FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
December 6, 2013
Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org
Leaked Documents Show MI Legislators Asked to Take Pledge Putting Corporate Bill Mill Ahead of Constituents
Leak shows how far American Legislative Exchange Council will push its members to protect its interests
LANSING — New leaked documents show that corporate bill mill group the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) asked state chairs, including Michigan State Representative Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) and Senator Mike Green (R-Mayville) to sign a pledge stating: “I will act with loyalty and put the interests of the organization first.”
The ALEC pledge to put corporate interests over the concerns of Michiganders was detailed in a report from The Guardian earlier this week. Documents show that 30 Michigan lawmakers — 20 percent of the legislature — belong to the corporate-backed group. Although ALEC claims the pledge was never adopted, the leaked documents demonstrate the group’s thirst to control their members and influence policy around the country.
Rep. Nesbitt and Sen. Mike Green are the chairs of ALEC’s Michigan chapter, according to the organization’s website.
“It is shameful that any democratically elected official would be a member of an organization that asks them to pledge allegiance to a shadowy, corporate-backed bill mill over the needs of the constituents they are elected to represent,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “Michigan’s ALEC state chairs, Rep. Aric Nesbitt and Sen. Mike Green, should immediately denounce ALEC’s loyalty oath and apologize to taxpayers. All Michigan legislators involved in ALEC should end their membership and pay back any taxpayer money that has been used to pay their dues.”
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Pretty sure that my NC legislators have also signed the pledge. Thom Tillis won some ALEC award this week.
This should be headline news as this is scandalous. This is treasonous to the oath they took when they took office. It’s treason. Not only should they pay back any money they should step down from office.
Can we see the leaked documents with the signature? I am not a fan of Senator Mike Green but I have already questioned him about this and he denies this allegation. In the interest of balanced and fair reporting, proof is needed.
Gregory, we didn’t say he signed the pledge merely that they saw the pledge.
“Although ALEC claims the pledge was never adopted, the leaked documents demonstrate the group’s thirst to control their members and influence policy around the country.”
L. Thomas I couldn’t have said it better. They need to step down from office, immediately.