Did you ever wonder how clueless, ultra-conservative state lawmakers come up with complex bills full of complicated language designed to screw you out of your rights and opportunities? They have a lot of help.

Did you ever wonder how clueless, ultra-conservative state lawmakers come up with complex bills full of complicated language designed to screw you out of your rights and opportunities? For example, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who many say is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, presents lawmakers with a budget bill designed to take away worker rights, raise taxes on working poor and middle-class taxpayers, cut vital social programs like Badger Care and undermine public schools and higher education in flowery legalese.

They can't do this stuff by themselves. They have a lot of help. Meet one of their helpmates: ALEC.

The American Legislative Exchange Council pushes a radically conservative agenda for state government to front for the interests of their corporate patrons like Big Oil, drug and telecom companies, Big Banks, Big Tobacco, and the asbestos industry. They have "model legislation," for example, to dilute, attack and ignore federal environmental laws and regulations, which suits many of these corporate interests just fine.



They were also behind not only Wisconsin, but Ohio's and many other states' attacks on collective bargaining rights.

Students and other concerned Americans about the corporate stranglehold on legislation are protesting in Cinanniti, Ohio ALEC's spring conference, April 29. To find out more, go to: http://seeyouincincinnati.com/

The following recent press release offers more background and important questions to ask ALEC.

Americans deserve to know who makes the laws in their state. So, who is ALEC?