What companies Are in ALEC?

Someone posted that into a search engine and wanted an answer.

Here's my answer to them -

It doesn't matter what companies are ALEC Members

There are too many of them (I've compiled an updated list)

and you couldn't live your normal life

if you tried to boycott all of them.

YOUR ALEC legislator is the issue -
They know better -
They are choosing to attend ALEC meetings
They are choosing to represent corporations rather than their constituency.
They are choosing to be immoral and unethical.
They are choosing to subvert our democratic process!

They do not deserve to be in office and must not be re-elected.

Our legislators have a choice
they can choose not to be involved with ALEC and
they can choose not to be involved with these ALEC corporations.

Legislators who choose to be members of ALEC
must be taught there are consequences
    for the immoral, unethical, Un-American choices you make.

And the consequence for belonging to ALEC is
    - you do not get re-elected
    - go find another job!

Thus - the legislators who are ALEC members 
must not be re-elected and
someone else needs to take their place
in your state legislature and
from your state in the US Congress.

When there are no ALEC legislative members

 the ALEC companies have no one to talk with and

no one to write corporate legislation for them
...   then the companies are no longer an issue   ...

ALEC goes away,

when the legislators go away.

and that's my two cents on that!

ALEC on O'Donnell Last Night - Action Request

If you missed the segment on O'Donnell last night about ALEC , the link to the segment is in his name..

On that program is mention of a new report on ALEC (which I just downloaded and read) which is quite good and worth printing and handing out to every person you know.  You can download the entire report on the right side of the PFAW web page that the report is on ("download the full report" is just above the US map).

Print it - carry it with you every where you go and tell people about ALEC and hand them this report.

Very few people know about ALEC -
Please do not assume other people know about ALEC.

Email people you know the link to the clip from O'Donnell and
email them the report - people have to learn about ALEC. 

We need to "educate" everyone,
just like ALEC "educates" legislators.

Reading blogs and then doing nothing - does not get rid of ALEC.

This is Not Needed - Contact Congress Today and say NO!

This is an action moment, folks - you need to take action!
Say NO!!! to Section 1034 of the NDAA.

This New York Times Editorial is a must read - in  full - open the link of the new bill

My request to you is that you send an email or phone your US Congress person and tell them this is not needed.  Legal description is Section 1034 of the National Defense Authorization Act.

"It would allow military attacks against not just Al Qaeda and the Taliban but also any “associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States.”

It allows the president to detain “belligerents” until the “termination of hostilities,” presumably at a camp like the one in Guantánamo Bay

These powers are not needed, for current threats, or any other threat. President Obama has not asked for them..."


The Authorization for Use of Military Force,
Any time - any where - against any one
globally OR domestically
without the approval of Congress.

Let me see -
didn't these dimwit Republicans study the constitution at the beginning of this session?

See the ACLU site for more information.  At the very bottom of the article is a link to send your representative a message that you oppose this amendment 1034 (it is hidden inside 1,000 page defense bill.)


As you read the article and remember the sentences noted above - remember that ALEC is trying to get an ALEC member in the White House.
Past ALEC "Model Legislation" introduced in many states by ALEC members
refers to protestors as "terrorists".
Past ALEC magazine articles refer to protestors as "terrorists".
Something to think about.

Ron Latz (D-MN) My Hero - Never Thought

I'd say that in my lifetime - known him ever since he entered politics and boy oh boy. the last two days - I am proud to say I know the man.
  Finally someone with the balls to stand up to the GOP -
  Wellstone would be proud of him.


Yesterday -   Latz Press release  from the UpTake

Sen. Latz said the bill is part of a nation-wide effort to weaken consumer rights, led by big insurance and big business special interests through the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Minnesota’s legislators are introducing cookie-cutter bills written in D.C. and claiming them as their own.

“This bill makes it perfectly clear that Minnesota Republicans choose to protect big business and insurance companies rather than defend the rights of Minnesotans,” said Sen. Latz. “Republicans make the wrong choice. Across the country, we see Republican legislatures teaming up with big business and insurance companies to trample the rights of consumers. Even in Minnesota, this bill is just one of many Republican bills that will hurt consumers while protecting large corporate interests.”

Finally a legislator calling out the Repubs for using ALEC Model Legislation - FINALLY!


Today - from the UpTake

Democratic Senator Ron Latz challenges the premise of Republican Senator David Thompson’s arguments that abortion funding should be limited because some taxpayers don’t want their tax dollars going toward abortion services.

Latz says he wouldn’t want to see his tax dollars go to pay for a tuition tax credit for catholic school students. He says he has a moral and religious objection to use public dollars for religious education.

“Do I have the right to opt out?” He says he wouldn’t want his tax dollars to go pay for the mortgage interest deductions on someone’s second home. “I just don’t think that’s appropriate… if someone can afford to buy a second home, they can afford to pay the interest on the mortgage without the taxpayers subsidizing that purchase. I personally object to that, but I don’t have the right to opt out.”

We should all be proud of Latz right now - Atta Boy!

BRAVO - Senator Latz! - BRAVO!

Vukmir (R-WI) 2009 Open Records and ALEC

A blogger in Wisconsin recently had an entry about a open records request that had been done on Vukmir’s 2009 government emails, which showed ALEC correspondence that had been received by Vukmir.

It's important to read the hassle they had to go through for their open records request  - also linked in their blog entry - it shows how persistence is the key!

For those of you that missed that bloggers entry I pull one piece for this entry – you have to read the other information on that bloggers entry – it is very important. (Thank you Eye on Wisconsin - you are so much more than just a blogger!)  Be sure to read their entire entry – the linked information is amazing and disheartening (in a way).

In 2009 Leah Vukmir was named a "Legislator of the Year" by ALEC.

On November 3, 2009 ALEC staffer Meredith Hanley wrote to Representative Leah Vukmir (to her legislative email) and others asking them to contact to the following companies about joining ALEC – a second “touch”, as ALEC had already met with some of these companies.

Accenture, LLP

American Sopciety of Consultant Pharmacist

AmerisourceBergen

Ambulatory Surgery Asscoiates

Bristol Myers Squibb ( which I don’t understand as they are already a member)

Consumer Healthcare Products Association

Biotechnology Industry Organization

Boston Scientific

HCA Healthcare

Healthcare Distribution management Association

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

Humana

HMS

Managed Health Services

NFIB

Standard Register

Walgreen’s

Do you see a theme evolving?

They included a contact name for each organization and a telephone number and asked each person on the email to let ALEC know who they were comfortable in contacting.

This is digusting – but then it’s ALEC.

Be sure to read everything that is in the blog entry – that entry has some excellent reading material in it.

If you don’t know what ALEC is –

you should!

Please read this, or this, or this, or this, or this.

ALEC Offers $1,900 to Your Legislator

Sometimes when you are posting on the big old web – someone brings to your attention a blog entry that you just have to share.

I would strongly recommend you read this blog.

The blog entry has details from an email from Debbie Lasko – State ALEC Chair from AZ, inviting all the legislators from AZ to attend the Annual Meeting of ALEC in New Orleans in August.

The assumption could be made that all ALEC State Chairs are sending out a similar memo to all legislators in every state.

ALEC is offering a reimbursement of up to $1,900 per legislator to attend the ALEC Annual meeting. 

If 1,000 legislators take up that offer, ALEC and their corporate sponsors will be dishing out $1,900,000.00 to buy those legislators.

You have to write to known ALEC members in your state and tell them that you expect them to turn down this $1,900 offer and to not attend the ALEC Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

44 cents and an envelope – it’s an action you can take and should.