ALEC's next move: Go local!

[KingOrfeo]

You might have heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a somewhat secretive, corporate-funded RW organization that produces model legislation for conservative state legislators to introduce as bills.

Sometimes it works.

Examples of legislation drafted with ALEC's help
* The anti-union bill giving rise to the 2011 Wisconsin protests
* Arizona SB 1070, the new anti-illegal-immigration law
* State bills mandating showing photo identification cards before being allowed to vote
* "Truth in sentencing", "three strikes", and mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders in many states during the 1990s[3]

In fact, it has worked out so well, apparently, that now they're forming a new organization to do the same with local governments:

Now the council is looking to take its blueprint for influence over statewide lawmaking and drill it down to the local level. It has already quietly set up, and is making plans for the public launch of, an offshoot called the American City County Exchange (ACCE) that will target policymakers from “villages, towns, cities and counties”.

The new organisation will offer corporate America a direct conduit into the policy making process of city councils and municipalities. Lobbyists acting on behalf of major businesses will be able to propose resolutions and argue for new profit-enhancing legislation in front of elected city officials, who will then return to their council chambers and seek to implement the proposals.

In its early publicity material, Alec says the new network will be “America’s only free market forum for village, town, city and county policymakers”. Jon Russell, ACCE’s director, declined to comment on the initiative.

Alec spokesman Wilhelm Meierling also declined to say how many corporate and city council members ACCE has attracted so far, or to say when the new initiative would be formally unveiled. But he confirmed that its structure would mirror that of Alec’s work in state legislatures by bringing together city, county and municipal elected officials with corporate lobbyists.

Be warned. This approach could be even more successful, just because local politics get so little attention even from locals. Press your city council members or whatever as to whether they have had any communication at all with the ACCE!

Here's another example of ALEC's work:

'Stand Your Ground' laws

Shortly after Florida passed its Stand-your-ground law in 2005, ALEC adopted its legislative language into one of its model bills.[41][42][43] The Florida bill had been pressed by the National Rifle Association and its Tallahassee lobbyist, Marion Hammer.[4] According to testimony by the Center for Media and Democracy, Hammer met with ALEC's Criminal Justice Task Force in the summer of 2005 and requested that it adopt Florida's stand-your-ground law as an ALEC model bill. The Center for Media and Democracy stated that the proposal was well received and approved unanimously.

On April 4, 2012, after the Trayvon Martin shooting, advocacy group Color of Change changed the boycott to focus on The Coca-Cola Company for its support of ALEC and by implication, its involvement in Stand your Ground.[44] Within hours, Coca-Cola announced it was ending its relationship with ALEC in apparent response to the threatened boycott. More than 60 corporations and foundations including Wendy's, Kraft Foods, McDonald's, Amazon.com, Coca-Cola, General Electric, Apple, Procter & Gamble, Walmart, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the medical insurance group Blue Cross and Blue Shield dropped support of ALEC in the ensuing weeks or let their memberships lapse.[45][46][47][48][49][50][51] ALEC responded with a "Statement by ALEC on the Coordinated Intimidation Campaign Against Its Members".[52][53][34]

On April 17, 2012, ALEC announced that it was disbanding its Public Safety and Elections Task Force, which provided model bills for voter ID requirements and "stand your ground" gun laws.[54] The Martin shooting and subsequent boycott was described as a catalyst for ALEC to shift focus from social issues to economic ones.[55][56]

More on ALEC's funding-sources. The Koch Brothers head the list, of course.

 

[koalabear]

I see the soros blogs were full of useful info today.

 

[Liar]

So... Baldwin is not doing community theatre?

 

[KingOrfeo]

So... Baldwin is not doing community theatre?

Which Baldwin?

 

[Liar]

Which Baldwin?

http://images.tvrage.com/news/baldwin-suggests-pay-cut-for-more-30-rock.jpg