Rachel just did a story on the Florida bills to suppress voting -- these are based on ALEC bills

[highplainsdem]

Here's a link to the topic on this posted April 20, about a news story with comments from Leon County Elections Supervisor Ion Sancho, who's criticized the legislation and pointed out this is coming from ALEC -- and what's happening in Florida is part of a national effort:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x932726

The compilation topic on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) also links to that (reply 241).


I was hoping Rachel would mention ALEC again -- she has at least once in the past -- but she didn't.

I'm glad she's given this legislation more attention, though.

[seafan]

1. I was glad to see Rachel cover the GOP's voter suppression legislation in Florida.

This is about nothing other than voter suppression.


From April 2, 2011:

Florida GOP House whips out sweeping and contentious "election reform" bill


There is so much corruption by this GOP legislature in Florida that it would provide stories for Rachel to cover by the day. I hope she will focus on what is going on in Florida, for it is the harbinger of very bad things to come across the country.

We must never forget that Jeb Bush is just offstage, with his micromanager hat on. And right now, Rick Scott is a monstrous wild card in the entire debacle.


Day after day, this feels like we're lashed into a screaming roller coaster.


Rick Scott






Jeb Bush






House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate Leader Mike Haridopolos





Florida's GOP-occupied government is a $*##@&^ %&*$'ing disgrace.

[Dappleganger]

2. Don't forget this demon spawn...

John Thrasher is probably the most vile man alive in FL today, and has done more back-room deal damage than any other living FL politician.

[highplainsdem]

4. That "demon spawn" was an ALEC Legislator of the Year in 1998

Look at the bottom of this page:

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=3988&SessionId=48

[Dappleganger]

7. He wears it like a badge...

in his spare time away from politics, he's a fucking lobbyist.

[seafan]

5. Totally agree. This one man has, for years, pushed conservative extremism on us like a maniac.

John Thrasher.

Jeb's right hand man in the Legislature.



He has a long and sordid history both in and out of the Legislature for pushing an extreme conservative agenda.

Whether it was poisoning the chances of the Hometown Democracy movement, or pushing the hateful bill SB6 against the will of teachers, or trying to legislate golf courses in our state parks or pushing Jeb Bush's educational agenda or his involvement in orchestrating the secret payoff deal with Jim Greer to step down as RPOF head, which he still denies he had anything to do with.....


All of these people are programmed robots.



Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, center, with fellow Republican Sens. Don Gaetz, left, and Sen. Mike Haridopolos on the Senate floor. (AP)


Laugh, you fools. Your fetid reign will not last.

[Dappleganger]

8. Most of the most vile anti-women, anti-poor, anti-teacher legislation

has his clawprints all over it.

[highplainsdem]

3. South Florida AFL-CIO, on the Center for American Progress report on ALEC's role:

http://www.sfaflcio.org/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=39bcac64-c2ec-4694-a7e2-5d0466dda1ff

With Eye on 2012, Republicans Trying to Block Votes

The anti-middle class agenda of conservative legislators across the country is not limited to attacks on collective bargaining, education and the nation’s safety net. Even before some legislatures took up state budgets and anti-worker legisation, they began trotting out claims of potential voter fraud to try and disenfranchise large groups of voters.

With the White House and control of Congress on the line in 2012, Republicans are pushing changes that would make it significantly more difficult for some traditionally Democratic voters to even cast a ballot–college students, immigrants, rural voters, senior citizens, the disabled, the poor and the homeless.

-snip-

The legislators have been able to move so quickly, the CAP Action Fund reports, with the help of the Koch-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, which has distributed “model” voter ID legislation to conservative lawmakers that bears a striking similarity to bills in at least two states.

-snip-

[cui bono]

6. Thanks for including that link to the ALEC thread.

Been meaning to read up on that.

[999998th word]

9. Same A.L.E.C. shit in Wisconsin now...

Of course this douchebag gov we have is trying ti ram this through before the recalls.

'Hearings' start tomorrow. If they cant steal another election,hire canvassers to collect

sigs for recalls against Democratic Senators <@.50 per sig>,from out of state ,putting

them up in hotels etc..I guess they will just change the laws.I tried to warn some of the

people here.I saw this coming-read up on A.L.E.C.-and asked what if? .My kids even thought

"mom's gone all ct -got the tinfoil hat on'so I just let up on it.This is one of those times I

DONT want to be right.These bastards will stop at NOTHING:

Truly sickening.

[highplainsdem]

10. You're welcome!