Purchasing a Law - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

kutulu · 10-29-2010, 01:15 PM

NPR ran a two part story yesterday and today reviewing the history behind Arizona's anti-immigrant bill, SB 1070. What they found was shocking. The bill was crafted at an American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) convention. ALEC is a non-profit consisting of conservative state legislature officials and several corporations [Exxon, Pfizer, Reynolds, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)]. The lawmakers pay a nominal membership fee and the organization is bankrolled by the donations of the corporate members. Collectively, they contribute $6M per year.

With this money, ALEC hold a few conventions each year. At these conventions the corporations hand over 'model bills' written by them to lawmakers, discuss pending laws, or help lawmakers craft 'model bills'. At the end of these conferences, the lawmakers take these bills back to their states and introduce them. Over 200 such model bills became laws last year.

They call this an 'educational' service, not lobbying. Lawmakers rarely, if ever have to pay their way. They receive 'scholarships' to the conference large that allow them to take their whole family. Over the weekend there are parties, and various entertainment activities for the families. Because these are not lobbying activities, the congressmen don't have to report them as gifts from corporations.

One of those bills was 1070, this is where CCA comes in. They helped write 1070. The great thing for CCA is that it criminalizes 1070 and can result in an illegal immigrant going to prison. These prisons would be operated by CCA.

This is unbelievable to me. I understand industry having input in draft legislation when it affects them but allowing them to write a bill that will put people in their prisons so that they can keep their facilities full is ridiculous. Here are the two NPR stories. I gave a brief summary but there is so much more to the story. The links are transcripts of the stories, you can also listen to the audio if you prefer.

Part 1:
Prison Economics Help Drive Ariz. Immigration Law : NPR

Part 2:
Shaping State Laws With Little Scrutiny : NPR

Willravel · 10-29-2010, 01:22 PM

This happens every day. Private prisons have a lot of say in laws passed.

kutulu · 10-29-2010, 01:27 PM

It isn't just the private prisons, all of these companies are writing legislation for these lawmakers that will benefit them. It is overtly corrupt yet because they use the right terms they get to write it off as a business expense.

10-29-2010, 01:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	Purchasing a Law NPR ran a two part story yesterday and today reviewing the history behind Arizona's anti-immigrant bill, SB 1070. What they found was shocking. The bill was crafted at an American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) convention. ALEC is a non-profit consisting of conservative state legislature officials and several corporations [Exxon, Pfizer, Reynolds, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA)]. The lawmakers pay a nominal membership fee and the organization is bankrolled by the donations of the corporate members. Collectively, they contribute $6M per year. With this money, ALEC hold a few conventions each year. At these conventions the corporations hand over 'model bills' written by them to lawmakers, discuss pending laws, or help lawmakers craft 'model bills'. At the end of these conferences, the lawmakers take these bills back to their states and introduce them. Over 200 such model bills became laws last year. They call this an 'educational' service, not lobbying. Lawmakers rarely, if ever have to pay their way. They receive 'scholarships' to the conference large that allow them to take their whole family. Over the weekend there are parties, and various entertainment activities for the families. Because these are not lobbying activities, the congressmen don't have to report them as gifts from corporations. One of those bills was 1070, this is where CCA comes in. They helped write 1070. The great thing for CCA is that it criminalizes 1070 and can result in an illegal immigrant going to prison. These prisons would be operated by CCA. This is unbelievable to me. I understand industry having input in draft legislation when it affects them but allowing them to write a bill that will put people in their prisons so that they can keep their facilities full is ridiculous. Here are the two NPR stories. I gave a brief summary but there is so much more to the story. The links are transcripts of the stories, you can also listen to the audio if you prefer. Part 1: Prison Economics Help Drive Ariz. Immigration Law : NPR Part 2: Shaping State Laws With Little Scrutiny : NPR

10-29-2010, 01:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	This happens every day. Private prisons have a lot of say in laws passed.

10-29-2010, 01:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	It isn't just the private prisons, all of these companies are writing legislation for these lawmakers that will benefit them. It is overtly corrupt yet because they use the right terms they get to write it off as a business expense.