Forum Post: Microsoft Ditches ALEC In Latest Blow To Conservative Group
Posted 10 years ago on Aug. 23, 2014, 10:18 a.m. EST by BradB
(2693)
from Washington, DC
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
ByDYLAN SCOTTPublishedAUGUST 20, 2014, 9:58 AM EDT 29090 Views
Microsoft said on Tuesday that it will end its involvement with the American Legislative Exchange Council, the conservative advocacy group, reportedly because of the group's lobbying against renewable energy.
CNET reported that Microsoft would cease being a member of ALEC's communications and technology task force.
"In 2014 Microsoft decided to no longer participate in the American Legislative Exchange Council's Communications and Technology Task Force, which had been our only previous involvement with ALEC," the software company said in a statement, per CNET.
"With this decision, we no longer contribute any dues to ALEC," it said. "We are no longer members of ALEC and do not provide the organization with financial support of any kind."
Microsoft joins Coca-Cola, General Motors, Bank of America, and Proctor & Gamble as some of the major corporations that have severed their relationship with ALEC, according to CNET. Others -- like Google, Facebook, eBay, Yahoo, and Yelp -- remain involved with the group.
CNET linked Microsoft's decision with ALEC's bid to stop renewable energy projects. As The Guardian reported last year, Microsoft has begun investing in renewable energy, including an announcement that it would run one of its data centers entirely with electricity produced by a wind farm in Texas.
ALEC, which has been around since the 1970's, gained renewed national attention after Republicans scored major gains in state governments in 2010 and the group's signature model legislation began appearing in statehouses nationwide. “This is proof positive of the depth and scope of the corporate reach into our democratic processes," Bob Edgar, president of the liberal advocacy group Common Cause, said in 2011 of the group's activities.
Anti-ALEC Action!
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-10-02/understanding-alec-and-its-influence-us-politics
We need you to call in or email and ask ALEC your tough questions: 1-800-433-8850 or drshow@wamu.org Call-in Hours 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET Tweet your fact checks on ALEC to @drshow using hashtag #ALECexposed
"Please call the show and first, thank Diane for covering ALEC. It was last week on her show that Eric Schmidt announced Google was leaving. Then we'd like you to ask your favorite questions about climate change denial, Stand your ground law, privatization of education, deregulation of environmental protections, and so on! "
Stand up to ALEC
http://billmoyers.com/content/interactive-map-is-your-state-legislator-a-member-of-alec/
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians#Legislators_with_ALEC_Ties
ALEC is the epitome of fascism, a nice middle man between politicians and corporations.
Dem supporters need to realize how many of their beloved politicians are taking the very money from the very corporations that comprise ALEC.
Use one group to propose your sick versions of solutions, while bribing the other group on the backend.
The ALEC way.
Anti-ALEC Action!
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-10-02/understanding-alec-and-its-influence-us-politics
We need you to call in or email and ask ALEC your tough questions: 1-800-433-8850 or drshow@wamu.org Call-in Hours 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET Tweet your fact checks on ALEC to @drshow using hashtag #ALECexposed
"Please call the show and first, thank Diane for covering ALEC. It was last week on her show that Eric Schmidt announced Google was leaving. Then we'd like you to ask your favorite questions about climate change denial, Stand your ground law, privatization of education, deregulation of environmental protections, and so on! "
Stand up to ALEC
Board of directors[edit] The ALEC board of directors is composed of the following:[4] Name Party Affiliation State 2013 ALEC National Chair State Rep. John Piscopo Republican Connecticut First Vice Chair State Rep. Linda Upmeyer Republican Iowa Second Vice Chair State Rep. Phil King Republican Texas Treasurer State Sen. Leah Vukmir Republican Wisconsin Secretary State Rep. Liston Barfield Republican South Carolina Chairs Emeritus State Rep. Harold Brubaker Republican North Carolina State Rep. Tom Craddick Republican Texas State Rep. Noble Ellington Republican Louisiana State Sen. Steve Faris Democratic Arkansas State Rep. Bobby Hogue Democratic Arkansas State Sen. Owen Johnson Republican New York State Rep. Dolores Mertz Democratic Iowa Immediate Past Chair State Rep. David Frizzell Republican Indiana Name Party Affiliation State Board Members State Sen. Gary Banz Republican Oklahoma State Sen. Jim Buck Republican Indiana State Sen. Bill Cadman Republican Colorado State Sen. Barbara Cegavske Republican Nevada State Rep. Joe Harrison Republican Louisiana Speaker William J. Howell Republican Virginia State Sen. Michael Lamoureux Republican Arkansas State Rep. Steve McDaniel Republican Tennessee Speaker Raymond Merrick Republican Kansas State Rep. Tim Moffitt Republican North Carolina State Sen. Wayne Neiderhauser Republican Utah State Sen. Bill Seitz Republican Ohio State Rep. Blair Thoreson Republican North Dakota Speaker Thom Tillis Republican North Carolina State Rep. Curry Todd Republican Tennessee State Sen. Susan Wagle Republican Kansas Private enterprise board[edit] The ALEC private enterprise board is composed of the following corporate leaders:[5] Person Company Title Sector Status Steve Searle SAP Chairman Software Active William Carmichael American Bail Coalition Vice Chair Bail Bonds Active Sandra Oliver Bayer Vice Chairman Pharmaceutical Active John Del Gorno GlaxoSmithKline Vice Chairman Pharmaceutical Active David Powers Reynolds American Treasurer Tobacco Active Lisa A. Sano Blocker Energy Future Holdings Board Member Energy/Oil Active Jeffrey Bond PhRMA Board Member Pharmaceutical Active Robert Jones Pfizer Inc. Board Member Pharmaceutical Active Kenneth Lane Diageo Board Member Alcoholic Beverages Active Bill Leahy AT&T Board Member Telecommunications Active Pat Thomas United Parcel Service Board Member Shipping Active Kelly Mader Peabody Energy Board Member Energy/Oil Active Mike Morgan Koch Companies Public Sector,LLC Board Member Timber/Oil/Chemicals Active Daniel Smith Altria Board Member Tobacco Active Cynthia Bergman ExxonMobil Board Member Energy/Oil Active Roland Spies State Farm Insurance Board Member Insurance Active State chairmen[edit] ALEC chairmen from state legislatures are:[6] State Leaders (Party) Alabama Mary Sue McClurkin R Alaska Wes Keller R Arizona Debbie Lesko R Arkansas Linda Collins-Smith R Michael Lamoureux R California Joel Anderson R Colorado Bill Cadman R B.J. Nikkel R Connecticut Debra Lee Hovey R Kevin D. Witkos R Delaware Vacant Florida Jimmy Patronis R Georgia Calvin Hill, Jr. R Chip Rogers R Hawaii Gene Ward R Idaho Patti Anne Lodge R Illinois Kirk Dillard R Renée Kosel R Indiana Jim Buck R David Wolkins R Iowa Linda J. Miller R Kansas Raymond Merrick R Kentucky Tom Buford R Mike Harmon R Louisiana Joe Harrison R State Leaders (Party) Maine Richard Rosen R Maryland Michael Hough R Christopher Shank R Massachusetts Nicholas Boldyga R Harriett Stanley D Michigan Tonya Schuitmaker R Minnesota Mary Kiffmeyer R Mississippi Jim Ellington R Missouri Tim Jones R Jason T. Smith R Montana Gary MacLaren R Scott Reichner R Nebraska Jim Smith Nevada Barbara Cegavske R New Hampshire Gary L. Daniel R Jordan G. Ulery R New Jersey Steve Oroho R Jay Webber R New Mexico Paul C. Bandy R William Payne R New York Owen H. Johnson R North Carolina Fred F. Steen II R North Dakota Alan H. Carlson R Bette Grande R Ohio John Adams R State Leaders (Party) Oklahoma Gary Banz R Cliff Aldridge R Oregon Gene Whisnant R Pennsylvania Brian L. Ellis R Rhode Island Francis T. Maher, Jr. R Jon Brien D South Carolina Liston Barfield R Thomas Alexander R South Dakota Deb Peters R Valentine B. Rausch R Tennessee Curry Todd R Texas Charles F. Howard R Jim Jackson R Kel Seliger R Utah Curtis S. Bramble R Wayne L. Niederhauser R Chris Herrod R Vermont Kevin J. Mullin R Virginia John A. Cosgrove, Jr. R Stephen H. Martin R Washington Jan Angel R Don Benton R West Virginia Eric Householder R Wisconsin
Robin J. Vos R Wyoming Peter S. Illoway R
[ edit ] Do you have a link for that list? It would be a good one to post out to other sites - as a short list of people to keep forever out of government.
edit -> A handy dandy voters guide of pure poison to be removed from the body politic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_American_Legislative_Exchange_Council
Funny = 2 Board of directors = 3 Democrats and 26 Republicans. Note the 3 democrats are from - 2 from Arkansas & 1 from Iowa ( are they really democrats? ).
That is one excellent listing of people and business to keep out of office - boycott - or otherwise shun and protest.
yeah !! they make it soo easy for us... yet we do little !! hehehe
sunlightfoundation.com is worth exploring ...havn't had time to explore in depth last 3-4 mo's ... but it was kickass back then
just backed up html... in case page gets taken down
I don't see a forum there
Yes - we do all too little - but if we can at least spread the word/education - then - we will still be doing MUCH. And people are waking up to reality - just look at the ALEC/Koch incumbent losers lately. Of the dems I saw listed ( not many ) they were in red states ( so perhaps ran as dem to avoid the onus of being repub ? ) - anyway - this listing should be extensively broadcast and most especially in the red states.
"If only you prove your worth more then we might hire you"
story of my unemployment
? was that reply to wrong comment ?
looks that way
... got it now :)
Matt's comment? It often seems that way.
The common ( as well as the OH COME ON ) story of non-hiring ( fiction - now available in paper back and audio disk ). While not yet to be reaching best selling status - the non-fiction = Jobs outsourced to foreign countries for avoidance of paying anything near a living wage as well as to avoid responsible pollution regulations as well as to avoid providing a safe working environment as well as avoiding paying taxes as well as etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc ( though I don't think lack of sales has anything to do with an overly (?) long title ).
DK... check out this quick vid ,,, http://training.sunlightfoundation.com/module/unlocking-api/
Good One. I book marked the link for further exploration.
Now imagine such a tool - incorporated into use for DIRECT Democracy - further - Imagine the process becoming much CLEANER & CLEARER as to intent and practical application - as by - implementing OSTA ( for those of you who do not know - OSTA = One Subject At A Time Legislation ) - by implementing OSTA and Direct Democracy - The POPULATION would have good information to support or oppose legislation - AND - would have a good tool for proposing and finding support for proper priorities. ( hell I could go on forever - but like I said - GOOD ONE and It needs further exploration )
yeah... I remember Open States... listed every state level bill on the books ... as well as Open Congress for federal ... both Sunlight tools
The thing would be getting "registered" access to every single individual ( even of non-voting age - for educational use - in real time - on real issues - in the real functioning governments = state and fed ). Kinda like access to free Broadcast TV ( which is under threat of being ended by the pay per view industry ). Education needs to be a free access system for ages pre-school to Death for the whole population. With free education for all - then learning about government ( as in taking part in government ) would be available to all and the population could be brought on board INTELLIGENTLY.
from..."..As I have always understood it - OWS was never meant to be a leader - it ...."
I see OWS as a "movement" ... a moving of people's minds... and that it has.... there are tons of new sites & organizations on the net... that were spawned from dicussions here and at other Occupy sites... and I believe the movement is not over yet :)
TRUE - though many keep trying to say that it is dead and try to bury it.
I think that these death criers - would love for OWS to be dead - and so they keep throwing dirt.
from...."...Many of these ideas were never properly fleshed out and communicated -...."
very little action has ever come from the OWS forums... only from the occupations...
As I have always understood it - OWS was never meant to be a leader - it was to my understanding meant to be a gathering place where issues could be aired - where recognized problems and failures of finance and government could be pointed out - where options could be forwarded as to how things could and should be done differently/Better. And then - yes different groups could form actions and advertize such through OWS. But communications have been lacking - the public needs to be talked to and educated as to issues and possible solutions. This ( communications ) is beginning to happen - slowly - as is the education of the public - but it is happening - three years is a very short time to undertake the education of the whole population of the USA - let alone the whole world. My hope is that coherent communications/education will increase dramatically - and "THERE" would be a real OWS inspired victory.
yes... we called that a People's Veto... (real time consensus building polling) in the first few months of OWS
BTW - just think how a public access tool could be used to expand the number of candidates to having access to the public and the public being able to check out these various candidates as apply to their area/vote. Lets kill the 2 party system.
Many of these ideas were never properly fleshed out and communicated -THERE - was our loss - that was where we lost a majority of the public - there were many great thoughts - but very little full communications.
[Removed]
Yes, It think it's important to realize that OWS is dead. That way, we can move on to other strategies.
Saying OWS is dead does not mean that the problems OWS was fighting for are now irrelevant. It just means the protest as we knew it is over. There are no more GAs, the founders are no longer working on OWS (for example, jart is now working at Google, Micah White is working for his startup Boutique Activism), there are no more street protests, no more blockades, etc....
What we need is something new. Something with new activists, new founders, etc... We can no longer count on the founders of OWS because they are no longer there. They are the first who will tell you OWS is daed.
Ask jart about it.
If you think OWS is alive and kicking like it was at the start, you are living in fantasy land.
Denying the truth doesn't help. Living in fantasy does not help.
We have to admit that the cops destroyed OWS when they destroyed the encampments, and we have to admit the GAs did not function as intended also. We also have to admit the protests and blockades did not do the type of damage to the government we thought it would.
You live in your room, never going outside, so it's hard for you to see reality.
You live in your fantasy world - you have no contact with reality.
Of course, those who say the movement is dead want it to be dead.
Some of the first people to say OWS was dead were the OWS founders themselves, and other philosophers associated with OWS.
The point is we have to move on to something else now. OWS did was is was capable of doing. It woke up some people, but it wasn't able to force revolution using protests, blockades, etc...
People tried to move OWS in new directions, but none have really worked.
It's time for new ideas on activism. For some new strategies.
To move on to new strategies, you first have to accept that OWS is dead.
But, don't be confused. OWS being dead does not mean the problems it addressed are not longer relevant. They are. It just means OWS was not able to find solutions and ran into a dead end. It did all that it could.
The fact that GAs are no longer is the indication that OWS is dead. This idea of direct democracy was fundamental to the movement.
You have been trying to proclaim the death of OWS for almost three years now. Go shovel shit somewhere else why don't-cha.
http://beta.followthemoney.org/
Absolutely = follow the money. It is all too often - just that easy - how many trillions of dollars are hidden offshore? By whom??? For What reason?
Money will quite often tell the whole story = GOOD or BAD.
Follow the evidence is a much better rule than follow the money.
Conspiracy theorists cry out follow the money all the time, but always end up making up stories so that it works out. Much better to follow the evidence.
And - SO - tweet =
DKAtoday @DKAtoday · now
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_American_Legislative_Exchange_Council#Legislative_members … ALEC - have you heard of it? They provide a listing of those who need to be removed from anything to do with gov.
Also handy for regular e-mailing.
Thanks - I grabbed the sub-link which goes straight to the membership listing = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_American_Legislative_Exchange_Council#Legislative_members
Educating the populace - this is a good resource - as to one real starting place for making positive change.
https://occupywallst.org/forum/microsoft-ditches-alec-in-latest-blow-to-conservat/#comment-1044220
Here's the link sir, plus it promotes our forum. Yeah!
No - NOT a link to the comment - a link to the source list.
[Removed]
Impressive wall of text - but it is hard to look at - think you could bust it up a little? Something like every 5 lines of listed assholes?
Anti-ALEC Action!
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-10-02/understanding-alec-and-its-influence-us-politics
We need you to call in or email and ask ALEC your tough questions: 1-800-433-8850 or drshow@wamu.org Call-in Hours 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET Tweet your fact checks on ALEC to @drshow using hashtag #ALECexposed
"Please call the show and first, thank Diane for covering ALEC. It was last week on her show that Eric Schmidt announced Google was leaving. Then we'd like you to ask your favorite questions about climate change denial, Stand your ground law, privatization of education, deregulation of environmental protections, and so on! "
Stand up to ALEC
And the word of how toxic the Koch's can be to ones public standing grows. Charlie & Davie = poster children for " The Pitchforks Are Coming " ?
Take action against ALEC!!
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/17055-tell-expedia-to-dump-alec
"Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Yahoo! have ended their ALEC membership because of their concerns about the harmful role ALEC has played in our democratic process. This includes concerns with ALEC’s policy stands, its secretive practices, and its effort to treat what most people consider a lobbying operation as “charitable” activity. It's time for Expedia to stand up for people and to stand up to ALEC."
It is up to us!! Pols are bought off! Can't wait for a "savior", boycotts, letters, tweets, & voting must be employed.
Solidarity,
Public pressure can end toxic affiliations.
In ALEC's defense...
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/10/6_ohio_lawmakers_defend_alec_i.html
"Of the 150 signees, six are sitting Ohio lawmakers: Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati, Rep. Lou Terhar of Cincinnati, Rep. Terry Boose of Norwalk, Rep. Andy Thompson of Marietta, Rep. Andrew Brenner of Powell, and Rep. John Adams of Sidney. All are Republicans."
These pols need special pressure (& a special place in hell)
" SURPRISE "
NOT
The assholes - http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/10/6_ohio_lawmakers_defend_alec_i.html
Right? & just as a reminder heres a little info/history with current board members/supporters of ALEC.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/american-legislative-exchange
"ALEC is supported by many right-wing foundations and organizations, including, but not limited to: National Rifle Association, Family Research Council, Heritage Foundation, Sarah Scaife Foundation, Milliken Foundation, DeVos Foundation, Bradley Foundation, and the Olin Foundation.ALEC has approximately three hundred corporate sponsors. Several well-known and closely-tied organizations include: [] American Nuclear Energy Council, American Petroleum Institute, Amoco, Chevron, Coors Brewing Company, Shell, Texaco, Union Pacific Railroad, Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, Phillip Morris, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco."
A nice list of which corps, & pols need to be pressured.
Insidious 'assholes'
A list of the usual suspects - no surprise that fossil fuel and it's supporters are listed there.
"OccPet drops ALEC" This was a little surprising.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/large-oil-company-bolts-from-alec-20140929
"September 29, 2014 A large oil and natural-gas company is parting ways with the American Legislative Exchange Council.
Occidental Petroleum sent a letter Friday to an investment-management company indicating its intention to sever ties with ALEC, a conservative coalition of state legislators and major corporations that actively opposes environmental regulations."
A little mo momentum every week man.
It is people power that creates this progress.
Solidarity
That - is more - than - just a "little" surprising. It is freakish.
Y'know!? But there it is. I think we have to start agitating for ending all drilling NOW.
That'll get the alternative energy tech progressing faster.
Divest from fossil fuels corps. (Rockefeller divesting also freakie)
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/10/oil_divestment_is_investing_in_climate_change_solutions.html
It’s known as Divest-Invest Philanthropy, and it’s a tough sell, because multi-billion-dollar endowments are used to big payoffs from their oil stocks.
Yet Dorsey has helped persuade an extraordinary coalition of investors -- from Stanford University to First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City to 26 U.S. cities -- to divest $52 billion from oil investments and put them in alternatives."
But I digress. "
It is absolutely insane that anyone could think that releasing millions of years of collected carbon deposits back into the atmosphere/environment in like two hundred years - would not be catastrophic/devastating to all life on the planet.
Absolutely - climate science already says that we can not burn all of what has "already" been extracted.
Why don't you do it? A little effort won't hurt. You spend your days in your therapeutic bed doing nothing. Be more proactive
GFYS poser.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_American_Legislative_Exchange_Council
I agree... do you you have any links...? ... we all know the gop/tea party is on the alec take... what dems are ?
ALEC's corporate board is comprised of http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_%22Private_Enterprise%22_Board_of_Directors
I bit of homework on opensecrets.org shows how it goes down.
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