As far as anyone there could tell, there has never been a demonstration intended to shine the light on this unelected shadow government which has nine legislative writing groups, organized by industry. Each group funds the organization, they, and their high-priced Washington D.C. lawyers write "Model Legislation" which is exchanged at events like the Cincinnati conference, where legislators from around the country meet with corporate honchos who fund ALEC, and many of their political campaigns, write the legislation which is in the interest of the industry group in question, and they get the best access money can buy.

ALEC hides behind its 501(c)3 tax exempt status, influences legislation (actually writes legislation) which is introduced in 50 state capitols, gets our state legislators to travel to its "educational" conferences on our taxpayer's nickel, and does this behind a shroud of secrecy.

In Cincinnati, we began to peel back that shroud, and some of the legislators began to squirm. It turns out, because of walks Bob Sloan and others took around the hotel where the conference was held, that legislators entered and exited the building through a back door, and the corporate CEO's, CFO and other executive types entered and exited through a side door. It is not known who came and went through the front door.

Mr. Sloan engaged three unidentified legislators who insisted to him that they didn't support a lot of the ALEC agenda, including, if I recall the conversation with Bob correctly, the Union busting legislation. It is very hard for me to believe that this is really the case. Our small demonstration succeeded in making some Republican legislators and possibly some corporate types feel a bit uncomfortable, which is exactly what our intention was. Our goal for a first event was not set unrealistically high, and in my view, it was a successful event. In one month, the organizers had workshops, somewhere between 100 and 120 protesters from Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Lousiana, who were there to help organize the ALEC Annual Convention protest in New Orleans in August. I am sure that folks from Kentucky and some other states were there as well, but I cannot confirm that. I think I may have heard Pennsylvania as well.

What's next? New Orleans protesting is in planning now. We had a nice wrap-up session and in general, everyone is committed to researching the misdeeds of this Koch supported group, uncovering and debunking their lies, as in pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, seeking to find out who all the member legislators are (ALEC claims that their organization has 2400 legislative members, and it is estimated that better than 90 per cent are Republicans, with the remainder likely to be Blue Dog Democrats. Each and every American state legislator needs to be asked point blank if they are ALEC members, and I think that each time a piece of legislation is introduced by a Republican, the Democratic members of the state legislative bodies should get in entered into the legislative record, and in the legislative history wheter the bills were written or substantially written by ALEC.

If our legislators are so lazy that they won't write the bills they are introducing and voting for, we voters have a right to know that these folks are not representing the constituients in their District, they are representing moneyed interests who suppor their political campaigns at the expense of the residents of their districts. What other conclusion can one make?

I never asked for Tips or Recs before, but in this case I will make an exception so that this community recognizes the great contribution of the Cincinnati organizers who did a fantastic job in only 30 days. Kudos for them!





Update: I forgot to add that there were some print and photo journalists in attendence. I think this event has legs.

Update 2: Of course a second great thing happened today. The progressive push back continued with the ballot language to recall Rick Snyder in Michigan was approved. Personally, I think the Emergency Managers are the straw that broke this camel's back and ensures that he will not survive the recall vote. Good luck to Michigan in its effort to get 800,000 signatures in I think 90 days.

Update 3: Rec list. These young organizers deserve this recognition. Thank you.