{"id":19297,"date":"2013-06-25T15:45:35","date_gmt":"2013-06-25T19:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=19297"},"modified":"2013-06-26T11:03:51","modified_gmt":"2013-06-26T15:03:51","slug":"progressive-groups-target-alec-for-damaging-influence-on-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/06\/25\/progressive-groups-target-alec-for-damaging-influence-on-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Progressive Groups Target ALEC For “Damaging Influence” On Education"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Left-leaning<\/a>

sheelamohan\/freedigitalphotos.net<\/p>

Left-leaning groups blame ALEC for bad education policy around the country.<\/p><\/div>\n

An organization which crafts model legislation for states<\/a> is catching blame for education policies it has supported around the country.<\/p>\n

The American Legislative Exchange Council \u2013 better known as ALEC<\/a> – describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan organization that focuses on policy relating to “free markets, limited government and constitutional division of powers between the federal and state governments.”<\/p>\n

Former Gov. Jeb Bush describes ALEC as \u201ca group of reform-minded center-right legislators<\/a> that convene. They have a policy focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

ALEC is in the cross hairs of nine left-of-center groups that put together a report detailing its \u201cdamaging influence\u201d on public education policy.<\/p>\n

Their feelings are clear in the report’s title \u2013 ALEC v. Kids: ALEC’s Assault On Public Education<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So what do these groups believe ALEC has done wrong?<\/p>\n

Progress Florida<\/a> political director Damien Filer issued this statement:<\/p>\n

\n

ALEC provides Florida members with \u201cissue alerts,\u201d \u201ctalking points,\u201d and \u201cpress release templates\u201d expressing support or opposition to state legislation, despite its claims that \u201cALEC does not lobby in any state.\u201d<\/p>\n

The organization also tracks the status of its model bills in legislatures and bills it does not like, and sends its employees to testify in support of its bills in state houses across the country. ALEC model legislation has been introduced in Florida\u2019s legislature, at times word for word.<\/p>\n

Despite claims to the contrary, ALEC\u2019s agenda is not based upon ideology, but rather upon financial rewards for its corporate funders.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The report notes that ALEC’s \u201ccorporate members pay $7,000 to $25,000 to join, and have opportunities for greater sponsorship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the report’s findings:<\/p>\n