ALEC Topics

Democracy Now! stories, posts and pages that relate to ALEC

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  • Lisagraves-2

    As NRA Hides from Public After Newtown, ALEC Ties Reveal Extensive Lobbying Behind U.S. Gun Laws

    Since Friday’s mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 27 dead — 20 children and seven adults — the National Rifle Association has been silent. The powerful lobbying organization has long pressured lawmakers to maintain easy access to firearms in the United States, prompting many to say the NRA is standing in the way of reform. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA has spent more than $2.2 million...
    Dec 18, 2012 | Story
  • Bill_moyers

    The United States of ALEC: Bill Moyers on the Secretive Corporate-Legislative Body Writing Our Laws

    Democracy Now! premieres "The United States of ALEC," a special report by legendary journalist Bill Moyers on how the secretive American Legislative Exchange Council has helped corporate America propose and even draft legislation for states across the country. ALEC brings together major U.S. corporations and right-wing legislators to craft and vote on "model" bills behind closed doors. It has come under increasing scrutiny...
    Sep 27, 2012 | Story
  • Companies_withdraw_from_alec

    Corporate Exodus Continues From ALEC as Secretive Right-Wing Group's Policies Come to Light

    Five more corporations have severed ties with the secretive, right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC. The group has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months as the public has become aware of its role in advancing the "Stand Your Ground" gun law initially cited to protect Trayvon Martin’s killer in Florida. The organization has pushed voter suppression bills, union-busting policies and other controversial...
    Jul 11, 2012 | Story
  • Button-guns2

    ALEC Drops Push for Voter ID, Stand Your Ground Laws After Public Outcry Sparks Corporate Exodus

    After a massive corporate exodus prompted by growing scrutiny of its activities, the secretive right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has announced it will stop pushing so-called Stand Your Ground and voter ID laws. Our guest Lisa Graves says this is an attempt by ALEC "to try to keep its donors and try to have the press move along." She notes, "ALEC’s broader agenda, which it calls its jobs agenda, is extraordinarily...
    Apr 18, 2012 | Story
  • Trayvonsigns

    Outrage over "Stand Your Ground" Laws After Trayvon Martin Killing Sparks Corporate Exodus from ALEC

    Amidst a movement to overturn "Stand Your Ground" gun laws after the Trayvon Martin shooting, we look at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate-funded group that worked with the National Rifle Association to pass the measures across the country. On Wednesday, the fast-food giant Wendy’s became the sixth corporation to publicly cut ties with the secretive right-wing group for backing the laws. Over the past...
    Apr 12, 2012 | Story
  • Sharif

    Sharif Abdel Kouddous Receives Izzy Award For Outstanding Achievement in Independent Media

    On Tuesday Democracy Now! correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous won the fourth annual Izzy Award for outstanding achievement in independent media, presented by the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College. Sharif shared the award with the Center for Media and Democracy.
    Apr 10, 2012 | Web Exclusive
  • Trayvon-martin-naacp

    Van Jones on Trayvon Martin, Racial Violence and Why Obama Ignored Race Issues for Two Years

    As thousands of people across the country call for justice in the case of Trayvon Martin, we’re joined by Van Jones, longtime anti-police brutality activist and co-founder of ColorOfChange.org, which aims to strengthen Black America’s political voice. He describes fearing for his own safety while wearing a hoodie and discusses the state of race relations under President Obama. "This kind of hits close to home for me. I’m...
    Apr 03, 2012 | Story
  • Sharif_button

    Democracy Now!'s Sharif Abdel Kouddous Wins Izzy Award For Special Achievement For His Egypt Reports

    Democracy Now! correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous, along with the Center for Media and Democracy, have been named the co-winners of the fourth annual Izzy Award for Special Achievement in Independent Media.
    Feb 29, 2012 | Web Exclusive

  • "If You Can’t Beat Them, Enjoin Them (From Voting)." By Amy Goodman

    All eyes are on Iowa this week, as the hodgepodge field of Republican contenders seek a win, or at least “momentum,” in the campaign for the party’s presidential nomination. But behind the scenes, a battle is being waged by Republicans—not against each other, but against American voters.
    Dec 28, 2011 | Columns & Articles
  • Voter_id_web

    A War on Voting: Could Redistricting and Voting Law Changes Help Republicans Win in 2012?

    A new report by the Brennan Center for Justice warns changes to voting laws could strip the voting rights of more than five million people—a higher number than the margin of victory in two of the last three presidential elections. Its findings reveal some 3.2 million people in Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin do not have the state identification they will now need to vote. Others will be kept from the voting booth by tougher...
    Oct 04, 2011 | Story