ALEC: Democracy's Arch-Nemesis

Now, corporations like Koch Industries are funneling money into the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a shadowy partnership between Republican legislators and corporate lobbyists. Essentially, ALEC's purpose is to pass laws that enrich corporate profits and investor returns by starving the government of revenue, rigging elections and union-busting.

Unlike the strictly bipartisan National Council of State Legislatures, ALEC's membership is rabidly partisan, with 103 Republicans and 1 Democrat. 98% of ALEC's funding comes from corporations, whereas NCSL is funded almost entirely through legislative dues. And though NCSL shares its views and advice on certain policy, it doesn't write legislation and forbids corporate influence on its activities.  | Common Dreams

Also read:

• ALEC Exposed: Milton Friedman's Little Shop of Horrors
• How ALEC Shapes State Politics Behind The Scenes

• ALEC's cheat sheet legislation

   

 Also watch:

• ‪Smart ALEC: Why Are Corporations Writing State Law?

 

Report Exposes Private Prison Lobby

MSNBC host Cenk Uygur on a report from the Justice Policy Institute regarding the disturbing lobbying efforts by the private prison industry.

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Prison industrial complex

• Also read about A.L.E.C.

Few have ever heard of it, but the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is the ultimate smoke filled back room.

On the surface, ALEC’s membership is mostly comprised of thousands of state legislators. Each pays a nominal membership fee in order to attend ALEC retreats and receive model legislation. ALEC’s corporate contributors, on the other hand, pay a king’s ransom to gain access to legislators and distribute their corporate-crafted legislation.

So, while the membership appears to be public sector, the bankroll is almost entirely private sector. In fact, public sector membership dues account for only around one percent of ALEC’s annual revenues. ALEC claims to be nonpartisan, but in fact its free-market, pro-business mission is clear.

• http://alecwatch.org/