The details of ALEC’s model bills have been available only to the group’s 2,000 legislative and 300 corporate members. But thanks to a leak to Aliya Rahman, an Ohio-based activist who helped organize protests at ALEC’s Spring Task Force meeting in Cincinnati,
has obtained more than 800 documents representing decades of model legislation. Teaming up with the
asked policy experts to analyze this never-before-seen archive.
The articles included below are the first products of that examination. They provide an inside view of the priorities of ALEC’s corporate board and billionaire benefactors (including Tea Party funders Charles and David Koch). “Dozens of corporations are investing millions of dollars a year to write business-friendly legislation that is being made into law in statehouses coast to coast, with no regard for the public interest,” says Bob Edgar of Common Cause. “This is proof positive of the depth and scope of the corporate reach into our democratic processes.” The full archive of ALEC documents is available at a new website, alecexposed.org, thanks to the Center for Media and Democracy, which has provided powerful tools for progressives to turn this knowledge into power. The data tell us that the time has come to refocus on the battle to loosen the grip of corporate America and renew democracy in the states.
Published on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 by Open Secrets Blog by Zachary Newkirk
when it comes to the government lobbying efforts of most religious institutions, their activities are notably shrouded in darkness, even as representatives of numerous faiths routinely pressure federal lawmakers on issues ranging from health care to international relations, poverty to abortion rights. This is largely by government design. In 1995, when Congress passed the
Lobbying Disclosure Act in 1995, it provided for a few exceptions, including lobbying communications made by a “church, its integrated auxiliary or a convention or association of churches that is exempt from filing a federal income tax return," as well as a "religious order."
The only instances in which a church must disclose their lobbying is if spends a “substantial” amount of money on lobbying, if more than 20 percent of its lobbyist’s income is from direct lobbying on behalf of the church or if it hires an outside lobbying firm. Then, the hired firm is required to disclose that it has lobbied on behalf of a religious institution. The “substantial” test is a murky one, with little enforcement of it, and as is the 20 percent rule, unless attention is drawn to the organization.
People of faith are divided on whether this lobbying disclosure exception is appropriate.
Enter religious organizations that aren't themselves churches.
One such group that knows how to lobby is the
National Association of Evangelicals. As an association of churches, it is also exempt from lobbying disclosure rules. An association publication,
For the Health of the Nation, implicitly refers to lobbying.
"Evangelical Christians in America face a historic opportunity," the preamble begins. "We make up fully one quarter of all voters in the most powerful nation in history. Never before has God given American evangelicals such an awesome opportunity to shape public policy."
"The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause is directed only at government and restrains its power," it continues. "Thus, for example, the clause was never intended to shield individuals from exposure to the religious views of nongovernmental speakers. Exemptions from regulations or tax burdens do not violate the Establishment Clause, for government does not establish religion by leaving it alone."
In other words, the National Association of Evangelicals believes that lobbying disclosure exemptions is not a violation of the First Amendment.
Some groups view church lobbying disclosure exemptions as unfair, unnecessary or even unconstitutional.
These exemptions "would shock Thomas Jefferson and James Madison," Sean Fairchild, the executive director of the
Secular Coalition of America, told
OpenSecrets Blog.
"Any privileging of religion in law is of great concern to our organization, and I would hope it would be of great concern to any American," Fairchild continued.
He condemned the special exemption granted to churches in lobbying disclosure.
"We should absolutely have disclosure," he said. "There should be sunshine just like for any other organizations."
Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, equated these special exemption rules with the notorious Jonestown Massacre and Pastor Jim Jones incident.
"He was not beholden to the government to report anything," she told
OpenSecrets Blog. "This is the perfect cover."
"The whole thing stinks," she continued.
By far the largest religious organization that discloses its lobbying is the
Friends Committee on National Legislation, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded by members of the Society of Friends, or Quaker church.
In 2010, it spent more than $1.8 million on federal lobbying efforts, an increase of $1.2 million from 2009, according to Center for Responsive Politics' research. During 2008, the group posted a record high of more than $2 million.
“Quakers value integrity and truth-telling highly, so we willingly disclose our lobbying activities,” Jessica Halperin, FCNL's communications program assistant, wrote to
OpenSecrets Blog in an email.
“Churches should disclose their lobbying efforts in order to be accountable to their members and their communities, particularly if they are a 501(c)(3) organization and their lobbying is being subsidized by taxpayers,” she continued. “If churches are lobbying, they should follow the rules and disclose their lobbying activities. If they enter the public discourse, they should be subject to the public debate.”
The Friends Committee has lobbied on dozens of bills and involves itself in contentious legislation.
Among the issues it has lobbied in favor of during the past include prohibitions on increasing the number of American forces in Afghanistan. Indeed, the organization claims to be "the largest team of registered peace lobbyists in Washington, D.C.," according to its website.
It has also lobbied on the health care reform bill, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, better known as the cap-and-trade bill and the Uniting American Families Act of 2009, which would prohibit an immigration judge from deporting an illegal immigrant parent of a child who is a U.S. citizen. During the legislative debate on climate change last year, it also lobbied on the "cap-and-trade" bill sponsored by Sens.
Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and
Susan Collins (R-Maine), as
OpenSecrets Blog previously reported.
The
Church of Scientology and the
First Church of Christ, Scientist, are the only organized denominations to disclose any of their lobbying in 2010, according to the Center's research, likely because they hired outside lobbyists.
In 2010, the Church of Scientology spent $110,000, in part lobbying in favor of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, which would create a blue-ribbon, bipartisan commission of experts tasked with reviewing the nation’s criminal justice system and offering recommendations for reform.
Published on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 by Inter Press Service
by Sunaina Perera
The difference between the new legislation and the convention against mercenaries is that mercenaries - individuals hired to fight for pay - are criminals while PMSCs are legal organization hired by governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to perform myriad services.
"It's more efficient for short-term projects. For one-month, two- month, three-month jobs, governments are not going to set up full agencies. The problem is the lack of control," Gómez del Prado told IPS, highlighting the allure of PMSC use.
Similarly, the need for PMSC involvement will increase significantly in Iraq by the end of this year, when U.S. troops are scheduled to exit the country. These private contractors, however, will not leave Iraq in the near future.
Otherwise, the Working Group assured, victims would not receive the justice they deserve. This is supported by a case still pending in United States courts, where contractors working for Blackwater allegedly killed 17 civilians and injured another 20 in Nissour Square, four years ago.
Many countries, however, are not supportive of an international instrument and instead seek a self-regulatory instrument. This would allow companies to control themselves, based on a voluntary code of conduct.
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