List of former members of the American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council, otherwise known by the acronym ALEC, is a non-profit 501(c) political organization established in 1975. The legislative members are state and federal legislators. It is a forum to allow the members to write model laws and discuss legislative language with other members. ALEC meetings are an opportunity for the corporate and non-profit leaders to meet and provide feedback to legislators. Member legislators can then use the model bills as templates for their own bills.
Members here are listed as former members by virtue of the end of their terms in office of the various state legislatures, a necessary qualifier for membership in ALEC. None of these former members resigned from ALEC. See Resigned legislative members for the individuals who have announced they are no longer members by choice.
ALEC keeps its membership, activities and communications confidential. This list includes former members whose identity primarily has become known through internal documents revealed to Common Cause and by research by members of the press.
Notable former legislative members
Early members included a number of state and local politicians who went on to statewide or national office, including Bob Kasten and Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, John Engler of Michigan, Terry Branstad of Iowa, and John Kasich of Ohio.[1] Several members of Congress were also involved in the organization during its early years, including Sen. James L. Buckley and Rep. Jack Kemp of New York, Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, and Rep. Phil Crane of Illinois.[1] More recently, Eric Cantor Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives was an alumnus.[2]
Former elected government official members
Former state level members
- Arizona
- Kirk Adams, R, former Speaker, House of Representatives, 2012 candidate for U.S. House of Representatives[3]
- Connecticut
- William Hamzy, R, former Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives[4]
MARYLAND Phillip D Bissett, R Maryland House of Delegates James M Harkins, R Maryland House of Delegates
- North Carolina
- Harold Brubaker, R, North Carolina General Assembly[5][6]
- Fred F. Steen, II, R, North Carolina General Assembly[7]
- Utah
- Dan Liljenquist, R, resigned from State Senate to run for the U.S. Senate against Orrin Hatch[8]
- Virginia
- Beverly Sherwood, R, House of Delegates
- Washington
- Michael Carrell, R, House of Representatives, former, died May 29, 2013[9]
- Wisconsin
- Joe Knilans, R, State Assembly[10]
- Scott Suder, R, Minority Leader, State Assembly
- Bill Kramer, R, Wisconsin State Assembly[10][11]
- Neal Kedzie, R, Wisconsin State Senate[10][12]
- Mike Ellis, R, President of the Wisconsin State Senate[13]
- Joe Leibham, R, President Pro Tempore Wisconsin State Senate[14]
Former members elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- John Campbell, R[15]
- Jeff Denham, R[15]
- Jerry Lewis, R[15]
- Tom McClintock, R[15]
- Edward Royce, R[15]
- Colorado
- Florida
- Sandy Adams, R[15]
- Allen Boyd, D[4]
- Ginny Brown-Waite, R[4]
- Mario Díaz-Balart, R[15]
- Suzanne Kosmas, D[4]
- Kendrick Meek, D (also, unsuccessful candidate in the 2010 United States Senate election)[4]
- John Mica, R[15]
- Jeff Miller, R[15]
- Bill Posey, R[16]
- Adam Putnam, R (also, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture)[4]
- David Rivera, R[15]
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R[15]
- Dennis Ross, R[15]
- Marco Rubio, R (also, United States Senate)[17]
- Steve Southerland, R[15]
- Daniel Webster, R[15]
- Georgia
- Phil Gingrey, R[15]
- Tom Graves, R[15]
- Jack Kingston, R[15]
- Tom Price, R (former Chairman, House Republican Policy Committee)[18]
- Austin Scott, R[15]
- Lynn Westmoreland, R[15]
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Phil Crane, R (also, 1980 candidate for President of the United States)[1]
- Henry Hyde, R ALEC Founder (now deceased)[1]
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Sam Graves, R[15]
- Vicky Hartzler, R[15]
- Dave Hinson, R (also, Missouri House of Representatives)[9]
- Blaine Luetkemeyer, R[15]
- New Jersey
- New York
- John M. McHugh, R (also, former United States Secretary of the Army)[4]
- Jack Kemp, R (also, former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1988 candidate for President of the United States and 1996 Republican Nominee for Vice President running with Bob Dole, now deceased)[1]
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Steve Austria, R[15]
- Bob Gibbs, R[15]
- Jim Jordan, R[15]
- Robert Latta, R[15]
- Jean Schmidt, R[15]
- Steve Stivers, R[15]
- Pat Tiberi, R[15]
- Oklahoma
- Dan Boren, D[15]
- Tom Cole, R[15]
- Frank Lucas, R[15]
- John Sullivan, R[15]
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Charlie Dent, R[15]
- Michael Fitzpatrick, R[15]
- James Gerlach, R[15]
- Joseph Pitts, R[15]
- Todd Platts, R[15]
- South Carolina
- Jeff Duncan, R[15]
- Tim Scott, R[15]
- Joe Wilson, R[15]
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Eric Cantor, R (also, former Majority leader)[15]
- Randy Forbes, R[15]
- Morgan Griffith, R[15]
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Glenn Grothman, R (also, Wisconsin State Senate)[12]
- Mark Pocan, D (also, former Wisconsin State Assembly)[19]
Former members elected to the U.S. Senate
- Alabama
- Florida
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- Paul Laxalt, R (also, former Governor, Lt. Governor, and 1988 candidate for President of the United States)[1]
- North Carolina
- Jesse Helms, R (5 terms, now deceased)[1]
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Former members elected Governor
- Arizona
- Jan Brewer, R, Governor[20]
- Colorado
- Bill Owens, R, former Governor[21]
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Terry Branstad, R, Governor[1][23][24]
- Michigan
- John Engler, R, former Governor[1][25]
- Ohio
- John Kasich, R, Governor[23]
- Oklahoma
- Mary Fallin, R, Governor[18]
- Frank Keating, R, former Governor[21]
- Pennsylvania
- Tom Ridge, R, former Governor, resigned to become Secretary of Homeland Security[26]
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Gary Herbert, R, Governor[18]
- Wisconsin
- Tommy Thompson, R, Governor
- Scott Walker, R, Governor
Resigned legislative members
- Alma Allen (politician), D, Texas House of Representatives[28]
- Lisa Boscola, D, Pennsylvania Senate[29]
- Mike Colona, D, Minority Whip Missouri House of Representatives[30]
- Danielle Conrad, D, Nebraska Legislature[31]
- Greg Cromer, R, Louisiana House of Representatives[32]
- Dawna Dikes, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Harold Dutton, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Walter Felag, D, Rhode Island Senate[34]
- Mary Flowers, D, Illinois House of Representatives[29]
- Ken Haar, D, Nebraska Legislature[31]
- Ted Harhai, D, Pennsylvania House of Representatives[29]
- Denise Harper-Angel, D, Kentucky Senate[35]
- Brian Hatfield, D, Washington Senate[36]
- Eric Johnson, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Ray Jones, D, Kentucky Senate[35]
- William Keller, R, Pennsylvania House of Representatives[29]
- Troy Kelley, D, Washington House of Representatives, once attended a meeting but claims he is no longer a member[36]
- Tracy King, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Nick Kotik, D, Pennsylvania House of Representatives[37]
- Joseph Markosek, D, Pennsylvania House of Representatives[29]
- Armando Martinez, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Ruth Jones McClendon, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Heath Mello, D, Nebraska Legislature[31]
- Jose Menendez, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- George Muñoz, D, New Mexico Senate[38]
- Jeremy Nordquist, D, Nebraska Legislature[31]
- Nan Orrock, D, Georgia Senate[39]
- Joseph Petrarca, D, Pennsylvania House of Representatives[29]
- Brandon Phelps, D, Illinois House of Representatives[29]
- Chente Quintanilla, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Brian Quirk, D, Iowa House of Representatives[40]
- Harry Readshaw, D, Pennsylvania House of Representatives claims he didn't know he was a member[37]
- Eddie Rodriguez, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Jennifer Seelig, D, Utah State House of Representatives[41]
- Tim Shaughnessy, D, Kentucky Senate[35]
- Kathy Stein, D, Kentucky Senate[35]
- John Tassoni Jr, D, Rhode Island Senate[42]
- Robert Theberge, D, New Hampshire House of Representatives[43]
- Kevin Van De Wege, D, Washington House of Representatives[44]
- Don Vaughan, D, Minority leader North Carolina Senate[45]
- Ted Vick, D, South Carolina House of Representatives[46]
- Hubert Vo, D, Texas House of Representatives[33]
- Leanna Washington, D, Pennsylvania Senate[29]
- Anthony Williams, D, Pennsylvania Senate[29]
Former corporate members
- Amazon.com[47]
- American Traffic Solutions resigned April 13, 2012[48]
- Amgen[49]
- Arizona Public Service Company[50]
- Best Buy[51]
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation[52]
- Blue Cross Blue Shield[53]
- Cargill is listed as a member in 1998,[54] but now denies ever having been a member[55]
- Coca-Cola[56]
- Comcast[57]
- CVS Caremark[49]
- Dell[51]
- Enron (went bankrupt in 2001, see Enron scandal)[58]
- Facebook[59]
- General Motors[51]
- Google[60]
- Hewlett-Packard[51]
- John Deere[51]
- Johnson & Johnson[61]
- Intuit[62]
- Kaplan, Inc.[63]
- Kraft Foods[56]
- Louis Dreyfus Group[51]
- Lumina Foundation for Education[63]
- Mars[64]
- McDonald's[62]
- Medtronic[65]
- Merck[66]
- Microsoft[67]
- MillerCoors[51]
- National Association of Charter School Authorizers[68]
- National Association of Water Companies[69][70]
- National Board for Professional Teaching Standards[63]
- PepsiCo[62]
- Procter & Gamble[51]
- Reed Elsevier[71]
- Royal Dutch Shell[72]
- SAP[60]
- Scantron[63]
- TicketMaster was a member as late as 2000; it later denied membership and threatened legal action if it was listed again[55]
- Walgreens[51]
- Walmart suspended membership May 31, 2012[73]
- Wendy's[64]
- Yelp[60]
- Yahoo![60]
References
- "History". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2014-10-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-05. Retrieved 2020-03-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ALEC correspondence to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, July 29, 2009
- "Board of Directors". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
- ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Members Memorandum re 2011 Annual Meeting provided by Common Cause
- "State Chairs". American Legislative Exchange Council. 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
- Dan Liljenquist (August 15, 2013). "Dan Liljenquist: State solutions for government pension reform". Deseret News. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2014-02-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Extreme Mining Advocate & ALEC Member Rep. Knilans Promotes Mining Misinformation | Wisconsin Citizens Media Co-op". Wcmcoop.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2015-01-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-11. Retrieved 2015-01-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2015-01-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- SHAWN DOHERTY (March 27, 2011). "Vital Signs: State GOP health bills mirror model ALEC legislation : Ct". The Capital Times. Host.madison.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "U.S. House of Representatives | ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council". Alec.org. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- "U.S. Congress". Bill Posey. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- "Senate | ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council". Alec.org. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- "Rich States, Poor States | ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council". Alec.org. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-alec-stands-its-ground/2013/12/04/ad593320-5d2c-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html
- "Internet Archive Wayback Machine" (PDF). April 7, 2011. Archived from the original Check
|url=
value (help) (PDF) on May 1, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2013. - https://web.archive.org/web/20021029023442/http://www.alec.org/meSWFiles/pdf/2001_Annual_Report.pdf
- "Report Card on American Education | ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council". Alec.org. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "At Arizona gathering, ALEC teaches lawmakers how to turn conservative ideas into law". NJ.com. April 1, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-13. Retrieved 2014-07-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "ALEC-Inspired Bills Could Bar Defective Drug Lawsuits | Lawyers.com". JDSupra. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Alec In The House: How Corporate Bias Affects Criminal Justice Legislation". Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- Behre, Robert; Largen, Stephen (April 23, 2012). "American Legislative Exchange Council has a hand in S.C. politics". The Post and Courier.
- Quinnell, Kenneth (April 13, 2012). "ALEC's Really Bad Day". Crooks and Liars. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Eleven More Lawmakers Drop ALEC | NationofChange |". Iearegion28.wordpress.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "ALEC is no friend of we the people - Letters to the Editor - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington news, weather and sports". The Olympian. April 25, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- "4 senators leave council, citing 'extreme' agenda". Omaha.com. April 30, 2012. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- Jilani, Zaid (April 23, 2012). "Louisiana's Republican State Chairman Of ALEC Resigns From The Organization". Republicreport.org. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- MNDem999 (April 19, 2012). "ALEC - Losing the Love of Legislators". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Politics - Rhode Island & US political news | Providence Journal". News.providencejournal.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Several Senate Democrats Remain ALEC Members | WEKU". Weku.fm. May 18, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- "Senate passes USPS bill, McKenna snaps, He-Man wonders aloud…". The Stand. April 26, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Keystone Progress lauds lawmakers for leaving right-wing ALEC. Some are puzzled by the praise". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 28, 2012.
- "Munoz resigns from ALEC | New Mexico Telegram". Nmtelegram.com. April 24, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- David Ferguson (April 17, 2012). "Georgia lawmaker quits ALEC, calls it 'radical' group with 'dangerous agenda'". The Raw Story. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- Jason Noble (May 16, 2012). "Iowa Democrat drops membership in conservative legislative advocacy group | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs". Blogs.desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- http://m.sltrib.com (May 23, 2012). "Utah activists host workshop about legislative mill ALEC :: The Salt Lake Tribune Mobile Edition". M.sltrib.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". rilin.state.ri.us. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- "New Hampshire political news, election coverage, analysis". Politicalscoop.wmur.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- Rep. Kevin Van De Wege Resigns from ALEC (April 11, 2012). "Rep. Kevin Van De Wege Resigns from ALEC". Fusewashington.org. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Tag search result for: Don Vaughan, ALEC | Under The Dome". Projects.newsobserver.com. May 5, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Palmettopublicrecord.org". Palmettopublicrecord.org. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- Parkhurst, Emily (May 24, 2012). "Amazon shareholders met by protesters, company cuts ties with ALEC - Puget Sound Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- "American Traffic Solutions leaving ALEC, joining APS | Arizona Capitol Times". Azcapitoltimes.com. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- "Texas Lawmakers Latest To Cut Ties With ALEC". Huffingtonpost.com. August 16, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Mars and Arizona Public Service Dump ALEC | Center for Media and Democracy". Prwatch.org. April 12, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- "Amgen Drops ALEC (Number 32) as eBay Comes under Fire". PR Watch. August 8, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- Andy Kroll (April 10, 2012). "The Gates Foundation Is Done Funding ALEC". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- Pecquet, Julian (April 17, 2012). "Blue Cross Blue Shield quits conservative legislative organization ALEC - The Hill's Healthwatch". Thehill.com. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- http://www.minnpost.com/sites/default/files/attachments/Cargill.pdf
- Knickerbocker, Brad. "Trayvon Martin case leads to corporate exodus from ALEC". MinnPost. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- Darryl Webb/For the Star-Ledger. "Kraft Foods, Coca Cola to discontinue membership in conservative ALEC group". NJ.com. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- "Comcast does so much lobbying that it says disclosing it all is too hard". May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- "Ghostwriting the Law". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- "Facebook set to become latest tech giant to abandon rightwing lobby group Alec". The Guardian. Sep 2014.
- Volz, Dustin (November 6, 2014). "Major Tech Company Severs Ties With ALEC". National Journal.
- Associated Press file photo. "Johnson & Johnson becomes first N.J. company to part ways with ALEC". NJ.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- Andy Kroll (April 10, 2012). "Exclusive: McDonald's Says It Has Dumped ALEC". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- Hawkins, Beth. "Minnesota's Scantron becomes latest ed-related firm to quit ALEC". MinnPost. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- Andy Kroll (April 13, 2012). "Mars Inc. Says Adios to ALEC". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- Hawkins, Beth. "What ALEC bills might we see next session?". MinnPost. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- Fertoli, Annmarie (September 14, 2012). "Merck Opts Out of American Legislative Exchange Council". WNYC. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- "Microsoft and More Leave ALEC, 80 Corporations Out". PR Watch.
- "National Association of Charter School Authorizers Issues Statement Regarding American Legislative Exchange Council". MarketWatch. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- "Private Water Industry Defends ALEC Membership". Huffingtonpost.com. May 3, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- "Clarification: NAWC and ALEC". Retrieved December 22, 2016.
- Geller, Martinne (April 12, 2012). "Reed Elsevier, Wendy's drop conservative group". Reuters. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
- Mathiesen, Karl; Pilkington, Ed (August 7, 2015). "Royal Dutch Shell cuts ties with Alec over rightwing group's climate denial". The Guardian.
- "Walmart leaves public-policy group ALEC". azcentral.com. Retrieved 2014-04-02.