Much of the legislation passed by the Republican leaders was directed by an outside organization known as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is an organization that consists of over 300 corporations, 2,000 state legislators from around the country, and several right-wing think tanks. Annual dues for corporate members are between $7,000 and $25,000, while state legislators pay $50 annually. Corporate members, legislators, and think tank representatives sit on nine task forces, which meet in secret, and decide on “model bills” the corporate members want the legislators to introduce and pass in their states. Corporate members who participate in any of the task forces pay an additional $2,500 to $10,000 per year. Additional funding comes from direct grants by corporations and several conservative foundations. Thus, corporations fund almost all of ALEC’s operations.
During the annual ALEC meetings, representatives of the corporate members and legislators discuss legislation desired by the corporate members and decide upon action to be pursued. There is no consideration of issues that might be beneficial to families and individuals. The participating legislators then bring those proposals back to their home states and introduce them in legislatures across the country as their own brilliant ideas and important public policy innovations—without disclosing that corporations crafted and voted on the bills. These bills are passed to benefit their corporate sponsors, with little or no concern for their impact on individuals and families.
ALEC initiatives hurt families, landowners, home buyers and others. The following links explain some of the negative impacts associated with legislation supported by ALEC.
- Ban on Raising Minimum Wage
- Legislation Negatively Impacting Landowners
- Assistance to Profitable Energy Industry
- ALEC Initiatives Hurt Families
ALEC inspired legislation has been passed for the benefit of its corporate sponsors, not for the benefit of the majority of North Carolina residents. Prominent North Carolina Republican legislators with close ties to ALEC include board members Thom Tillis and Tim Moffit, former board members, Harold Brubaker and Fred Steen, and at several other participating members; many other North Carolina legislators have attended ALEC meetings and have voted for passage of ALEC supported bills.
These ALEC inspired legislators should be replaced with candidates who support North Carolina values. VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!
CONCLUSION
The ALEC-inspired legislation in North Carolina keeps the system rigged against middle income families.
Voting 2016 