FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Contact: Jessica Tramontana, 517.974.6302, jessica@progressmichigan.org
Progress Michigan Applauds GM Cutting Ties With Controversial Lobby Group ALEC
LANSING – General Motors’ decision today to drop their ALEC membership is being applauded by citizens group Progress Michigan. This decision came after nearly 10,000 people signed an online petition calling on GM to drop its membership with the controversial American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Other major corporations have already cut ties with ALEC, including Amazon, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Kraft, McDonald’s, and Procter & Gamble]. ALEC is a corporate bill factory that gives “model bills” for state legislators to submit as their own.
“GM has made the right decision and listened to the 10,000 Michiganders who wanted them to drop their ALEC membership,” said Zack Pohl, Executive Director of Progress Michigan. “We have lead the charge by calling on major corporations to demonstrate leadership by cutting ties with ALEC membership, and we’re proud that GM is the latest in a litany of businesses who are cutting ties with a lobbying organization posing as a non-profit.”
ALEC is registered in Michigan with Attorney General Bill Schuette’s Office as a charitable organization, as well as at the federal level where it enjoys tax-exempt status under section 501 (c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. A letter sent to Attorney General Schuette on Tuesday, May 1st charges that ALEC is primarily a lobbying organization and may therefore be in violation of its tax exempt status.
You can view Progress Michigan’s online petition calling on GM to do the right thing here:
https://secure3.convio.net/pn/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2417
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