Let this story be a lesson to all – that it is the people who must get rid of ALEC.
We must not re-elect or elect any ALEC members to the State or Federal governments.
This story makes it clear that while one or two politicians will choose to stand up to ALEC - the majority of legislators will not.
History has shown that legislators will not stand up against ALEC.
This battle is for the people to fight
– one person, one vote
– in the voting booth
– GET RID OF ALEC Members and Alumni.
A little history
Arizona Representative Steve Farley (D-Tucson) has announced that he will introduce a bill, the “ALEC Accountability Act of 2012,” aimed squarely at the less-than-transparent functions of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an organization that works to advance legislation authored by corporate interests at the state level through the use of a well-lubricated and well-hidden special interest cash distribution network.
This network, known as the ALEC “scholarship fund,” annually holds more than $1 million in special interest funds to be distributed to state lawmakers for attendance at various functions (commonly referred to as “junkets”). At these functions lawmakers are literally wined and dined by lobbyists seeking to advance the legislative agendas of their corporate clients.
To Farley and proponents of the bill, the problem is absolutely clear. In a nutshell: ALEC is a lobbyist organization that operates entirely out of public view. The ALEC “scholarship fund” is a “giant slush fund,” the way Farley sees it.
What happened yesterday
The Republic | azcentral.com
Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, was sailing along with House Bill 2642 when he ran into some choppy waters.
Democrats, led by Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, tried to tie on some extra cargo by adding provisions of Farley's ALEC disclosure bill. That measure (HB 2665) never got a hearing, so Farley tried to tack it on to HB 2642.
Among other things, it would require groups that craft model legislation picked up by Arizona lawmakers to register as lobbyists. It's a direct shot at the American Legislative Exchange Council, which is backed by corporate interests and proposes model legislation to statehouses across the nation.
Farley's amendment also would narrow exceptions to the lobbyist law. One of those exceptions has been cited, successfully, by the Goldwater Institute as the reason it need not register as a lobbyist, despite its constant presence in lawmakers' offices and in committee hearings.
The amendment failed, with Kavanagh arguing it had little to do with his bill, which modifies requirements for public lobbyists
Note this phrase '... his bill, which modifies requirement for public lobbyist."
Farley's bill deals with lobbyists.
Oh, by the way - Kavanagh is affiliated with ALEC!!!
And then you have this attempt in Wisconsin
Wisconsin state legislator is filing a bill that would require greater transparency regarding the activities of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in the state.
Rep. Mark PocanRep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) has been circulating the "ALEC Accountability Act," a bill that would require ALEC to register with the state as a lobbyist and report the funding sources for the "scholarships" funding legislators' travel. Pocan refers to ALEC as a "dating service" for right-wing politicians and corporations who exercise undue influence over state law by crafting "model" legislation behind closed doors.
Arizona and Wisconsin – the poster states for ALEC right now (many states are vying for that title).
Both putting forward amendments – it will be interesting to see if our legislators will police themselves or if they will let ALEC continue to be the boss in our legislaturesFor the most comprehensive list of ALEC members - ever published - that includes over 3,000 names of people - people who are members or people are/were affiliated with ALEC in some way, past and present - go to this link.
This battle is for the people to fight
– one person, one vote
– in the voting booth
– GET RID OF ALEC Members and Alumni.
#Alec
Let this story be a lesson to all – that it is the people who must get rid of ALEC.
We must not re-elect or elect any ALEC members to the State or Federal governments.
No comments:
Post a Comment