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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

MI & WI - The ALEC Political Machine




     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   


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.
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

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 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.
 
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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