Brendan Fischer's News Articles

News

Time to Repeal ALEC/NRA Stand Your Ground Laws

by Brendan Fischer — July 15, 2013 - 7:54am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Politics

    • The acquittal of George Zimmerman for killing unarmed high-schooler Trayvon Martin serves as a reminder of the continuing inequities in America's criminal justice system -- and might be the impetus to repeal a law like "Stand Your Ground," which was adopted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and subsequently spread across the country. Stand Your Ground was part of the jury instructions in Zimmerman's criminal trial, and it could again come into play if Trayvon's family brings a civil suit.

    Special Report

    Justice Denied: 71 ALEC Bills in 2013 Make It Harder to Hold Corporations Accountable for Causing Injury or Death

    by Brendan Fischer — July 10, 2013 - 6:31am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Tort Reform, Corporations, Politics

    • At least 71 bills introduced in 2013 that make it harder for average Americans to access the civil justice system resemble "models" from the American Legislative Exchange Council, or "ALEC," according to an analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy, publishers of ALECexposed.org.

    News

    Group Launches "Taxpayer Empowerment Agenda" to Reclaim Public Control over Public Assets and Destructive Outsourcing

    by Brendan Fischer — July 3, 2013 - 8:19am

    As cities and states struggle to raise revenue in a sagging economy, they have increasingly turned control of public services and assets over to for-profit corporations. But these short-term efforts to close budget gaps can have a disastrous long-term impact.

    News

    Gov. Walker Vetoes Bail Bonds, Attack on Investigative Journalism

    by Brendan Fischer — July 1, 2013 - 10:57am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Wisconsin Protests

    • Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has vetoed a budget provision that would have radically changed the state's pre-trial justice system and another that would have kicked an independent journalism outfit off of University of Wisconsin campuses.

    News

    Pushback Against Privatization Across the Country

    by Brendan Fischer — June 28, 2013 - 7:17am
  • Topics: Corporations, Democracy

    • The decades-long effort to privatize public services and assets is hitting some bumps, with state and local governments reconsidering whether for-profit companies should be allowed to indiscriminately profit off of taxpayer dollars with limited accountability.

    News

    For Bradley Foundation, Challenging Affirmative Action & Voting Rights Is Part of Long-Term Crusade

    by Brendan Fischer — June 27, 2013 - 7:36am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Democracy, Politics, Race / Ethnic Issues, Wisconsin Protests

    • The Milwaukee-based Bradley Foundation is one-for-two in legal challenges to civil rights and racial equality this term, with the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in one case bankrolled by Bradley, and in another, remanding an affirmative action case to a lower court, turning back the Bradley-backed challenge. The cases represent the latest in the Bradley Foundation's long-term effort to dismantle the gains of the civil rights era.

    News

    U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Another ALEC Voting Bill

    by Brendan Fischer — June 17, 2013 - 4:43pm
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Democracy, Race / Ethnic Issues

    • In a 7-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down an Arizona statute that imposes restrictions on voter registration, finding it conflicts with federal law. After becoming law in Arizona, the legislation at issue was adopted as a "model" by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

    News

    Wisconsin GOP Sneaks ALEC-Supported For-Profit Bail Bonding Into Budget Bill

    by Brendan Fischer — June 10, 2013 - 6:49am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • Republican lawmakers have squeezed a provision into the Wisconsin budget to reintroduce bail bondsmen (and bounty hunters) to the state, a corruptive practice that has been banned since 1979, faces nearly universal opposition from the state's criminal justice system, and is promoted heavily by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

    Press Release

    CMD Files Open Records Suit Against ALEC Board Member Sen. Leah Vukmir

    by Brendan Fischer — June 7, 2013 - 7:12am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Democracy, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • ALEC Asserting Immunity From State Freedom of Information Laws

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2013

    CONTACT: Brendan Fischer, Brendan@prwatch.org

    MADISON -- The Center for Media and Democracy filed suit Thursday against Wisconsin State Senator Leah Vukmir, a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the treasurer of ALEC's national board, over her failure to disclose ALEC-related materials under Wisconsin's public records law -- possibly because ALEC told her to keep the documents secret.

    News

    WI Legislature Fast-Tracking "War on Democracy" Bill, Business Lobby Misleads on Disclosure Provisions

    by Brendan Fischer — June 5, 2013 - 2:51pm
  • Topics: Election 2012, Corporations, Democracy, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin are fast-tracking a controversial bill to keep political donors secret, enact voter ID, and limit early voting, among other measures, with a vote scheduled for next week. The only public hearing on the bill was held Tuesday, where a representative of the business lobby made several misleading assertions about the bill's disclosure provisions.

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