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Sunday, March 17, 2013

ALEC Press Releases You Didn't See

This past Friday (I edited it slightly becauseican):

    ALEC Posts Full Catalog of Model Policies Online March 15, 2013

    ALEC Posts Full Catalog of Model Policies Online   Renews call for open exchange of ideas to create opportunity and move government closer to communities WASHINGTON, DC (March 15, 2013) –


So I thought I would take a look at the other things that ALEC has bragged about.  I thought I would go back and look for “transparency” in ALEC press releases.
This is what I found on the ALEC Press Release webpages going back almost two full years:
PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS  (2)
    C. Stevens Seale Appointed Chairman Of Private Sector Advisory Council March 11, 2013

    Indiana State Rep. Dave Frizzell named 2012 ALEC National Chairman Louisiana State Rep. Noble Ellington recognized with National Chairman’s Award  Phoenix, AZ – (December 2, 2011)


ANNOUNCEMENTS of RIGHT WING MEETINGS (5)
    Legislators from Across the Country Gather for ALEC’s States & Nation Policy Summit November 28, 2012

    ALEC and Oklahoma Legislators gather to learn about Justice Reinvestment March 5, 2012

    ALEC and Georgia State Legislators gather to learn about Criminal Justice reforms February 17, 2012

    Nearly 1,000 state legislators, business leaders and public policy experts discuss free market solutions to creating jobs at ALEC’s States & Nation Policy Summit December 2, 2011

    Hundreds of State Legislators Gather to Discuss Policy Solutions Promoting Economic Growth and Limited Government August 3, 2011


CONGRATULATING STATES FOR DOING ALEC’s BIDDING (10)
    Constitutional amendment seems crazy, but it might make sense | Wisconsin State Journal February 14, 2013

    9 states have the right idea about taxation | Azcentral.com February 8, 2013

    Iowa House Majority Leader Upmeyer :Group facilitates effective government | TheGazette August 6, 2012

    In Kansas, A ‘Glide Path’ To No Income Taxes. Will It Work? | NPR February 20, 2013

    ALEC Commends Georgia Governor and Legislators for Passing Patient-Centered Health Care Bill May 5, 2011

    ALEC Applauds Florida House Vote to Pass Health Care Freedom Act March 28, 2011

    North Carolina Becomes First State in 2011 to Send Health Freedom Bill to Governor’s Desk February 17, 2011

    Louisiana Senate Passes Health Care Freedom Act Becomes first state with a Democrat legislature to oppose individual mandate June 21, 2010

    Oklahoma, Georgia Send Health Care Freedom Act to Governor’s Desk Momentum Against ObamaCare Continues to Grow in the States May 5, 2010

    ALEC Applauds Missouri Passage of Health Care Act August 4, 2010


BRAGGING ABOUT RIGHT WING NEW REPORTS (11)
    New Report Aimed at Dispelling Tax ‘Myths’ | TaxAnalysts.com February 7, 2013

    ALEC Releases “Dig It! Rare Earth and Uranium Mining Potential in the States” December 17, 2012

    ALEC Unveils Legislative Priorities for 2013 December 10, 2012

    N.J. could use ALEC’s ideals April 9, 2012

    New Report Ranks Economic Competitiveness in the 50 States April 11, 2012

    National Education Report Card Ranks Massachusetts First, West Virginia Last January 24, 2012

    ALEC’s Award-Winning Study Ranks Economic Competitiveness in the 50 States June 22, 2011

    ALEC State Legislators Push Back EPA’s Onslaught of Regulations: ALEC’S EPA Regulatory Train Wreck proving to be successful June 14, 2011

    ALEC’s Guide to Advancing American Colleges and Universities: 10 Questions State Legislators Should Ask about Higher Education April 15, 2011

    Mason-Dixon Poll Finds Florida Voters Oppose Use of Tax Dollars for Bail March 16, 2011

    State Education Ranking Shows Vermont #1, South Carolina Last September 1, 2010


ALEC WHINES ABOUT BEING PICKED ON  (11)
    Legislative leader of liberal group smears ALEC | The Iowa Republican March 14, 2013

    Moyers Documentary Slams Conservatives, Pushes Soros-Funded Group October 9, 2012

    ALEC And The Left’s War On Free Speech – Investor’s Business Daily May 17, 2012

    Statement by Alan P. Dye on Latest Harassment Tactic Against ALEC by Liberal Front Groups April 23, 2012

    The Wall Street Journal Editorial- Shutting Down ALEC April 18, 2012

    Statement by ALEC on Intimidation Campaign Motives Becoming More Obvious by the Day April 13, 2012

    Statement by ALEC in Response to the Outpouring of Support in Wake of Intimidation Campaign Against Its Members April 12, 2012

    Statement by ALEC on the Coordinated Intimidation Campaign Against Its Members April 11, 2012

    Common Cause Continues to Propose Absurd Conspiracy Theories March 28, 2012

    Statement on Center for Media Democracy/PR WATCH Wisconsin GAB Complaint March 28, 2012

    ALEC Response to Common Cause Report 2/23/12 February 23, 2012

ALEC TRYING TO DEFEND THEMSELVES (4)
    ALEC Sharpens Focus on Jobs, Free Markets and Growth — Announces the End of the Task Force that Dealt with Non-Economic Issues April 17, 2012

    ALEC Response to Krugman’s Erroneous Claims – 3/27/12 March 27, 2012

    ALEC Statement on “Stand Your Ground” Legislation – 3/26/12 March 26, 2012

    ALEC Responds to Deceptive Common Cause Report August 6, 2011


ALEC STICKS ITS NOSE IN FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES (26)
Obamacare
    U.S. Supreme Court Upholds ACA, Provisions Forcing Americans to Buy Insurance June 28, 2012

    U.S. Supreme Court Begins Hearing Oral Arguments on the Constitutionality of ObamaCare March 26, 2012

    ALEC Amicus Brief: ObamaCare’s Individual Mandate Fails to Account for State Interests and Displaces State Policy Choices February 14, 2012

    11th Circuit Court of Appeals Begins Hearing Oral Arguments on the Constitutionality of ObamaCare June 8, 2011

    Amicus Brief to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals shows ObamaCare is incompatible with the Constitution’s Enumeration of Federal Powers May 17, 2011

    ALEC Launches “States Triumph over Federal Mandate” Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act has enormous momentum throughout the States March 28, 2011

    ALEC Applauds Repeal of ObamaCare and Provides a “Repeal Blueprint” for State Legislators January 19, 2011

    ALEC State Legislators Warn Boehner That ObamaCare Will Cost States Big If Not Repealed January 7, 2011

    Another step toward victory for Americans and Freedom of Choice in Health Care December 13, 2010

    Freedom of Choice in Health Care Defended in Historic Election November 3, 2010

    ALEC Condemns Florida State Supreme Court’s Decision to Reject Amendment 9 September 2, 2010

    ALEC Decries Ruling to Remove Florida Amendment 9 from November Ballot July 29, 2010


FCC
    ALEC Calls for Privacy Solutions to Protect Consumer Choice April 2, 2012

    ALEC Applauds Congressional Approval of Spectrum Auctions to Promote Broadband February 17, 2012

    State Legislators Concerned by FCC’s New Internet Regulation Strategy June 17, 2011

    State Legislators Call Court Ruling A Win For Free And Open Internet April 7, 2011

    State Legislators Say Net Regulation Will Hurt Investment and Jobs January 14, 2011


ENERGY/EPA
    ALEC Urges President and Federal Government to Consult with States on Energy Resources and Public Lands February 1, 2012

    ALEC Disapproves of President Obama’s Decision on Keystone XL Pipeline January 18, 2012

    Senate Introduces the “Fair Compliance Act”: A More Realistic EPA Regulation Timeline November 23, 2011

    House Passes TRAIN Act: A Step in the Right Direction September 26, 2011

    ALEC State Legislators Push Back EPA’s Onslaught of Regulations: ALEC’S EPA Regulatory Train Wreck proving to be successful June 14, 2011

    Wyoming Urges Congress to Curb EPA’s Barrage of Regulations February 22, 2011

FTC
    State Legislators Urge U.S. Senate to Scrap Expansion of FTC Regulatory Power April 30, 2011


International
    ALEC Opposes Australian Implementation of “Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill” June 14, 2011

What I didn’t find on the ALEC Press Release Webpage, were ALEC press releases / announcements over the past two years, ALEC success stories - that could have read like these:
ALEC Announces Expansion of ALEC Stand Your Ground Legislation on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Member. the NRA

ALEC Applauds Arizona for Implementing Gun Buyback Law that Requires Resale of Guns, on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Member. the NRA

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Legislation to Eliminate Renewable Energy Initiatives on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Fossil Fuel Producers.

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Voter ID Restrictions.

ALEC Applauds Arizona Governor for Selling State Capitol.

ALEC State Legislators Take Strong Lead in Re-districting Initiatives.

ALEC State Legislators Meet with Saskatchewan Prime Minister to Discuss XL Pipeline Project

ALEC Applauds PhRMa for Donating $365,000 for Wisconsin ALEC Members Scholarships.

ALEC Acknowledges Charles Koch, Director of the Charles Lambe Foundation for Donation of $150,000.

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Right-to-Work Legislation and Amendments on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Members

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Charter School Legislation on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Members.

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Expansion of School Voucher Legislation on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Educational Providers.

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Legislation to Limit Consumers Rights to Legal Recourse Against Negligent Corporations.

ALEC State Legislators Provide Employers with Legislation to Eliminate Writing Paychecks, Promoting Exclusive Use of ALEC Corporate Members Payroll Debit Cards.

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Legislation to Dramatically Reduce the Power of State Attorneys General, Limiting Consumer Protection.

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Legislation to Reign in Municipal Broadband.

ALEC State Legislators Target Eco-Terrorists with Ag-Gag Legislation on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Agri-Business

Burgin (FL) Proudly Introduces ALEC Legislation

ALEC State Legislators Push for State Reclamation of Federal Land for Increased Energy Production

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Legislation to Promote Gold and Silver as Legal Tender, Creating Possible Devaluation of  the US Dollar

ALEC State Legislators Advocate for Lower Minimum Wage on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Members

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Measures to Repeal Paid Sick Leave Legislation on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Members

ALEC State Legislators Sponsor Legislation for Less Regulation on behalf of ALEC Corporate Sector Pay Day Loan Members

ALEC State Legislators Meet with Foreign Nationals to Discuss American Policy

ALEC State Legislators Introduce Education Freedom Act Designed to Promote Climate Denial Curriculum.

ALEC Annual Meeting Attendees Included 400 State Legislators and other Public Officials, 200 Representatives of Conservative Thinktanks and 400 Corporate Lobbyists Representatives
Why aren’t these types of headlines showing up on PR Newswire?

ALEC – why aren’t these headlines on your “Press Releases” webpage? 

American Legislative Exchange Council, are you ashamed and embarrassed to admit achievement of your policies?  Is there an evolving realization within ALEC that your extremist, right-wing, ultraconservative, pro-corporate policies are just too radical for the general public to accept?  Is that why we don’t see these types of press releases?

Have your legislative members asked you to keep these success stories quiet because they are ashamed and embarrassed to be advocating ALEC policies? 

Have your corporate profit sector members requested that you to keep these success stories quiet because they are ashamed and embarrassed to be associated with ALEC policies? 

ALEC Announces the Departure of 49 Private Sector Members.
ALEC Announces the Departure of 71 State Legislators.
“radical,” “dangerous” and accused it of “impeding democracy"

ALEC is not the innocuous organization it claims to be

I've become troubled by other aspects of their work."

Their agenda is radical and wrong

ALEC does not represent my values or beliefs.

ALEC has become too partisan and too extreme

ALEC's agenda has become harmful to my constituents

I have decided to terminate my membership.

I am no longer a member of ALEC, nor do I support their views.

    I have decided to terminate my membership.

    I have decided to terminate my membership.

    I have decided to terminate my membership.

    I have decided to terminate my membership.

    I have decided to terminate my membership.

    I have decided to terminate my membership.

    I have decided to terminate my membership.
   
ALEC – You have always advocated for “transparency” when it was convenient for YOU!

The potential headlines, as highlighted above and ALEC's intentional omission of similar headlines; is indicative of ALEC's  historical “lack of transparency”.

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