Who pays for what in ALEC
By Elizabeth Whitman | Phoenix New Times
At least 27 Republican legislators from Arizona and Governor Doug Ducey are in Austin, Texas, this week for the 46th annual conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council.
The American Legislative Exchange Council, better known as ALEC, is a bill factory funded by industries and corporations, most notoriously the Koch Brothers. It churns out model legislation that caters to these special interests, creating templates that are ready for state legislators to copy or tweak and introduce at home.
ALEC curries favor with legislators through extravagant events, conferences, and dinners. At these gatherings, these lawmakers, who are consistently conservative Republicans, rub elbows with powerful executives and potential campaign donors.
This year’s annual conference, held at the JW Marriott in Austin, began on Wednesday and wraps up today. More than two dozen Republican state representatives and state senators from Arizona are there now.
From the House, which has 31 Republicans, 21 are currently in Texas: John Allen, Nancy Barto, Leo Biasiucci, Shawnna Bolick, Noel Campbell, Gina Cobb, Tim Dunn, John Fillmore, Mark Finchem, Gail Griffin, John Kavanagh, Anthony Kern, Jay Lawrence, Becky Nutt, Tony Rivero, Bret Roberts, T.J. Shope, Bob Thorpe, Ben Toma, Kelly Townsend, and Jeff Weninger.
From the Senate, which has 17 Republicans, at least six are: Karen Fann, Sylvia Allen, Gail Griffin, David Gowan, Sine Kerr, and Michelle Ugenti-Rita.
So was Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick, who is married to Representative Shawnna Bolick, per a photo tweeted by the governor on Thursday evening.
