I - and many of DK's ALTP members - have been promising readers, followers and others about an upcoming second expose on ALEC. We have hinted that there was much, much more about ALEC that 99% of Americans were unaware of - and it was truly insidious and so corrupt that democracy as we know it, is in dire jeopardy.
On November 25th the Voter's Legislative Transparency Project (VLTP - sister organization of DK's American Legislative Transparency Project) published the first in a series of Analytic Reports about the American Legislative Exchange Council's interference and corruption at the federal level of our government.
Many are already aware of ALEC's activities and corruption within our state governments and legislatures - but most had no idea of their efforts at the U.S. Congressional level. This Report has taken more than a year to research, compile and fact check. It is 75 pages in length and provides many new revelations about ALEC's activities within Congress, the mainstream media, the Supreme Court and identifies several organizations and funders who have previously been under everyone's radar.
The report is filled with graphs, charts, links to videos and the organizations and individuals that make up the Koch funded and controlled CABAL.
Due to the size and formatting, VLTP is unable to post the entire report here so we have provided a link to .docstoc where we published the entire Report.
This was released to a vast number of Progressive organizations, journalists and Labor groups yesterday evening so they will have this information next week when many of us are meeting in Phoenix to Protest ALEC and inform voters in Arizona about ALEC.
Anyone wishing to download and republish the report or excerpts from it are welcome to do so. VLTP asks that if you do so, please give attribution to them and our members for the hard work we have put into this. Please keep in mind that VLTP is a 501(c)(3) organization and as such is dependent upon contributions and donations from individuals, foundations and grants that allows us to put projects like this together. If you would like to sponsor or donate to VLTP please send an email to donate@vltp.net or contact our American Legislative Transparency Project group here through Kos Mail. You can also visit our website (under construction at the moment) at www.vltp.net to donate through PayPal or with a credit/debit card. Currently we are in the process of raising nearly $500,000 dollars to fund a national bus tour to go around the MSM about ALEC and their activities and take the information public - state by state, city by city in the run-up to the 2012 election. Once you read this report you will understand WHY it is imperative this information gets out - and why the MSM refuses to report factually on anything Progressive...
We need all the help we can get to do this - but it has to be done if voters are to be made aware of the involvement of their representative's membership in ALEC. The Media refuses to inform so we must if ALEC's members are to be defeated at the polls.
My name appears as the author of this document, but there have been several others who have contributed to research, editing and moral support as this project slowly came together. Kudos and warm fuzzies to the following Kossacks for their assistance: OhioDem1, Ron1951, MNDem999, Hector Solon and others too numerous to mention.
Below are several excerpts from the full report for those who want to know some of the issues we have uncovered...
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ALEC Alumni Forum
By 2001 ALEC had a large active membership comprised of state lawmakers and corporate representatives and lobbyists. They had been successfully developing and implementing legislation at the state level for more than a quarter century. Many of their members had moved on to positions within the federal government or had been elected to Congress over the years. In an effort to increase their successful influence, ALEC began to advance their initiatives at the federal level. To facilitate this, ALEC created a “Forum” where state (members) and federal (alumni) lawmakers could interact and work to advance the conservative, free market, pro-corporate initiatives and legislation at the Congressional level.
Federal Forum Task Force
With success brought about at the federal level through their Alumni Forum ALEC created an actual tenth “Task Force” in 2005. This TF was officially co-chaired by two ALEC alumni: one Senator and one House member. Their duties are to advance the initiatives presented at the state level directly to the U.S. Congress and to lobby in both Houses on behalf of these issues. They have successfully brought about the enactment of federal laws through this TF utilizing ALEC’s numerous alumni and lobbying.
Influencing and Corrupting the Federal Judiciary
Free trips for state and federal judges with pro-corporate seminars given by think tanks, corporate executives and associates is discussed with links, facts and names involved. Influence upon and associations with key SCOTUS Justices are divulged. Research reveals more than five hundred judges have willingly taken these excursions and attended the pro-corporate seminars.
Appearances as ‘Friend of The Court’ to Sway Opinions and Judicial Rulings on Key Issues
The mechanics of ALEC and their affiliate’s influence upon court decisions by addressing issues and presenting arguments directly to Judges through the use of Amicus Briefs is exposed. Some of the important cases involving federal issues are identified - as are those participating in this.
Institute for Humane Studies – Internship Program
The IHS has been supported by Charles G. Koch since 1985 and is used to secure interns for more than 80 mostly conservative think tanks, foundations, institutes and organizations. IHS provides scholarships for those with a similar ideology and dedication to a free-market philosophy and assists them with career job placement(s) through internships, graduate seminars and similar programs.
Institute for Humane Studies – Journalism Internship
In addition to the IHS Internship program described above, they also offer internships and stipends to those starting a career in journalism and media. These include Broadcast, New (Digital) Media, Newspaper and Investigative Journalism. Where those internships have been served and links to IHS’ alumni are provided.
Charting Relationships
Charts utilizing the connections and links between the various conservative groups and organizations with the funding, influence and associations. Many connections previously unknown to exist are included.
Federal Laws Enacted by ALEC’s Federal Forum Task Force
Research we have completed identifies two (2) important pieces of federal legislation which have been enacted since the Federal Forum was created; The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA, S. 1926 and H.R.4239 – 2005). This legislation amends the Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992. The second piece of legislation is the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (H.R. 6407 - 2006).
- Influence upon Supreme Court -
The key concern VLTP expresses is ALEC’s place within these ties to the judiciary. Once ALEC model legislation is proposed and passed at the state level, they are sometimes challenged through state litigation – which often advances to the federal level for review upon appeal. As shown previously, our federal judiciary has been seriously compromised by the same CABAL through the trips and seminars provided by Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE), George Mason University, Northwestern's Law and Judicial Education Program and the others involved in such activities. The pro-corporate philosophy of ALEC has proponents within the federal courts due to these seminars and free trips. The voter’s belief that the federal courts present a protection from possible improper state action is thus compromised...
These topics should encourage you to go out to .docstoc and read and/or download the entire report.
In Solidarity - Kossack members of ALTP/VLTP...