Jun 14, 2012
New York Senate Democratic Conference Holds a Public Forum on ALEC’S Role in Legislature
Announcement by NY State Senator Daniel Squadron, the ranking member of the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee (IGO) at:
ALEC’s Activities May Constitute Lobbying Under NY Law — Receives Corporate Funding, Claims Credit for 39 NYS Bills
Some quotes from the announcement below. Also attached to this announcement at the Senator’s site are the statements provided by CMD, Color of Change and the Brennan Center.
(Pictured – ALEC Lobbyist Victor Schwartz from Shook, Hardy and Bacon, seated next to OH. Legislator, Rep. Bill Seitz (R) leading an ALEC Task Force meeting on Tort Reform)
ALEC claims they do 0% lobbying as a 501(c)(3) but the picture to the left tells a different story.
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“There is no question that ALEC has advocated and, in many instances, succeeded in bringing conservative legislation from other parts of the country like the Stand Your Ground bill to the New York State legislature. I believe we have to demand more transparency from organizations like ALEC that exercise influence over lawmakers but do not disclose their activities to the public. New Yorkers have the right to know where legislation that could impact their daily lives is coming from and who is advocating to see that it passes in the dark of night, without public scrutiny,” said Senator Gustavo Rivera…”
“…I am dismayed that our Senate leadership ignored Senator Squadron’s request for a formal hearing into alleged improprieties by ALEC. Organizations like ALEC that seek to influence the legislative process — yet blatantly disregard the laws governing such activities — threaten our democratic ideals and deprive the public of its right to know by whom and how our public policy is being shaped,” saidSenator Suzi Oppenheimer.
Read the entire announcement and statements of the NY lawmakers here…
