ALEC: The Voice of Corporate Special Interests In State Legislatures

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Who Founded and Funds ALEC?
• Who’s Behind ALEC?
• How Does ALEC Work?
• What Does ALEC Lobby For?
• Undercutting Health Care Reform
• Corporate Power and Workers’ Rights
• Tax Policy
• Private School Vouchers
• Voter ID and Election Laws
• Obstructing Environmental Protection
• Conclusion

Introduction

When state legislators across the nation introduce similar or identical bills designed to boost corporate power and profits, reduce workers rights, limit corporate accountability for pollution, or restrict voting by minorities, odds are good that the legislation was not written by a state lawmaker but by corporate lobbyists working through the American Legislative Exchange Council.  ALEC is a one-stop shop for corporations looking to identify friendly state legislators and work with them to get special-interest legislation introduced. It’s win-win for corporations, their lobbyists, and right-wing legislators. But the big losers are citizens whose rights and interests are sold off to the highest bidder..................