Left counterparts to ALEC?
October 7, 2012 2:28 PM Subscribe
What are US Left counterparts to ALEC? I mean this ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. Any national or state organization that coordinates efforts in multiple jurisdictions would interest me. Actually, I would be interested in non-US examples too.
The American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange, or ALICE, is a one-stop, web-based, public library of progressive law on a wide range of issues in state and local policy. As our name may suggest, ALICE may be understood as a very partial antidote to ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), the corporate-backed group that has for nearly 40 years provided model state law and connection to corporate lobbyists to its nearly 2,000 state legislator members.
Like ALEC, ALICE is a values-based nonprofit and offers model legislation over a broad range of state and local issues. But we’re easily distinguished from our counterpart. Our values are to promote, not destroy, economic fairness, environmental sustainability, and effective democratic government. Our model laws are public, not secret. They’re written by public interest advocates and volunteers, not paid corporate lobbyists. They cover local, not just state, policy. They include law originating from the executive branch and directly from citizens, as well as from legislative bodies. And ALICE only provides such model law and written supports for its persuasive communication. We won’t subsidize the fancy junkets for state legislators that ALEC is famous for. And we won’t compete with, and are no substitute for, the many groups now working to build other elements of the “political infrastructure” needed for effective progressive state and local politics. ALICE only aims to supply a small, if vital, part of that infrastructure: model and exemplary laws that progressives might actually want to enact.
posted by Blasdelb at 2:39 PM on October 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
Like ALEC, ALICE is a values-based nonprofit and offers model legislation over a broad range of state and local issues. But we’re easily distinguished from our counterpart. Our values are to promote, not destroy, economic fairness, environmental sustainability, and effective democratic government. Our model laws are public, not secret. They’re written by public interest advocates and volunteers, not paid corporate lobbyists. They cover local, not just state, policy. They include law originating from the executive branch and directly from citizens, as well as from legislative bodies. And ALICE only provides such model law and written supports for its persuasive communication. We won’t subsidize the fancy junkets for state legislators that ALEC is famous for. And we won’t compete with, and are no substitute for, the many groups now working to build other elements of the “political infrastructure” needed for effective progressive state and local politics. ALICE only aims to supply a small, if vital, part of that infrastructure: model and exemplary laws that progressives might actually want to enact.
posted by Blasdelb at 2:39 PM on October 7, 2012 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, Blasdelb, I haven't actually made it to the end of the Moyers video, so I was unaware of ALICE. Interesting, but this does not immediately inspire hope.
posted by univac at 3:11 PM on October 7, 2012
posted by univac at 3:11 PM on October 7, 2012
The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law (NCCUSL) is the granddaddy organization of this sort, but it is non-partisan. It creates model laws in areas where interstate cooperation is important -- for example, custody laws are one area where uniform rules across many states has really created a system that works better for families.
States are free to adopt the model codes completely, partially, or not at all.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:39 PM on October 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
States are free to adopt the model codes completely, partially, or not at all.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:39 PM on October 7, 2012 [2 favorites]
ALEC argues that they are a right-wing counterpart to the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL). I disagree.
posted by kat518 at 4:39 PM on October 7, 2012
posted by kat518 at 4:39 PM on October 7, 2012
The Progressive States Network is an attempt at this, but they don't have the resources ALEC does.
posted by lunasol at 8:03 PM on October 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by lunasol at 8:03 PM on October 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
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Really, there isn't one.
The Left does not have any sort of coordinated pipeline of model legislation written by lobbyists of that nature. Individual lobbies can and do sometimes provide model legislation, but the there is nothing like ALEC's cavalcade of pure evil on so many disparate issues.
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 2:33 PM on October 7, 2012 [1 favorite]