ALEC has requested an opinion from Abbott that they are exempt from Texas open records law

[Gothmog]

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has requested an opinion from Greg Abbot (the Texas AG and candidate for Governor) that ALEC is exempt from the Texas Open Records law https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2013/08/19

The Center for Media and Democracy filed a letter with the Texas Attorney General on Thursday refuting efforts by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to declare itself immune from the state's open records law. Texas is the first known state where ALEC has formally asked an Attorney General for an exemption from sunshine-in-government laws, and it marks a new low in the organization's attempts to advance its legislative agenda in secret and avoid public accountability for facilitating special interest influence.

“You cannot just create a special private club between lobbyists and lawmakers and then claim your communications with legislators cannot be disclosed to the public under state sunshine laws,” said Lisa Graves, the Executive Director of the Center for Media and Democracy/ ALECexposed.org, “Allowing this would only increase the power of special interests to secretly influence officials elected to represent real people."

We need to get the word out about these efforts

[Downwinder]

1. If they get an opinion, it would indicate that they

are a State agency. And so would come under the open records act.

Individuals are not entitled request to AG opinions.

[Gothmog]

2. A GOP rep filed the request for the opinion

ALEC's outside law firm has filed a letter supporting this request and some liberal groups are opposing this request. What ALEC is asking for is the right to submit draft laws to members of the Texas legislature without these drafts becoming public. It is common practice to make open records request of sponsors of laws to get copies of materials given to these sponsors by lobbyists and groups like ALEC. ALEC wants to be exempt from these requirements

[ashling]

3. Beat me to it

But our assteamed AG has his head so far up their ass that he is probably unaware of that little detail

[blkmusclmachine]

4. .

.

[Gothmog]

5. ALEC is trying this trick in Wisconsin

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023728061

[DhhD]

6. Another source of information about ALEC and its request.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/23/1233414/-ALEC-to-Texas-Our-Stuff-is-not-a-Public-Record#

[Gothmog]

7. Thanks for sharing

ALEC is trying this stunt in more than one state. In Texas, ALEC is trying to get Greg Abbott to issue an opinion that this procedure is correct and Abbott may well issue this opinion. We need to get the word out about ALEC and the Koch brothers attempts to lobby legislators secretly