Mike Pence, candidate for vice-president, was the main attraction at the annual convention of ALEC, the extremist far-right legislative organization.
PR Watch reports:
The American Legislative Exchange Council will push bills to protect failing charter schools, silence political speech, and obstruct environmental protections in the ALEC 2016 agenda introduced at its annual meeting in Indianapolis this week.
ALEC faces renewed public attention as it gears up for the annual meeting, where corporate lobbyists sit side-by-side with state legislators in luxury hotels to vote as equals on “model bills” that then get pushed to become law in states across the country.
As the Center for Media and Democracy has reported, Donald Trump chose an ALEC ally, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, as his running mate, while his party’s 2016 platform was clearly stamped in the Koch-fueled ALEC mold.
Pence Pushed ALEC Agenda in the Hoosier State
As Governor, Pence appointed an ALEC staffer to his cabinet, and pushed parts of the ALEC agenda into law, such as anti-worker bills like repealing the prevailing wage and privatizing public schools in various ways. He even sent a letter to state legislators urging them to join ALEC, which is widely described as a corporate bill mill. ALEC is funded by Koch Industries, Peabody Energy, huge global tobacco and drug companies, and other corporations that pay a premium to access ALEC lawmakers.
The article appeared before the convention opened. But its predictions were on target.
To learn more about ALEC, read this website, ALEC Exposed.
One of ALEC’s primary goals is the privatization of public education. Pence has faithfully followed the ALEC script in pushing for charters and vouchers in Indiana.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Truthout describes, why AARP’ s support for ALEC, is inconsistent with the interests of retirees, in a post today. Retired teacher, Fred Klonsky, at his site, has a photo of an ALEC placard, on display in what appears to be a public place. AARP’s logo is at the top, under the heading “Trustee” level.
Love Klonsky and his clear eyed writing.
Of course AARP supports ALEC. They ARE UNITED HEALTH CARE…the largest and most wealthy health insurance company in our nation. We all are under the thumb of the insurance industry, with both Dem and Rep edicts that we MUST buy insurance to have a modicum of health care, but only with their permission. However, our capitalist nation is the only one in the modern world which functions against its citizens, and supports only its corporate structure (called citizen/persons by Citizens United), by not having single payer universal health care for all.
I am so glad Diane is focusing on the travail that ALEC imposes on us, and how insidious their members are in ruling over us. It is far easier for me to determine facts, and to report this ‘negative to humanity’ info on ALEC, and on Trump/Pence…. than to only focus on Hillary and her achievements. Thanks Diane…very important info.
Years ago, Mercedes published a chart (that had been sent to her by a teacher) of all the nepotism and interconnected entanglements of ALEC, including not only the major corporations owned by the Kochs, the Waltons, the weapons manufacturers, etc, but also their marriage to our military and our government, reflecting the endless chain of oligarchs who have ruled America for scores of years.
As to our public schools, ALEC….with the mindset of Ayn Rand and the Austrian School and the Chicago School of economists like Milton Friedman and his supporters like Stigler…wants all things American to be FREE MARKET investment opportunities. We saw how well this worked with mortgages and banksters cheating us and bringing down the economies of the world in 2007-8, from which we are yet, if ever, to recover.
But still ALEC maintains a strange hold on our government and on us all, with the goal of all profits heading into only the pockets of the super rich Hence they support charter schools (paid for by taxpayers with no oversight) and of Common Core for all the profiteering for testing, and all the adjunct businesses which feed into all this. But mainly to create student/widgets who will not join unions but will placidly fill corporate needs.
Trump has said he feels the current minimum wage is too high and he ALONE will see that it is halved.
One more reason for my vote for Hillary..
ALEC is also responsible in many states for supporting pre-emption laws which prevent cities from passing legislation that is more liberal than the state. Several cities in AZ passed legislation to mandate paid sick leave and the state knocked them down with a pre-emption law.
https://www.alec.org/model-policy/living-wage-mandate-preemption-act/
Ellen,
Of course I agree.
” It is far easier for me to determine facts, and to report this ‘negative to humanity’ info on ALEC, and on Trump/Pence…. than to only focus on Hillary and her achievements. ”
Which is where I get into some disagreements with those on this Blog.. My never Trump stance does not have to be a defense of Hillary or neo-liberal (Republican ) economic policy, nor Neocon(Republican) foreign policy, that has been adopted by too much of the Democratic party . We can defeat the forces of fascism far more effectively by attacking the fascists than defending the forces that have enabled them to grow. Certainly in my circles who are far less educated than those of yours and Diane’s . It goes over far better , they know things are not working for them. The failure has been not reaching them as to why.
Where I disagree in part, is that ALEC is our primary opponent Alec is faceless, nameless, it implies that American corporations are responsible for this attack. Even citing the National Chamber implies a nameless group of people . But these corporations are run by people, by CEO’s and boards of directors that they control mostly through proxy. Many times against the interest of their major share holders, like the teachers and other private and public pension funds .
Since 1972-3 the BusinessRound table consisting of the CEO’s of these corporations has acted in concert. Acted to reshape public opinion and and the face of America . As David DeGraw states this economic elite (BRT) acts out of common interest for a unified policy. They meet in secrete (no minutes) once or twice a year to discuss policy objectives from taxation ,to corporate governance , to trade and foreign policy , to education . Then they leave it to committees to be carried out. Thus in 89 it was education and before I had read Emery,
it was obvious that there was a revolving door between the BRT and McKinsey obvious that Gate’s choice of Coleman was not in a vacuum. Obvious that his being brought into McKinsey was as a pay back for his mother’s actions breaking the faculty union and eliminating tenure ,as President of Bennington college
Back in 2010 David DeGraw the online journalist who created the occupy movement (IMHO), detailed the chart that had them at the real center of the assault on Democracy and the working/middle class.
So yes ALEC, but lets attach some names to those faceless corporations that drive that corporate agenda it’s time they were brought out of the shadows and into sunlight. It is time for us to detail how much they personally have gained by the policy they have put in place. It is time that no American president makes them the organization that he kneels to ,walks across the White House lawn and addresses the day after a State of the Union address.
http://www.alternet.org/story/145996/the_most_powerful_destructive_corporate_business_club_most_americans_have_never_heard_of
Excellent analysis and conclusions, Joel…thanks. We seem to be not only on the same page, but on the same paragraph. I agree that names should be attached to ALEC participants and will try to do this in the future. Mercedes is a whiz at presenting this identifying of the individuals who are the movers and shakers of the corporations that are housed in unity of purpose at ALEC. A search of her archives a few years ago has much of this information.
I appreciate the perspective you bring to our education and political discussions. And am also happy that your retirement party went so well.
THIS speaks LOUDLY. Think about your vote. There are alternatives. We’ve been brainwashed by the dysfunctional 2 party system.
ALEC is an insidious, organization that tries to suppress democracy. It represents the worst of corporate America’s out of control power. They are the 1% that seek to cede more rights and power to the 1% by using their money to influence elections and manipulate behind the scenes. We need another liberal on the Supreme Court in order to get a Constitutional amendment against Citizen United. https://ourfuture.org/fact_sheet/koch-brothers-exposed-why-we-must-act-and-how
We absolutely do need more liberals on the supreme court. Obama, with all his obvious failings, at least did appoint two NON right wing nuts to the court. We did not get another Antonin Scalia or 2. There is no doubt what Trump would do. Hillary will not appoint righties to the court, her husband didn’t.
I do not like to engage is duplicate posts, but ALEC has a baby—the “American City County Exchange” —that produces model ordinances for local self-governing jurisdictions such as a county, city, town, village, borough, parish, or district. When an ordinance is passed and included in a larger set of laws, it may be called a “chapter.” Here is an introduction https://www.thenation.com/article/meet-alecs-little-brother-acce/
Members of the ACCE are pushing their preferred ordinances into local government, but without seeming to be heavy-handed. One of the biggest pushes is for an “emergency” ordinance that would prohibit collective bargaining by city /county employees.
Here is part of the membership pitch to local elected officials:
“As municipal leaders, you make daily decisions that directly impact your neighborhood roads, schools and property taxes. (Note that schools are mentioned).
How much more effective could you be if you had access to ground-breaking research and the nation’s top industry experts, or if you could share ideas and experiences with your counterparts from around the country so you can learn what works without repeating others’ mistakes?”…
“Members of the American City County Exchange receive academic research and analysis from policy experts who work with issues, processes and problem-solving strategies upon which municipal officials vote. Provided with important policy education, lawmakers become more informed and better equipped to serve the needs of their communities. Join us today.”
ACCE has tiers of membership. Elected officials pay a small fee to join and receive propaganda and perks. In 2014, the fee was only $100 for a two-year membership. Membership offers reduced rates for conferences, free publications from ALEC, and ready-to-use model ordinances that are consistent with ALEC’s market-based view of all things wonderful.
In contrast, corporations pay $7,000 to $25,000 for ACCE membership. Add $5000 for each taskforce they want to join. There are eight task forces, one is on education and work force development. These annual fees for corporations are intended to give their representatives a seat at the local governance table, where they feed their talking points, white papers, and ”expert” opinions, and ready-made ordinances to the wined and dined elected officials.
For examples of ACCE model policies, beginning in 2014, see https://www.alec.org/task-force/american-city-county-exchange/model-policy/
For a recent court case on the right of corporations to challenge state laws prohibiting political contributions see this ACCE/ALEC case with Citizens United part of the reasoning http://kref.ky.gov/Documents/ProtectMyCheckInc-vs-Dilger_OpinionandOrder.pdf
Yikes this is terrifying. I did not know that ALEC was metastasizing, but it stands to reason. And what is SPN? I’m pretty sure I really don’t want to know, but….
This isn’t a free market ideology, it’s anarchy. These corporations don’t give a rat’s @$$ about government for people or communities. ACCE is all about them getting theirs and too bad for all you ‘losers’.
For those who think that over reaching federal power is the biggest obstacle to democracy. It may be helpful to point out that these policies were pursued on State and Local levels because they have proved even easier to corrupt . Those centers of power that oppose the agenda will be circumvented with sates and local rights ,till they are hopelessly surrounded . Forced in a race to the bottom to join in . Hitler(appropriate now that Trump has arisen) didn’t go through the Maginot line he went around it .
Thanks for such horrifying and helpful information, Laura. As the red Queen says, this new situation whereby ALEC is morphing into (“metastasizing” is better to describe this cancer on our society, Queenie) a newer and even more dangerous version, is overwhelming. They use the old adage….where there’s a will, there’s a way…to impose their self serving policies on us all. They have grown into a hydra headed monster that grows two more heads rapidly to replace the one we might cut off. Wow….
Come on, everyone! HRC has shown herself to be an honest, incorruptible public servant. Wouldn’t we all be proud of her as president? That was a such a romantic love story that Bill Clinton told. Before I knew it, I had a tear running down my cheek. I think it’s great that we are supporting such a honest, loving couple. If anyone deserves a second time at the White House, then it is is HRC and that old rascal Bill. He’ll be stalking those halls like an old lecher…Very wholesome! Let’s all vote our consciences!
John…you obviously have not been reading on this blog for long and are probably a Trump troll. . Many of us are Bernie supporters for all the reasons your sarcasm points to re Hillary. Do some research here only weeks ago..
But although we may not want the Clintons in the WH, we generally find the obnoxious, crazed, absolutely-know nothing, dictator wannabe, Donald Trump is in a category of his own as a Clear and Present danger.
John,
I will vote for Hillary with conviction. She is smart, experienced and knowledgable.
Trump is an incipient fascist and a buddy of Putin.
#Imwithher
From the link which Diane posted: Earlier this year, a split U.S. Supreme Court left standing a lower court’s decision to uphold public sector union fees in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. As CMD documented, ALEC sibling group SPN organized anti-union protests at the Court before the case was decided.
Now we are back to the courts again and the importance of whom is appointed to the courts. It’s not just the supreme court, it’s also more than 600 district courts positions and almost 200 judges sit on courts of appeals. Obviously not all 800 positions will need to be filled in one or two terms but I am sure it will be more than 1 or 2 judges.
Ergo, I will be voting for HRC and not the orange sputtering demagogue and his ALEC encrusted toadie.
Thanks Joe for reminding us of Friedrichs…another trumped up case, with similar goals to Vergara. Both seek to kill off teachers unions. Without the financial backing of the oligarch DFERS, these cases would never have made it to lower, nor higher, court. But both of these will probably become Landmark cases.
Voting Republican is impossible. But, what to expect from the other side? Tim Kaine was praised at hedge funder, Pete Peterson’s , Fix the Debt site. Fix the Debt was Peterson’s former attempt to undermine Social Security, in hopes that it would enrich Wall Street. Kaine was described as a “Fiscal Hero”, by the site. Middle class and poor Europeans, who were forced into the highly- propagandized plot of austerity (Rogoff and Reinhart’s NBER paper) suffered greatly and needlessly.
Linda,
How many hedge funders do you know who sent their children to integrated (predominantly black) public schools?
Judge the man for what he has done, not your fears.
Linda…Pete Peterson (with his deep pockets), as of today, has a very compelling 30 second ad running on TV showing the immediate need to vote Republican in order to lower the debt…or else. It came on during the AM political talk shows…on all three stations.
Amazing how little anyone mentions the enormous debt expenditure from the two Bush presidents wars. Like father, like son, they kept these off their budgets as line item expenditures…but handed them on to Obama, who did include them as line item debts in the nation’s budget.
And thanks for the reminder of Rogoff and Reinhart’s disproven paper urging austerity rather than stimulus. Many liberal economists like Galbraith, Black, etc. urged Obama to create FDR-like stimulus with WPA and CCC- type agencies working on our infrastructure. These workers would have gotten paychecks, on taxpayer funds, but they would immediately have spent their wages for goods, so that the money would be in circulation Keynsians were pushed aside however at the direction of Obama insiders Summers (who is finally changing his tune), Rubin, and Immelt.
Hope Hillary has moved away from these and all austerity advisors.
Ellen
No she hasn’t but as I saw Bernie say on Bill Maher .
“It is no secrete that Hillary and I have many disagreements. What I intend to do the day after her election is push forward to accomplish the most progressive agenda ever.”
A choice we will not have with the Chicken Hawk coward ,Union Busting, Demagogue . Oligarch ,who pretends that sticking it to working people is a personal sacrifice.
To do a twist of a famous quote .
When Hard working Americans learn to love their children’s future as much as they despise those people who have less than them, we will have progress.
Excellent quote, Joel.
Michael Moore identified the problem that Hillary faces. Ohio, for example, is among the 4 states that he says Trump needs to win. A Bernie backer will drag him/herself into the polls and cast a “depressed vote” for Clinton. The person won’t bring 4-5 voters with her and, won’t talk up the candidate. If Hillary conducted a highly publicized meeting with Diane Ravitch, maybe there would be a bounce in the step of the Bernie backer.
Linda…Your thought that “depressed Bernie backers will vote for Clinton” should not be so quickly assumed. As a member to over 20 large Bernie groups, I can tell you that those groups are now massively hemorrhaging GREEN…despite any and all efforts by myself and other less reactionary Berners to dissuade the growing “DEMEXIT” backlash movement occurring as I type. I can only hope that during the next 3 months, they will come to their senses..because it is not just millennials and Independents leaving, It is older long-time Dems also. YES, I agree that if Clinton were to meet with Diane, it might bring more around; mostly parents, public ed activists and social justice activists who KNOW of Diane’s import. …But it would have little influence with those who do not. I will continue to post articles from here and other sources that explain the influence of dark money from ALEC and Gates can have in local and state elections and how massively voting Dem in state and local races is crucial to helping progressive candidates win…(even though the responses are mostly defiant single hashtag “#DEMEXIT” replies)…
Jo Jo,
It was Michael Moore’s opinion. He is much better informed than I am..