ALEC's Latest "Transparency" Move: Asserting Immunity From Freedom of Information Laws

[Coyotl]

ALEC's Latest "Transparency" Move: Asserting Immunity From Freedom of Information Laws
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/05/07-1

Shortly after the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) told the press "we really believe in transparency," new documents show the organization directing legislators to hide ALEC meeting agendas and model legislation from the public. This effort to circumvent state freedom of information laws is being called "shocking" and "disturbing" by transparency advocates.

A disclaimer published at the bottom of meeting agendas and model bills from ALEC's most recent meeting in Oklahoma City, obtained by the Center for Media and Democracy, reads: "Because this is an internal ALEC document, ALEC believes it is not subject to disclosure under any state Freedom of Information or Public Records Act."

"If you receive a request for disclosure of this or any other ALEC document under your state's Freedom of Information or Public Records Act, please contact Michael Bowman, Senior Director, Policy and Strategic Initiatives," it says.

For a private organization to assert that its interactions with state legislators are not subject to public records laws is "shocking," says Mark Caramanica, Freedom of Information Director at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

"Private individuals or organizations cannot simply label a document private and say it is private on their own. It is not their decision to make."

Legislators attend ALEC meetings in their official capacity, and ALEC has claimed that they do so "on behalf of and for the benefit of the state." Under almost every state’s public records law, all documents related to official business are considered public .........

[hootinholler]

1. Unfortunately some state legislators will believe ALEC

That will bring lawsuits, and tie the whole thing up for a while.

[Vincardog]

2. We just have to wait. The legislators are too stupid to even fill in the blanks on ALEC crap.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Coyotl.

[Gothmog]

4. Update-ALEC filed request for immunity from Texas open records law

Here is an update on this issue https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2013/08/19

The Center for Media and Democracy filed a letter with the Texas Attorney General on Thursday refuting efforts by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to declare itself immune from the state's open records law. Texas is the first known state where ALEC has formally asked an Attorney General for an exemption from sunshine-in-government laws, and it marks a new low in the organization's attempts to advance its legislative agenda in secret and avoid public accountability for facilitating special interest influence.

“You cannot just create a special private club between lobbyists and lawmakers and then claim your communications with legislators cannot be disclosed to the public under state sunshine laws,” said Lisa Graves, the Executive Director of the Center for Media and Democracy/ ALECexposed.org, “Allowing this would only increase the power of special interests to secretly influence officials elected to represent real people.”

I just became aware of this request and think that we need to get the word out. Abbott is a GOP toady but he may be afraid of press about this

[Coyotl]

5. Thanks.

[Gothmog]

6. This issue needs to be made public

I am a reasonably well informed Texas attorney who is active in Democratic politics and I was not aware of this request. We need to get the word out about ALEC's efforts