NEW: Tassoni Backs Away From ALEC
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield) has contacted the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Legislative Services, asking that his name be removed from the list of state legislators who are enrolled as members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
ALEC has recently come under attack by a number of national liberal organizations, which have accused the organization of being a corporate lobbying group masquerading as a public charity.
Rhode Island has spent about $2,300 in membership dues for about two dozen legislators, of which Senator Tassoni is one.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I’m not sure how I became a member, but having learned recently about the enormous amount of corporate funding for the group and corporate influence on the group, I have decided to terminate my membership and have sent that specific request to JCLS,” said Senator Tassoni. (JCLS is responsible for the internal financial and personnel operations of the General Assembly.)
About 98 percent of the funding for ALEC comes from sources other than legislative dues, including corporations such as Mobil Exxon, trade association such as the pharmaceutical industry and corporate foundations, including Charles G. Koch’s Charitable Foundation.
The organization’s web site says it “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.
Critics say it is a front for corporations, allowing powerful interests to hand state legislators the changes to the law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line. Corporate representatives sit on the various ALEC task forces and have equal votes with legislators to approve “model” bills.
Senator Tassoni said he is supportive of organizations – such as the National Conference on State Legislatures – that facilitate the legislative process through meetings and conferences and a robust exchange of ideas. “ALEC, it seems, is not about an exchange of ideas but rather about pushing the self-serving ideas of corporations and rich, powerful interests. I have no desire to be associated with that kind of organization.”
