"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." Franklin D Roosevelt
No name calling here. Right-wing, tea party, kooks, extremist...No, voter infringements are coming from the Republican elected officials wanting to curtail participation in elections. Several state legislatures are being held captive by The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
Corporate America's Secret Political Arm ALEC is a screen for hundreds of big corporations and trade associations to advance their legislative agendas in state capitals from coast to coast. The American Legislative Exchange Council, also known as ALEC, counts among its members some 2,000 state legislators and corporate executives. They sit side-by-side and collaborate to draft “model” bills that reach into areas of American life ranging from voting rights to environmental protection.
State after state Republican legislatures are introducing and enacting the exact same laws. That is because they are being hand fed "model legislation" that this heavily financed organization is working on for the direct benefit of their members. It is common knowledge if you can control the ballot box by crooked computers or limiting voter participation you can win the election and extract special favors from those you elect.
They are busy building road blocks and leading efforts to place restrictive voter registration laws into effect. They are active in disenfranchising voters. Their goal is to place requirements such as photo IDs in front of the elderly, students, minorities and low income usually loyal Democrat voters to discourage and block excercising their voting rights.
ALEC is a key player in a national drive to toughen voter ID laws, successful so far in 18 states. States controlled by Republican legislators and Republican governors have passed laws that they believe will be a path for the GOP to win elections.
In the wake of a series of Supreme Court decisions lowering barriers to corporate political spending, ALEC has encouraged states to reject bills that would require companies to get shareholder approval for their political contributions. Political finance disclosure laws are beaten back or repealed, secret donations funding fancy named groups negative campaigns are distorting elections.
ALEC-aligned businesses, have financed campaigns for and against state ballot issues and helped elect thousands of state senators and representatives to be willing to champion ALEC bills at state capitols. Special interest legislation, from tax breaks to destroying all manners of consumer and safety protection laws.
ALEC supports public subsidies for private for profit schools, the development of privately-owned for profit prisons, restrictions on the voting rights of thousands of college students and senior citizens and unlimited secret corporate spending on behalf of political candidates and parties.
More ALEC's Anti-Working Family Legislation
Minimum Wage Repeal Act This legislation preempts local governments from enacting their own wage laws.
Resolution on Unilateral Trade Sanctions This resolution opposes the enactment of state and local laws to impose unilateral trade sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy.
Resolution Urging Congress to Modernize Social Security with Personal Retirement Accounts This legislation would take the security out of Social Security by gambling a worker's retirement on the risky stock market. Workers don't need to have what happened to Enron employees happen to them.
Update September 1, 2011
The GOP War on Voting
In a campaign supported by the Koch brothers, Republicans are working to prevent millions of Democrats from voting next year.
Full Story Rolling Stone Magazine
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