NY Times Highlights "Pervasive" Influence of ALEC on VA Legislature

February 13, 2012

This morning, the New York Times Editorial page profiled ProgressVA's report on the influence of a "little-known conservative organization financed by millions of corporate dollars" on Virginia's legislature. The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is responsible for over 50 bills introduced in the General Assembly in recent years and Virginia taxpayers have shelled out over $230,000 for the privilege of our representatives having exclusive access to corporate lobbyists behind closed doors.

Progressive Point: When Virginians go to the polls, we assume that whoever wins will do their best to represent out interests in Richmond. It turns out, however, some of our legislators are paying more attention to corporate bottom lines than their constituents.

ALEC's corporate fingerprints are all over some of the worst laws to come out of the General Assembly in the past few years. HB 10, which rejects a federal health insurance mandate and formed the basis of Attorney General Cuccinelli's lawsuit against health care reform? ALEC bill. SR 29, opposing EPA regulation of greenhouse gases? ALEC bill. HB 1560 to restrict voting rights? ALEC bill.

Virginia families deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials. As the New York Times said this morning, "Lawmakers who eagerly do ALEC's bidding have much to answer for. Voters have a right to know whether the representatives they elect are actually writing the laws, or whether the job has been outsourced to big corporate interests."

Get the Facts:

• At least 50 bills introduced in the Virginia General Assembly were drawn from ALEC model legislation.


• Over $230,000 in taxpayer money has been spent sending legislators on junkets to ALEC conferences to meet with corporate lobbyists behind closed doors.


• Over 100 current and former Virginia legislators have ties to ALEC, including Speaker of the House of Delegates William Howell, Governor Bob McDonnell, and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

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