ALEC

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been writing model laws for Republican state legislators for years.  It links legislators with representatives from corporations and right-wing think tanks, and it is a major force in crafting laws that push conservative causes.  

The latest issue of Governing magazine features an article by Alan Greenblatt entitled “Right-Minded” that details the activities of ALEC.  I have discussed ALEC before, but here is an update.  Among the policy areas ALEC is working on are these:

• Health care:  It has put out a guide entitled:  “State Legislators Guide to Repealing Obamacare.”  

• Global warming:  It calls efforts to regulate greenhouse gases a “train wreck.”

• Immigration:  Arizona’s discriminatory law, copied in part by Alabama, was crafted by

ALEC.

•  Voter ID:  Here I will quote from Greenblatt’s article:  “In more than 30 states, legislation was introduced this year to mandate or strengthen requirements that voters produce state-issued photo identification.  Many of the bills were based on ALEC model legislation and became law in a half-dozen states.,  Other bills addressed matters such as shortening voting periods and tightening registration requirements.”

Two thoughts come to mind:

1.  Why don’t liberals have a similar organization?  Why are we always left in the dust? Why don’t we ever think long term?

2.  Why aren’t the machinations of ALEC exposed?  Few people read Governing magazine.  Why don’t our newspapers and television stations report on this stuff?  Is Rep. Heffley a member of ALEC?  Is Sen. Argall?  Do they support ALEC’’s goals?  Do we voters have any power whatsoever?  Actually, I think I know the answer to that last question.