ALEC Renews Commitment to Hate Workers, but Drops Everything Else

I thought the boys over at Train of Thought were going to do this, but they haven't so let's do this.

As my friend, or someone who barely knows me, well ok, anyone who met me on the street would know I am opposed to ALEC...and if you were ever going to speak to me, you better know what ALEC is. But for first time players: what ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) is according to their website:

"The American Legislative Exchange Council works to advance the fundamental principles of free-market enterprise, limited government, and federalism at the state level through a nonpartisan public-private partnership of America's state legislators, members of the private sector and the general public."

Well first, I don't think you can trust anyone who doesn't use the Oxford comma. Additionally, the term federalism, I'm guessing they are embracing post-Civil War federalism, "the federal government is too big (runs sobbing from the room)."

Need more information? These are the people who brought to the anti-labor legislation that reads almost exactly the same from Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and several others. They also brought you voter registration/ID laws and "kill at will." No end to the fun with these guys. But that is all about to change. Below is a press release from this week explaining how ALEC will be dropping all other "causes" and focusing on labor.
                                                                                                                                                                               

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kaitlyn Buss
Phone: 202-742-8526
Email: kbuss@alec.org 

ALEC Sharpens Focus on Jobs, Free Markets and Growth — Announces the End of the Task Force that Dealt with Non-Economic Issues

(Washington, D.C.) April 17, 2012—David Frizzell, Indiana State Representative and 2012 National Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), issued the following statement today on behalf of ALEC’s Legislative Board of Directors:

“Today we are redoubling our efforts on the economic front, a priority that has been the hallmark of our organization for decades. Fostering the exchange of pro-growth, solutions-oriented ideas is precisely why ALEC exists.

“To that end, our legislative board last week unanimously agreed to further our work on policies that will help spur innovation and competitiveness across the country.

“We are refocusing our commitment to free-market, limited government and pro-growth principles, and have made changes internally to reflect this renewed focus.

“We are eliminating the ALEC Public Safety and Elections task force that dealt with non-economic issues, and reinvesting these resources in the task forces that focus on the economy. The remaining budgetary and economic issues will be reassigned.

“While we recognize there are other critical, non-economic issues that are vitally important to millions of Americans, we believe we must concentrate on initiatives that spur competitiveness and innovation and put more Americans back to work.

“Our free-market, limited government, pro-growth policies are the reason ALEC enjoys the support of legislators on both sides of the aisle and in all 50 states. ALEC members are interested in solutions that put the American economy back on track. This is our mission, and it is what distinguishes us.”

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The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is the nation’s largest nonpartisan individual membership association of state legislators, with over 2,000 state legislators across the nation and more than 100 alumni members in Congress. ALEC’s mission is to promote free markets, limited government, and federalism throughout the states.

                                                                                                                                                                                      

Well hell, son. Part of me did the hell fuckin' yes. Then I took a moment to realize some of the damage has already been done, and they are suiting up for an all out assault on labor.

What damage? Voter reg/ID laws are being voted on in several states (yes Virginia, including Ohio). These laws target the poor, women, trans people, people of color, you know my homies. And we've all witnessed "kill at will" in Florida with the Martin murder.

I can't speculate what is going to come out of this of course, because A) I can't even pretend to be evil enough to anticipate the anti-work legislation they will come up with and B) there is no promise that some of their previous legislation will die. We know Walker and Kasich chatted daily over their anti-worker bills, so there is no reason to believe once this garbage is out in the world that it will ever stop. I imagine awful people will continue sharing awful legislation.