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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSpecial Rights for ALEC: Three States Exempt Stealth Corporate Lobbying Group From Lobbying Rules
Special Rights for ALEC: Three States Exempt Stealth Corporate Lobbying Group From Lobbying Rules
By Josh Israel
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a tax-exempt coalition of conservative state legislators and corporations that acts as a stealth business lobbyist, has been subject to a steady stream of bad press and criticism in recent months. Critics have highlighted the groups support for voter suppression, union busting efforts, environmental irresponsibility, harassment of immigrants, and Shoot First laws.
A new report by the Center for Public Integrity reveals that legislators in three states have explicitly exempted the organization from state lobbying registration and disclosure laws:
Last month South Carolina State Rep. Boyd Brown (D) announced a bill to remove the special exemption for ALEC. He noted the irony that under current state law, I cant get in a car with a lobbyist and drive up the street, but ALEC can give me a scholarship to fly across the country. The bill awaits consideration in the House Judiciary Committee.
ALEC member and Iowa State Rep. Ralph Watts (R) has defended the group, saying There is nothing secretive or sinister about it.
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/08/479886/special-rights-for-alec-three-states-exempt-stealth-corporate-lobbying-group-from-lobbying-rules/
By Josh Israel
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a tax-exempt coalition of conservative state legislators and corporations that acts as a stealth business lobbyist, has been subject to a steady stream of bad press and criticism in recent months. Critics have highlighted the groups support for voter suppression, union busting efforts, environmental irresponsibility, harassment of immigrants, and Shoot First laws.
A new report by the Center for Public Integrity reveals that legislators in three states have explicitly exempted the organization from state lobbying registration and disclosure laws:
(In) three states South Carolina, Indiana and Colorado it turns out that ALEC has quietly, and by name, been specifically exempted from lobbyist status.
The laws in those states allow ALEC to spend millions annually hosting corporate lobbyists and legislators at three yearly conferences, send issue alerts to legislators recommending votes on pending legislation, and draft press releases for legislators to use when pushing ALEC model bills all without registering as a lobbyist or reporting these expenditures.
Legislators can receive scholarships from ALECs corporate donors to attend conference events, or they can legally go on the taxpayer dime.
The laws in those states allow ALEC to spend millions annually hosting corporate lobbyists and legislators at three yearly conferences, send issue alerts to legislators recommending votes on pending legislation, and draft press releases for legislators to use when pushing ALEC model bills all without registering as a lobbyist or reporting these expenditures.
Legislators can receive scholarships from ALECs corporate donors to attend conference events, or they can legally go on the taxpayer dime.
Last month South Carolina State Rep. Boyd Brown (D) announced a bill to remove the special exemption for ALEC. He noted the irony that under current state law, I cant get in a car with a lobbyist and drive up the street, but ALEC can give me a scholarship to fly across the country. The bill awaits consideration in the House Judiciary Committee.
ALEC member and Iowa State Rep. Ralph Watts (R) has defended the group, saying There is nothing secretive or sinister about it.
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/05/08/479886/special-rights-for-alec-three-states-exempt-stealth-corporate-lobbying-group-from-lobbying-rules/
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Special Rights for ALEC: Three States Exempt Stealth Corporate Lobbying Group From Lobbying Rules (Original Post)
ProSense
May 2012
OP
“There is nothing secretive or sinister about it.” It's wrong and they just do it in plain sight!
The Wielding Truth
May 2012
#1
The Wielding Truth
(11,411 posts)1. “There is nothing secretive or sinister about it.” It's wrong and they just do it in plain sight!
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)2. Thanks.
K & R
Gold Metal Flake
(13,805 posts)3. This is a part of what fascism looks like.
Uncle Joe
(58,284 posts)4. Kicked and recommended to highlight corruptive evil.
Thanks for the thread, ProSense.
librechik
(30,673 posts)5. what are the odds? My state is one of the 3.
what idiots.
Uncle Joe
(58,284 posts)6. I was holding my breath before I clicked on the thread,
hoping Tennessee wasn't one of them.
Steadily being exposed...
spanone
(135,792 posts)8. let me guess, republican legislators ???
ThoughtCriminal
(14,046 posts)9. I was shocked! Shocked! That my state was NOT on of the 3
Arizona. But ALEC really doesn't even need to lobby to get what they want here.