View source for SPN Ties to ALEC

{{Show badges|SPN|AEX}}'''SPN Ties to ALEC''' is a breakout article from the main article on the [[State Policy Network]] (SPN).

{{About_SPN}}

'''Please see the [[State Policy Network]] and [https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed ALECexposed.org] for more.'''

Below are details of SPN's ties to the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC):

SPN's predecessor, the Madison Group, was "launched by the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] or ALEC . . . and housed in the Chicago-based [[Heartland Institute]]," according to a 1991 report by the [[National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy]] (NCRP) found in the University of California-San Francisco's Legacy Tobacco Documents.<ref name="NCRP1991">National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/wpb87b00/pdf Special Report: Burgeoning Conservative Think Tanks], organizational report, Spring 1991, p. 2.</ref><ref name="PRW121213">Rebekah Wilce, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/12/12339/did-alec-found-spn-1991-report-suggests-so-exposes-spn-agenda Did ALEC Found SPN? 1991 Report Suggests So, Exposes SPN Agenda], ''PRWatch'', December 12, 2013.</ref>

The case is strengthened by an October 1987 ALEC directory also available via the Tobacco Documents that says, "The Madison Group is chaired by Mrs. Constance Heckman [now Constance Campanella, founder of the lobbying firm [[Stateside Associates]]], Executive Director of ALEC . . ."<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/uzf29b00/pdf ALEC Personnel Directory], ''The State Factor'', October 1987, p. 3.</ref> A speakers list also available in the Tobacco Documents says in Constance Campanella's biography, "She was a co-founder and first President of The Madison Group, the first network of free-market state think tanks."<ref>[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/wum57b00/pdf Speakers List], document available in the University of California-San Francisco's Legacy Tobacco Documents, accessed December 2013.</ref>

SPN has been a member of the [https://www.alecexposed.org/ American Legislative Exchange Council] (ALEC) for many years. In the mid-2000s, SPN secured funding for more of its member think tanks to join ALEC in order to help develop model legislation. By 2009, 22 SPN member think tanks were active ALEC members and participants in ALEC task forces, according to an SPN newsletter, and SPN was being rewarded for its services by ALEC.<ref name="SPN 2009">State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/docLib/20090731_JULY_AUGNL.pdf SPN & Alec: A Model Relationship], ''SPN News'', organizational newsletter, July/August 2009, p. 4.</ref> '''As of 2013, at least 36 SPN member think tanks have demonstrable ties to ALEC in addition to SPN's own ties''', and all of SPN's member think tanks push ALEC's agenda in their respective states, according to a review by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) ([[#SPN Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council|see below for more]]).

Executive Director [[Tracie Sharp]] and staff member Stephen L. Bowen are members of ALEC's [[Education Task Force]];<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/education_35-day_mailing%20-%20new%20orleans.pdf Education Task Force Director], organizational document, July 1, 2011, document obtained and released by Common Cause.</ref> and Sharp and staff members Joe Coletti and Kathleen O'Hearn are members of ALEC's [[Health and Human Services Task Force]].<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_hhs%20New%20Orleans.pdf HHS Task Force Directory], organizational document, June 29, 2011, document obtained and released by Common Cause.</ref>

[[Image:Tracie Sharp ALEC Award 2009.png|frame|Tracie Sharp receives ALEC's 2009 Private Sector Member of the Year Award, along with lobbyists from UPS, Verizon, and Altria (Source: [http://www.spn.org/docLib/20090731_JULY_AUGNL.pdf SPN])|left]]Randolph J. May, President of Maryland's [[Free State Foundation]], also represents SPN on the [[Communications and Technology Task Force]].<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/telecom&it_updated_35-day_mailing%20New%20Orleans.pdf Telecommunications & Information Technology], organizational task force membership directory, July 18, 2011, document obtained and released by Common Cause.</ref> At the beginning of the [[Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force]] meeting at the ALEC 2012 Spring Task Force Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina, the meeting started out with "State Policy Network Updates,"<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35_day_mailing_cied_stfs2012.pdf Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force 2012 Spring Task Force Summit Tentative Agenda], organizational document, May 11, 2012, document obtained via open records request and released by CMD and Common Cause.</ref> suggesting that SPN is also a member of that task force.

In addition, SPN has been a "Chairman" or higher level sponsor of ALEC's annual conferences -- which are listed in one of ALEC's funding brochures as costing at least $50,000 per meeting<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, 2011 Conference Sponsors, conference brochure on file with CMD, August 11, 2011</ref> -- in 2013,<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, 2011 Conference Sponsors, conference brochure on file with CMD, August 11, 2011.</ref> 2012,<ref>Lisa Graves, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/07/11679/lot-white-space-firms-drop-alecs-meeting-brochure A Lot of White Space: Firms Drop Off ALEC's Meeting Brochure], ''PRWatch'', July 30, 2012.</ref> and 2010.<ref>Lisa Graves, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12212/alecexposed-list-corporations-and-special-interests-underwrote-alecs-40th-anniver ALECexposed: List of Corporations and Special Interests that Underwrote ALEC's 40th Anniversary Meeting], ''PRWatch'', August 15, 2013.</ref> It also sponsored ALEC's 2012 States & Nation Policy Meeting in Washington, DC.<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, "Sponsors", 2012 SNPS Agenda, organizational document, on file with CMD.</ref> ALEC is also an Associate Member of SPN.<ref>State Policy Network, [http://www.spn.org/directory/char.A/organizations.asp Directory], organizational site, accessed August 11, 2011</ref>

Sharp was the recipient of ALEC's 2009 [[ALEC Award Winners|Private Sector Member of the Year Award]].<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=7W88-TKS0-Y9B9-K0HG&csi=299219&oc=00240&perma=true ALEC Announces 2009 Award Recipients] (sub. req'd.), organizational press release, July 24, 2009.</ref> ALEC gave her the award because, according to ALEC "[[ALEC Board of Scholars|scholar]]" and founder of SPN member think tank the [[Evergreen Freedom Foundation]], "Not only have SPN members assisted legislators in drafting model legislation, they’ve been key in killing some proposals by ‘rent-seeking’ special interests.”<ref name="SPN 2009"/>

However, SPN’s tax forms indicate that it does no lobbying.<ref>State Policy Network, IRS Forms 990, 2008-2012.</ref>

According to the National Education Association (NEA),  "ALEC utilizes the services of the [[State Policy Network]] as a clearinghouse to craft model legislation on conservative issues and to provide expert testimony in state capitols once bills are introduced." In addition, it notes, "ALEC and Heritage also serve as a media platform for these state-based think tanks to gain national press attention for research and the legislation and initiatives they introduce."<ref name="NEA">National Education Association, [http://web.archive.org/web/20020211103902/http://www.nea.org/publiced/paycheck/ The Real Story Behind 'Paycheck Protection': The Hidden Link Between Anti-Worker and Anti-Public Education Initiatives: An Anatomy of the Far Right, Chapter 4: "The State-Based Assault: The State Policy Network]," organizational report, 1998.</ref>

'''Of SPN's 64 member state think tanks in 2013, at least 36 have demonstrable ties to ALEC in addition to SPN's own ties, and all of SPN's member think tanks push ALEC's agenda in their respective states. Please see [[SPN Members]] for more.'''
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==Follow the Money: SPN Funding to ALEC==

SPN’s membership in the controversial organization is not free. Through the years, SPN and its member think tanks have provided ALEC with hundreds of thousands of dollars in membership fees and contributions.

SPN and its member the [[Texas Public Policy Foundation]] were "Chair"-level sponsors of the ALEC Annual Conference in 2016 (a Chair-level sponsorship equated to $50,000 in 2010).<ref>Nick Surgey, "[https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2016/07/27/exxonmobil-top-sponsor-alec-annual-meeting/ ExxonMobil Top Sponsor at ALEC Annual Meeting]," ''Exposed by CMD'', Center for Media and Democracy, July 27, 2016.</ref>

Between 2008 and 2011, SPN and its member think tanks also served as a middleman for effectively funneling money from the secretive [[Koch]]-funded [[Donors Capital Fund]] to ALEC. In just those four years, the Donors groups itemized $688,800 to SPN and 12 member think tanks for participation in ALEC, task force membership fees, and travel expenses to attend ALEC meetings,<ref>Donors Capital Fund, IRS 990s, 2008-2011.</ref> where special interest legislation is peddled and lawmakers and their spouses are wined and dined.<ref>Center for Media and Democracy, [https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/Junkets Buying Influence: How the American Legislative Exchange Council Uses Corporate-Funded "Scholarships" to Send Lawmakers on Trips with Corporate Lobbyists], organizational report, updated August 2013.</ref>

From 2007 to 2011, Donors Capital Fund and the related [[DonorsTrust]] have funded at least 51 SPN member groups in almost every state for purposes including, but not limited to, participating in ALEC, including giving start-up funds for new franchise-like operations in Arkansas, Rhode Island, and Florida, according to the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative news group.<ref>Paul Abowd, [http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/02/14/12181/donors-use-charity-push-free-market-policies-states Donors use charity to push free-market policies in states], Center for Public Integrity, February 14, 2013.</ref>

==SPN Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==

Known ties of SPN affiliates to ALEC, current or former, are listed in the chart below:

{| class="wikitable"
| '''State''' || '''SPN member think tank''' || '''ALEC ties'''* || '''Personnel representing think tank at ALEC''' || '''Task force''' || '''Model legislation''' || '''Presentations''' || '''Other involvement''' || '''Notes'''
|-
| '''AL''' || [[Alabama Policy Institute]] || Task force membership || Michael Ciamarra, Vice President || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] || Ciamarra recommended bill, 2009 SB204, based on ALEC's "Transparency and Government Accountability Act," to the Alabama state legislature ||  ||  || 
|-
| '''AZ''' || [[Goldwater Institute]] || Task force membership || Jonathan Butcher, Education Director; Matthew Ladner || [[Education Task Force]] || * Butcher sponsored the "District and School Freedom Act," which he presented at 2012 Spring Task Force Summit, as well as the "Resolution Opposing the Implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative," which he presented to the K–12 Education Reform Subcommittee Meeting during the 2011 annual meeting.</br> * Ladner sponsored the "A-Plus Literacy Act" at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Nick Dranias, Director of Policy || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] || Presented "Decentralized Land Use Regulation for Rural Counties" and the "State Sovereignty through Local Coordination Act" at the 2010 annual meeting  ||  ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Nick Dranias; Byron Schlomach || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] || * Dranias sponsored the "Health Freedom Compact Act" at 2011 Spring Task Force Summit </br>* Schlomach sponsored the "Insurance Compact Enabling Act" at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit and gave a presentation on "The Evolution of Third-Party Payment in Health Care" at the annual meeting that year.||  ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Steve Silvinski, Senior Economist || [[International Relations Task Force]] || Presented "Constitutional Defense Council Legislation," "Model State Sovereignty Civil Rights Law," and the "Sovereign State Interstate Compact" at ALEC's 2011 annual meeting ||  ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Nick Dranias; Byron Schlomach || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] || * Dranias introduced the "Subsidy Truce Compact" at ALEC's 2011 annual meeting</br> * Schlomach sponsored the "Balanced Budget Certification Act" and the "Spending Evaluation Act" at the 2010 annual meeting and "A Constitutional Amendment Requiring State Approval for Increases in Federal Debt" at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit  ||  ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Byron Schlomach || [[Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force]] || Introduced “Prohibition on Paid Union Activity (Release Time) by Public Employees Act” and "Public Employee Paycheck Protection Act" at ALEC's 2012 Spring Task Force Summit. Schlomach also introduced the "Insurance Compact Enabling Act” along with Nick Dranias at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  ||  ||
|-
| '''AR''' || [[Advance Arkansas Institute]] || Task force membership || Dan Greenberg, Executive Director || [[Civil Justice Task Force]] ||  || Presentation at 2011 States and Nation Policy Summit: "Preventing Settlement Abuse: The Work of CCAF and the Advance Arkansas Institute" ||  || 
|-
| '''CA''' || [[Pacific Research Institute]] || Task force membership || Lawrence McQuillan, Director of Business and Economic Studies || [[Civil Justice Task Force]] ||  || Participated in presentation on ranking state tort systems (“2010 Tort Liability Index”) during 2010 annual meeting ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Vicki Murrary, Education Studies Senior Policy Fellow || [[Education Task Force]] ||  || Presented “10 Questions State Legislators Should Ask About Higher Education” at 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || John Graham, Director of Health Care Studies (former) || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Jason Clemens, Director of Research (former) and John Graham || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  || Graham gave a report (“What ObamaCare Means for State Budgets”) at 2010 Spring Task Force Summit ||  ||
|-
| '''CO''' || [[Independence Institute]] || Task force membership || Ben DeGrow, Policy Analyst || [[Education Task Force]] || Sponsored amendments to ALEC's "Open Enrollment Act"" || Gave a presentation entitled “Collective Bargaining Transparency” at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit || ||
|-  
|  ||  ||  || Rob Natelson, Senior Fellow || [[International Relations Task Force]] ||  || Spoke about convening an Article 5 convention at 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit and gave a presentation on "How States Protect the Constitution" at the 2011 Annual Meeting || Authored an ALEC handbook for state lawmakers entitled "Proposing Constitutional Amendments by a Convention of the States” ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Barry Poulson, Senior Fellow || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  || Participates in the  Public Pension Reform Working Group (gave a report on their behalf to the task force at the 2011 annual meeting) || ||
|-
| '''FL''' || [[Foundation for Government Accountability]] || Task force membership || Tarren Bragdon, President and CEO || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] || || Gave a talk titled “Florida’s Health Care Reforms: Health and Welfare Successes in the Sunshine State” at the 2011 States and Nation Policy Summit || Christie Herrera, Vice President of Policy for FGA, is the former director of the HHS task force ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Joyce Errecart, Tax Policy Senior Fellow  || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] || || Gave a presentation on “Tangible Personal Property Business Taxes” at the 2012 States and Nation Policy Summit || ||
|-
| '''FL''' || [[James Madison Institute]] || Task force membership || JMI is a new member as of 2012 || [[Education Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| || || Through staff ||  ||  ||  ||  || [[James M. Taylor]], a member of its Research Advisory Council, is involved with the [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] as a frequent guest speaker ||
|-
| || || || || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] || || || ||
|-
| '''ID''' || [[Idaho Freedom Foundation]] || Sponsorship (of ALEC) ||  || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  || IFF sponsored a 2012 trip for ALEC officials from the HHS task force to meet with Idaho lawmakers to discuss health care policy ||
|-
|  ||  || Public support for ALEC ||  ||  ||  ||  || Executive Director Wayne Hoffman published an article on the foundation's website entitled, "ALEC Helps Promote Good Public Policy" ||
|-
| '''IL''' || [[Illinois Policy Institute]] || Task force membership || Collin Hitt, Director of Education Policy || [[Education Task Force]] || Sponsored the “Local Government Transparency Act” at the 2011 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Amanda Griffin-Johnson || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] || Presented the “State Employee Health Savings Account Act” at the 2011 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Brian Costin, Director of Government Reform, and Ted Dabrowski, Vice President of Policy || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] || Introduced the "Local Government Transparency Act" and the "Pension Funding and Fairness Act,"  respectively, at the 2011 annual meeting ||  ||  ||
|-
| '''IA''' || [[Public Interest Institute]] || Board of Scholars ||  ||  ||  ||  || Richard Vedder, a PII advisory board member, is on [[ALEC Board of Scholars|ALEC's Board of Scholars]] ||
|- 
| '''KS''' || [[Kansas Policy Institute]] || Task force membership || Dave Trabert, President || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  ||  || Jonathan Williams and Barry Poulson, both adjunct fiscal policy fellows at KPI, are involved in the same task force. Williams is the task force director || Poulson is an advisor through other positions in CO (Independence Institute and the University of Colorado)
|- 
| '''KY''' || [[Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy]] || Task force membership || Jim Waters, President || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] || Introduced the "Intrastate Coal and Use Act" at the 2012 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  ||  ||  
|-
| '''LA''' || [[Pelican Institute for Public Policy]] || Sponsorship (from ALEC) ||  ||  ||  ||  || ALEC sponsored the group's "Policy Orientation for the Louisiana Legislature" event in 2011 ||
|-
| '''ME''' || [[Maine Heritage Policy Center]] || Task force membership || Stephen Bowen || [[Education Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  || Stephen Bowen is now the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education
|-
|  ||  || Sponsorship (of ALEC) ||  || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  || Hosted a talk by HHS task force director, Christie Herrera (former) in 2010 ||
|-
| '''MD''' || [[Maryland Public Policy Institute]] || Through staff ||  ||  ||  ||  || Adjunct staff member, Wendell Cox, is former ALEC public policy director ||
|-
| '''MA''' || [[Pioneer Institute]] || Task force membership || || [[Education Task Force|Education]] || || || ||
|-
|  ||  ||  ||  || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| '''MI''' || [[Mackinac Center for Public Policy]] || Task force membership || Paul Kersey, Director of Labor Policy (former) || [[Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force]] || Presented the “Financial Accountability for Public Employee Unions Act,” the “Election Accountability for Municipal Employees Act,” and the “Decertification Elections Act” at the 2012 Spring Task Force Summit ||  ||  || Paul Kersey now works for the [[Illinois Policy Institute]]
|-
|  ||  || Task force subcommittee chairmanship || F. Vincent Vernuccio, Director of Labor Policy || [[Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force]] Labor and Business Regulation Subcommittee Private Sector Chair ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Michael Van Beek, Director of Education Policy || [[Education Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||  
|-
|  ||  ||  || Russ Harding, Senior Fellow || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Jack McHugh, Senior Legislative Analyst || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||  
|-
|  ||  ||  || James Hohman,  Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||  
|-
| '''MN''' || [[Center of the American Experiment]] || Through board member ||  || [[Communications and Technology Task Force]] ||  ||  || CAE board member, John Gibbs, is a private sector member of the task force for Comcast Cable ||
|-
| '''MO''' || [[Show-Me Institute]] || Through staff ||  ||  ||  ||  || Former policy analyst, Christine Harbin, was a research manager at ALEC ||
|-
| '''MT''' || [[Montana Policy Institute]] || Through staff ||  || [[International Relations Task Force]] ||  ||  || MPI senior fellow, Rob Natelson, is task force member representing another SPN member think tank, the Independence Institute (see CO) ||
|-
| '''NJ''' || [[Common Sense Institute]] || Sponsorship (of ALEC) ||  || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  || Hosted a talk by HHS task force director, Christie Herrera (former), in 2011 ||
|-
| '''NM''' || [[Rio Grande Foundation]] || Through staff ||  ||  ||  ||  || RGF founder, Hal Stratton, received the ALEC Legislator of the Year Award in 1981 ||
|-
|  ||  || Sponsorship (of ALEC) ||  || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  || Hosted a talk by former HHS task force director, Christie Herrera, in 2009 ||
|-
| '''NC''' || [[John Locke Foundation]] || Task force membership || Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies || [[Education Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Daren Bakst, Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] ||  || Presentation at 2010 annual meeting: “The Limits of EPA Regulatory Power” ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Joe Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] || Sponsored "Patients First Medicaid Reform Act" at 2010 annual meeting || Discussed health care providers and health care reform at 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Jon Sanders, Director of Regulatory Studies || [[Public Safety and Elections Task Force]] (disbanded) ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Fergus Hodgson, Director of Fiscal Policy Studies || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| || [[John William Pope Civitas Institute]] || Task force membership || || [[Public Safety and Elections Task Force]] || || || ||
|-
| '''NY''' || [[Empire Center for New York State Policy]] || Through parent organization || Paul Howard, [[Manhattan Institute for Policy Research]] Senior Fellow || || || spoke at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting in a Workshop titled, "Rationing By Any Other Name: Medicare's Independent Payment Advisory Board" || ||
|-
| '''OH''' || [[Opportunity Ohio]] || Task force membership || Michael C. Carnuccio, Treasurer || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| '''OK''' || [[Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs]] || Task force membership || Brandon Dutcher, Vice President for Policy || [[Education Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Michael Carnuccio, President || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Jason Sutton, Policy Impact Director (former) || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Jonathan Small || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  || Participated in a panel discussion, "Debunking Tax Myths" at 2012 Spring Task Force Summit ||  ||
|-
| '''OR''' || [[Cascade Policy Institute]] || Through staff ||  || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] ||  ||  || Former CPI vice president, Todd Wynn, is now task force director ||
|-
| '''PA''' || [[Commonwealth Foundation]] || Task force membership || Elizabeth Stelle, Policy Analyst || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||  
|-
|  ||  ||  || Rick Dreyfuss, Senior Fellow || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||  
|-
|  ||  ||  || Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Analysis || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||  
|-
| '''RI''' || [[Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity]] || Through staff|| Bob Williams and Jonathan Williams || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  ||  || Jonathan Williams is director of the task force and Bob Williams is private sector chair. Both are adjunct scholars at RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity  ||  
|-
| '''TX''' || [[Texas Public Policy Foundation]] || Task force membership || Marc Levin, Director, Center for Effective Justice || [[Civil Justice Task Force]] || Sponsored “Resolution on Transparency and Accountability in Criminal Law” in 2011 subcommittee conference ||  || Levin is private sector chair of the Overcriminalization Subcommittee ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Dr. Thomas Lindsay, Director, Center for Higher Education || [[Education Task Force]] ||  ||  || Vice chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee of of the task force as of November 2013 ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Mario Loyola, Director, Center for Tenth Amendment Studies || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] || Introduced “Regional Air Quality Interstate Compact” at 2011 Spring Task Force Summit ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Arlene Wohlgemuth, Executive Director and Director, Center for Health Care Policy || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] || Presented the "Health Professional Modernization Act" at 2010 annual meeting and sponsored "Health Care Compact Act" at 2011 annual meeting ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Marc Levin || [[Public Safety and Elections Task Force]] (disbanded) || * Sponsored the “Resolution on the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act” and the “Provisional Licenses for Ex-Offenders Act” at the 2012 Spring Task Force Summit<br>* “Civil Liability Relief for Employers Hiring Ex-Offenders Act,” the “Treating Accused Persons Fairly Act,” and the “Criminal Intent Protection Act” at the 2011 Spring Task Force Summit<br>* “Juvenile Offender Performance Incentive Funding Act” and “Resolution on Transparency and Accountability in Criminal Law” at 2011 States and Nation Policy Summit<br>* “Resolution in Support of Victim Offender Mediation” at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Talmadge Heflin, Director, Center for Fiscal Policy || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  || Public support for ALEC ||  ||  ||  ||  || Wendy Lee Gramm, chairman of the board, and Brooke Rollins, president and CEO, wrote an op-ed in defense of ALEC in the ''Wall Street Journal'' in May 2012 ||
|-
| '''UT''' || [[Sutherland Institute]] || Sponsorship (of ALEC) ||  ||  ||  ||  || Co-sponsored ALEC 2012 annual meeting ||
|-
| '''WA''' || [[Freedom Foundation]] || Task force membership || Trent England, Vice President of Policy || [[Public Safety and Elections Task Force]] (disbanded) ||  || Participated in a debate, "Electoral College v. National Popular Vote,” at the 2011 annual meeting and gave presentation on the Electoral College at 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Bob Williams, Founder and Senior Fellow; Amber Gunn  || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] || * Williams sponsored the "Defined Contribution Pension Reform Act" at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit and the "Unfunded Pension Liabilities Accounting Act" at the 2011 Spring Task Force Summit</br> * Gunn sponsored the "State Agency Lobbying Reform Act" at the 2011 Spring Task Force Summit || Williams gave two presentations at 2011 meetings: "Broken Budgets in the States" and "State Budget Solutions" || Williams is private sector chair of the Tax task force ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Harry Stille || [[Education Task Force]] || Sponsored the "Performance Audit Act" at the Higher Education Subcommittee Meeting of the 2011 Spring Task Force Summit ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  || Board of Scholars || Bob Williams ||  ||  ||  || Williams is on the Board of Scholars and received the 2011 Private Sector Member of the Year Award ||
|-
| '''WA''' || [[Washington Policy Center]] || [[ALEC State Chairmen|ALEC State Chair of WA]] || Daniel Mead Smith, President ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  || Task force membership || Todd Myers, Director, Center for the Environment || [[Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force]] || Sponsored the "Resolution in Opposition to the EPA’s 'Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule' and the Treatment of Biomass Energy" at the 2010 States and Nation Policy Summit || Presentation at 2011 and 2010 States and Nation Policy Summits: “Eco-Fads: How the Rise of Trendy Environmentalism is Harming the Environment” and "A Fresh Start on the Environment: Good Science and Good Policy for New Majorities," respectively ||  || 
|-
|  ||  ||  || Carl Gipson, Director, Center for Small Business (former) || [[Communications and Technology Task Force]] ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Jason Mercier, Director, Center for Government Reform || [[Public Safety and Elections Task Force]] (disbanded) ||  || Presentation at 2011 Annual Meeting: “Principles of Legislative Transparency” ||  ||
|-
|  ||  ||  || Jason Mercier || [[Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force]] || Sponsored the "Legislative Transparency Act" at the 2011 Spring Task Force Summit ||  ||  ||
|-
| '''WI''' || [[MacIver Institute]] || Through staff || Brian Fraley, former Director of Communications || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  || Fraley was the former private sector co-chair of ALEC's Health and Human Services Task Force ||
|-
| '''WI''' || [[Wisconsin Policy Research Institute]] || Through staff ||  || [[Health and Human Services Task Force]] ||  ||  || Leah Vukmir, public chair of the Health and Human Services Task Force in 2011-2012, was a research fellow and contributing author at WPRI ||
|-
| || || Through staff || || || || || Leah Vukmir is also on the [[ALEC Board of Directors]] ||
|}
 * ''Individual sources for each think tank's ALEC ties are cited in the article on that specific think tank linked in the table.<br>Please follow the internal links or see the full list of [[SPN Members|SPN member think tanks]] for more.''

==SPN Think Tanks and ALEC's Corporate-Sponsored Legislation==

SPN’s role in ALEC is multi-faceted. It is a member and funder, and its member think tanks sit on many ALEC task forces and plan ALEC workshops and trainings. Most importantly, SPN members regularly write bills and bring them to ALEC for consideration as ”model” bills with great success. [[#Bills Introduced and Sponsored by SPN Think Tanks, 2010-2012|Click here for a list of recent known “model” bills introduced by SPN think tanks]].

Back in the states, when ALEC bills are introduced in state legislatures, the SPN think tanks are standing by to write the studies, spin the most favorable data, provide the expert talking points, put out the media releases, and do the press interviews that give an aura of academia to the efforts.  

SPN think tanks have introduced, echoed, presaged, pushed, and reinforced ALEC policies to:

'''1) Attack Unions''': ALEC's "[https://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c8/1R10-Right_to_Work_Act_Exposed.pdf Right to Work Act]" seeks to limit union rights. SPN member state think tanks have published articles and reports supporting "right to work" legislation in at least Alabama,<ref>Alabama Policy Institute, [http://www.alabamapolicy.org/issues/guides/GTI%20-%20Brief%20Right%20to%20Work%20Laws.pdf Guide to the Issues: Right to Work Laws], organizational report, accessed December 2012.</ref> Kentucky,<ref>Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, [http://www.bipps.org/category/right-to-work-2/ Right to Work], organizational website section, accessed December 2012.</ref> Ohio,<ref>Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, [http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/uploads/files/BUCKEYE-ohio-right-to-work-rev2012-3.pdf Ohio Right-to-Work: How the Economic Freedom of Workers Enhances Prosperity], organizational policy report, March 2012.</ref> Delaware,<ref>Garrett Wozniak, [http://www.caesarrodney.org/pdfs/Could_Move_to_Right_to_Work_help_Delaware2.pdf The Time is Now to make Delaware a Right to Work State], Caesar Rodney Institute organizational report, accessed December 2012.</ref> Oregon,<ref>Cascade Policy Institute, [http://cascadepolicy.org/pdf/pub/RighttoWork01.31.12.pdf Right to Work], organizational report, January 31, 2012.</ref> Minnesota,<ref>[http://insightnews.com/news/8456-center-for-the-american-experiment-report-on-right-to-work-legislation-warrants-skepticism-cassutt-says Center for the American Experiment report on Right to Work Legislation warrants skepticism, Cassutt says], ''Insight News'', January 30, 2012.</ref> Indiana,<ref>Ken Zeller, "[http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4J3P-62B0-TX0S-R26C&csi=293520&oc=00240&perma=true Unions, decent work good for economy]" (sub. req'd), ''Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette'', January 23, 2006.</ref><ref>''Indiana Policy Review Journal'', members-only organizational publication, Winter 2012, pp. 16 & 28.</ref> Michigan,<ref>Mackinac Center for Public Policy, [http://www.mackinac.org/16278 Right-to-Work Policy], organizational website, accessed December 2012.</ref> Maine,<ref>J. Scott Moody, [http://www.mainepolicy.org/2012/01/the-case-for-right-to-work-in-maine-examining-the-evidence-in-oklahoma/ The Case for Right-to-Work in Maine: Examining the Evidence in Oklahoma], Maine Heritage Policy Center publication, January 23, 2012.</ref> New Mexico,<ref>P. Gessing, [http://www.riograndefoundation.org/content/new-study-%E2%80%9Cright-work%E2%80%9D-law-could-spur-new-mexico%E2%80%99s-economy-create-thousands-new-jobs New Study: “Right to Work” Law Could Spur New Mexico’s Economy, Create Thousands of New Jobs], Rio Grande Foundation publication, July 10, 2012.</ref> and Pennsylvania.<ref>Nathan Benefield, Commonwealth Foundation, "[http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/right-to-work-works Right to Work Works]," organizational blog, April 29, 2009.</ref>

SPN think tanks join ALEC in pushing a broad agenda to undermine other worker protection including tearing down collective bargaining, prohibiting paid union activity in the form of “release time,” and ending the ability to deduct union dues from paychecks for private and public employees (so-called “paycheck protection”). (See, for example, Michigan’s [[Mackinac Center]]<ref>Brendan Fischer, [https://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11490/koch-funded-mackinac-center-brings-wisconsin-act-10-provisions-alec Koch-Funded Mackinac Center Brings Wisconsin Act 10 Provisions to ALEC], ''PRWatch.org'', May 1, 2012.</ref> and Arizona’s [[Goldwater Institute]].)<ref>Nick Dranias, Byron Schlomach, and Stephen Slivinski, Goldwater Institute, [http://goldwaterinstitute.org/sites/default/files/12-01%20Collective%20Bargaining%20PDF.pdf Save Taxpayers Tens of Billions of Dollars: End Government Sector Collective Bargaining], organizational report, January 24, 2012.</ref>

'''2) Privatize Education''': SPN think tanks join ALEC in pushing a broad education agenda to privatize public schools, including pushing for-profit online schools, for-profit charter schools, using taxpayer dollars for vouchers to for-profit schools, and even so-called “parent triggers” to allow a small group of parents to close a public school for current and future students, and turn the school into a charter school or require a voucher system. (See, for example, [[Texas Public Policy Foundation|Texas]],<ref>James Golsan, Texas Public Policy Foundation, [http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/education-policy/blog/california%E2%80%99s-parent-trigger-causes-stir California’s Parent-Trigger Causes Stir], organizational blog, September 7, 2012.</ref> [[Goldwater Institute|Arizona]],<ref>Gary Grado, [http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2012/02/20/%E2%80%98parent-empowerment%E2%80%99-bill-has-roots-in-democratic-republican-circles/ ‘Parent empowerment’ bill has roots in Democratic, Republican circles], ''Arizona Capitol Times'', February 20, 2012.</ref> [[Pacific Research Institute|California]], [[James Madison Institute|Florida]], [[Illinos Policy Institute|Illinois]], [[Maine Heritage Policy Center|Maine]], [[Pioneer Institute|Massachusetts]], [[Alaska Policy Forum|Alaska]], [[Arkansas Policy Foundation|Arkansas]], [[Caesar Rodney Institute|Delaware]], [[Georgia Public Policy Foundation|Georgia]], [[MacIver Institute|Wisconsin]], [[Grassroot Institute of Hawaii|Hawaii]], [[Maryland Public Policy Institute|Maryland]], [[Mississippi Center for Public Policy|Mississippi]], [[Platte Institute for Economic Research|Nebraska]], [[Nevada Policy Research Institute|Nevada]], [[John Locke Foundation|North Carolina]], [[South Carolina Policy Council|South Carolina]], [[Tennessee Center for Policy Research|Tennessee]], [[Ethan Allen Institute|Vermont]], [[Thomas Jefferson Institute|Virginia]], and [[Wyoming Liberty Group|Wyoming]].)

'''3) Privatize Public Pension Systems''': SPN think tanks join ALEC in pushing to privatize public employee pension systems, making them 401(k)-style defined contribution type accounts rather than defined benefit plans. (See, for example, [[Yankee Institute for Public Policy|Connecticut]],<ref>Yankee Institute for Public Policy, [http://www.yankeeinstitute.org/2011/04/states-struggle-to-meet-pension-liabilities/ States Struggle to Meet Pension Liabilities], organizational blog, April 26, 2011.</ref> [[Wyoming Liberty Group|Wyoming]],<ref>Maureen Bader, Wyoming Liberty Group, [http://wyliberty.org/feature/more-money-for-pensions-means-less-money-for-roads/ More Money for Pensions Means Less Money for Roads], organizational blog, December 18, 2012.</ref> [[Evergreen Freedom Foundation|Washington]], and [[Illinois Policy Institute|Illinois]].)

'''4) Rollback Environmental Initiatives''': ALEC's "[https://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/49/3C0-ALEC_State_Withdrawal_from_Regional_Climate_Initiatives_Exposed.pdf State Withdrawal from Regional Climate Initiatives]" would allow states to pull out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiatative or the Western Climate Initiative, cap-and-trade programs to cut greenhouse gases and carbon-dioxide emissions, and uses language that denies climate change. SPN state think tanks have published articles and reports supporting states' withdrawals from these regional initiatives in at least [[Alabama Policy Institute|Alabama]],<ref>Alabama Policy Institute, [http://www.alabamapolicy.org/issues/guides/GTI%20-%20Brief%20Cap%20and%20Trade.pdf Guide to the Issues: Cap and Trade], organizational report, accessed December 2012.</ref> [[Arkansas Policy Foundation|Arkansas]],<ref>[http://www.thecitywire.com/?q=node/7332 Cap-and-trade could kill more than 20,000 Arkansas jobs], ''The City Wire'', December 15, 2009.</ref> [[Beacon Center of Tennessee|Tennessee]],<ref>Beacon Center of Tennessee, [http://www.beacontn.org/2010/10/tcpr-warns-against-cap-and-trades-impact-on-our-state/ TCPR warns against cap and trade’s impact on TN], organizational publication, October 11, 2010.</ref> [[Caesar Rodney Institute|Delaware]],<ref>[http://patrickdavisconsulting.com/2011/11/ Carper deserves our gratitude for his fight for cleaner air], ''News Journal'', October 24, 2012.</ref> [[Cascade Policy Institute|Oregon]],<ref>Cascade Policy Institute, [http://cascadepolicy.org/news/2009/03/06/cap-and-trade-in-oregon-a-primer-for-legislators-and-citizens/ Cap-and-Trade in Oregon], organizational report, 2009.</ref> [[Common Sense Institute|New Jersey]],<ref>Cheryl K. Chumley, [http://www.csinj.org/2011/06/governor-christie-withdraws-new-jersey-from-climate-pact/ Governor Christie Withdraws New Jersey from Climate Pact], Heartland Institute commentary on the Common Sense Institute of New Jersey website, June 15, 2011.</ref> [[Montana Policy Institute|Montana]],<ref>Montana Policy Institute, [http://web.archive.org/web/20101227210032/http://www.montanapolicy.org/files/pdf/Montana_Policy_Institute_Cap_Trade_Study_2010.pdf The Montana Economy: How Will Climate Change Legislation Impact Economic & Job Growth?], organizational report, January 2010.</ref> [[Thomas Jefferson Institute|Virginia]],<ref>Thomas Jefferson Institute, [http://www.thomasjeffersoninst.org/files/3/CapTradeReports.pdf Economic Impact on Virginia from Proposed Cap and Trade Legislation], organizational report, August 2009.</ref> and [[Yankee Institute for Public Policy|Connecticut]].<ref>"[http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4DPS-GNR0-TWTB-W24V&csi=279860&oc=00240&perma=true 'Startling economic ramifications’ to follow greenhouse gas legislation]" (sub. req'd.), ''The U.S. Coal Review'', March 29, 2004.</ref>

'''5) Disenfranchise People of Color, the Elderly, and Students''': ALEC’s “[https://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/d9/7G16-VOTER_ID_ACT_Exposed.pdf Voter ID Act]” makes it more difficult for American citizens to vote. It would change identification rules so that citizens who have been registered to vote for decades must show certain kinds of ID in order to vote. This bill disenfranchises college students and many low-income, minority, and elderly Americans who do not have driver’s licenses but have typically used other forms of ID.<ref>Brennan Center for Justice, [http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/study_new_voting_restrictions_may_affect_more_than_five_million/ Study: New Voting Restrictions May Affect More than Five Million], academic organization press release, October 3, 2011.</ref> SPN state think tanks have published articles and reports supporting voter ID bills in at least Arkansas,<ref>Dan Greenberg, [http://www.advancearkansas.org/storage/eyedeeweb.pdf Requiring Voter ID: Bad for Voter Fraud, Good for Voter Turnout], Advance Arkansas Institute report, March 21, 2011.</ref> Washington state,<ref>Evergreen Freedom Foundation, [http://myfreedomfoundation.com/causes/publication/detail/eff-urges-us-supreme-court-to-uphold-voter-identification-law EFF urges U.S. Supreme Court to uphold voter identification law], organizational publication, December 11, 2007.</ref> North Carolina,<ref>Alex Rector, [http://www.nccivitas.org/2012/another-look-at-voter-photo-id-myths-and-f-a-q-s/ Another Look at Voter Photo ID Myths and F.A.Q.'s], John W. Pope Civitas Institute organizational publication, June 22, 2012.</ref> and Wisconsin.<ref>Mike Nichols, [http://www.wpri.org/Commentary/2011/1.11/Ni1.13.11/Ni1.13.11.html Voter ID? How About Candidate ID?], Wisconsin Policy Research Institute organizational publication, January 13, 2011.</ref>

===Bills Introduced and Sponsored by SPN Think Tanks, 2010-2012===

* Arizona’s [[Goldwater Institute]]:
** "School Choice Directory Act" (2012)
** "District and School Freedom Act" (2012)
** "Health Freedom Compact Act" (2011)
** "Constitutional Defense Council Legislation" (2011)
** "Model State Sovereignty Civil Rights Law" (2011)
** "Sovereign State Interstate Compact" (2011)
** "Subsidy Truce Compact" (2011)
** "Model Legislation for Universal Regulatory Tax Credits" (2011)
** "Prohibition on Paid Union Activity (Release Time) by Public Employees Act" (2011)
** "Public Employee Paycheck Protection Act" (2011)
** "Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards Initiative" (2011)
** "Resolution Opposing the Implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative" (2011)
** "Insurance Compact Enabling Act" (2010) - withdrawn by sponsors
** "The A-Plus Literacy Act" (2010)
** "State Sovereignty through Local Coordination Act" (2010)
** "The Balanced Budget Certification Act" (2010)
** "A Constitutional Amendment Requiring State Approval for Increases in Federal Debt" (2010)
** "The Spending Evaluation Act" (2010)
* Colorado’s [[Independence Institute]]:
** Amendments to "Open Enrollment Act" (2010)
* [[Illinois Policy Institute]]:
** "Local Government Transparency Act" (2011)
** "State Employee Health Savings Account Act" (2011)
** "Pension Funding and Fairness Act" (2011)
* Kentucky’s [[Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions]]:
** "Intrastate Coal and Use Act" (2012)
* Michigan’s [[Mackinac Center for Public Policy]]:
** "Financial Accountability for Public Employee Unions Act" (2012)
** "Election Accountability for Municipal Employees Act" (2012)
** "Decertification Elections Act" (2012)
* North Carolina’s [[John Locke Foundation]]:
** "Patients First Medicaid Reform Act" (2010)
* [[Texas Public Policy Foundation]]:
** "Resolution on the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act" (2012)
** "Provisional Licenses for Ex-Offenders Act" (2012)
** "Civil Liability Relief for Employers Hiring Ex-Offenders Act" (2011)
** "Treating Accused Persons Fairly Act" (2011)
** "Criminal Intent Protection Act" (2011)
** "Juvenile Offender Performance Incentive Funding Act" (2011)
** "Resolution on Transparency and Accountability in Criminal Law" (2011)
** "Regional Air Quality Interstate Compact" (2011)
** "Health Care Compact Act" (2011)
** "Health Professional Modernization Act" (2010)
** "Resolution in Support of Victim Offender Mediation" (2010)
* Washington State’s [[Freedom Foundation]]:
** "Performance Audit Act" (2011)
** "State Agency Lobbying Reform Act" (2011)
** "Unfunded Pension Liabilities Accounting Act" (2011)
** "Defined Contribution Pension Reform Act" (2010)
* [[Washington Policy Center]]:
** "Resolution in Opposition to the EPA’s ‘Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule’ and the Treatment of Biomass Energy" (2010)
** "Legislative Transparency Act" (2011)

==Articles and Resources==

===Related SourceWatch Articles===

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===Related PRWatch Articles===

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===External Resources===

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===References===
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[[Category:Think tanks]][[category:foundations]][[category:education]][[Category:ALEC Non-Profits]][[Category:ALEC Members]][[Category:Right wing]][[Category:Politics (U.S.)]]