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Why is State Farm Involved in Education Policy? Conservative Think Tank Exposes ALEC as Exchange of Dollars rather than Ideas

by Brendan Fischer — November 30, 2012 - 8:54am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Education, Politics

    • A press release from a conservative think tank criticizing the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) provides crucial insight into how the organization works -- and helps illustrate that while ALEC says its purpose is to facilitate an exchange of "practical, state-level public policy issues," it instead sells policy to the highest bidders. The release documents how the "exchange" that happens at ALEC is more like a stock exchange than a free marketplace of ideas.

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    Bank of America Cuts Ties to ALEC

    by Rebekah Wilce — November 29, 2012 - 10:28am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Politics

    • Bank of America (BofA), one of the largest banks in the United States with a major role in the financial crisis, is cutting ties with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). A company spokesperson informed Timothy Smith, Senior Vice President of Walden Asset Management, by phone that Bank of America is not renewing its membership in ALEC for 2013 "due to budget constraints." BofA did not return the Center for Media and Democracy's (CMD's) calls to independently verify this information.

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    After a Controversial Year, ALEC Convenes in Washington with Damage Control at Top of Agenda

    by Brendan Fischer — November 29, 2012 - 9:00am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Corporations, Democracy, Lobbying, Politics

    • At the end of a tumultuous year that has seen the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) come under unprecedented scrutiny for its role in advancing a slate of right-wing legislation, the corporate-friendly organization of state lawmakers and special interest lobbyists convenes this week in Washington, DC to try and salvage its viability.

    Press Release

    Wisconsin Legislators Jetting Off on Corporate-Funded Trip to Develop Special Interest Legislation

    by PRW Staff — November 28, 2012 - 11:22am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Ethics, Politics, Secrecy

    • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 28, 2012
    CONTACT: Brendan Fischer

    MADISON, WI -- Several Wisconsin legislators are attending this week's conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at the Grand Hyatt in Washington D.C., and likely doing so on corporate-funded "scholarships," which the Center for Media and Democracy believes violate state ethics and lobbying laws. The three-day meeting, held November 28-30, will bring state legislators together with corporate lobbyists and special interests to craft "model" bills -- many of which will likely be introduced in the ALEC-majority Wisconsin legislature in the session that begins in January.

    News

    ALEC's Economic Policies Do More Harm Than Good, New Report Shows

    by Rebekah Wilce — November 28, 2012 - 7:51am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Economy, Politics

    • Corporate lobbyists and right-wing legislators of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) will be gathering in Washington, DC today for ALEC's annual States and Nation Policy Summit. Today also marks the release of an in-depth report on the failure of ALEC's economic recommendations for the states. The report claims that "states that were rated higher on ALEC's Economic Outlook Ranking in 2007," the first year the ranking was published, "have actually been doing worse economically in the years since, while the less a state conformed with ALEC policies the better off it was."

    News

    Same Day Voter Registration -- a "Problem" Walker Intends to Fix

    by Brendan Fischer — November 26, 2012 - 10:28am
  • Topics: Democracy, Politics, Wisconsin Protests

    • As the final votes are tallied, it is becoming clear that Barack Obama won reelection November 6, 2012, with a higher popular vote than Ronald Reagan enjoyed in 1980, thanks in part to near-record turnout from young people and people of color. High voter turnout is celebrated in some quarters as a sign of a vibrant democracy, but among Wisconsin's GOP leadership, the state's consistently high voter participation rate is apparently viewed as a "problem" that needs fixing.

    News

    117 ALEC Members Voted Out in 2012

    by Rebekah Wilce — November 20, 2012 - 7:59am
  • Topics: ALEC Exposed, Politics

    • In primary and general elections in 2012 and recall elections in 2011 and 2012, a total of 117 members and alumni of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) were voted out of office, according to research and analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), ColorOfChange, and others.

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    Next Act for Super PACs and Dark Money Nonprofits: Lobbying to Block Compromise on the "Fiscal Cliff"

    by Brendan Fischer — November 19, 2012 - 8:06am
  • Topics: Election 2012, Campaign Finance, Politics

    • After some early success helping far-right candidates in the Republican primaries, Super PACs and dark money nonprofits failed to eke out many victories on election night 2012. But these groups are seeking to make up for lost ground by influencing policy through lobbying, issue advocacy, and the threat of attack ads against Republican legislators who compromise, particularly on negotiations over the "fiscal cliff."

    News

    Walker, other GOP Governors Reject State-Run Healthcare Exchanges under Tea Party Pressure

    by Brendan Fischer — November 16, 2012 - 11:56am
  • Topics: Health, Politics

    • Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has refused to implement a state-run health care exchange, defaulting to a federally-run exchange in protest of the federal health care law known as "Obamacare." Tea Party groups had pressured Walker to reject the exchanges.

    News

    After the $6 Billion Election, Calls for Subpoenas and Amendments

    by Lisa Graves — November 15, 2012 - 7:04am
  • Topics: Election 2012, Campaign Finance, Corporations, Democracy, Politics

    • Now that the most expensive election in history is over, an increasing number of Americans are demanding action to reduce the influence of money and corporations in our political system -- and reformers are offering solutions.

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