General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Moyers: United States of ALEC — A Follow-Up
Video running 57 minutes at the link ...
http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-united-states-of-alec-a-follow-up/
In state houses around the country, hundreds of pieces of boilerplate ALEC legislation are proposed or enacted that would, among other things, dilute collective bargaining rights, make it harder for some Americans to vote, and limit corporate liability for harm caused to consumers each accomplished without the public ever knowing whos behind it. Using interviews, documents, and field reporting, the episode explores ALECs self-serving machine at work, acting in a way one Wisconsin politician describes as a corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests. Former health care industry executive Wendell Potter says, Even though Id known of [ALEC] for a long time, I was astonished. Just about everything that I knew that the health insurance industry wanted out of any state lawmaker was included in that package of bills.
Following up on a 2012 report, this update includes new examples of corporate influence on state legislation and lawmakers, the growing public protest against ALECs big business-serving agenda, and internal tactics ALEC is instituting to further shroud its actions and intentions.
United States of ALEC Executive Producer Tom Casciato says people who saw the first report might be surprised to learn that, despite more than 40 companies having dropped out of ALEC, the organization is still going very strong. He adds, ALEC doesnt publish a list of its members, so covering will always be hard, but in a democracy its a good idea for people to know where their laws originate.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Thanks to Source Watch, easy way to find out who they are.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians#Legislators_with_ALEC_Ties
As of March 2013, 74 state legislators have cut ties with ALEC:
highplainsdem
(49,028 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)(as of 2011)
Governor Jan Brewer (Arizona)
Former Governor Bill Owens (Colorado)
Governor Terry Branstad (Iowa), identified by ALEC as involved in its formative years
Former Governor John Engler (Michigan), identified by ALEC as involved in its formative years
Governor Nikki Haley (South Carolina), ALEC alumna
Governor John Kasich (Ohio), identified by ALEC as involved in its formative years
Former Governor Frank Keating (Oklahoma)
Governor Bob McDonnell (Virginia)
Governor Rick Perry (Texas); [13] received the "Thomas Jefferson Freedom Award" from ALEC in 2010
Governor Scott Walker (Wisconsin)[15]
Former Governor Tommy Thompson (Wisconsin), identified by ALEC as involved in its formative years
Governor Mary Fallin (Oklahoma)
Former Governor John G. Rowland and Lt. Governor Jodi Rell (Connecticut), listed in "1999 ALEC Leaders in the States" by ALEC as alumni
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians#Governors_with_Ties_to_ALEC