ALEC

The American Legislative Exchange Council provides model bills for Republican legislators on such topics as “the Capital Gains Elimination Act,” privatization, anti-public sector bargaining, keeping the single payer health care option off the table, and restrictive laws on voting (under the guise of “voter fraud” prevention).

The group, formed in 1973 by conservative activists, has 2000 legislative members and 300 corporate members.  It is funded mostly by corporate donations, including the Koch Brothers.  

Through a leak The Nation obtained more than 800 documents from the group.  The reach of the group is impressive, and it helps to explain, for example, why Republican-dominated state governments all introduce the same legislative agenda at the same time.  (I do not know if my own state legislators Argall and Heffley are members--the group does not make its membership list public).  

The August 1/8 double issue of The Nation contains a number of articles on ALEC.  You can find information at <http://www.thenation.com/search/apachesolr_search/ALEC>.  How do the liberals even begin to counter this kind of influence?