Let’s talk! This Thursday, I’m going to be in Arlington to join great progressive allies for a forum on the corporate front group American Legislative Exchange Council and their role in writing our laws. I know you’ve heard a lot about ALEC from Brian and me, so this is a great opportunity to hear more about ALEC’s influence in Virginia and across the country from smart folks like Tom Perriello. Please see the invite below for all the details. I hope to see you there. If you do make it out, please come say hello–I’d love to meet you!

Anna

July 12 Forum on “Purchasing Democracy:
The Role of ALEC in Writing Our Laws”

Thursday, July 12, 2012, 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Join us for a forum on July 12 about the role of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in writing state laws. Delegate Patrick Hope will moderate a panel discussion about ALEC’s mission and tactics, which put corporate profit ahead of public interest. The forum will be held in Arlington, VA.

WHAT:
July 12 Forum – “Purchasing Democracy: The Role of ALEC in Writing Our Laws”

WHO:
            Delegate Patrick A. Hope, Virginia General Assembly
            Kim Anderson, Director, Center for Advocacy , National Education Association
            Diallo K. Brooks, Director, Field Mobilization, People for the American Way
            Doug Clopp, Deputy Program Director, Common Cause
            Tom Perriello, Former Congressman (VA-5)
            Anna Scholl, Executive Director, ProgressVA
            Naomi Walker, Director, State Government Relations, AFL-CIO

WHERE:
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203
Map: http://mapq.st/KqMXxi

WHEN:
Thursday, July 12, 2012, 7:00 to 9:00 PM

CONNECT:
Facebook at goo.gl/UlJrQ
Live Webcast at www.insidescoopproductions.com; Send questions live to insidescoop@nova.org;
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/NoALEC_Virginia.

RSVP:
Sandra J. Klassen, Chair, Fairfax County Democratic Committee National Affairs Committee: http://bit.ly/NCTZ38

Background:
More than 50 bills drawn from ALEC sources have been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly. ALEC is driving the recent surge in state voter ID laws, which erect new barriers to voting and disproportionately hinder minority and elderly voters. ALEC promoted as one of its models the infamous “Stand Your Ground” laws, which confer civil immunity on perpetrators who avoid arrest and prosecution under this law.  ALEC’s Civil Justice Task Force is devoted to preventing injured people from holding wrongdoers accountable in court. On top of this, ALEC does not operate in a transparent manner.  Its model laws are adopted in closed meetings and require approval by a majority vote of its corporate members to be adopted.

The event is sponsored by: the Fairfax County Democratic Committee National Affairs Committee, AFL-CIO Virginia; NOVA Labor; ProgressVA; People for the American Way, National Education Association, Progressive Democrats of America–Virginia; NOVA Council of MoveOn; Primary Matters Coalition; NAACP Alexandria, Arlington and Prince William Branches; Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church City, Manassas, and Manassas Park Democratic Committees; and the 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee.