A Warm Welcome For ALEC

posted 7/23/2012 by the Salt City Sinner

Who is ALEC?

That's a very good question with a very repulsive answer.

The Center for Media and Democracy provides this summary of who the American Legislative Exchange Council is and how they operate:

"ALEC" has long been a secretive collaboration between Big Business and "conservative" politicians. Behind closed doors, they ghostwrite "model" bills to be introduced in state capitols across the country. This agenda - underwritten by global corporations - includes major tax loopholes for big industries and the super rich, proposals to offshore U.S. jobs and gut the minimum wage, and efforts to weaken public health, safety, and environmental protections. Although many of these bills have become law, until now, their origin has been largely unknown.

According to ALEC's FAQ:

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit [HA! - ed.] organization. It provides a constructive forum for state legislators and private sector leaders to discuss and exchange practical, state-level public policy issues. The potential solutions discussed at ALEC focus on free markets, limited government, and constitutional division of powers between the federal and state governments. The organization respects diversity of thought [double HA! - ed.] 

To use an accurate but possibly sex-negative metaphor, ALEC is the pimp that arranges "dates" between prostitutes (state legislators) and johns (corporate lobbyists).

ALEC's fingerprints are all over Arizona's infamous SB 1070 immigration law, Florida's "stand your ground" law (the law that led directly or indirectly to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin), and numerous crippling and environmentally disastrous pieces of legislation.

Here's the scoop: ALEC is holding their 39th annual meeting here in scenic Salt City, starting on Wednesday, July 25th.

Our very own ALEC Welcoming Committee is here to make sure that they receive the warm reception that they deserve.

MONDAY 7/23/12 : OccupyALEC ongoing meeting - Washington Square (451 S. State Street)

MONDAY 7/23/12, 6 - 9 PM : People's Picnic / "Parade of Empty Plates" - Washington Square

TUESDAY 7/24/12, 4- 6 PM : "Militarization as Corporate Rule" - City County Building (500 S State Street)

WEDNESDAY 7/25/12, 7 AM : Morning Picket - Washington Square

WEDNESDAY 7/25/12, 10 AM - 12 PM : "Unions and the Occupation of the Wisconsin Capitol" - City County Building, Room 126

WEDNESDAY 7/25/12, 2 PM - 4 PM : Move To Amend's "History of Corporate Rule" - SLC Downtown Library (210 E 400 S)

WEDNESDAY 7/25/12, 4 PM - 7 PM : Evening Picket

WEDNESDAY 7/25/12, 5 PM - 6 PM : Bread and Circus Theater, NE Corner of 5th S and Main

WEDNESDAY 7/25/12, 6 AM - 8 PM : ALEC Exposed Workshop, 629 S. State Street

THURSDAY 7/26/12, 10 AM - 11 AM : ALEC Exposed Press Conference, 629 S. State Street

THURSDAY 7/26/12, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM : Move to Amend State Supreme Court Hearing, Utah Supreme Court Chambers (Matheson Courthouse, 450 S. State Street)

THURSDAY 7/26/12, 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM : Peaceful Uprising Puppet Show

THURSDAY 7/26/12, 12 PM - 2 PM : Theater of the Oppressed

THURSDAY 7/26/12, 3 PM - 4:30 PM : Commemoration of Tim DeChristopher's Sentencing, Washington Square

THURSDAY 7/26/12, 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM : Anti-ALEC Choir Performance

FRIDAY 7/27/12, 7 AM : Morning Picket

FRIDAY 7/27/12, 11 AM - 1 PM : "Militarism, Debt, and ALEC," SW Corner of City County Building (500 S. State Street)

FRIDAY 7/27/12, 4 PM - 6 PM : Bike Decorating Party, Washington Square

FRIDAY 7/27/12, 6 PM - 7 PM : Bike Swarm, SW Corner of Washington Square

FRIDAY 7/27/12, 7 PM  - 9 PM :  Solidarity Across Borders: A Celebration of Migrant and Workers' Rights, Washington Square

FRIDAY 7/27/12, 9 PM - 10 PM : Vigil, Washington Square

There's a little something for everyone.

Be there or be ^2.