The Latest On ALEC
Posted by Michelle Moquin on December 5th, 2012
Good morning!
PRESS RELEASE
Watchdogs Shed More Light on ALEC on Eve of Group’s DC Summit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 27, 2012
CONTACT: Sara Jerving, Center for Media and Democracy, (608) 260-9713
Mary Boyle, Common Cause, (202) 736-5770
- ALEC continues to insist that it does no lobbying, even as it brings hundreds of legislators to DC to sit with corporate lobbyists and executives to craft legislation.ALEC’s most recent IRS Form 990, for 2011, indicates that while classified as a charity and enjoying the tax-exempt status that accompanies that designation, ALEC spent nearly $5 million on closed-to-the-public conferences with state legislators and “task forces” geared to advancing hundreds of corporate-drafted “model” bills. Other public records obtained by Common Cause show that PhRMA, the trade association representing drug manufacturers, contributed $264,500 to ALEC in 2011, more than twice as much as ALEC collected in dues from all of its nearly 2,000 legislator members that year.
- New open records requests shine light on ALEC’s lobbying agenda for 2013. More than 1,100 pages of new ALEC task force documents, obtained through state freedom of information requests, demonstrate how ALEC’s corporate members develop and drive its legislative agenda and work in tandem with legislators to secure passage of ALEC-backed bills. These agenda, draft legislation, meeting minutes and other materials strengthen Common Cause’s case that ALEC is a lobby masquerading as a charity. Common Cause is pressing a tax “whistleblower” complaint with the IRS seeking to revoke ALEC’s tax exemption.
- Drug companies, big tobacco, telecomm giants and other corporate interests will use a dubious “scholarship” scheme to quietly pay travel and hotel expenses for many of the state legislators gathering in DC this week. “Buying Influence,” an October 2012 report by CMD and Common Cause documents how ALEC’s corporate backers have funneled an estimated $4 million into “scholarships” since 2006 to pay for the travel and hotel expenses of state legislators attending ALEC meetings with corporate lobbyists like the conference opening on Wednesday in Washington. ALEC’s public disclosure of its role in financing the trips has been spotty, and by paying for the junkets through ALEC, the companies can take advantage of its tax exemption to claim the expense as a tax deduction, effectively shifting the cost to taxpayers.
- ALEC and some of its members have taken new steps to hide their activities and intimidate watchdogs. While doing their ALEC task force work in private, some ALEC-member legislators also appear to have shifted their ALEC correspondence to personal email accounts in an effort to avoid public scrutiny; five Wisconsin legislators agreed in October to an out-of-court settlement requiring them to release ALEC-related emails held in their personal accounts. Although ALEC claims it is the largest voluntary group of legislators in the country, it has not behaved in a manner consistent with the public interest obligations of elected officials: for example, ALEC has used a public relations firm to investigate public interest groups asking questions about ALEC’s activities. And last week, a notice posted by ALEC asserted that unauthorized downloads of bills legislators are provided could trigger “civil liability and criminal prosecution.”
- Many legislators will shy away from ALEC’s controversial agenda and improper lobbying activity this year. Since the launch of ALECexposed in 2011, over 70 legislators have indicated that they have left ALEC; in the 2012 election, at least 117 ALEC members lost their seats.
Hundreds of state lawmakers from across the U.S. are expected to attend the three-day ALEC conference. They will sit and vote as equals with corporate representatives on ALEC task forces – in meetings closed to the public and press – to advance a slate of bills drafted to advance business interests in the 2013 legislative sessions. ALEC bills and resolutions can affect both federal and state laws.
Though it strives to influence public policy, a penchant for secrecy marks ALEC’s activities. ALEC’s legislative leaders in each state have a “duty” under its public bylaws to get ALEC bills introduced and enacted. ALEC also urges the introduction and adoption of model bills, and corporate lobbyists typically don’t publicly report their work at ALEC meetings on behalf of ALEC model bills as lobbying.
In addition to the exodus of lawmakers, more than 40 companies, including General Motors, General Electric, Amazon.com and Bank of America, severed ties with ALEC this year. Their moves came as journalists and groups including CMD and Common Cause connected the dots between ALEC and state laws restricting voting rights, privatizing public schools and prisons, and weakening clean air and clean water regulations. ALEC came under particularly intense scrutiny for its national drive to promote the “Stand Your Ground” gun law that for weeks shielded the killer of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin from prosecution.
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Readers: I’m sorry I haven’t been able to connect with most of you in the past few days and I am way behind on reading your comments. The past few months have been very challenging in my personal life and business…and now with the holiday season, it is even more of a busy time for me. Hence, I am hiring more people to assist me, and planning on having more time in the new year. All is fantastic – I HOPE all is well with my readers too!
The blog is open–you know what to do.
Peace & Love…
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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December 5th, 2012 at 10:14 am
I’m on a busy day today, just stopped by to tell John that I was asking if he was jeli about Mischa’s attention to Obama (he thinks it’s like supporting a lover) I was not commenting on #79 nor did I see any mention in Cecily’s comment about me, seems she’s got more to say about BD (big dick) than about me and I’m down with that. Her and her sister are busy working out terms of engagement with BD. Love or no love, sisterly love or not, that dude is getting a good workout for years!
I don’t feel the need to defend my question in other words…
Luv, Zen Lill
December 5th, 2012 at 11:29 am
Zen Lill, You were too quick for me on that one. I didn’t see the inference until you pointed it out today. Ditto, you were spot on as usual.
December 5th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE!
The immigration issue was back on the front burner this morning during the POLITICO breakfast with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) When asked about the future of a comprehensive immigration plan coming out of the Senate, Rubio said that a immigration deal must be done comprehensively, but not in a comprehensive package. He reiterated his notion that there are several constituencies within the debate, intra-party specifically, that need addressed and worked out before a deal can be done. Rubio expects an immigration package to be done within the next two years.
Turning to the fiscal cliff….
With 26 days remaining in 2012, President Obama and House Republicans remain far apart on a deal to avert massive tax increases and spending sequestration. Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney denounced a recent budget proposal from House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), while former Speaker Newt Gingrich chided Republicans for putting too much faith in negotiations. Meanwhile, fiscal conservatives in Boehner’s own party have been sidling away from Boehner’s plan, and moderate Democrats in the Senate are unmoved by Obama’s proposal of real tax hikes and phantom spending cuts. However, according to a recent report in POLITICO, it seems that Boehner is willing to talk to the president immediately because Boehner “has a responsibility to put forward a plan that can pass both chambers of Congress.”
Two incompatible plans, neither of which has much support even from its own side. What could possibly go wrong?
Talk to you all tomorrow,
– Adam Tragone, Managing Editor
December 5th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
The biggest corporations regardless of their national affiliation or ownership are stealing America’s wealth.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
The Koch brothers and the big corporations HAVE no principles when it comes to making money any way they can.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
George Soros and labor unions are the rightwing’s talking points whenever liberals/progressives point out who is funding the war on democratic government. For the record, Soros and labor unions represent a miniscule fraction of the power that the Koch Bros. (plus numerous BILLIONAIRES) and multinational corporations.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Interesting how George Soros’ name comes up every time a big money issue comes up, like corporate support of right wing law writing ALEC.
There are so many right wing corporations starting with the Koch industries and allmost any other corporation in the US, and left leaning George Soros’ name comes up from the conservative side, like conservative val.just did.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
I am an American citizen. Obama is not. How is anyone in Congress bound to hold other Congressonials accountable, when they themselves are part of the problem that exist in Washington, D.C.
Everyone in Congress, to include 535 or more individuals that comprise U.S. lawmakers, are only worried about their positions and therefore, they will not rock-the-boat, especially not confronting the Black Moron whom calls himself the POTUS.
99% of Americans realize that this Moron is not an American citizen, has secured his personal records to the tune of at least 1 million dollars, has in the past, and currently, associates himself with Communists, Marxists, Criminals and Socialists.
It appears quite evident that this Moron does not maintain the welfare of the American people, whom are his sole responsibility as far as their security and welfare are concerned because this Moron, under the tutelage of George Soros and “THE NEW WORLD ORDER,” alias “THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT,” are both bent on destroying the United States economy and capitalism as we know it.
In addition, Soros plans to insert a non- elected world president to keep the U.S. dumbed-down in our learning institutions because it is easier to manipulate a weakened scholastically, Middle Class.
In reality, Soros is the Moron’s boss, not the American people. The Moron has a second term. He will pull-out all the stops that he has had the past 4 years to insert place, namely his Czars and his expansion of the Federal Government.
Once the Federal Government becomes overwhelmed with debt, the United States will collapse into a 3rd world country, and that will mean the George Soros and the Moron have won their battle against the real democracy envisioned by our Founding white Fathers.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
ALEC is a murderous organization.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
If you like to live in a democracy, you should not be able to buy yourself into every nook and cranny of our society and influence it that way. That is exactly what the Koch brothers are doing, and it is not right.
December 5th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Dennis, American citizen. Why SO angry/emotional? Name calling… Really?
If you are passionate about your beliefs…great. BTW, maturation is required, if one is to be taken seriously.
Okay, now back to one of the “learning institutions” you go… for more relearnin’. lol Interesting article though. Dumbing-down is a choice. Seek clarity and TRUTH… Not monolithic talking points and anger.
And remember; “To thine ownself be true.” We are All Americans.. with unique points of view. Cheers!
P.S. Be not afrrraid, as the boogieman is NOT real. LMAO
December 5th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Dennis, Cocaine is a helluva drug! Dude, you really need to cut back. Your racist, xenophobic rant can’t be taken seriously in this conversation.
December 5th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I’m having some problems with my server today and posting. I wanted to ensure that this message posted by CnT392 on my blog gets seen, as he needs a little help. (Michelle I hope you don’t mind; my apologies for needing to do so.)
I lost my key to return upstairs. Had to spend the night walking around the city.
Hope to get rndized by 1500. If I don’t I will be stuck down her one more night. Saw some tasty meal potentials. But afraid to morph because I might not be able to return to human form.
I don’t need to feed for about 4 more days. So it isn’t a problem, but some of them were very tempting. This city has a lot of homeless.
If any others like me receive this, i+/soc/+ will be a good place before 1500. Or J-/soc/+ for after if still down.
Will check back here for 7639//3630
PrP