ALEC, A Tax-Exempt Group, Mixes Legislators And Lobbyists

New York Times:

Desperate for new revenue, Ohio lawmakers introduced legislation last year that would make it easier to recover money from businesses that defraud the state.

It was quickly flagged at the Washington headquarters of the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, a business-backed group that views such “false claims” laws as encouraging frivolous lawsuits. ALEC’s membership includes not only corporations, but nearly 2,000 state legislators across the country — including dozens who would vote on the Ohio bill.

Read the whole story at New York Times

Comments

[K August]

01:12 AM on 04/24/2012

This is why so many say that the GOP works for the 1% only....... the list of politicians who attend ALEC meetings....they're are all Republicans.

[deutsch29]

10:46 PM on 04/23/2012

Anyone wishing to print and circulate the Jindal recall petition (Louisiana), please email [e-mail] for a file copy and complete directions. Please write "recall petition" in the subject line.

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

08:51 AM on 04/23/2012

ALEC is a 501c(3) that engages in direct lobbying, which is ILLEGAL. ALEC should be stripped of it's tax-exempt status immediately, it's officers arrested for tax fraud and hit with a tax bill, after a thorough investigation of their finances.

[Scurvydog74]

09:06 AM on 04/23/2012

Good luck enforcing any laws that apply to organizations. It's starting to look like laws are only enforced on citizens to ensure a steady supply of inmates for private prisons. Corporations and political organizations are exempt. They just pay a little fine, wink a little wink and continue to do whatever they want.

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

09:15 AM on 04/23/2012

They also get to write that "fine" off of their taxes, as well....

[MarcDel]

08:26 AM on 04/23/2012

“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power”
― Benito Mussolini

[Scurvydog74]

09:11 AM on 04/23/2012

Call it whatever you want it is power by corporations with government and politicians doing their bidding in return for bribes, obvious or subtle. This is the pure definition of corruption.

[K August]

01:09 AM on 04/24/2012

Look at alecexposed and then click on the Politicians link,
They are ALL Republicans legislators! The GOP sold out our Democracy to
corporations who write "model bills" and then pass them to to legislators to turn them into law.

[Robert Turner]

07:33 AM on 04/23/2012

Decry jobs being exported while backing legislation directly crafted by a consortium of companies that send jobs overseas. Genius.

[hootie1fan]

06:01 AM on 04/23/2012

Tell me something I didn't already know

[chris hatala]

05:22 AM on 04/23/2012

Walmart, Alec, and tpubs, a match made in hell.

[LiberalBuzz]

02:53 AM on 04/23/2012

ALEC with so many other of these rightwing highly funded corporate controlled groups are pure Evil.

They personify more than any other thing going on in this country the mantra of those who worship at The Altar Of The Almighty Dollar.

[chuckl8899]

02:12 AM on 04/23/2012

1 question for those of you who "vote" for these sycophant lawmakers who bow to and serve ALEC lobbyists: is this your idea of representative democracy?

[BadHaBritt]

02:12 AM on 04/23/2012

ALEC turns those elected to representing the 99% into paid, crony law makers for the 1%

[oneofthebest]

01:41 AM on 04/23/2012

Are you an arm for Van Jones' Color For Change?? They are the only ones complaining. Do you guys have any journalist integrity?? It's pathetic.

[DIgnified]

06:22 AM on 04/23/2012

oh its you again. gosh I missed you. am I going to have to obliterate your pov again? not that I mind, mind you... ok so lets move onto your statement of solo-complaining. for starters...wait....last time I went first and it was game, set, match. that's no fun. you go first this time. what makes you think they are the only ones complaining? eagerly awaiting any reply from you.

[mothra666]

07:46 AM on 04/23/2012

The whole world is complaining about ALEC.

[sgraham59]

12:00 AM on 04/23/2012

Find The ALEC Legislator Near You

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Alumni_in_Congress

[RGKahn]

07:42 AM on 04/23/2012

Thanx for the link. It looks like the list is 99.99% republican. The republican leadership in the Senate is well representated on the list. No surprise there.

[Madbunny]

11:45 PM on 04/22/2012

It's actually quite astonishing.

You think that there is no way conservatives can be bigger hypocrites, or go any lower and yet they always do.

[dantini]

11:13 PM on 04/22/2012

As long as the fraudulent companies donate at least ten percent of what they steal to Republican candidates, it's mostly legal. At fifty percent, it's completely legal.

[Nerdboy2317]

11:09 PM on 04/22/2012

I haven't read the article, but is there any mention of what happens to legislative members of ALEC after they leave office? I'm suspecting a little quid pro quo.