New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Adopted ALEC Bills ‘Nearly Word For Word’

[pampango]

In the past year, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has lost over 40 member companies because of its role in crafting voter suppression laws, anti-immigration laws like Arizona’s SB 1070, and other conservative causes. Still, the group continues to be popular among lawmakers in Republican-controlled states. According to a report released Monday, ALEC has even made inroads in Democratic-leaning New Jersey, where Gov. Chris Christie (R) and other New Jersey lawmakers have apparently introduced 22 bills since 2010 based on ALEC model legislation. Christie denied the connection in April, when another report found many similarities between his legislation and ALEC bills. However, records found Christie’s advisers and conservative lawmakers in New Jersey consulted ALEC on key legislation, including:

The New Jersey Jobs Protection Act (S240) and a similar bill (S164), which would require all employers to verify whether their workers are legally qualified to work in the United States. The report said they were “taken nearly word for word from ALEC’s Fair and Legal Employment Act, which is also incorporated in ALEC’s longer and more thorough No Sanctuary Cities for Illegal Immigrants Act — the infamous model legislation that was introduced in Arizona … and led to protests across the country and a showdown at the Supreme Court.”

ACR103, which would allow a two-thirds majority in the state Legislature to nullify any federal law or regulation. It’s sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth) and Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris), co-chairman of ALEC’s state chapter. Handlin, who has said she is not an ALEC member, and Webber declined to comment.

None of the bills passed in the Democrat-controlled Legislature, and Christie’s office continues to deny any coordination on the bills in spite of the nearly identical language. His attempts to distance himself from the group is no surprise; ALEC has become notorious since their involvement in pushing right-wing legislation was exposed earlier this year.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/10/01/933111/new-jersey-gov-chris-christie-adopted-alec-bills-nearly-word-for-word/

[djean111]

1. Here in Florida, the same thing happens.

In fact, one GOP woman in the Florida state legislature, Rachel Burgin, forgot to strip off the ALEC heading from a bill she introduced - straight from ALEC.

[glinda]

2. Further proof that they are just ignorant suits doing bidding for the few.

[Cha]

3. Expose Christie.

[Archae]

6. Eeewwwww!!!

Do you really want to do that?

[Blue Idaho]

4. And look at the damage he and ALEC have done.

New Jersey is drowning in debt and choking on unemployment. I have no idea why anyone would look at his record of destruction and consider him a bright light in American politics.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. Did he at least remember to change

(Name of State)?