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eridani

(51,907 posts)
Fri May 18, 2012, 05:05 AM May 2012

Uncovering the other ALECs

http://truth-out.org/news/item/9033-subverting-the-statehouse-uncovering-the-other-alecs

"That Other Bill Mill": Council of State Governments (CSG)

ALEC is far and away the most well known of the consortium of 501(c)(3) organizations that allow corporate influence to seep into every facet of state-level government affairs. CSG, on the other hand, is not so well known.

Upon being sworn into office, all state-level legislators (there are about 7,500 of them total), as well as their respective legislative staffs, automatically become CSG members. The organization's membership also includes representatives from the executive and judicial branches of state governments.

Between 2009 and 2011, CSG's Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 990 forms indicate revenue between $29 and $34 million annually. While most of its sizable budget is covered by taxpayers, some 43 percent - or roughly between $12.5 and 14.6 million, according to its web site; another 29 percent - or almost $8.4 to $9.9 million of these funds - come from what it describes as "entrepreneurial efforts" which can be loosely interpreted to mean anything from publication sales to a sizable chunk from corporate patronage.

Some perspective is warranted: 990s filed by ALEC in 2010 placed its entire budget at just under $6 million.

<snip>

National Conference of State Legislatures: Corporate-Sponsored "Schmoozapalooza"

The NCSL, considered an "instrumentality of the states" by the IRS, has served a "forum for America's Ideas since 1975." NCSL plays host to a series of educational conferences and task force meetings, and like its cousin, CSG, it boasts a membership that includes every state-level elected official in the United States.

One article comparing NCSL and ALEC reads, "ALEC may appear on the surface to mimic the bipartisan educational archetype of ... NCSL, but ALEC's corporate governance structure, near total reliance on corporate funding, and strong ties to legislators from predominantly one political party make it distinctly different."

Yet, the situation is not so cut-and-dry. Yes, NCSL is different from ALEC, but it still a key tool for corporations.


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Uncovering the other ALECs (Original Post) eridani May 2012 OP
And don't forget FAIR--"Federation for American Immigration Reform" pinboy3niner May 2012 #1
Du rec. Nt xchrom May 2012 #2

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
1. And don't forget FAIR--"Federation for American Immigration Reform"
Fri May 18, 2012, 05:23 AM
May 2012
The hate group that has been writing anti-immigrant bills in many states, including Arizona's SB 1070.





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