PR Newswire
WASHINGTON,
Dec. 12, 2012
ALEC Legislative Priorities
ALEC Legislative Priorities
ALEC Legislative Priorities
ALEC
Legislative
Priorities
Don’t forget that:
ALEC Legislative Priorities
Almost two years ago, in March of 2011, I wrote the following:
Scott
Walker appears to be the poster boy for ALEC because most everything he has
enacted reeks of ALEC stench.
At the
top of each Act published in Wisconsin
it says:
The
people of the state of Wisconsin,
represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
WRONG –
the people did not enact any of this shit! It would appear that Scott Walker
and ALEC enacted this crap, with the support and representation of the senate
and assembly.
Case in
point
The
first day Walker was in office, January 4, 2011
– before he enacted all the tax incentives and give-aways to corporations and
businesses – the very first thing was tort reform for Wisconsin.
“01-04-11.
A. Introduced by committee on ASSEMBLY ORGANIZATION, by request of Governor
Scott Walker…”
Known
as “ASSEMBLY BILL 1, January 2011 Special Session “ and then “Senate Bill 1” and now “2011 WISCONSIN
ACT 2”
Why is
this important? Because the first thing
he did was implement what appears to be “model legislation” suggested by ALEC
for over a decade.
In the
2001 ALEC Annual report ALEC notes the following as some of their major issues
for needed tort reform.
Major
Issues
Class-Action Lawsuit Reform
Joint and Several Liability
Product Liability
Protecting Privacy in Confidentiality
Agreements
Punitive Damages Reform
Now we
have the “2011 WISCONSIN ACT 2”
In the
2002 ALEC Annual Report ALEC notes,” litigation, aided and abetted by activists
and plaintiffs’attorneys, threatens to straitjacket entire industries” and then
they go on to say, “ALEC is trying to lead the way out of this abuse of
judicial power with model legislation”
Limit fees paid by the state to plaintiffs’
attorneys
Discourage frivolous lawsuits
Fairly balance judicial and legislative
powers
Require careful scrutiny of expert testimony.
Now we
have the “2011 WISCONSIN ACT 2”
In the
March 2010 edition if Inside ALEC they have an article on Tort Reform which
includes the following “Acts”
ALEC’s Reliability in Expert Testimony
Standards Act
ALEC’s Class Action Improvements Act
ALEC’s Private Enforcement of Consumer
Protection Statutes
Regulatory Compliance Congruity with
Liability Act
Now we
have the “2011 WISCONSIN ACT 2”
Everything that ALEC wanted for tort reform – was in 2011 WISCONSIN ACT 2.
Everything that ALEC wanted
…
In addition – in that post I noted:
And if
your state legislators runs into any problems with an ALEC tort reform bill
that they are introducing, the web page for “Disorder in the Court: A Guide for
State Legislators” states, “If there is a problematic bill in your state,
contact ALEC’s Civil Justice Task Force so that immediate action may be
taken.”. And they are true to their word
on this.
In an
article written by Wisconsin State Representative Phil Montgomery, (Nov/Dec
2009 - Inside ALEC) Rep. Montgomery
notes” “Thankfully, the ALEC Civil
Justice Task Force stepped forward to join with Wisconsin manufacturers,
building contractors, health care professionals, insurers, and restaurateurs in
advocating for common sense civil justice reform.” …
“Give credit where credit is due. Not only was ALEC, and its staff,
there to help enact tort reform in 1995, they were there to prevent those
reforms from being rolled back. As a result, Wisconsin
businesses, large and small, can cross the hidden taxes resulting from changes
to the state’s joint and several liability statutes off the list of concerns as
they struggle through in the midst of our current economic downturn.”
“If there is a problematic bill in your state, contact
ALEC’s Civil Justice Task Force so that immediate action may be taken.”
“Give credit where credit is due. Not only was ALEC, and its
staff, there to help enact tort reform in 1995, they were there to prevent
those reforms from being rolled back.
ALEC will immediately take action ...
To assure ALEC gets everything ALEC wants …
To assure ALEC gets everything ALEC wants …
Why is that important
– now – almost two years later?
Because of what just
happened in Michigan!
While people were outside protesting in Michigan
- ALEC was probably sending emails to state legislators just like they did when
Walker was trying to pass SB1 – and people were
outside protesting in Wisconsin.
From: Stephanie Linn
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 12:50
PM
Subject: Wisconsin
Assembly Bill 1 (Tort Reform), Special Session
TO:
ALEC Members on the Wisconsin Assembly Judiciary and Ethics Committee
From:
ALEC’s Civil Justice Task Force
Date:
January 11, 2011
URGENT ISSUE ALERT.
Re: Wisconsin
Assembly Bill 1 (Tort Reform), Special Session
We understand that the Assembly
Committee on Judiciary and Ethics and the Senate Committee on Judiciary,
Utilities, Commerce and Government will hold a joint hearing on AB1 and SB1
this afternoon.
… Many of the reforms encompassed
by AB1 have foundation in ALEC model legislation.
IN ALEC model legislation
ALEC is deeply committed to the
advancement of substantive civil justice reform in the United States and supports this
legislation which contains numerous provisions that reflect ALEC’s civil justice
reform policy and model legislation.
provisions that reflect ALEC’ s civil justice reform policy
and model legislation
Why was this email important?
To further the ALEC political AGENDA
As exemplified in subsequent paragraphs in the email noting:
AB1 would instill … ALEC’s model Reliability in Expert
Testimony Standards Act includes multiple such provisions
AB1 would also … Just
as ALEC’s Product Liability Act aims
to achieve
AB1 raises standards that … ALEC’s Constitutional Guidelines for
Punitive Damages Act contains similar
The URGENT ISSUE ALERT ended with
If you have any questions about this
issue, please contact Amy Kjose, ALEC’s Civil Justice Task Force Director …
And then on the next day – Bryan Weynand, Legislative
Assistant – Civil Justice and Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Forces
of ALEC sent an email to Senator
Fitzgerald stating:
This issue alert went out yesterday
from the ALEC Civil Justice Task Force to our Wisconsin
members on the relevant committees. I
wanted to make you aware of it.
The URGENT ISSUE ALERT email was attached.
Fiztgerald forwarded the email with the URGENT ISSUE ALERT to
Daniel Romportl
With a cc to
John Hogan
Romportl – Deputy Director, Committee to Elect a Republican
Senate
Hogan – Director, Committee to Elect a Republican Senate
All you have to do
Is change tort reform to
right to work
And
Wisconsin AB1 to Michigan 4054
And the story is the same.
And the story is the same.
To further the ALEC political AGENDA
And that tells you what ALEC has probably been doing the last two days.
Probably the same process – probably similar emails.
To further the ALEC political AGENDA
To further the ALEC political AGENDA
And it has nothing to do with
improving the economy in Michigan or the
people in Michigan.
The ONLY thing it has to do with is advancing the ALEC
political agenda through ALEC"model legislation".
IN ALEC model legislation
provisions that reflect ALEC’ s
civil justice reform policy and model legislation
AB1 would instill … ALEC’s
model Reliability in Expert Testimony Standards Act includes multiple such
provisions
AB1 would also … Just
as ALEC’s Product Liability Act aims to achieve
AB1 raises standards that … ALEC’s
Constitutional Guidelines for Punitive Damages Act contains similar
It is all about ALEC.
ALEC's this, ALEC's that
ALEC, ALEC, ALEC, ALEC
ALEC legislation - found in every state across the USA.
ALEC legislative members - holding the ALEC party line.
ALEC - pushing the ALEC "model legislation" agenda in every state across the USA.
Americans are quick to condemn the Republicans or the Democrats in regards to their political agenda and legislation. NOW it is time to also include ALEC in those political agenda conversations - specifically their ALEC legislators, their ALEC "model legislation".
Just like any other political party, the American Legislative Exchange Council must come under public scrutiny for the role that they play in our political system.
Just like any other political party, the American Legislative Exchange Council must be required to identify both their political agenda, their legislation, and their members to the American public.
ALEC - pushing the ALEC "model legislation" agenda in every state across the USA.
ALEC must be held to the same standards as any other political party. ALEC must be held responsible for the legislation they write and ALEC legislators must be held responsible for the party they belong to – ALEC..
ALEC - pushing the ALEC "model legislation" agenda in every state across the USA.
Americans are quick to condemn the Republicans or the Democrats in regards to their political agenda and legislation. NOW it is time to also include ALEC in those political agenda conversations - specifically their ALEC legislators, their ALEC "model legislation".
Just like any other political party, the American Legislative Exchange Council must come under public scrutiny for the role that they play in our political system.
Just like any other political party, the American Legislative Exchange Council must be required to identify both their political agenda, their legislation, and their members to the American public.
ALEC legislation - found in every state across the USA.
ALEC legislative members - holding the ALEC party line. ALEC - pushing the ALEC "model legislation" agenda in every state across the USA.
ALEC must be held to the same standards as any other political party. ALEC must be held responsible for the legislation they write and ALEC legislators must be held responsible for the party they belong to – ALEC..
Without the orchestration of legislators and legislation, BY ALEC, none of this horrendous legislation would proliferate
the way it has. We can see it over and
over and over again – in state after state after state – “model legislation” after
“model legislation”. And there is only
ONE, only ONE factor that is the cause of this – ALEC.
No other extremist right wing organization has the ability to - pass legislation. No other extremist right wing organization has access to
state legislators. No other extremist right wing organization has “model legislation” to supply to the legislators - to
introduce & enact, EXCEPT ALEC.
We need to start placing responsibility and blame, when applicable, on ALEC for their political agenda. BLAME for the ongoing weakening and
destruction of historically acceptable and viable systems and processes of our
country - caused by ALEC “model
legislation”, ALEC legislators - devastation caused by the American Legislative
Exchange Council.
EVERY state that does not currently have ALEC's Right-to-Work (for Less) must live in constant vigilance and FEAR - awaiting the onslaught of ALEC legislation that will destroy their way of life and the economy in their state.
ALEC is destroying the USA with their legislation.
ALEC legislators are destroying the USA with their secretive allegiance to their political party, ALEC.
ALEC is destroying the USA with their legislation.
ALEC legislators are destroying the USA with their secretive allegiance to their political party, ALEC.
It is time for ALEC and their legislators to put their big boy pants on and publicly accept responsibility for the ALEC political posturing and maneuvering - just like any other political party.
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