its internal bill library<ref name=Bloomberg/>) of not revealing the names of its members or of the legislators who attend its conferences.<ref name="NPR FreshAir 21July2011">{{cite web |title=Who's Really Writing States' Legislation? |work=Fresh Air, WHYY |url=http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138537515/how-alec-shapes-state-politics-behind-the-scenes |publisher=] |date=July 21, 2011 |accessdate=April 7, 2012}}</ref> When ask by Gross if he thought the process was transparent, Ellington responded saying, National Public Radio, ], has aired several programs about ALEC and its influence in the drafting of legislation, most dealing with allegations of lack of transparency.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Laura |title=Shaping State Laws with Little Scrutiny |publisher=NPR |url=http://www.npr.org/2010/10/29/130891396/shaping-state-laws-with-little-scrutiny |date=October 29, 2010 |accessdate=April 7, 2012}}</ref> On July 21, 2011, ] interviewed Louisiana Representative ], then the national chairman of ALEC, about the role of the group's corporate members in drafting legislation.<ref name="NPR FreshAir 21July2011">{{cite web |title=Who's Really Writing States' Legislation? |work=Fresh Air, WHYY |url=http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138537515/how-alec-shapes-state-politics-behind-the-scenes |publisher=] |date=July 21, 2011 |accessdate=April 7, 2012}}</ref> When ask by Gross if he thought the process was transparent, Ellington responded saying,


"hile we may be discussing it, it may not be transparent, but before it's passed, legislators have to say, 'We approve this model legislation.' Not the corporations. They don't have a vote. Legislators say . ... And then the legislators can introduce that legislation in state. It goes through a committee, the public has input, they have an opportunity to talk to their legislators about the legislation — so I don't see how you can get more transparent than that." "hile we may be discussing it, it may not be transparent, but before it's passed, legislators have to say, 'We approve this model legislation.' Not the corporations. They don't have a vote. Legislators say . ... And then the legislators can introduce that legislation in state. It goes through a committee, the public has input, they have an opportunity to talk to their legislators about the legislation — so I don't see how you can get more transparent than that."
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On August 5, 2011, one of the journalists writing in ''The Nation'', Mike Elk, appeared on '']'' to discuss efforts by ALEC and the private prison industry to bring about these changes.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Elk |first=Mike |interviewer=Amy Goodman |title=New Exposé Tracks ALEC-Private Prison Industry Effort to Replace Unionized Workers with Prison Labor |date=August 5, 2011 |program=Democracy Now! |accessdate=April 29, 2012 |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/5/new_expos_tracks_alec_private_prison}}</ref> On August 5, 2011, one of the journalists writing in ''The Nation'', Mike Elk, appeared on '']'' to discuss efforts by ALEC and the private prison industry to bring about these changes.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Elk |first=Mike |interviewer=Amy Goodman |title=New Exposé Tracks ALEC-Private Prison Industry Effort to Replace Unionized Workers with Prison Labor |date=August 5, 2011 |program=Democracy Now! |accessdate=April 29, 2012 |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/5/new_expos_tracks_alec_private_prison}}</ref>


=== Lobbying activities === === Allegation of Lobbying ===

An article in '']'' compared ALEC's work to that of other corporate and conservative lobbyists, stating, "part of ALEC's mission is to present industry-backed legislation as grass-roots work." According to Bloomberg, being registered as a non-profit rather than a lobby group "offers two benefits" to ALEC: deductability of membership dues corporations pay the organization (which may be as much as $25,000), and the freedom not to disclose the names of legislators who attend its "educational" seminars or the executives who give presentations to those legislators.<ref name=Bloomberg/> An article in '']'' compared ALEC's work to that of corporate lobbyists, stating, "part of ALEC's mission is to present industry-backed legislation as grass-roots work." According to Bloomberg, being a non-profit rather than a lobby group "offers two benefits" to ALEC: deductability of membership dues corporations pay the organization (which may be as much as $25,000), and the freedom not to disclose the names of legislators who attend its "educational" seminars or the executives who give presentations to those legislators.<ref name=Bloomberg/>


====Complaint against ALEC tax-exempt status==== ====Complaint against ALEC tax-exempt status====
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* *
* April 21, 2012 * April 21, 2012
* May 03, 2012


] ]
]
] ]
]
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Revision as of 19:04, 14 May 2012

American Legislative Exchange Council
File:ALEC Logo.gif
AbbreviationALEC
Formation1973
TypeTax exempt, non-profit organization, 501(c)(3)
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.,
United States
ChairmanNoble Ellington
Websitealec.org
This article is part of a series on
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The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is an ideologically conservative group consisting of business interests and conservative state legislators for the purpose of drafting research, policy papers and model legislation to assist and influence state legislatures and promote conservative initiatives. According to the organization's website, members share a common belief that "government closest to the people" is "fundamentally more effective, more just, and a better guarantor of freedom than the distant, bloated federal government in Washington, D.C." ALEC is perhaps most well known for drafting model legislation on issues such as tax treatment of corporations, tightening voter identification rules, and promoting gun rights, that can be easily adopted by state legislators and introduced as legislation. ALEC also serves as a networking tool among state legislators, allowing them to research the handling and "best practices" of policy in other states.

ALEC currently has more than 2,000 legislative members representing all 50 states, amounting to nearly one-third of all sitting legislators, as well as more than 85 members of Congress and 14 sitting or former governors who are considered "alumni". ALEC also claims approximately 300 corporate, foundation, and other private-sector members. A list of ALEC leaders in the states shows that party affiliation is predominately Republican.

The chairmanship of ALEC is a rotating position, with a new legislator appointed to the position each year. The current chair of ALEC is David Frizzell, a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. Day-to-day operations are run from ALEC's Washington, D.C. office by an executive director and a staff of approximately 30.

History

ALEC revenue sources, 2009

ALEC was co-founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich who also helped found other conservative organizations in the 1970s and 1980s including the Heritage Foundation, the Committee for the Survival of a Free Congress, the Moral Majority and the Council for National Policy. Henry Hyde, who later became a U.S. Congressman, and Lou Barnett, who later became National Political Director of Ronald Reagan's Political Action Committee, also helped to found ALEC. Early members included a number of state and local politicians who went on to statewide or national office such as Bob Kasten and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin; John Engler of Michigan; Terry Branstad of Iowa, and John Kasich of Ohio. Several members of the U.S. Congress were also involved in the organization during its early years, including Sen. John Buckley and Rep. Jack Kemp of New York, Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, and Rep. Phil Crane of Illinois.

Organization

Board of directors

Board of Directors

The ALEC board of directors is composed of the following:

Name Party Affiliation State
2012 ALEC National Chairman
State Rep. David Frizzell Republican Indiana
First Vice Chairman
State Rep. John Piscopo Republican Connecticut
Second Vice Chairman
State Rep. Linda Upmeyer Republican Iowa
Treasurer
State Sen. Chip Rogers Republican Georgia
Secretary
State Rep. Liston Barfield Republican South Carolina
Chairman Emeritus
State Rep. Noble Ellington Republican Louisiana
State Sen. Owen Johnson Republican New York
State Rep. Dolores Mertz Democratic Iowa
Immediate Past Chairman
State Rep. Tom Craddick Republican Texas
Name Party Affiliation State
Board Members
State Sen. Curt Bramble Republican Utah
State Rep. Jon D. Brien Democratic Rhode Island
State Rep. Harold Brubaker Republican North Carolina
State Sen. Bill Cadman Republican Colorado
State Sen. Jim Buck Republican Indiana
State Rep. Philip Gunn Republican Mississippi
State Rep. Joe Harrison Republican Louisiana
Speaker William J. Howell Republican Virginia
State Sen. Michael Lamoureux Republican Arkansas
State Rep. Steve McDaniel Republican Tennessee
State Sen. Raymond Merrick Republican Kansas
State Sen. Dean Rhoads Republican Nevada
State Sen. Bill Seitz Republican Ohio
State Rep. Fred Steen II Republican North Carolina
State Rep. Curry Todd Republican Tennessee
State Sen. Leah Vukmir Republican Wisconsin
State Sen. Susan Wagle Republican Kansas

Private enterprise board

Corporate members

The ALEC private enterprise board is composed of the following.

Person Company Title Sector Status
Preston Baldwin Centerpoint360 Chairman Tobacco lobbyist Active
Sandra Oliver Bayer Vice Chairman Pharmaceutical Active
John Del Gorno GlaxoSmithKline Vice Chairman Pharmaceutical Active
David Powers Reynolds American Treasurer Tobacco Active
Maggie Sans Wal-Mart Stores Secretary Retail Active
Jerry Watson Chairman Emeritus Bail Bonds Emeritus
Lisa A. Sano Blocker Energy Future Holdings Board Member Energy/Oil Active
Don Bohn Johnson & Johnson Board Member Pharmaceutical Active
Jeffrey Bond PhRMA Board Member Pharmaceutical Active
William Carmichael American Bail Coalition Board Member Bail Bonds Active
Derek Crawford Kraft Foods, Inc. Board Member Food and Beverage Did not renew
Robert Jones Pfizer Inc. Board Member Pharmaceutical Active
Kenneth Lane Diageo Board Member Alcoholic Beverages Active
Bill Leahy AT&T Board Member Telecommunications Active
Richard McArdle United Parcel Service Board Member Shipping Active
Kelly Mader Peabody Energy Board Member Energy/Oil Active
Mike Morgon Koch Companies Public Sector,LLC Board Member Lobbyist Active
Daniel Smith Altria Board Member Tobacco Active
Randy Smith ExxonMobil Board Member Energy/Oil Active
Russell Smoldon Salt River Project Board Member Energy/Water Active
Roland Spies State Farm Board Member Insurance Active

State chairmen

State chairmen

ALEC chairmen from state legislatures are:

State Leaders (Party)
Alabama Mary Sue McClurkin R
Alaska Wes Keller R
Arizona Debbie Lesko R
Arkansas Linda Collins-Smith R
Michael Lamoureux R
California Joel Anderson R
Colorado Bill Cadman R
B.J. Nikkel R
Connecticut Debra Lee Hovey R
Kevin D. Witkos R
Delaware Vacant
Florida Jimmy Patronis R
Georgia Calvin Hill, Jr. R
Chip Rogers R
Hawaii Gene Ward R
Idaho Patti Anne Lodge R
Illinois Kirk Dillard R
Renée Kosel R
Indiana Jim Buck R
David Wolkins R
Iowa Linda J. Miller R
Kansas Ray Merrick R
Kentucky Tom Buford R
Mike Harmon R
Louisiana
Joe Harrison R
State Leaders (Party)
Maine Richard Rosen R
Maryland Michael Hough R
Christopher Shank R
Massachusetts Nicholas Boldyga R
Harriett Stanley D
Michigan Tonya Schuitmaker R
Minnesota Mary Kiffmeyer R
Mississippi Jim Ellington R
Missouri Tim Jones R
Jason T. Smith R
Montana Gary MacLaren R
Scott Reichner R
Nebraska Jim Smith
Nevada Barbara Cegavske R
New Hampshire Gary L. Daniel R
Jordan G. Ulery R
New Jersey Steve Oroho R
Jay Webber R
New Mexico Paul C. Bandy R
William Payne R
New York Owen H. Johnson R
North Carolina Fred F. Steen II R
North Dakota Alan H. Carlson R
Bette Grande R
Ohio John Adams R
State Leaders (Party)
Oklahoma Gary Banz R
Cliff Aldridge R
Oregon Gene Whisnant R
Pennsylvania Vacant
Rhode Island Francis T. Maher, Jr. R
Jon Brien D
South Carolina Liston Barfield R
Thomas Alexander R
South Dakota Deb Peters R
Valentine B. Rausch R
Tennessee Curry Todd R
Texas Charles F. Howard R
Jim Jackson R
Kel Seliger R
Utah Curtis S. Bramble R
Wayne L. Niederhauser R
Chris Herrod R
Vermont Kevin J. Mullin R
Virginia John A. Cosgrove, Jr. R
Stephen H. Martin R
Washington Jan Angel R
Don Benton R
West Virginia Eric Householder R
Wisconsin Scott Suder R
Robin J. Vos R
Wyoming Peter S. Illoway R

Publications

  • ALEC publishes a monthly magazine for its members entitled Inside ALEC.
  • In the field of education policy, ALEC authors the Report Card on American Education.
  • On state economic competitiveness, ALEC has published, Rich States, Poor States, now in its fourth edition.

Controversies

Allegations of lack of Transparency

National Public Radio

National Public Radio, NPR, has aired several programs about ALEC and its influence in the drafting of legislation, most dealing with allegations of lack of transparency. On July 21, 2011, Terry Gross interviewed Louisiana Representative Noble Ellington, then the national chairman of ALEC, about the role of the group's corporate members in drafting legislation. When ask by Gross if he thought the process was transparent, Ellington responded saying,

"hile we may be discussing it, it may not be transparent, but before it's passed, legislators have to say, 'We approve this model legislation.' Not the corporations. They don't have a vote. Legislators say . ... And then the legislators can introduce that legislation in state. It goes through a committee, the public has input, they have an opportunity to talk to their legislators about the legislation — so I don't see how you can get more transparent than that."

When asked if the public had a voice in the internal process Ellington responded that the ""I work for the taxpaying public, so don't assume that they're not because they are. And we represent the public and we are the ones who decide. So the taxpaying public is represented there at the table because I'm there." NPR also published a formal response from ALEC the same day, July 21, 2011.

Publication of leaked ALEC model bills

On July 13, 2011, the Center for Media and Democracy in cooperation with The Nation posted more than 800 pieces of ALEC's model legislation created over a 30-year period, and created a web project, ALEC Exposed to host these model bills. It contains dozens of lists of ALEC politicians, ALEC corporations, and ALEC bills moving in their states. Concurrently, The Nation issued a special edition of its magazine devoted to commentary on the bills published online.

On August 5, 2011, one of the journalists writing in The Nation, Mike Elk, appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss efforts by ALEC and the private prison industry to bring about these changes.

Allegation of Lobbying

An article in Bloomberg Businessweek compared ALEC's work to that of corporate lobbyists, stating, "part of ALEC's mission is to present industry-backed legislation as grass-roots work." According to Bloomberg, being a non-profit rather than a lobby group "offers two benefits" to ALEC: deductability of membership dues corporations pay the organization (which may be as much as $25,000), and the freedom not to disclose the names of legislators who attend its "educational" seminars or the executives who give presentations to those legislators.

Complaint against ALEC tax-exempt status

Common Cause has filed a complaint with the IRS objecting to ALEC's tax status as a non-profit organization because lobbying accounts for more than 60% of its expenditures. ALEC denies lobbying.

William Cronon

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's March 2011 Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill, provoked large scale protests by Government Unions. William Cronon, a historian who teaches at the University of Wisconsin began an advocacy blog during the protest, with an entry alleging a link between the State bill and ALEC. This resulted in the issuing of a FOIA request by the Wisconsin Republican Party to obtain all e-mail sent from Cronon's university account that could be anti-Republican advocacy, due to concern that State facilities had been used for lobbying; Paul Krugman and the American Historical Association defended Cronon. They decried the action as an apparent attempt at intimidation. Bill Lueders, a strong advocate of transparency, and Wisconsin's open records rules countered, “I'm pleased to see the Republicans making use of the open records law because they are as entitled to it as everyone else in the state.”

Public protests

On April 29, 2011, between 125 and 150 people gathered in Cincinnati to protest ALEC. They marched around the Hilton hotel and convention center where ALEC's Spring Task Force Meeting was under way, and spoke against the group at nearby Fountain Square. ALEC's Annual Meeting, held August 3–6, 2011, in New Orleans, also drew protesters from multiple states."

ALEC mission statement language included in bills

In November 2011, Florida State Representative Rachel Burgin (R), introduced legislation to call on the federal government to reduce its corporate tax rate. The text still included the boilerplate "WHEREAS, it is the mission of the American Legislative Exchange Council to advance Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty,..." The bill was quickly withdrawn, the phrase removed, and was resubmitted as HM717,

Florida 'Stand Your Ground' law

It has been reported that the Florida Stand-your-ground law was based on a model bill written by ALEC. The law has frequently been mentioned as the reason George Zimmerman was not immediately arrested in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

On April 4, 2012 the online racial advocacy group Color of Change announced a call to boycott The Coca-Cola Company for its support of ALEC and by implication, their involvement in Stand your Ground and voter ID laws. Within hours, Coca-Cola announced it was ending its relationship with ALEC in apparent response to the threatened boycott. Approximately a dozen corporations or foundations dropped support of ALEC over the subsequent two weeks.

On April 17, 2012, ALEC announced that it was disbanding its Public Safety and Elections Task Force, which provided model bills for voter ID requirements and “stand your ground” gun laws. On April 18, the National Center for Public Policy Research announced the creation of a voter ID task force to replace the one discontinued by ALEC. The Martin shooting and subsequent boycott was described as a catalyst for ALEC to shift focus from social issues to economic ones.

References

  1. ^ "History". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  2. "ALEC: The Voice of Corporate Special Interests in State Legislatures" (PDF). People For the American Way. 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  3. Hooker, Brad (September 12, 2011). "Corporations Represented on ALEC's Private Enterprise Board Are Big Spenders in Washington". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  4. Conservative Nonprofit Acts as a Stealth Business Lobbyist April 21, 2012
  5. "ALEC Exposed" (PDF). Granite State Progress. 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  6. ^ "Corporate Flight From a Bill Mill", Bloomberg Businessweek, May 7-13, 2012
  7. Conservative Nonprofit Acts as a Stealth Business Lobbyist nytimes.com April 21, 2012
  8. ^ Kraft, Michael E.; Kamieniecki, Sheldon (2007). Business and environmental policy : corporate interests in the American political system. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-262-61218-0. American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provide direct assistance to state legislators and firms eager to minimize any state government engagement in environmental protection. ALEC's membership base includes nearly one-third of all sitting state legislators and most of its resources are derived from corporations and trade associations. It offers regular conferences and training sessions but is perhaps best known for drafting model legislation that can easily be adopted by an individual state and introduced into a legislature.
  9. "ALEC Politicians - SourceWatch". Sourcewatch.org. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Board of Directors". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  11. "Meet Our Staff". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  12. Barnett, Louis W. (2010)
  13. "Private Enterprise Board". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  14. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/04/05/usa-coke-alec-idUKL2E8F54P120120405
  15. "State Chairmen". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  16. "Inside ALEC". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  17. Brown, Laura (September 3, 2010). "American Legislative Exchange Council Study Offers Recipe for Education Reform and Asks Adults to Take the Challenge". HawaiiReporter. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  18. "Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State Analysis". YouTube. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  19. Rich States Poor States. American Legislative Exchange Council.
  20. Sullivan, Laura (October 29, 2010). "Shaping State Laws with Little Scrutiny". NPR. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  21. ^ "Who's Really Writing States' Legislation?". Fresh Air, WHYY. NPR. July 21, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  22. "La. State Rep. Noble Ellington, National Chairman Of ALEC, Responds To Report". NPR. July 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  23. Graves, Lisa (July 13, 2011). "About ALEC Exposed".
  24. Graves, Lisa (2011/7/15). "ALEC Exposed: State Legislative Bills Drafted by Secretive Corporate-Lawmaker Coalition" (Interview). Interviewed by Amy Goodman. Retrieved 23 April 2012. {{cite interview}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |callsign= (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help)
  25. Nichols, John (July 13, 2011). "ALEC Exposed".
  26. The Center for Media and Democracy. ALEC Exposed. Project website. Accessed September 23, 2011.
  27. SourceWatch. ALEC Politicians. SourceWatch page. Accessed September 23, 2011.
  28. SourceWatch. ALEC Corporations. SourceWatch page. Accessed September 23, 2011.
  29. The Center for Media and Democracy. ALEC Exposed Community Portal. Project website. Accessed September 23, 2011.
  30. The Nation Magazine. ALEC Exposed. Magazine website. Accessed September 23, 2011.
  31. Elk, Mike (August 5, 2011). "New Exposé Tracks ALEC-Private Prison Industry Effort to Replace Unionized Workers with Prison Labor" (Interview). Interviewed by Amy Goodman. Retrieved April 29, 2012. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help)
  32. Advocacy group Common Cause files IRS complaint against conservative legislative group ALEC
  33. Who's Really Behind Recent Republican Legislation in Wisconsin and Elsewhere? (Hint: It Didn't Start Here), William Cronon
  34. ^ Krugman, Paul (March 27, 2011). "American Thought Police". The New York Times.
  35. "AHA Today: AHA Deplores Effort to Intimidate William Cronon". American Historical Association. March 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  36. Sulzberger, A.G. (March 26, 2011). "Wisconsin Professor's E-Mails Are Target of G.O.P. Records Request". New York Times.
  37. ALEC's Open Secrets Cincinnati City Beat, 4 May 2011.
  38. Protesters Put More Pressure On ALEC In New Orleans The Rochester Citizen, 6 August 2011.
  39. Seitz-Wald, Alex (February 2, 2012). "Oops: Florida Republican Forgets To Remove ALEC Mission Statement From Boilerplate Anti-Tax Bill". ThinkProgress. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  40. "HM717: House Memorial" (PDF). Florida House of Representatives. 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  41. Amy Goodman; Mike Elk (2012/4/18). "ALEC Drops Push for Voter ID, Stand Your Ground Laws After Public Outcry Sparks Corporate Exodus". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 23 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. Ryan J. Reilly, "ALEC, NRA Pushed 'Stand Your Ground' Legislation At Center Of Trayvon Martin Killing" TPMMuckraker
  43. Bedard, Paul (April 4, 2012). "Coke caves in face of Democratic boycott threat". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  44. McVeigh, Karen (April 6, 2012). "Coca-Cola and PepsiCo sever ties with group behind stand-your-ground laws". The Guardian. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  45. Kroll, Andy. "The Gates Foundation Is Done Funding ALEC". Mother Jones. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  46. Kroll, Andy (April 10, 2012). "McDonald's Says It Has Dumped ALEC". Mother Jones (magazine).
  47. "Reed Elsevier, Wendy's drop conservative group" Reuters
  48. Peter Overby, Companies Flee Group Behind 'Stand Your Ground' National Public Radio April 13, 2012
  49. Jeremy Duda, "American Traffic Solutions leaving ALEC, joining APS" April 13, 2012 AZ Capitol Times
  50. Julian Pecquet, "Blue Cross Blue Shield quits conservative legislative organization ALEC"
  51. Sorensen, Adam (April 17, 2012). "ALEC Scraps Gun Law, Voter-ID Task Force". Time.
  52. "New Voter Identification Task Force Announced". National Center for Public Policy Research. April 18, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  53. Ryan J. Reilly, "Conservative Group With Abramoff Scandal Ties Picks Up Voter ID Issue Where ALEC Left Off" Talking Points Memo
  54. Lichtblau, Eric (April 17, 2012). "Martin Death Spurs Group to Readjust Policy Focus". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  55. Froomkin, Dan (April 17, 2012). "ALEC Retreats Under Pressure, Ends Push For 'Stand Your Ground,' Voter ID Laws". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 11, 2012.

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