Will ALEC Diss a Sitting US Senator?

It all started here two weeks ago:

Dick Durbin to holdhearing on ‘stand your ground’ laws

Durbin’s hearing will probe the NRA and the ALECl. |

By BURGESS EVERETT | 7/19/13 12:34 PM EDT

The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat will hold a hearing on “stand your ground” laws this Fall.

Dick Durbin of Illinois announced on Friday that his Senate Judiciary subcommittee will hear testimony on state laws that give citizens the right of lethal force to defend themselves in situations where they feel their life is threatened, measures which are on the books in some form in dozens of states.

Durbin’s hearing will probe the roles of the NRA and ALEC — which helps draft conservative legislation in statehouses —

And that, at the time – was all good and well

But then Durbin wanted to know more!

After Trayvon Martin Verdict, Durbin Pushes 300 Companies on ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws

By Meredith Shiner       Posted at 5:04 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2013

In preparation for a previously announced hearing   …    Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., sent letters to more than 300 possible corporate backers of ALEC, requesting their position of such policies in states across the country.

The letter, released by Durbin’s office, says the following:

    “I write to seek information regarding your company’s position on “stand your ground” legislation that was adopted as a national model by an organization called   ...  (ALEC),” Durbin wrote. “In 2005, ALEC approved the adoption of model ‘stand your ground’ legislation entitled the ‘Castle Doctrine Act.’ This model legislation was based on Florida’s ‘stand your ground’ law, and it changes the criminal law regarding self-defense and provides immunity for certain uses of deadly force.

    “Although ALEC does not maintain a public list of corporate members or donors, other public documents indicate that your company funded ALEC at some point during the period between ALEC’s adoption of model “stand your ground” legislation in 2005 and the present day. I acknowledge your company’s right to actively participate in the debate of important political issues, regardless of your position, and I recognize that a company’s involvement with ALEC does not necessarily mean that the company endorses all positions taken by the organization. Therefore I am seeking clarification whether companies that have funded ALEC’s operations in the past currently support ALEC and the model ‘stand your ground’ legislation.”

And it’s important to remember that most of those 300 companies were at the ALEC meeting in Chicago and most of them (including the NRA) paid ALEC money to be at the meeting – behind closed doors, influencing your state legislators.

And while ALEC were in Chicago, meeting behind closed doors with those very corporations – this happened.

Then Durbin turned up the pressure on ALEC corporations

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-durbin-20130809,0,626739.story

6:01 p.m. CDT, August 8, 2013

The editorial page of Thursday's Wall Street Journal reported that the senator has sent letters to corporate and nonprofit supporters of ALEC, asking them to disclose their positions on "stand-your-ground" legislation that ALEC supported in Florida in 2005.

ALEC, which is holding its annual meeting in Chicago this week, is a conservative association of state legislators, foundations and businesses that advocate limited government and free markets. Many but not all of its areas of focus are economic.

Durbin's communications director, Max Gleischman, told us Thursday afternoon that the senator's goal isn't to silence groups he opposes, but "to find out if groups that support (ALEC) financially agree with (ALEC's) position on 'stand your ground' laws. Simple as that."

And while ALEC were in Chicago, meeting behind closed doors – this happened.

The pushback from ALEC members.

By ANNA PALMER | 8/9/13 6:07 PM EDT

  ...  ALEC  ...is fighting back against Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin’s push to get companies associated with the group to hand over information over its support of “stand your ground laws.”

 “Members and donors to 501(c)3 organizations are specifically protected by the Internal Revenue Service and the Supreme Court to shield them from the type of political intimidation found in Sen. Durbin’s letter,” said ALEC first vice chair and Iowa Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, in a statement.

Oh – there is that 501c3 arugment – we are a nonprofit – for now anyhow.

ALEC is also encouraging members to take to Twitter in an effort to get “#Durbinletter” trending,

We need to start a twitter bomb on this with

Good Job Durbin #Durbinletter

Thank You Sen. Durbin #Durbinletter

Thanks for your focus on this issue #Durbinletter

We need more Senators like you.  #Durbinletter

“Although ALEC does not maintain a public list of corporate members or donors, other public documents indicate that your company funded ALEC at some point during the period between ALEC’s adoption of model ‘stand your ground’ legislation in 2005 and the present day,” Durbin wrote.

He added that he was seeking “clarification whether companies that have funded ALEC’s operations in the past currently support ALEC and the model ‘stand your ground’ legislation.”

Information we would all like to know.

Information we have the right to know!

Maybe this is the only way to get it.

The full rebuttal letter from ALEC can be found on the ALEC webpage – but I refuse to link to their site.

And today - the right wing histrionic responses are getting more extreme.  Extremism - what you will find when dealing with members of ALEC

“What is it he thinks he’s doing here?” asks Jason Stverak, president of the Franklin Center. “Does he think he has the authority to oversee state legislatures? Is it his job to tell citizens and groups what sort of policies they may advocate? What about tracking down all the members of that group?

“Why not just ask it: are we now or have we ever been members of the American Legislative Exchange Council?”

Some may cringe - but I think that's a righteous question - and an appropriate question for a gorup that is intentionally destroying the democratic representative government - of, for, and by the people.

The members of the extremist – secretive American Legislative Exchange council – don’t like people getting in their business – but it’s time EVERYONE did.