We are very familiar with ALEC education “reform” legislation in Kansas, including the corporate tax credit “scholarship” program passed on 2014 and expanded in 2015.
“If a bill is passed that concerns you, you have the right to ask your legislator if that was an ALEC bill. Locally, Rep. Ron Highland (District 51 and Chair of the House Education Committee) and Rep. Peggy Mast (Dist. 76 and House Speaker Pro Tem) are members, while Rep. Don Hill (Dist. 60) and Sen. Jeff Longbine (Dist. 17) are not.
“ALEC members in the Legislature hold important leadership positions: Senate President Susan Wagle, House Speaker Ray Merrick, Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce, Senate Vice President Jeff King (also Chair of the Select Committee on KPERS), Senator Ty Masterson (Chair, Special Committee on Taxation and Chair of Ways and Means), Senate Majority Whip Garrett Love, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Julia Lynn, House Majority Whip Willie Dove, House Assistant Majority Leader Mario Goico, Marvin Kleeb (Chair, Taxation Committee), Ron Ryckman (Chair, Budget & Appropriations). Nearly 60 Kansas legislators are members; for the list see the Center for Media and Democracy Web site (www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Kansas_/akec_Politicians).
“Our concern is that ALEC is a forum for corporate representatives and legislators to meet and draft bills that address the needs of business interests. Although ALEC claims that “ALEC members represent more than 60 million Americans and provide jobs to more than 30 million people in the United States,” it represents business owners — not workers, ordinary citizens, the poor and those in need.”
Read more here: http://m.emporiagazette.com/opinion/article_be0c9b69-aba4-559e-baba-233e2193e694.html?mode=jqm