14 PA Legislators Flee From Corporate Front Group ALEC
May 15, 2012 HARRISBURG, PA — Fourteen Pennsylvania legislators with ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have publicly stated that they are no longer affiliated with the controversial corporate front group.1 They join dozens of legislators across the country who are fleeing ALEC in response to public pressure from constituents. ALEC is behind the efforts to pass bills that strip away union rights, scale back child labor laws, attack the regulation power of environmental agencies, suppress voter rights with strict identification requirements, eliminate the social safety net, and privatize public services. ALEC is not just another public policy organization, it is a corporate front group supporting some of the most radical and dangerous legislation in the nation. The 14 legislators come from both major parties, with eight Democrats and six Republicans separating from ALEC. All legislators listed as being affiliated with ALEC have documented ties, either publicly stating their prior affiliation or from public documents (Right to Know Law documents, DOS campaign finance reports, or PA Ethics filings). “We are thrilled that so many Pennsylvania legislators have decided to quit ALEC,” said Keystone Progress executive director Michael Morrill. “They have courageously decided to stand with the people instead of the corporate lobbyists.”
Sen. Anthony Williams, who has used state funding for ALEC3, vociferously protested being identified with ALEC. “As a staunch advocate for school choice, I’m often invited to attend and speak at myriad events, locally and nationally, held by those who share my beliefs and those who vigorously oppose them. I make no apologies for my views on choice, because a broad set of educational options is among the best hopes students have to attain the skills needed to be productive and competitive in a global, 21st century society. However, I’ve never sought membership in the American Legislative Exchange Council nor have I ever been a member,” said Williams. “Lastly, ALEC does not represent my values or beliefs.” Sen. Williams’ inclusion is based on information obtained from Right to Know Law requests filed by Keystone Progress with both the House and Senate.3
1www.justsaynotoalec.com Website maintained by Keystone Progress 2ALEC membership summarized here http://tinyurl.com/PaALECmembers 3Right to Know Law information obtained by Keystone Progress from PA Senate. http://www.scribd.com/collections/3614031/PA-ALEC-FILES 4ALEC Exposed, http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Legislators_Who_Have_Cut_Ties_to_ALEC |
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Keystone Progress is Pennsylvania’s largest online progressive organization, with over 270,000 subscribers. KP uses the Internet and new media to organize online at the state and local level; and utilizes cutting-edge earned media strategies to promote a progressive agenda and counter right-wing misinformation. |
Tom Bartman
3:23 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
How is attacking the regulation power of environmental agencies considered radical? The EPA's regulations is responsible for the closure of oil refineries along the East coast. Now their war on coal will drive up energy costs so they can fight a mythical 'climate change' agenda. How is elimination of social safety nets radical? The government is not your mother! How is providing voter ID radical? Florida just found 180,000 non-citizen voters. Name one person who is suppressed.
The only people in opposition to this would be those called 'progressives' who are fundamentally the greatest threat to foundations of America.