... PA on fire and VA heating up too.
Editorial: Who writes Virginia''s laws?
Corporate and conservative interests buy access to lawmakers at the American Legislative Exchange Council.
The Roanoke Times (VA)
Thursday, August 4, 2011
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/295026CLIPS:
Special interests help write many pieces of legislation that appear in the Virginia General Assembly and governing bodies across the country. That's something most people might at least suspect, and anyone who spends time watching the lawmaking process knows with certainty.
What is new, and frankly rather creepy, is how far ALEC -- the American Legislative Exchange Council -- has taken things. It does not just work with lawmakers to develop legislation. It serves as a pricey clearinghouse for bills nationwide.
The corporate members gain access to lawmakers with the power to erect or dismantle laws affecting industry. They provide hundreds of bills through ALEC that lawmakers can take back to their states to advance a conservative agenda and serve members' needs, not necessarily the public's. It is little wonder, given this model, that so many hot-button bills tend to crop up in multiple states at once.
Some legislative members can be identified either because they sponsor ALEC bills or sign onto other ALEC projects. For example, Virginia Speaker of the House Bill Howell has ties to the group. (Para) This sort of shadow government ill serves the public. It is one thing for lawmakers to work openly with special interests crafting legislation that meets specific needs. It is another thing entirely when they do it through a special club that completely lacks transparency.
Ouch, not much room for ALEC wiggling there.
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