UPDATE: What a fantastic turnout! More than 100 people showed up on a hot Summer evening to "unwelcome" ALEC to Austin. And we were heard! Check out this brief highlights video from Progess Texas.
By Matt Johnson
Did you know there was another democracy within our country? It sounds great actually. You show up to a meeting with your state representative and let him/her know about the issues you care about, and you work together to draft bills that help you get ahead.
Oh, there’s a fee to go to the meeting. Is that okay? It’s gonna be somewhere in the $12,000-$30,000 range. But once you pay it, you’re golden. Lawmakers will really listen to your ideas. In fact, if they have an idea for a bill you don’t like, you can formally reject it. Representative democracy at its finest, right?
Okay, I’ll turn the snark off for a minute.
What I just described is kind of how ALEC works. ALEC stands for the American Legislative Exchange Council, and it’s a secretive collective of corporations, right-wing conservative groups, and lawmakers (they don’t post their membership online) that meet to draft legislation that most often benefits corporate special interests over people.
They’re meeting in Austin this week. Wanna help us unwelcome them?
The Sierra Club just released a white paper examining ALEC’s role in Texas and how it has affected our environment. Here are the highlights:
HB 3557 (2019): The bill created a third degree felony for “damaging or destroying” so-called “critical” infrastructure punishable with up to 2 to 10 years in jail. The bill also stifles an individual's right to protest by creating a jailable felony (up to two years in jail) for “impairing” or “interrupting” the operations of critical infrastructure. Advocates peacefully protesting construction of a pipeline by blocking a road for an hour could face up to two years in jail and a felony record, which could affect future employment, or even the ability to vote. In addition, the bill creates huge fines (up to $500,000) for organizations found to have been involved in such activities, as well as civil and additional liabilities, such as damage and court costs.. This bill was based on the ALEC Model Policy: Critical Infrastructure Protection Act.
HB 40 (2015): A huge giveaway to the fracking industry courtesy of ALEC policy came in the passage of HB 40. In November 2014, residents of Denton, Texas went door to door and passed a ballot initiative to protect their schools, backyards, and community from fracking. The initiative simply made the area within their jurisdiction off limits to the fracking industry. The oil and gas industry engaged in the ballot initiative process and outspent the community organizers 10-1, but still lost. The response was to pass ALEC’s model legislation in the Texas Legislature in 2015 that delegated all regulatory authority of the industry to the state and prohibited cities and municipalities from setting any protection for their community. This bill was based on the ALEC Model Policy: Resolution to Retain State Authority over Hydraulic Fracturing.
HB 3328 (2011): HB 3328 was backed by many industry groups, including, but not limited to: Petrohawk Energy Corporation, Texas Oil and Gas Association, BP America, Shell Oil, Texas Pipeline Association, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. It requires the disclosure of fluid used in the production of natural gas through hydraulic fracturing. Operators are not required to disclose any materials that are considered a “trade secret” or present incidentally in the hydraulic fluid, and limits the ability of individuals to challenge the operator’s claim to the trade secret protection. While several legislators not normally associated with ALEC did support the legislation in the hopes it would have been strengthened, the final version that passed ultimately included the trade-secret provisions and other aspects opposed by environmental organizations. This bill was based on the ALEC Model Policy: The Disclosure of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Composition Act.
ALEC doesn’t just target the environment. They’re behind bad legislation like “Stand Your Ground” gun legislation, voter suppression laws, and a bill that aimed to strip licenses from any health insurer that does business via the Affordable Care Act’s federal health care exchange.
More than 30 pieces of ALEC legislation that have surfaced in the Texas Legislature since 2009. Our report also includes links to which Texas legislators sponsored ALEC legislation, which have co-sponsored, and who has voted for ALEC legislation (it’s a lot).
Finally, if you’re reading this and want to come to our rally in Austin, August 14 (with Progress Texas, Texas AFT, AFSCME Local 1624, AFL-CIO Austin, Indivisible Austin, Extinction Rebellion Austin, United We Dream, Common Cause, the Texas State Teachers Association, and Education Austin), RSVP on our Facebook page here.
Imagine what it would be like if lawmakers went to such lengths to solicit your input and ideas on legislation.
Oh, and if you tweet, use #BlockALEC.