ALEC Influence - Hidden Behind the Curtain

Many times over the past 4 years we have seen articles and blog entries that stated that a governor was beholding to the Koch’s or they were passing legislation by ALEC, or were acting like an ALECer, but we could never connect them directly to ALEC.

Reason being is that many of them were not legislators before they became governor, so they didn’t have a chance to be a documented ALEC member, or in ALEC tradition, their membership was hidden from view.

But - - sometimes you will find ALEC hiding behind the curtain –

Within the last month – the following connections have been made by me and fellow researchers and I thought you should know about them

Richard Bagger to NJ Gov Christie

Republican Governor Chris Christie's Chief of Staff, Richard Bagger  2009 - 2012

Currently – a Commissioner on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

               Served on the ALEC's Private Enterprise Board between 2001 and 2004

  

Keith Gardner to NM Gov Susanna Martinez

Chief of Staff

“Keith Gardner is Governor Susana Martinez's chief of staff which makes him one of the most powerful men in New Mexico.”

               ALEC member

Art Pope to  NC Gov McCrory

Gov.-elect Pat McCrory expanded his cabinet selections by three on Thursday, and named a trio of key staffers that includes controversial political financier Art Pope.

                ALEC member

John Thrasher to FL Gov Scott

"I want to thank Sen. Thrasher for agreeing to be chairman of my re-election campaign," Scott said. "He has been a trusted adviser throughout my first term, and will be a key supporter in my campaign for a second term."

                American Legislative Exchange Council Legislator of the Year 1998

                Previous to his time as a legislative member – he was a lobbyist for 

                ALEC member Southern Strategy Group

  

Chris Atkins to IN Gov Pence

Pence made his first significant policy hire, bring­ing on Chris Atkins as his policy director.

                Atkins was director of tax and fiscal policy at the

                American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)    

                June 2001 – August 2004 (3 years 3 months)

Dick Posthumus to MI Gov Rick Snyder

On 8 November 2010, Governor-elect Rick Snyder named Posthumus to be his senior adviser and legislative lobbyist.
                2001 - Listed as an ALEC "Leader in the States"
                ALEC Board of Directors 1992 - 1996

                ALEC National Chairman Dick Posthumus  1993- 1994

ALEC influence is sometimes hidden - like many things ALEC - behind a veil of secrecy.  

Never publicly acknowledged - left for citizen researchers and journalists to expose.