The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative advocacy organization funded by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, is the "big political player you've never heard of."
ALEC drafts model legislation related to its goals of free markets and limited government on issues as wide-ranging as anti-immigration law, tort reform, voter registration and opposition to Net neutrality.
ALEC model legislation is generally not available to non-members, but its template for “State Withdrawal from Regional Climate Initiatives” has been made public. The language made it into resolutions or bills in at least six states -- including New Hampshire House Bill 519, a bill that would repeal the cap-and-trade system established under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
The bill’s lead sponsor, state Rep. Richard Barry (R), looked a bit like a dog caught with the family cat in its mouth when he was asked to explain the language at a public hearing; he nervously said that none of the bill’s sponsors had written this particular section, but stopped short of revealing ALEC as the source of the text. That didn’t sit well with Rep. James Garrity (R), chair of the House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee, who later explained, “Our committee does not feel that editorials belong in laws.” The matter was resolved by dropping the ALEC text, and the amended bill went on to pass the House.
A brief example of the language cut from the ALEC model legislation and pasted into HB 519 follows below the fold.
WHEREAS, there has been no credible economic analysis of the costs associated with carbon reduction mandates and the consequential effect of the increasing costs of doing business in the State of ______;
WHEREAS, forcing business, industry, and food producers to reduce carbon emissions through government mandates and cap-and-trade policies under consideration for the regional climate initiative will increase the cost of doing business, push companies to do business with other states or nations, and increase consumer costs for electricity, fuel, and food;
I. There has been no credible economic analysis of the costs associated with carbon dioxide emissions reduction mandates and the consequential effect of the increased costs of doing business in New Hampshire.
II. Businesses, industries, and food producers have been forced to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as a result of government mandates and cap and trade policies through the regional greenhouse gas initiative, which has increased the cost of doing business, pushed companies to do business with other states or nations, and increased consumer costs for electricity, fuel, and food.
