Corporate Backed Boiler-plated Legislation The Topic of Investigation Piece

The not so surprising relationship between corporations and state Republican Legislators is the topic of an investigative piece called ALEC Exposed, a project of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD).

Critics say the American Legislative Exchange Council, heavily funded by corporations like Wal-Mart, GE, Boeing, and the Koch company, have boiler-plated over 1,000 pieces of Legislation and 25 percent make it to becoming law, according to a commentary published on the Racine Journal Times website.

Scott Kelly, press secretary for Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), said Wanggaard is a member of ALEC.  

“But the ALEC meetings aren’t secret,” he said. “It’s no different than being a member of the National Conference of State Legislators.”

Kelly said the focus of the group is on information, brainstorming, and forming workgroups for legislation.

Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester), a member of the Joint Finance Committee and state chair of ALEC, has also been criticized for using parts of the ALEC legislation in his charter school legislation.

But in the commentary, Vos said this was “a made-up issue.”

Calls to Vos were not returned before our publishing deadline.