To: AARP
Tell AARP to cut off all ties to ALEC immediately
AARP must immediately end its funding of the extremist conservative front group ALEC, which pumps out right-wing draft legislation that directly undermines the interests of senior citizens and retirees—or risk losing its positive reputation from its own members and in the court of public opinion.
Why is this important?
As a member of the AARP for three years, I have greatly appreciated the group's advocacy for senior citizens like myself.
And last August, I was pleased to learn that AARP announced that it would stop investing in the dangerous, right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council--better known as "ALEC"--which has drafted and aggressively lobbied for deeply conservative legislation.
That's why I'm utterly dismayed that AARP has apparently not followed through on their pledge to stop supporting ALEC, according to the group Stand Up To ALEC. AARP must cut off all ties to ALEC immediately!!!
ALEC has drafted legislation that has included:
* opposing important benefits for senior citizens, such as Medicaid expansion;* pushing the "stand your ground" laws in Florida and other states at the behest of the NRA, including the law that protected George Zimmerman after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin;
* stifling solar power and clean energy legislation around the country at the behest of climate change deniers and the oil and gas industry; and
* making it more difficult for senior citizens, young people, and people of color to vote across the country by establishing voter ID laws.
Major companies such as Coca-Cola, Google, and Ford have withdrawn from ALEC over the past several years—which makes it more offensive that AARP hasn't taken a strong stand against ALEC.
I won't stand for it, and neither should you. Tell AARP to cut any ties to ALEC immediately.
Rev. Jim VanderWeele
And last August, I was pleased to learn that AARP announced that it would stop investing in the dangerous, right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council--better known as "ALEC"--which has drafted and aggressively lobbied for deeply conservative legislation.
That's why I'm utterly dismayed that AARP has apparently not followed through on their pledge to stop supporting ALEC, according to the group Stand Up To ALEC. AARP must cut off all ties to ALEC immediately!!!
ALEC has drafted legislation that has included:
* opposing important benefits for senior citizens, such as Medicaid expansion;* pushing the "stand your ground" laws in Florida and other states at the behest of the NRA, including the law that protected George Zimmerman after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin;
* stifling solar power and clean energy legislation around the country at the behest of climate change deniers and the oil and gas industry; and
* making it more difficult for senior citizens, young people, and people of color to vote across the country by establishing voter ID laws.
Major companies such as Coca-Cola, Google, and Ford have withdrawn from ALEC over the past several years—which makes it more offensive that AARP hasn't taken a strong stand against ALEC.
I won't stand for it, and neither should you. Tell AARP to cut any ties to ALEC immediately.
Rev. Jim VanderWeele