ALEC Eviscerates FoIA / Open Records

Since ALEC, through their most current actions, has effectively destroyed the presumption that ALEC's records/correspondence with OUR state legislators are public - we can therefore surmise that ALEC state legislators now believe that they WORK FOR ALEC.

First of all – let me put this out there.

Elected officials serve at the will of the people.

That being said – any elected official – in fact, any employee in the US  - has no reasonable expectation of privacy – while in the workplace.

AND

That being said – any elected official – has no reasonable expectation of privacy – when it comes to correspondence that relates to their legislative service for the people.

Elected officials serve at the will of the people.

It can be surmised that, corruption can and will escalate, when elected officials, who are responsible for enacting policy and legislation, feel that they can exchange information and agreements, outside the view and review of the people.

When elected officials – step outside the realm of “public” – and into the highly questionable territory of “private” communications, regarding their service to the people – the public should be alarmed.

Not only should the public be alarmed – they should be terrified.

If a person wants to work in public service - their actions must be public.
If a person does NOT want their actions to be public - they should get the hell out of "public service".

That being said I want to repeat a piece of an entry I published yesterday.
REASONS
- This ALEC action is so damn important to the continuation of our democracy - that we can not afford to let this be a one news cycle issue.
- This ALEC action is so damn important to the continuation of our democracy - that we can not allow this to continue.

Snips below - PLEASE READ THE WHOLE THING

>>>>HERE<<<< 

ALEC Covering Tracks in Advance of Oklahoma Meeting

by Brendan Fischer — May 1, 2013 - 8:18am

What's on the agenda for this week's meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Oklahoma City?

Hard to say.

Despite ALEC trying to spin itself as a "transparent" organization, ALEC records have miraculously been disappearing from legislative offices and the organization is engaged in a box drop dodge to avoid disclosure.

FOIA’s to YOUR state legislator about what they are doing with ALEC don’t work anymore in regards to ALEC records/correspondence.

What is the American Legislative Exchange Council HIDING?  Why do they need to hide it? 

In the past, the Center for Media and Democracy had obtained advance agendas for ALEC meetings through open records requests to legislators in multiple states. But in recent months ALEC records have miraculously been disappearing from legislative offices.

WI Sen. Vukmir, an ALEC Board Member, has Zero ALEC Records

An ALEC Board Member - has ZERO ALEC records?  What is the American Legislative Exchange Council HIDING?  Why do they need to hide it?

And here is where ALEC's role in obfuscation becomes clear. ALEC does not send legislators proposed model bills and meeting agendas directly through email. ALEC is now sending its members a link, which expires within 72 hours, to an Internet drop box where they can access the relevant documents.

Time for new, expanded FOIA legislation!!!!

    Sending legislators an internet link

    Link expires in 72 hours

What the hell???????

What is the American Legislative Exchange Council HIDING?  Why do they need to hide it?

The information made available through open records requests are the only way the public has a window into what happens inside ALEC meetings.

Not anymore

  

It's time to wake up people!
We have legislators who think that are no longer working FOR US.
We have legislators who think they no longer need to report TO US.

ALEC has eviscerated OUR access to what IS public records.

Since ALEC, through their most current actions, has effectively destroyed the presumption that ALEC's records/correspondence with OUR state legislators are public - we can therefore conclude that ALEC state legislators now believe that they WORK FOR ALEC.

Elected officials serve at the will of the people.
Elected officials who intentionally take steps to avoid disclosure of their legislative activities - borders on corruption - and is not in the best interest of our democracy.