ALEC & The Environment

[Laxman]

This article contains a discussion of the activities of the American Legislative Exchange Council regarding the environment. Mostly, they are targeting the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act on behalf of the oil & gas industries.

So, to the lessons. One of ALEC’s founders, Paul Weyrich, said, “I always look at what the enemy is doing and if they’re winning, I copy it”. That is some sound advice. First, understanding what is happening is the first step towards being able to counter these efforts. ALEC legislation is coming to a statehouse near you. Find out which legislators in your state are ALEC members. Every state has legislative web sites that list bills proposed by individual legislators. Do some research and find out what bills are sponsored by ALEC members. Compare them to ALEC’s model bills, especially the environmental provisions listed above. They may have a different name or some slightly different language but the origin should be obvious. Write op-eds or letters to the editor exposing the agenda and who is working for ALEC as opposed to working for the citizens of your state. Be reasonable, informed and motivated. That is an effective combination.

From Politics of the Environment

ALEC argues that industry should be allowed to self-regulate. What a great idea! Check out the list of ALEC's model environmental legislation listed in the article and compare it with pending bills in your own state. They're coming to a state near you!