Mar 2, 2013
Most of you will have no idea what I am writing about – because you are fortunate to have more than just basic cable, and were born after the advent of cable TV. Many of you – might not know or care – but you should – if you claim to care about the democratic [...]
Feb 28, 2013
Illinois is the next state on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)‘s target list for putting the oil industry’s interests ahead of the public interest. 98 percent funded by multinational corporations, ALEC is described by its critics as a “corporate bill mill” and a lobbyist-legislator dating service. It brings together corporate lobbyists and right wing politicians to [...]
Feb 27, 2013
Governor John Kasich has made clear that he wants to privatize the schools of Ohio as much as possible with vouchers, charters, and online schools. His new budget reflects his attitude toward public education. This report came from Jan Resseger in Cleveland. Jan works tirelessly on behalf of equity and social justice. It is likely [...]
Feb 27, 2013
Described as laggards for their failure to address investor concerns, the oil and gas giants face shareowner resolutions addressing environmental and social risks associated with hydraulic fracturing. SocialFunds.com — Shareowners have filed 11 resolutions this year with oil and gas companies, requesting that they quantifiably measure and reduce the environmental and social impacts of hydraulic [...]
Feb 26, 2013
As an example of how secretive people are about their membership or involvement in the American Legislative Exchange Council – if you Google “Steve Seale” “American Legislative Exchange Council” you get twelve hits – eight unique hits. And if you Google “C. Stevens Seale” “American Legislative Exchange Council” You get four hits. YET – “Steve [...]
Feb 26, 2013
A bill introduced by Montana State Rep. Steve Lavin (R-ALEC) would give corporations the right to vote in municipal elections: Provision for vote by corporate property owner. (1) Subject to subsection (2), if a firm, partnership, company, or corporation owns real property within the municipality, the president, vice president, secretary, or other designee of the [...]
Feb 25, 2013
Anonymous billionaires donated $120m to more than 100 anti-climate groups working to discredit climate change science Climate sceptic groups are mobilising against Obama’s efforts to act on climate change in his second term. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images (editor’s note: this article refers to even more about members of the ALEC/Koch Cabal and their efforts to [...]
Feb 25, 2013
Secretive funding network channeled millions to stop state governments moving towards renewable energy The trusts, Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund, served as the bankers of the conservative movement over the past decade, have funded a campaign against windfarms. Photograph: Alex Garcia/Getty Images (editor’s note: this article is describing the activities of groups involved in [...]
Feb 25, 2013
The secretive funding network distributed $118m to 102 groups including some of the best-known thinktanks on the right Dozens of exhibitors promote their oil and gas related businesses. By 2010, Donors Trust had distributed $118m to 102 thinktanks or action groups. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA (editors note: VLTP has previously noted Donor’s Trust, the American [...]
Feb 24, 2013
saw this making its way around people’s inboxes yesterday: A most worthy cause. But, Color of Change, just as you were with ALEC–where have you been? Must you wait and test the waters before capitalizing by joining in? With ALEC you jumped in to the campaign to expose them long after so many other researchers [...]
