Is ALEC Smart – or NOT?
by Ed Klein, Peoria, IL
How many of you have heard of the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC? Not very many, I’m sure. It is a secretive tax-exempt organization with, as its brochure points out, nearly 2,000 members and, “is the nation’s largest non-partisan, individual membership association of state legislators.”
Although the brochure uses the term “non-partisan,” it is anything but. Its website lists 22 legislators from across the U.S. who serve as board members and officers. All Republican. Only a token number of Democrats are allowed in, and all inductees are closely examined to make sure they will stick to ALEC’s corporate dogma.
The organization’s pose as an association of legislators is misleading. The “exchange” in its name is not between lawmakers, but between lawmakers and behind-the-scene powers. Powers such as Altria, AT&T, Bayer, Coca Cola, Exxon, Mobil, Smith Kline, Peabody Energy, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Koch Industries and Walmart. These Mega Corporations are among the self-interest giants that put up their money and shape its agenda.
82% of ALEC’s financing comes from corporations such as those I just mentioned. Of course, ALEC keeps a lid on how it spends its money, but that’s the worst kept secret in town. The six million is only a small portion of the money ALEC uses to pay for the many items on its to-do list. That list includes buying legislators to introduce and work for laws that favor member’s wishes. Bills are developed to help extend corporate power over workers, consumers, environmentalists and others who stand in the way of the interests of ALEC members. To this end, ALEC’s brochure states quite plainly that this partnership “will define the American political landscape of the 21stcentury.” If you think that’s just a lot of rhetoric, ALEC’s pay-off results in approximately 1,000 bills being introduced across America during every legislative session, and ALEC boasts “we usually pass about 200 bills a year.”
What are the results of those bills? How about the union-busting bills introduced and being enacted in Wisconsin, Indiana, Maine, Michigan and Ohio? Or the Voter ID Act drawn up by ALEC that bans university students from voting in several states .. a law that keeps students out of voting booths because, as the new Jersey House speaker says, “they’re voting their feelings with no life experience.” Other things the corporations bought from these legislators include Arizona’s vicious anti-Latino immigration law, which can prove very profitable for the private prison system in that state. Then, there are the numerous bills that have been filed in states to withdraw from the president’s universal healthcare reform.
A specialty of ALEC’s is developing state laws to prevent citizens from interfering with corporate whim. For example, when various communities began outlawing the use of genetically altered seeds in their area, ALEC promptly pushed out a bill to remove local control of seeds. Does it surprise you to hear that 11 states passed it? Or do you wonder why, with Koch and Exxon money buying lawmakers, ALEC has pushed more than 800 draft measures against global warming emissions?
I hope you’re asking what the devil is going on here. Does this sound like our country’s founding ideals are being trampled on by the wealthiest, most powerful and privileged colluding with the most venal, unprincipled political opportunists who are supposed to be representing their real constituents, the citizens who voted them into office? Yes, they’re doing their best to destroy our democratic rights for their own wealth and power.
When these bought politicians recite the pledge of allegiance, it would not be amiss to say, that along with pledging allegiance to the United States of America, they silently include a pledge of allegiance to their corporate benefactors. After all, aren’t they the ones running the country?
[Editor’s note: Check out: http://alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed for more info]
Democratic Congressional Candidate Deserves Our Vote
by Elaine Hopkins, Peoria, IL
This year’s Congressional elections are the most important in decades, and likely will determine our future for years to come. I urge all voters in the Democratic primary in the 18th Congressional District to vote for Steve Waterworth as the nominee for Congress. He is a life long Democrat.
Steve, 64, lives in Easton, in Mason County where he serves his community. He serves on Mason County’s Zoning Board of Appeals, is town clerk for Crane Creek Township and is president of the Easton Park District. He has been a volunteer with the Mason County Agricultural Extension Service and 4-H and the Illinois Nature Preserves. He serves on a high speed rail committee, and a Head Start committee.
These civic activities give him broad experience with the issues that affect all citizens. Unlike any other candidate in this race, he also has military experience. He retired after a 24-year career as an Air Force Master Sergeant.
Steve twice ran for the U.S. Congress in the 18th District, both times against Republican Ray LaHood. Though he was unsuccessful, he knows the territory. He is passionate about the issues, understands them, and will make a suitable opponent for the likely Republican nominee, Congressman Aaron Schock.
Steve Waterworth deserves our vote in the March 20 primary.
Black and Women’s History Months Connected
by Dolores M. Klein, Peoria, IL
They ARE interrelated indeed. When women attended anti-slavery meetings and were not allowed to speak, they realized they had a need to organize on their own behalf. A group of women including Betty Friedan, conferred inWashington about Title 9; Pauli Murray advised them to organize in a similar way as the N.A.A.C.P. They did in 1966. NOW was founded.
Recently, Whoopie Goldberg commented that she had always expected a woman would be elected President before a person of color would be. I was reminded that a black woman, Barbara Jordan, some years ago, was held up as a potential Presidential possibility. She died much too young. Other women, black and white, have made the attempt and only recently was Hilary Clinton taken seriously.
Those of us who were there in Springfield in June, 1982, remember the “3:25” speech; a black woman legislator, Monica Faith Stewart spoke for us all when betrayed, so close to Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Peoria NOW invites the public to the annual Women’s History program on March 10th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at the Downtown Library. Representative Jehan Gordan will speak on: “Women as Community Activists.” Women’s History Month Awards will be presented to: the Lakeview team who presented the Women Artists of Illinois Exhibit; Global Village; and the S.E.I.U. and Health Care Union. For information, call 688-3419.