The Rethugs don't need congress or the Presidency, as long as they have ALEC

[madmusic]

Over the years, ALEC has taken in more than $1.3 million from foundations controlled by ultraconservative philanthropist Richard Scaife, along with sizable amounts from the Coors-related Castle Rock Foundation, the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and the John M. Olin Foundation.(15) In addition, ALEC reportedly has more than three hundred corporate sponsors that pay annual membership fees ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to be part of the action, plus additional fees of $1,500 to $5,000 a year to participate in ALEC's various task forces.

It would be nice to have Congress or the Presidency, but it's not necessary for them to carry on with their agenda.

http://www.alecwatch.org/chapterfour.html

[UGADUer]

1. Athens-area state rep. told me about this

Never heard of it before then.

[madmusic]

2. They try to keep a low profile

They never mention that it is organized throughout the states and whoever introduces the bill pretends it was his/her own idea. Many in their own legislatures don't know it came from ALEC as corporate sponsored "model legislation."

[madmusic]

3. Ghostwriting the Law

http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2002/09/ma_95_01.html">A little-known corporate lobby is drafting business-friendly bills for state legislators across the country.

But that exchange didn't end when the conferees returned to their home states. With more than 2,400 state lawmakers as members -- roughly one third of the nation's total -- ALEC is a year-round clearinghouse for business-friendly legislation. Its nine task forces, each composed of legislators and representatives from private industry, sit down together to draft model bills on issues ranging from agriculture to school vouchers, which are then introduced in state legislatures across the country.

Though it calls itself "the nation's largest bipartisan, individual membership association of state legislators," ALEC might better be described as one of the nation's most powerful -- and least known -- corporate lobbies. While other lobbyists focus on the federal government, ALEC gives business a direct hand in writing bills that are considered in state assemblies nationwide. Funded primarily by large corporations, industry groups, and conservative foundations -- including R.J. Reynolds, Koch Industries, and the American Petroleum Institute -- the group takes a chain-restaurant approach to public policy, supplying precooked McBills to state lawmakers. Since most legislators are in session only part of the year and often have no staff to do independent research, they're quick to swallow what ALEC serves up. In 2000, according to the council, members introduced more than 3,100 bills based on its models, passing 450 into law.