"ALEC’s Attempt Has Failed" - LOOOOVE IT!

Saw this this morning and had to take a peak - as it was on a webpage that is definitely not very progressive.

When the media reports the failures of the extremist pro-corporate American Legislative Exchange Council that's important.  It means ALEC members couldn't "get 'er done" and that's a very good thing.  It means various online media is now connecting the dots to ALEC cut/paste legislation - even though the mainstream media chooses to ignore ALEC.

States KeepRenewable Energy Incentives Despite Push to Repeal

BY: Stateline | Nation | June 24, 2013

By Jim Malewitz

SNIP

After the 2012   …   the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) joined ranks with prominent libertarian groups in a nationwide anti-mandate blitz. Wind and solar advocates feared the worst.

SNIP

 “ALEC’s attempt to squash clean energy standards in the states has failed,” said Gabe Elsner,   ... “I thought they would have had more success.”

SNIP

Though statehouses have seen an uptick in such legislation -- likely boosted by ALEC and its allies  …  …  In 2011 and 2012, states considered a total of 50 major weakening bills. Just five of those bills succeeded, and none dramatically changed the policy.

SNIP

ALEC did not respond to interview requests. But the Heritage Foundation,  …  , said it does not consider 2013 a setback.

“We’re just kind of hoping we can get legislation introduced,” said Taylor Smith, an analyst at the foundation. “Our goal really is to get the conversation going.”

"ALEC did not respond to interview requests."

Not exactly true

Taylor Smith - who is quoted in the next paragraph - per Heartland webpage IS ALEC.

Taylor Smith

Policy Analyst, The Heartland Institute

Phone:

312/377-4000

Twitter:

@tlawsmith

Email:

tsmith@heartland.org

Taylor Smith is a policy analyst for the Government Relations Department at The Heartland Institute. His responsibilities include interacting with elected officials and staff on energy and environment issues; tracking new legislation; and drafting responses to emerging issues via talking points, news releases, and op-ed pieces, with the goal of informing legislators about free-market ideas.

He is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force, and a board member of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. His work has appeared in several publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News, Washington Examiner, Washington Times, and elsewhere.