The Center for Media and Democracy recently put on line over 800 pieces of “model legislation” from an organization known as ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. The Rochester Citizen was in Madison when the story broke and the ALEC Exposed web site live.
The Center for Media and Democracy is located in Madison, Wisconsin and we had a chance to sit down with its Executive Director, Lisa Graves and talk about the disclosure of over 800 pieces of model legislation and the implications for America and ALEC.
The Rochester Citizen referred to Mr. McMillin in one our articles a copy and paste legislator. Would you say that’s an accurate description of what’s going on in this coalition between legislators and corporate America?
“I think that’s a very apt description. I’m glad you say copy and paste versus cut and paste because sounds like he didn’t cut anything out at all.”
Another bill Mr. McMillin introduced was really interesting. I don’t know if you looked at this one, but it’s called the Michigan Government Competition Against Private Enterprise Act and the ALEC bill that I found that seems similar is the Competitive Contracting of Government Services Act. They’re not exactly the same, but they certainly seem to have the same goal, which is to keep government from competing with any type of service that government usually or that private industry could provide. He was questioned about it at one of his town hall meetings and by a teacher who was concerned that he was interested in privatizing teachers or basically public education. He’s the main sponsor on the bill and he tried to disavow that he was even involved with that. Is that a bill that you’ve seen in other states besides coming up where they want to privatize, basically privatize government?
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