ALEC Too Extreme for Coke and Kraft Foods
by Clyde Weiss | April 09, 2012
The right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is losing key corporate sponsors over its extreme agenda, thanks to a campaign by progressive groups such as Color of Change, which is shedding light on the shadowy group’s agenda and influence.
ALEC drafts model legislation that benefits corporations and plants it with friendly state lawmakers, who are wined and dined at meetings held in luxury locals. The most recent corporate exodus from the group came in response to so-called “Stand Your Ground” laws that have thus far kept the shooter of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin from facing criminal charges.
The Florida law – which allows someone to use deadly force to protect themselves with less accountability than typical self-defense laws – was signed by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2005, and it has spread to more than 30 other states because of ALEC and the National Rifle Association, its corporate co-chair last year. ALEC’s role pushing the law to Texas in 2007 is detailed in this Progress Texas report.
Several companies have announced they won’t renew their ALEC memberships because the organization has been involved in crafting and sponsoring such laws. They include Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods Inc., and Intuit (which makes accounting software like Quicken). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told Roll Call yesterday that it, too, will withdraw its financial support to ALEC.In January, Coca-Cola rival PepsiCo. announced it was cutting off ties with ALEC.
ALEC also has been pushing voter-suppression laws that disenfranchise potential voters, especially those of color, the young, and the elderly. It’s all part of ALEC’s campaign to advance a corporate-driven agenda.
