Reply #186: NYT (ALEC-no-so-guided 2nd round) Conservative Group Drafts, Promotes Anti-EPA Bills in State Legs. [View All]

A Virginia state lawmaker caused a stir in February when he admitted that his resolution declaring U.S. EPA's effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions a "regulatory train wreck" was written by the coal industry.
Republican Delegate Will Morefield's resolution said EPA regulations would have potentially "devastating consequences," called for a "comprehensive study" of their impact on the economy and urged Congress to place a two-year moratorium on new air pollution regulations.
Morefield's resolution was drawn almost word-for-word from model legislation written by the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, which touts its access to almost 2,000 state legislators. The Washington, D.C.-based group claims credit for advancing legislation that it says has undermined climate science and environmental regulation in several states since the late 1990s.
Founded in 1973 by conservative activists and legislators, ALEC calls itself a tool for state lawmakers. The group has both a board of directors composed of legislators and a private enterprise board that includes representatives of Koch Industries, Exxon Mobil Corp., Peabody Energy Corp., the Salt River Project and Energy Future Holdings Corp.
ALEC spokeswoman Raegan Weber said the corporate representatives and their companies are among a few of more than 300 private-sector members. "They are not running our organization," she said.

In 2009, for example, ALEC contributed to 826 bills introduced in the states, dealing with a variety of conservative ideals. Of those, 115 became law, according to the American Association for Justice, which was formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
"It's not just environmental bills," said Doug Clopp, deputy director for programs at the nonprofit Common Cause. "This is like a corporate libertarian library where you can go if you are a member and literally select bills like you were going through a supermarket off a shelf. You want to deregulate health care reform? They've got the bill for you. You want to deregulate air quality restrictions in the states? They've got a bill for you."
It is not unheard of for groups to push model legislation through state legislatures, but it is also not common, because legislatures generally deal with "nuts-and-bolts issues" that are state-specific, said Larry Morandi, director of state policy research at the National Council of State Legislatures.

There are about 100 models under the heading "Environment, Energy and Agriculture" on the organization's website. All of them are locked to nonmembers.
For a $50-a-year fee, state legislators can join ALEC and gain access to the model legislation.
Louisiana state Rep. Noble Ellington (R) is the current national chairman. Republican state lawmakers David Frizzell of Indiana and John Piscopo of Connecticut serve as first and second vice chairman, respectively. The 19 other public board members are also all Republican.
State legislators get access to the organization's annual meetings, which environmental groups say include perks like golfing. Business groups and leaders can also attend meetings and become members, but for a much steeper fee. According to an ALEC brochure, there are three membership levels for private interests, with the most expensive costing $25,000 a year.

ALEC does not disclose donor information, spokeswoman Weber said. However, environmental groups say the group gets major backing from Koch Industries and major energy companies. A budget reform tool kit, for example, was written in conjunction with the Koch-supported Reason Foundation, the group said.
According to Greenpeace, ALEC received $75,000 from Koch-backed foundations from 2005 to 2008. Koch did not respond to requests for comment.
Also according to Greenpeace, Exxon Mobil has given the group $1.4 million since 1998, some of which has been linked to ALEC's anti-climate change efforts. Exxon Mobil paid $50,000 as a sponsor of last year's annual meeting, according to program notes Schafer retained from last year's meeting.
Environmental groups have criticized ALEC for allowing large corporations to work with legislators to design model legislation at these annual meetings. But ALEC's Woods maintains that the group is "legislator-driven."
"We think there's value to having a variety of voices in shaping our free-market policies," he said.