View full size

TRENTON — Johnson & Johnson has parted ways with the American Legislative Exchange Council, the first New Jersey company to do so following public pressure from liberal groups across the country.

ALEC is a Washington-based conservative nonprofit that writes and distributes pro-business model bills for use in the states. Its members are nearly 2,000 state lawmakers and close to 300 think tanks and corporations, which provide most of its funding.

Liberal groups since April have criticized ALEC’s role promoting controversial bills toughening voter identification requirements — which some say disenfranchise the poor and the elderly — and "Stand Your Ground" laws that allow more instances of deadly force in self-defense, such as the Florida law at the center of the Trayvon Martin shooting case.

"We have been in dialogue with ALEC for some time, and while we acknowledge ALEC’s recent decision to focus only on innovation and growth-supporting policies, we have decided to suspend our participation and membership," Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Carol Goodrich, said in a statement today.

Johnson & Johnson, based in New Brunswick, was one of ALEC’s top corporate members and had a seat on its private enterprise board.

More than a dozen other companies including Coca-Cola, Kraft, Pepsi and Wal-Mart Stores have also ended their memberships during the last few months.

Last week, ColorOfChange, a civil rights group, announced a $10,000 radio ad buy blasting the voter identification and "Stand Your Ground" bills and spotlighting Johnson & Johnson’s connection to ALEC. The ads ran in New Brunswick, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Fla., where Martin was shot.

ALEC has taken a step back from those positions and criticized its detractors for mounting a national campaign targeting its corporate members.

"As we announced in April, ALEC is solely focused on free-market solutions that create jobs and improve the economy," said Kaitlyn Buss, ALEC’s spokeswoman. "Americans of all political stripes should be deeply troubled by the kind of tactics employed by ColorOfChange designed to spread fear and shut down debate. Ultimately, they will not succeed because our limited government ideals are far from the caricature the liberal extremists have attempted to paint. In fact, our common sense solutions are at the heart of every well-run state in the nation."

Johnson & Johnson said last week it did not "condone legislative proposals that could serve, even inadvertently, to limit the rights or impact the safety of any individual" and that it only worked with ALEC on "matters that help create a climate that supports jobs and innovation in the U.S."

Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange’s executive director, commended Johnson & Johnson’s decision today.

Common Cause has filed a complaint accusing ALEC of tax fraud, saying it acts as a lobbyist rather than a nonprofit. ALEC’s influence on state legislation is not subject to the same disclosure requirements lobbyists face.

Critics in New Jersey voiced similar concerns after a Star-Ledger investigation in April found several bills promoted by Gov. Chris Christie mirrored ALEC models. Christie denied the connection and said they include common policies, many endorsed by Democrats in other states.

Related coverage:

• Some of Christie's biggest bills match model legislation from D.C. group called ALEC

• Kraft Foods, Coca Cola to discontinue membership in conservative ALEC group

• Watchdog group wants Attorney General to investigate ALEC's activities in N.J.