Reply #417: Madison.com: Brendan Fischer: ALEC ‘scholarships’ raise ethics concerns [View All]

A lobbyist for Koch Industries and energy interests serves with a lobbyist for Pfizer pharmaceuticals as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) corporate co-chair in Wisconsin, according to documents obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy. For some, their “scholarship” fundraising to benefit ALEC legislative members raises ethical issues.

According to ALEC’s bylaws, Wisconsin’s “public sector” chair, currently Rep. Robin Vos, R-Burlington, appoints the state’s corporate “private sector” chairs, currently Amy Boyer (whose lobbying clients include Koch Industries, Walmart and Xcel Energy), and Bryon Wornson (government relations and public affairs at Pfizer pharmaceuticals).

The corporate chairs raise funds for Wisconsin legislators’ expenses at the ALEC three-day annual meeting and other meetings where corporations and legislators rub shoulders and approve ALEC model legislation. Corporations already pay up to $20,000 to be present at ALEC meetings, and these corporate-funded legislative “scholarships” ensure that elected officials will also attend.

Wisconsin’s tough lobbying laws prohibit lobbyists from purchasing any gift for a legislator, even a cup of coffee. Free plane tickets and hotel rooms might look like a “gift,” but, according to Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, “ALEC has succeeded in skirting Wisconsin’s no-gift lobby laws” by calling this spending a “scholarship.”

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