To: Luther Strange, Attorney General
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, Investigate ALEC
Every citizen has a right to lobby our government.
But most Alabamians wouldn’t dream of asking our fellow citizens to give us a tax break to subsidize our lobbying.
That’s not true of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a corporate lobby masquerading as a charity. It devotes its $7 million annual budget to lobbying for laws that will boost the profits of its member corporations but it pays no taxes and solicits corporate contributions with a promise that donors can deduct gifts on their annual tax returns.
We call upon you to investigate ALEC's tax status and its compliance with Alabama's lobbying laws.
But most Alabamians wouldn’t dream of asking our fellow citizens to give us a tax break to subsidize our lobbying.
That’s not true of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a corporate lobby masquerading as a charity. It devotes its $7 million annual budget to lobbying for laws that will boost the profits of its member corporations but it pays no taxes and solicits corporate contributions with a promise that donors can deduct gifts on their annual tax returns.
We call upon you to investigate ALEC's tax status and its compliance with Alabama's lobbying laws.
Why is this important?
The American Legislative Exchange Council wants to be treated as a charitable organization, not as the extremist national organization that is a "bill mill" for laws that limit the right of Alabamians to vote. ALEC has also been responsible for laws like the Stand Your Ground law in Florida.