4m111111t____________________________________ From: phil@philking.com Thursday, July 02, 2015 7:08 PM Sen.Vukmir Fwd: Update on llAlive Atlanta Sent: To: Subject: Leah, I think the ALEC team handled this very well. There is not a good outcome to this type of unprofessional media ever. But ALEC has managed it as well as can be. Phil State Representative Phil King Begin forwarded message: From: Wilhelm Meierling Date: July 2, 2015 at 4:43:14 PM CDT To: Lisa Nelson , Molly Fuhs , Ashley Varner , Jeff Lambert , Phil King , ''Chuck Martin (chuck@martinforgeorgia.com) 11 , 11 famorris@ups.com" , 11 judson@judsonhill.com" , "bruce.williamson@williamsongroup.us 11 , "sgooch@windstream.net 11 Cc: Wilhelm Meierling Subject: Update on llAlive Atlanta Team, There's been a lot of back and forth with WXI.A NBC 11Alive over the course of the day. I'll provide an in depth assessment below, but the short story is the piece will air tonight and include an ALEC statement sent yesterday evening. As indicated by WXIA, the piece will claim a lack of transparency, highlight that both the public and private sector vote on model policy, and question the nonprofit educational status of the organization .' Without the benefit of seeing the forthcoming piece, it seems that there is nothing new here. Keefe will say exactly what has been said by the Center for Media and Democracy for several years . .A recycled story (even In a new market) should fall flat more quickly than a new story (like the one that aired around STFS). In my assessment, it seems that the series of stories is coming to a conclusion. It has run its course, and if the reporter is now defaulting to a tired, rehashed story, there's not much left to say. In addition, we can now easily deny credentials and attribute it to his routine attack .of ALEC. Details: On a call with the WXlA news director, ALEC representatives: - questioned· the journalistic ethics of the station - asked why they wouldn't tell a more balanced story - offered Interviews with Representative Chuck Martin or National Chairman Phil King 66 . :·: I· ···.··:.,. WXJ.A staff indicated: - They would not pull the story - TI1ey reached out to 20 GA legislators. 18 did not respond. 2 declined interview - They reached out to ALEC twice for interviews. (This is technically true but disingenuous ... at 10:17AM on June 2, Keefe sent an emall requesting an 11:00AM interview as he happened to be in DC on assignment. His second outreach was similar) - They \f\lill be running a story on a liberal group although they did not disclose which one or what it would cover ALEC has issued a preemptive statement that highlights our transparency and value here: http://www.a lec.orn&!Jy-2-alec-statement-oo-wxla-atlanta/ In a separate email, I will serid the full text of the post to everyone on this email so you can share wit h key opinion leaders, constituents and members of your delegation. 11Alive has already posted the ALEC statement along with their interpretation (it seems to me that we have gotten under their skin): http://www.11a IIve. co m/sto ry/n ews/loca Iii nvestigations/2015/07 /02/a lec1 la live-atla nta-report/29632701/ We will not be able to watch the piece live, but have contacts in GA that will. As soon as we have more information, I will communicate it to this group. Best, Bill Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs M- 202-725-5026 wmelerlinq@alec.org 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 67 . ··.-.. From: Wilhelm Meierling Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2015 8:53 PM To: Jennifer Rigby; Ericka Palmer Subject: ALEC and 11Alive - Thursday llpm Dear Jennifer and Erika: Brendan Keefe's twitter feed indicates you will air a story tomorrow night at 11:00 PM that calls into question the tax-exempt status of the American Legislative Exchange Council. Any allegation of the sort is purely false . The Exchange Council is com pliant w ith all IRS regu lations and state ethics laws. I presume the story will be based on a 2011 Common Cause-IRS complaint. To date, the IRS has taken no action (because we are compliant with their regulations). In 2012, Common Cause Minnesota fifed a complaint with the state ethics commission based on the original IRS complaint. Attached are the findings issued this February by the independent Minnesota panel. In short: ALEC does not lobby ALEC is a nonprofit organization ALEC policy discussions are in the abstract and not focused on any state ALEC did not violate ethics/registration laws This has been covered by U.S. News and World Report. Before you broadcast a potentially inaccurate segment, I wanted you to have all the facts. In addition, in pr~vious stories Keefe has manufactured outrage regarding ALEC meetings where legislators meet with stakeholders of all types to discuss and draft model policy in an academic context when our operation is not only accepted, but commonplace In the state policy arena. The meetings ALEC hosts are nearly identical to those held by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CSG), the Southern Legislative Conference and the State Innovation Exchange to name just a few. All of the aforementioned grou ps along w ith the National Conference of Com m issioners of Uniform State Laws {N CCUSL) produce model policy. In fact. from July 18-22. the Southern Legislative Conference is meeting at t he same hotel where ALEC members met in M ay. In 2014, Georgia taxpayers paid nearly half-a-million dollars to NCSL ($267,212.00), CSG ($215,753.00) and NCCUSL ($55,000.00) (spreadsheet attached; source: http://www.open.georgia .gov/psa/poSearch.aud). This is likely only a small fraction of the actual taxpayer expenditure as publicly available information reports only the appropriation, not the (taxpayerfunded) travel reimbursement for state legislators who attend their meetings. The difference between ALEC and these other groups is that A~EC is not taxpayer-funded, while all other groups accept taxpayer funds as well as nonprofit, foundation and corporate donations. Perhaps the story should not be about ALEC doing exactly what any number of organizations do. Perhaps instead the story should be about where taxpayer funds are being spent and what ROI those expenditures have returned . ALEC supports legislators' continuing education from whatever sources they find valuable. Many Georgia legislators attend AL.EC, NCSL, CSG and SLC meetings because they want to hear as many 61 . .• • ·" ... Having now made multiple statements, and considering they have declined an interview with us, it is safe to say we are done responding to or engaging with this reporter. ,f ,, " Thanks to the folks on this email who haye shared the ALEC statement on social media with Georgia KOLc;. Best, Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------From: Wilhelm Meierling Date: 07/02/2015 5:49 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Lisa Nelson , Molly Fuhs , Ashley Varner , Jeff Lambert , "Chuck Martin (chuck@martinforgeorgia.com)" , famorris@ups.com, judson@judsonhm.com, bruce.williamson@williamsongroup.us, sgooch@windstream.net, Phil King , 11 Benjta Dodd (Qenitadodd@georgiapolicy.org)" Subject: July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA.Atlanta July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta http://www.alec.org/july-2-alec-statement-on-wxia-atlanta/ The 11 PM ET broadcast of WXIA/ NBC 11 Alive tonight will include a segment that follows a common yet erroneous storyline that has played out repeatedly over the past four years. WXIA will make claims of impropriety when ALEC member engagement is both commonplace in the state policy arena and incredibly valuable for the continuing education of state legislators. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, ALEC works in the public interest by. providing nonpartisan research study and analysis of state policy issues. WXIA will claim a lack of transparency when in fa~t ALEC is among the most transparent state policy organization. ALEC releases draft policy, adopted model policy, financial statements. reimbursement policies and all reports to the public. In addition, ALEC has made the following statements: About ALEC ALEC state reimbursement policy ALEC transparency and public engagement Below is the statement sent by ALEC to WXIA in advance of the story. 60 ' . - •·.· .• t· >'.·:··-· ' ·. . • . •• • • ·,· •.•.•. ~· ~----------------------------------From: Sent: State Rep Friday, July 03, 2015 10:03 AM To: Wilhelm Meierling; Lisa Nelson Cc: Subject: Sen.Vukmir Re: July 2 ALEC Statement on WXlA Atlanta He said submit your questions. I assume they will be posted. Should we insert some questions? Should we take any other action? What do the Georgia members want us to do? They said twice "millions have seen this story." Think that's accurate? State Representative Phil King On Jul 3, 2015, at 9:23 AM, Wilhelm Meierling wrote: The llAlive segment just went live. More manufactured outrage, but nothing new. htt12 ://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/investigations/2015/07/02/alec-1 lalive-atlantareport/29632701/ Having now made multiple statements, and considering they have declined an interview with us, it is safe to say we are done responding to or engaging with this reporter. Thanks to the folks on this email who have shared the ALEC statement on social media with Georgia KOLs. Best, Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------From: Wilhelm Meierling Date: 07/02/2015 5:49 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Lisa Nelson , Molly Fuhs , Ashley Varner , Jeff Lambert , "Chuck Martin (chuck@marti nforgeorgia.com)" , famorris·@ ups.com, judson@judsonhill.com, bruce.wilLiamson@williamsongroup.us, sgooch@windstream .net, Phil King , "Benita Dodd (benitadodd@georgiapolicy.org) '' Subject: July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta http://www.alec.org/july-2-alec-statement-on-wxia-atlanta/ 63 differing viewpoints as possible to ensure they make the best possible decisions for the Georgians they represent. Good government comes from the assessment of a vast marketplace of Ideas, not a paucity ' of thought. Best, Bill Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs 62 The 11 PM ET broadcast of WXIA/ NBC 11 Alive tonight will include a segment that follows a common \y,et erroneous storyline that has played out repeatedly over the past four years. WXIA will make claims of impropriety when ALEC member engagement is both commonplace in the state policy arena and incredibly valuable for the continuing education of state legislators. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, ALEC works in the public interest by providing nonpartisan research study and analysis of state policy issues. WXIA will claim a lack of transparency when in fact ALEC is among the most transparent state policy organization. ALEC releases draft policy, adopted model policy, financial statements, reimbursement policies and all reports to the public. In addition, ALEC has made the following statements: About ALEC ALEC state reimbursement policy ALEC transparency and public engagement Below is the statement sent by ALEC to WXIA in advance of the story. From: Wilhelm Meierling Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2015 8:53 PM To: Jennifer Rigby; Ericka Palmer Subj~ct: ALEC and 11Alive - Thursday 11pm Dear Jennifer and Erika: Brendan Keefe's twitter feed indicates you will air a story tomorrow night at 11:00 PM that calls into question the tax-exempt status of the American Legislative Exchange Council. Any allegation of the sort is purely false. The Exchange Council Is compliant with all IRS regulat ions and state ethics laws. I presume the story will be based on a 2011 Common Cause-IRS complaint. To date, the IRS has taken no action (because we are compliant with their regulations) . In 2012, Common Cause Minnesota filed a complaint with the state ethics commission based on the original IRS complaint. Attached are the findings issued this February by the independent Minnesota panel. In short: ALEC does not lobby ALEC is a nonprofit organization ALEC policy discussions are in the abstract and not focused on any state ALEC did not violate ethics/registration laws This has been covered by U.S. News and World Reoort. Before you broadcast a potentially inaccurate segment, I wanted you to have all the facts. In addition, in previous stories Keefe has manufactured outrage regarding-ALEC meetings where legislators meet with stakeholders of all types to discuss and draft model policy in an academic context 64 when our operation is not only accepted, but commonplace in the state policy arena. The meetings ALEC hosts are nearly identical to those held by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CSG), the Southern Legislative Conference and the State Innovation Exchange to name just a few. All of the aforementioned groups along with the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) produce model policv. In fact. from Julv 18-22. the Southern Legislative Conference is meeting at the same hote l where ALEC members met In May. In 2014, Georgia taxpayers paid nearly half-a-million dollars to NCSL ($267,212.00), CSG ($215,753 .00) and NCCUSL ($55,000.00) (spreadsheet attached; source: http:Uwww.open.georgia.gov/psa/poSearch.aud). This is likely only a small fraction of the actual taxpayer expenditure as publicly available information reports only the appropriation, not the (taxpayerfunded) travel reimbursement for state legislators who attend their meetings. The difference between ALEC and these other groups is that ALEC is not taxpayer-funded, while all other groups accept taxpayer funds as well as nonprofit, foundation and corporate donations. Perhaps the story should not be about ALEC doing exactly what any number of organizations do. Perhaps instead the story should be about where taxpayer funds are being spent and what ROI those expenditures have returned. ALEC supports legislators' continuing education from whatever sources they find valuable. Many Georgia legislators attend ALEC, NCSL, CSG and SLC meetings because they want to hear as many differing viewpoints as possible to ensure they make the best possible decisions for the Georgians they represent. Good government comes from the assessment of a vast marketplace of ideas, not a paucity of thought. Best, Bill Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs 65 .. ... ·t -;-:, - .•. --: .• . -.~ v<:;:,:-:-'. . .•·•-";,.~ ... ·- <·. - • • • • ,· -. .-·-_ -~---~<=:· -~ ~- .·_ ;.~~--.-.}~:... 'f,,"."' ._ . _ ... • .·.:_ _ • • • ..;.·.. • - . -: ~ - 1... ·.;..;' .....,_____________________________________ From: Vukmir, Leah Friday, July 03, 2015 3:33 PM Lisa Nelson Re: Exciting programming at Annual Meeting Sent: To: Subject: Figured I Sent from my iPhone On Jul 3, 2015, at 11:49 AM, Lisa Nelson wrote: I'd rather have you find someone from your delegation to go. I'd like you at the board mtg. We are trying to find S more legislators to attend. Lisa B. Nelson Lnelson@alec.org (202) 573-1334 On Jul 3, 2015, at 12:37 PM, Vukmir, Leah wrote: Is Phil going? Do you need me to go? Sent from my iPhone On Jul 1, 2015, at 4:40 PM, Lisa Nelson wrote: Dear ALEC Board, Given that San Diego is known for its industry concentration in healthcare and life sciences, we are developing special programming during the annual meeting. On Tuesday, July 21, the day before the meeting begins (and during our board meeting), we will hold our firstever ALEC Life Sciences Retreat. Legislators attending this retreat will meet with scientists, take tours of biopharmaceutical facilities and get a firsthand look at the process of discovery. We have invited members from across the country and currently have 35 legislators confirmed for the tour, but I need your help to reach our goal of SO legislative attendees. We hope that each of you can identify one legislator from your delegation that you'd like to invite to this special event. Here is a brief schedule of the Life Sciences Retreat on Tuesday, July 21: • 1:00 pm - Pick up at the Manchester Grand Hyatt departing to • • La Jolla 1:30 pm - Light snacks at meeting location 2:00 pm - Lectu-re and discussion 9 .;.- ••, • : ·>. ·-::: ·: • • • • i.~: .. _ .··- ·...... :....J·.::,; ·.. ;····;· ;_ ·,·:--:· ·.-· :-· . 3:30 pm - Departure to various company locations for facility tours 5:00 pm - Spouse departure from Grand Hyatt to Life Sciences Retreat Reception 5:15 pm - Departure from facilities to the Life Sciences Retreat Reception at La Valencia Hotel. 8:00 pm - Depart reception for the Manchester Grand Hyatt Please think of a legislator in your state who would benefit from attending this invitation-only retreat and send his or her name to Spencer Chretien at schretien@alec.org. For your reference, I've attached a list of the legislators who are confirmed as attendees on the retreat. I can't wait to see all of you t his month in San Diego. Thank you for what you're doing to make both our Annual Meeting and our Life Sciences Retreat a success. With thanks, Lisa Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 o) 571-482-5000 Upcoming Meetings: 2015 Annual Meeting-July 22 - 24, 2015 - San Diego, California 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit - December 2-4, 2015 Scotsdale, Arizona The American Legislative Exchange Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and Is the fargest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization .o f state legislators in the United States dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and . federalism. The Councif is go verned by state legislators who comprise the National Board of Legislators and Is advi~ed by the Private Enterprise Advisory Counclf, a group of private, foundation and think tank members. Website I Facebook I Twitter I Blog 10 '. (~ _._ - .-.· ·~·'• · - -• • - · · 'I,• • - t ··- ..:;::_; .:_: ~ -.. ~· .·.·:·>-- .....;:: . .. .• - .. ____,, :·-::·.·;: (··: ·f· ·- --- .. -- ----------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Vukmir, Leah Wednesday, July 08, 2015 9:36 PM Jimmy Wall Re: Jeffersonian Project Board Meeting - San Diego imageOOlJpg I will be there on the 20th - think I get in around noon. Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2015, at 1:16 PM, Jimmy Wall wrote: Good afternoon, We are trying to schedule a Jeffersonian Project board meeting in San Diego around the ALEC Annual Meeting. Please let me know if you plan on traveling to San Diego, and if so, when you will be arriving. As of right now, we are.trying to fit this meeting in on Monday (7 /20). Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you, Jimmy Wall (614) 949-0304 jwall@jeffersonian-project.org 7 ~----------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Vukmir, Leah Tuesday, July 14, 2015 4:38 AM Lisa Nelson Accepted: Jeffersonian Project Board Meeting 5 .. .· .. _ -.· ._...-._-_:-_:_-••_.-_ .._._:..__ 1···.··.--.·-.·-·-.•••·••·-_-._- -.-:· . •: ·-<< •-:-::-:-:- _ -:·~ -.;·.- ··.·.·--.·-·.· ...·.·--. • .. ••• •• • 0 - : . · . · ·. . . . . • A-":_,• IJllmllll~-------------------------------------From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Wilhelm Meierling Friday, July 03, 2015 10:20 AM phil@philking.com; Lisa Nelson . Sen.Vukmir Re: July 2 ALEC Statement or:i WXIA Atlanta The Georgians are "over it. 11 Chuck Martin indicated he doesn't let the news media dictate his travel decisions and that WXIA is the "5th of 4 television stations in Atlanta." I have submitted questions already. The call of questions is related to an ALEC Q&A Keefe will do on the 5/6pm news today. I'm positive he won't broadcast any balanced or positive questions. Re: the viewership of this series, it is certainly a wild exaggeration. Although nearly all viewership has been as a result of online rebroadcast by media matters whose audience is comprised solely of progressive activists. We will never get a fair or neutral story from this outlet. We even offered them interviews and they declined. Out focus for annual meeting will be to drown his stories out with other positive stories. Wilhelm Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs American Legislative Exchange Council On Fri, Jul 3, 2015 at 8:03 AM -0700, "State Rep" wrote: He said submit your questions. I assume they will be posted. Should we insert some questions? Should we take any other action? What do the Georgia members want us to do? They said twice "millions have seen this story." Think that's accurate? State Representative Phil King On Jul 3, 2015, at 9:23 AM, Wilhelm Meierling wrote: The llAlive segment just went live. More manufactured outrage, but nothing new. http://www.U alive.com/story/newsDocal/investigations/2015/07 /02/alec-l lalive-atlantareport/29632701/ 59 ... 1.·.<-.-:-:.;._ ·.·.·,·- :-; . . ·: Having now made multiple statements, and considering they have declined an interview with us, it is safe to say we are done responding to or engaging with this reporter. Thanks to the folks on this email who have shared the ALEC statement on social media with Georgia KOLs. Best, Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone -------- Original message -------From: Wilhelm Meierling Date: 07/02/2015 5:49 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Lisa Nelson , Molly Fuhs , Ashley Varner , Jeff Lambert , "Chuck Martin (chuck@martinforgeorgia.com)" , famorris@ups.com, judson@judsonhill.com, bruce.williamson@williamsongroup.us, sgooch@windstream.net, Phil King , "Benita Dodd (Qenitadodd@georgiapolicy.org)" Subject: July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta http://www.alec.org/july-2-a lec-statement-on-wxia-atlanta/ The 11 PM ET broadcast of WXIA/ NBC 11 Alive tonight will include a segment that follows a common yet erroneous storyline that has played out repeatedly over the past four years. WXIA will make claims of impropriety when ALEC member engagement is both commonplace in the state policy arena and incredibly valuable for the continuing education of state legislators. As a 50l(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, ALEC works in the public interest by providing nonpartisan research study and analysis of state policy issues. WXIA will claim a lack of transparency when in fact ALEC is among the most transparent state policy organization. ALEC releases draft policy, adopted model policy, financial statements, reimbursement policies and all reports to the public. In addition, ALEC has made the following statements: About ALEC ALEC state reimbursement policy ALEC transparency and public engagement Below is the statement sent by ALEC to WXIA in advance of the story. 50 ·.· .•, . I I- .·.·.•.·.~~ o • · : ·· From: Wilhelm Meierling Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2015 8:53 PM To: Jennifer Rigby; Ericka Palmer Subject: ALEC and 11Alive - Thursday 11pm Dear Jennifer and Erika: Brendan Keefe's twitter feed indicates you will air a story tomorrow night at 11:00 PM that calls into question the tax-exempt status of the American Legislative Exchange Council. Any allegation of the sort is purely false. The Exchange Council is compliant with all IRS regulations and state ethics laws. I presume the story will be based on a 2011 Common Cause-IRS complaint. To date, the IRS has taken no action (because we are compliant with their regulations). In 2012, Common Cause Minnesota filed a complaint with the state ethics commission based on the original IRS complaint. Attached are the findings issued this February by the independent Minnesota panel. In short: ALEC ALEC ALEC ALEC does not lobby is a nonprofit organization policy discussions are in the abstract and not focused on any state did not violate ethics/registration laws This has been covered by U.S. News and World Report. Before you broadcast a potentially inaccurate segment, I wanted you to have all the facts. In addition, in previous stories Keefe has manufactured outrage regarding ALEC meetings where legislators meet with stakeholders of all types to discuss and draft model policy in an academic context when our operation is not only accepted, but commonplace in the state policy arena. The meetings ALEC hosts are nearly identical to those held by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CSG), the Southern Legislative Conference and the State Innovation Exchange to name just a few. All of the aforementioned groups along with the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) produce model policy. In fact, from July 18-22, the Southern Legislative Conference is meeting at the same hotel where ALEC members met in May. In 2014, Georgia taxpayers paid nearly half-a-million dollars to NCSL ($267,212.00), CSG ($215,753.00) and NCCUSL ($55,000.00) (spreadsheet attached; source: http://www.open.georgia.gov/psa/poSearch.aud). This is likely only a small fraction of the actual taxpayer expenditure as publicly available information reports only the appropriation, not the (taxpayerfunded) travel reimbursement for state legislators who attend their meetings. The difference between ALEC and these other groups is that ALEC is not taxpayer-funded, while all other groups accept taxpayer funds as well as nonprofit, foundation and corporate donations. Perhaps the story should not be about ALEC doing exactly what any number of organizations do. Perhaps instead the story should be about where taxpayer funds are being spent and what ROI those expenditures have returned. ALEC supports legislators' continuing education from whatever sources they find valuable. Many Georgia legislators attend ALEC, NCSL, CSG. and SLC meetings because they want to hear as many 61 :·-:- ·' 1• • • • • • : . · : ..-.:_.--:. ~::.,' ·...; ..., ;.·.· .....,•. ...........·::~;~. '.' I ··~·. -.-~ • •' · ..· ....-.. · differing viewpoints as possible to ensure they make the best possible decisions for the Georgians they represent. Good government comes from the assessment of a vast marketplace of ideas, not a paucity of thought. Best, Bill Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs 62 II - --· ·-·-·.·.·.·.·.·.·....--- : ::-:-.:::-'·".. - 1• • . • •••• ·- .-. i •• -~- -·- ·- - • - • . _ _ _ ._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _- - - i From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: State Rep Friday, July 03, 2015 10:03 AM Wilhelm Meierling; Lisa Nelson Sen.Vukmir Re: July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta He said submit your questions. I assume they will be posted. Should we insert some questions? Should we take any other action? What do the Georgia members want us to do? They said twice "millions have seen this story." Think that's accurate? State Representative Phil King On Jul 3, 2015, at 9:23 AM, Wilhelm Meierling wrote: The llAlive segment just went live. More manufactured outrage, but nothing new. http://www.llalive.crnn/story/news/local/investigations(2015/07/02/alec-1 lalive-atlantareport/29632701/ Having now made multiple statements, and considering they have declined an interview with us, it is safe to say we are done responding to or engaging with this reporter. Thanks to the folks on this email who have shared the ALEC statement on social media with Georgia KOLs. Best, Bill Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone ------ Original message ------From: Wilhelm Meierling Date: 07/02/2015 5:49 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Lisa Nelson , Molly Fuhs , Ashley Varner , Jeff Lambert , "Chuck Martin (chuck@martinforgeorgia.com)" , famorris@ups.com, judson@ju.dsonhill.com, bruce. williamson@williamsongroup.us, sgooch@windstream.net, Phil King , "Benita Dodd (Qenitadodd@georgiapolicy.org) 11 Subject: July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta http:Uwww.alec.org/july-2-alec-statement-on-wxia-atlanta/ 63 .. . .: ~:-:.:-:-:-:-:-:-: -:-:-:-: . . J.-.-:·:·:<-:·.·'" ·.-.. ~·- ---·. ~ .·. . - - - The 11 PM ET broadcast of WXIA/ NBC 11 Alive tonight will include a segment that follows a common .,y,et erroneous storyline that has played out repeatedly over the past four years. WXIA will make claims of impropriety when ALEC member engagement is both commonplace in the state policy arena and incredibly valuable for the continuing education of state legislators. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, ALEC works in the public interest by providing nonpartisan research study and analysis of state policy issues. WXIA will claim a lack of transparency when in fact ALEC is among the most transparent state policy organization. ALEC releases draft policy, adopted model policy, financial statements. reimbursement policies and all reports to the public. In addition, ALEC has made the following statements: About ALEC ALEC state reimbursement policy ALEC transparency and public engagement Below is the statement sent by ALEC to WXIA in advance of the story. From: Wilhelm Meierling Sent: Wednesday, July 01 2015 8:53 PM 1 To: Jennifer Rigby; Ericka Palmer Subj~ct: ALEC and llAlive - Thursday llpm Dear Jennifer and Erika: Brendan Keefe's twitter feed indicates you will air a story tomorrow night at 11:00 PM that calls into question the tax-exempt status ofthe American Legislative Exchange Council. Any allegation of the sort is purely false. The Exchange Council is compliant with all IRS regulations and state ethics laws. I presume the story will be based on a 2011 Common Cause-IRS complaint. To date, the IRS has taken no action (because we are compliant with their regulations). In 2012, Common Cause Minnesota filed a complaint with the state ethics commission based on the original IRS complaint. Attached are the findings issued this February by the independent Minnesota panel. In short: ALEC does not lobby ALEC is a nonprofit organization ALEC policy discussions are in the abstract and not focused on any state ALEC did not violate ethics/registration laws This has been covered by U.S. News and World Report. Before you broadcast a potentially inaccurate segment, I wanted you to have all the facts. In addition, in previous stories Keefe has manufactured outrage regarding-ALEC meetings where legislators meet with stakeholders of all types to discuss and draft model policy in an academic context 64 - • I when our operation is not only accepted, but commonplace in the state policy arena. The meetings ALEC hosts are nearly identical to those held by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CSG), the Sout1ern Legislative Conference and the State Innovation Exchange to name just a few. All of the aforementioned groups along with the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State laws (NCCUSL) produce model policy. In fact, from Julv 18-22, the Southern Legislative Conference is meeting at the same hotel where ALEC members met in May. In 2014, Georgia taxpayers paid nearly half-a-:nillion dollars to NCSL ($267,212.00), CSG ($215,753.00} and NCCUSL ($55,000.00} (spreadsheet attached; source: http://www.open.georgia.gov/psa/p6Search.aud). This is likely only a small fraction ofthe actual taxpayer expenditure as publicly available information reports only the appropriation, not the (taxpayerfunded) travel reimbursement for state legislators who attend their meetings. The difference between ALEC and these other groups is that ALEC is not taxpayer-funded, while all other groups accept taxpayer funds as well as nonp~ofit, foundation and corporate donations. Perhaps the story should not be about ALEC doing exactly what any number of organizations do. Perhaps instead the story should be about where taxpayer funds are being spent and what ROI those expenditures have returned. ALEC supports legislators' continuing education from whatever sources they find valuable. Many Georgia legislators attend ALEC, NCSL, CSG ar.d SLC meetings because they want to hear as many differing viewpoints as possible to ensure they make the best possible decisions for the Georgians they represent. Good government comes from the assessment of a vast marketplace of ideas, not a paucity of thought. Best, Bill Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs 65 . :."·':-:..:·:-:-:-:-·.:: :- , - ,•, ·. ,. · .-.... ,, -. :.-.::.·-:-:· . ~ -· -·~.. • •• + . 41mi11111P______________________________________________ From: Sent: phil@philking.com Thursday, July 02, 2015 7:08 PM Sen.Vukmir Fwd: Update on llAlive Atlanta To: Subject: Leah, I think the ALEC team handled this very well. There is not a good outcome tc· this type of unprofessional media ever. But ALEC has managed it as well as can be. Phil State Representative Phil King Begin forwarded message: From: Wilhelm Meierling Date: July 2, 2015 at 4:43:14 P-M CDT To: Llsa Nelson , Molly Fuhs , Ashle? Varner , Jeff Lambert , Phil King , "Chuck Martin (chuck@martinforgeorgia.com)" , "famorris@ups.com" , "judson@judsonhill.com" , "bmce.willia....-rnson(Q)willi~m sornrroup. us" , "sgooch@windstream.net" Cc: Wilhelm Meierling Subject: Update on lWive Atlanta Team, There's been a lot of back and forth with WXJ.A NBC 11Alive over the course of the jay. I'll provide an in depth assessment below, but the short story is the piece will air tmight and include an ALEC statement sent yesterday evening. As indicated by WXJ.A, the piece will claim a lack of transparency, highlight that both the public and private sector vote on model policy, and question the nonprofit educatiooal status of the organization. Without the benefit of seeing the forthcoming piece, it s=ems that there is nothing new here. Keefe will say exactly what has been said by the Ce:nter for Media and Democracy for several years ..A r.ecycled story (even in a new marke:) should fall flat more quickly than a new story (like the one that aired around ms;.. In my assessment, it seems that the series of stories is coming to a conclusion. It has run its course, and if the reporter is now defaulting to a tired, rehashed story, ther='s not much left to say. In addition, we can now easily deny credentials and attribute it to his routine attack of ALEC. Details: On a call with the WXJ.A news director, ALEC representatives: - questioned the journalistic ethics of the station - asked why they wouldn't tel.I a more balanced story - offered interviews with Representative Chuck Martin or National Chairman Phil K ng 66 .·.·.· ... .. ..::.::.: .-, ····· .·.-.·.·.·.·. ····-·. .... -- : 1-:-:-:-·:::<· . ;:··<· WXlA staff indicated: - They would not pull the story - They reached out to 20 GA legislators. 18 did not respond. 2 declined Interview - They reached out to ALEC twice for interviews. (This is technically true but disingenuous ... at 10:17AM on June 2, Keefe sent an email requesting an' ll:OOAM interview as he happened to be in DC on assignment. His second outreach was similar) - They V\!ill be running a story on a liberal group although they did not disclose which one or what it would cover ALEC has issued a preemptive statement that highlights our transparency and value here: http://www.alec.org/july-2-alec-statement-on-wxia-atlanta/ In a separate email, I will send the full text of the post to everyone on this email so you can share with key opinion leaders, constituents and members of your delegation. 11Alive has already posted the ALEC statement along with their interpretation (it seems to me that we have gotten under their skin): http://www.llalive.com/sto ry/news/loca l/investigations/2015/07/02/aleclla live-atlanta-report/29632701/ We will not be able to watch the piece live, but have contacts in GA that will. As soon as we have more information, I will communicate it to this group. Best, Bill Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs M- 202-725-5026 wmeierling@alec.org 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 1~ --- 67 ::: . .. .·.·-·.·... I ._.;.:. ·-· ·-·---·-- ·:. .. .-..-: . -·· llllllmllllr---------------------------------------From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Stuart Jolly Wednesday, July 08, 2015 2:33 PM Jimmy Wall bobwilliams@statebudgetsolutions.org; Vukmir, Leah; llupmeyer@gmail.com; phil@philking.com; Ashley@philking.com; lnelson@alec.org Re: Jeffersonian Project Board Meeting - San Diego Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend due to a previously scheduled engagement. Take good notes! Stuart On Jul 8, 2015, at 13:16, "Jimmy Wall" wrote: Good afternoon, We are trying to schedule a Jeffersonian Project board meeting in San Diego around the ALEC Annual Meeting. Please let me know if you plan on traveling to San Diego, and if so, when you will be arriving. As of right now, we are trying to fit this meeting in on Monday (7 /20). Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you, Jimmy Wall (614) 949-0304 jwa ll@jefferson ia n-project.org 48 •.·:·: ·: ·:: "•' . .,... I·.<<·>:.·.··.· .· ·.· • ~ -.·.·.·.-:, I ,-,•,• t ,-, • - ' ·'· • • •'• '~ ' • ' • ' ~--------------------------------------~ From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Jimmy Wall Wednesday, July 08, 2015 1:17 PM bobwilliams@statebudgetsolutions.org; Vukmi.r, Leah; llupmeyer@gmail.com; Stuart Jolly; phil@philking.com; Ashley@philking.com lnelson@alec.org Jeffersoi:iian Project Board Meeting - San Diego Good afternoon, We are trying to schedule a Jeffersonian Project board meeting in San Diego around the ALEC Annual Meeting. Please let me know if you plan on traveling to San Diego, and if so, when you will be arriving. As of right now, we are trying to fit this meeting in on Monday (7/20). Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you, Jimmy Wall (614) 949-0304 jwa ll@jefferson ia n-project.org 49 :: I.·.·.·.-.···· ~--------------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Vukmir, Leah Friday, July 17, 2015 7:51 AM Sarah McManamon Re: Head Tables See you soon I Sent from my iPhone On Jul 15, 2015, at 3:00 PM, Sarah McManamon wrote: Hi Senator Vukmir, Looking forward to seeing you in a few days I 11 wanted to touch base regarding head table seating. Please find the dates/times Lisa has placed you at the head table below. Please let me know if you won't be able to make either of these. Thanks!! Sarah 7/21/2015 Gpm Leadership Reception/Dinner 7/23/2015 Sam Walker Breakfast 5 .. .-·.·.·.· 1:·.·.·· r··. •·.·· . j.-.-· ~------------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Booth, Jason Monday, July 27, 2015 8:49 AM Vukmir, Leah; Fuller, Lucas; Gugel, Mattias FW: Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-8 a.m. Looks like they're charging hare;! on this one ..... ___ ___ :...... .... .,_ ··--··. ........... -·· .. .. .. ·- . - -·· . . . From: Martens, Bill [mailto:bill.martens@wpr.org] Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 8:48 AM To: Sen.Vukmir; Booth, Jason; Fuller, Lucas; Gugel, Mattias Subject: RE: Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-8 a.m. -· · -· - ·· ·-~·-.· ._. ~ - - ~ ··-· ..,. ·- · . ... ~- -··· .. . I see that Ms. Vukmir was also just recently named the next national chair of ALEC. I _don't know why that didn't come up in my Google search, but thankfully she tweeted about it. Knowing that, I think she'd be an even better guest than I initially thought! FYI, I'm going to send a. request through ALEC, too. Bill Martens I Producer/Director of The Joy Cardin Show I Wisconsin Public Radio 821 University Ave., Madison, Vifl 53706 I (608) 265-4547 I www.wpr.org/joy From: Martens, Bill Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 8:38 AM To: 'Sen.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov'; 'Jason.Booth@legis.wisconsin.gov'; 'Lucas.Fuller@legis.wisconsin.gov'; 'Mattias.Gugel@legis.wisconsin.gov' Subject: Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-8 a.m. · Hello, Bill Martens here from the Joy Cardin Show on Wis. Public Radio. I'm wondering if Sen. Vukmir would be free to join us on our show tomorrow - Tue., July 28 -from 7:33-8 a.m. We want to talk about ALEC. The DNC put out a release last week that ripped Gov. Walker for his ties to ALEC and that it led to right-to-work, the elimination of collective bargaining and other policies the Dems don't like. One of their guys is going to join us from 7:07-7:33. I came across an opinion piece that Sen. Vukmir wrote for the Journal Sentinel in 2012 that praised ALEC because it provided a way for lawmakers to share pro-market ideas that lead to better public policy: · http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/vukmir-in-defense-of-alec-m178vk7-175017861.html I'm hoping she can talk more about that and how it's made Wisconsin a better state. This would consist of questions from Joy and calls/emails from listeners. Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether we can work this out and thanks very much for your assistance. Bill Martens I Producer/Director of The Joy Cardin Show I Wisconsin Public Radio 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 I (608} 265-4547 I www.wpr.org/joy 3 :··· - .. - .·.· -- -.-.--:-: -·-· - . }~ ~ I.=·<=:·:·· ..-:::- ; : -· _.._..______________________________________ From: Sent: To: Subject: ''"'" Booth, Jason Monday, July 27, 2015 8:39 AM Vukmir, Leah; Fuller, Lucas; Gugel, Mattias Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-8 a.m. Leah, I think we should be a no on this. I've never been a fan of doing interviews that are going to incorporate questions from listeners calling in. Not to mention this seems like a set up for a rip session on ALEC and your involvement. Plus, they want you for 30 minutes. Agreed? Jason From: Martens, Bill [mailto:bill.martens@wpr.org] Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 8:26 AM To: Sen.Vukmir; Booth, Jason; Fuller, Lucas; Gugel, Mattias Subject: Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-8 a.m. Hello, Bill Martens here from the Joy Cardin Show on Wis. Public Radio. I'm wondering if Sen. Vukmir would be free to join us on our show tomorrow - Tue., July 28 - from 7:33-8 a.m. We want to talk about ALEC. The DNC put out a release last week that ripped Gov. Walker for his ties to ALEC and that it led to right-to-work, the elimination of collective bargaining and other policies the Dems don't like. One of their guys is going to join us from 7:07-7:33. I came across an opinion piece that Sen. Vukmir wrote for the Journal Sentinel in 2012 that praised ALEC because it provided a way for lawmakers to share pro-market ideas that lead to better public policy: http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/vukmir-in-defense-of-alec-m178vk7-175017861. html I'm hoping she can talk more about that and how it's made Wisconsin a better state. This would consist of questions from Joy and calls/emails from listeners. Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether · we can work this out and thanks very much for your assistance. Bill Martens I Producer/Director of The Joy Cardin Show I Wisconsin Public Radio 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 I (608) 265-4547 I www.wpr.oroaoy 4 ! ' ·._ :: ;·: -.: ·~·: 1.·:·.:·.·:·:·.··-· •••• : • ··---·. ~ t-:·=-- . ~------------------------From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Jeff Lambert Tuesday, July 07, 2015 4:5? PM dawnpettengill@gmail.com; glbanz22@cox.net; cadman4colorado@yahoo.com; ashley@philking.com; Phil King; hagan4ohio@gmail.com; aric.nesbitt@gmail.com; SenMGreen@senate.michigan.gov; wesretherford@hotmail.com; edemery50 @gmail.com; dlichtenegger@gmail.com; sen.bill.ketron@capitol.tn.gov; Vukmir, Leah Lisa Nelson; Marie Vulaj; Dusoe, Joel (Joel.Dusoe@charleskochinstitute.org); Laurel Buckley Legislative Staff Training Track at ALEC Chairman King, Representatives Hagan, Banz, Lichtenegger, Retherford, Nesbitt, President Cadman, Senators Emery, Ketron, Green, Vukmir and Ashley, ALEC will be launching a Legislative Staff Training track at the December States and National Policy Summit. Each of you has staff or has valuable insight in education. To build out the program we would value your input. To that end we have reserved a room at Annual Meeting, Regatta A from 2:30pm - 3:30pm on Thursday, July 23rd. P'lease make every effort to attend. Please RSVP to ilambert@alec.org. I will send an outlook meeting reminder shortly. Please let me know if you have any questions. Best, Jeff Jeff Lambert, CAE Vice President, Member Relations American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 P: (571) 482-5018 C: (703) 283-5904 F: (703) 373-0927 Email: jlambert@alec.org Upcoming Meetings: 2015 Annual Meeting - July 22 - 24, 2015 .:... San Diego, California 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit- December 2-4, 2015 - Phoenix, Arizona 2016 Spring Task Force Summit - May 6, 2016 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The American Legislative Exchange Council Is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and Is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. The Council Is 9ovemed by state legislators who comprise the National Board of Legislators and is advised by the Private Enterprise 'Advisory Council, a group of private, f oundation and think tank members. Website I Facebook I Twitter I Blog so • ••••: _<• .' ~-· -· -.- ; ::. ..·::.: ....... ~-----------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Vukmir, Leah Tuesday, July 07, 2015 5:05 PM Jeff Lambert Declined: Legislative Staff Training 8 1····:·· ... Subject: Location: Legislative Staff Training Regatta A End: Thu 7/23/2015 1:30 PM Thu 7/23/2015 2:30 PM Show Time As: Free Recurrence: (none) Meeting Status: Declined Organizer: Jeff Lambert Start: 6 :·:·:.:-::--:<· :-:•_ .·. lllllllmla~·--------------------------------------From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Stuart Jolly Wednesday, July 08, 2015 2:33 PM Jimmy Wall bobwilliams@statebudgetsolutions.org; Vukmir, Leah; llupmeyer@gmail.com; phil@philking.com; Ashley@philking.com; lnelson@alec.org Re: Jeffersonian Project Board Meeting - San Diego Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend due to a previously scheduled engagement. Take good notes I Stuart On Jul 8, 2015, at 13:16, "Jimmy Wall" wrote: Good afternoon, We are trying to schedule a Jeffersonian Project board meeting in San Diego around the ALEC Annual Meeting. Please let me know If you plan on traveling to San Diego, and if so, when you will be arriving. As of right now, we are trying to fit this meeting in on Monday (7 /20). Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you, Jimmy Wall (614) 949-0304 jwa Il@jeffersonian-project.org 48 Bobby Bravo Ill From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Marie Vulaj Friday, July 17, :54 P 'Debbie Lesko' Bobby Bravo Ill Talking points for reception 2015-07-16 Debbie Lesko womens caucus talking points.docx Senator, Attached are some talking points for the iron\ady Reception! I hope this will be helpful to you when speaking at the reception! Let me know if you have any questions. Best, Marie 703-254-3696 1 Subject: Re: Senator Ron Johnson to host field hearing at St. Marcus From: Leah Vukmir (leahvuk@yahoo.com) To: Joe_Dean@ronjohnson. senate. gov; Date: Thursday, July 16, 2015 11 :47 AM Wish I could attend .. .I am out of town next week attending ALEC annual meeting. Great idea! Good luck! Leah Sent from my iPhone On Jul 16, 2015, at 8:09 AM, Dean, Joe (Ron Johnson) wrote: Details per St. Marcus release below - hope to see you there. Thanks, Joe Dean Senior Advisor to Senator Ron Johnson CELL PHONE: 202-695-5824 United States Senate, Office of Senator Ron Johnson 517 E. Wisconsin Ave. #408 IMilwaukee, WI 53202 E-Mail: Joe Dean@ronjohnson.senate.gov Senator Ron Johnson to host field hearing at St. Marcus View this email in your browser Dear Friends, Senator Ron Johnson will be holding a field hearing at St. Marcus on Monday, July 20 from 5-7 pm. It is our understanding that this will be a bipartisan event to learn more about how the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program has succeeded over the past two decades and how this success can be replicated in other school choice programs nationwide. Sen. Johnson also intends to discuss the Department of Justice's four-year long investigation into the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program and its impact on the program. Other elected officials from both sides of the aisle to be confirmed this week, along with parents and alumni who will speak about the positive impact that the Choice Program has had on their lives. St. Marcus is honored to host this important hearing and provide a venue for healthy dialogue to such a critical issue that has been shown to be a provocative subject in our city and state. We look forward to full participation from both sides of the aisle! This is certain to be a media event. Seating will be limited, so we suggest arriving 45 minutes before 5 pm. Please watch for more details later this week. We look forward to seeing you! OUR MISSION To disciple children for Christ, now and for all eternity, and to train them in excellence for their roles in their family, church, community, workplace and country. Facebook Twitter YouTube Website This email was sent to lansinq@mypartnershipbank.com whv did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences St. Marcus School · 2215 N. Palmer Street · Milwaukee, WI 53212 · USA NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message, together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies. ~:,~~ 11'i~~ LEC I 1 E~CM"IJ'l Council LIMIT£U GOVrnNMtNl " fFIEE MARKETS • i:r::oEAAlJSM State Night Request Form *This form must be completed and returned to your Regional Representative in Membership before any plans are confirmed. GENERAL INFORMATION State: _______________________________~ Contact:~-----------------------------~ Phone Number: ~--------------------------- Em ai I Address: ----------------------------~ EVENT INFORMATION Preferred Time: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Type (Dinner, Reception, etc): - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Extra Costs (Band/Performer, etc):. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Estimated Food & Beverage Cost:. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Event Name/Title:------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Target Audience: ______________________________ Estimated Number of Attendees: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Please give a brief synopsis of what will occur during and the goals of your event: Is this event going to be paid through the state travel and reimbursement account? If so, how much? __________________________________ What other contributions or payments will be made to pay for this State Night? _ _ _ _ __ Have you talked to an ALEC staff member about this prior to this request? If so, who? o By checking this box, you acknowledge that until and unless you receive written approval from authorized ALEC staff, you are not permitted to represent or promote this event as an ALEC event, and you are solely responsible for any financial or contractual obligations. You also acknowledge that, unless specifically authorized in writing by ALEC, you may not use ALEC's name or otherwise obligate ALEC in any way when contracting or making arrangements for the event. Non-ALEC events are neither sanctioned by, nor financially supported by, ALEC. Signature Jeff Lambert Sr. Director of Membership *Please note this information is confidential and will not be shared with attendees, members or ALEC staff not involved in the approval process Subject: Governor Walker Delivers Keynote Remarks at ALEC Annual Meeting From: Ashlee Strong (press@scottwalker.com) To: leahvuk@yahoo.com; Date: Thursday, July 23, 2015 5:38 PM Governor Walker Delivers Keynote Remarks at ALEC Annual Meeting Governor Scott Walker gave the keynote address to an enthusiastic crowd at the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) this morning in San Diego, California. Walker discussed the need to send power from the federal government back to the states and shared his foreign policy vision, including the need to terminate the Obama-Clinton deal with Iran on day one. Additionally, he met with nearly two dozen state legislators in private meetings. See highlights of the event below. V- riff: gang,? Governor Scott Wefker deh'vers the keynote address at ennuef meeting in San Diego Governor Scott Walker addresses a packed room at ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego What They Are Saying: AP: "'I understand you had a few protesters yesterday. For us that's just getting warmed up,' Walker said to applause before recalling his fierce battles with organized labor. The Republican governor touted efforts in Wisconsin to restrict access to abortions and require voters to present photo identification, pledging to pursue those efforts as president. He became most animated on the agreement with Iran to ease sanctions in exchange for concessions on the Islamic nation's nuclear program." (Elliot Spagat - July 23, 2015) Times of San Diego: "Stirring a standing ovation, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told ALEC members Wednesday that he would terminate President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran if elected president. The Republican hopeful mainly touted his economic record at the American Legislative Exchange Council's 42nd annual meeting in San Diego, but spent about 5 minutes lashing Obama as 'leading from behind' in foreign affairs .... And he mocked Obama for not following through on his 'line in the sand' promises regarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons. And contrary to the president calling climate change the greatest challenge to future generations, Walker said it was instead radical Islamic terrorism - and vowed to lift restrictions on American troops already in Iraq and let them fight alongside Kurdish and Sunni factions. 'There are times when America must fight,' he said. 'And if we must, Americans, we fight to win. There is no greater friend, no worse enemy than the United States of America.' He called Ronald Reagan the best 'national security president' in his lifetime and recalled how as a child he tied yellow ribbons to trees for the U.S. hostages in Iran, eventually freed when Reagan took office. He said Iran hasn't changed." (Ken Stone - July 23, 2015) The Guardian: "Scott Walker has vowed to unravel Barack Obama's legacy, starting with the Iran nuclear deal, should he become president. The Wisconsin governor said on Thursday he would cancel the deal 'on day one' in the White House and pick apart other Obama achievements, including healthcare reform .... He promised to curb organised labour, slash taxes and regulations, and inject Ronald Reagan-style 'steel' into US foreign policy, saying Islamic extremism, not climate change, was the leading security threat. 'We fight to win,' he said. 'The rest of the world must know there is no greater friend and no worse enemy than the United States of America.' ... In a shot at Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, he said an 'Obama-Clinton doctrine' had let Russia, China and terrorists threaten US security. 'I'm for true safety,' Walker said . 'The commander in chief has a sacred duty to protect the American people.' In one of four references to Reagan, he promised to 'go back' to an era of strong American values and peace. The governor mocked Obama's focus on climat~ change as a security threat, eliciting guffaws from the audience. 'The greatest threat is radical Islam,' he said. 'I'd rather take the fight to them rather than wait for them to bring the fight to us."' (Rory Carroll - July 23, 2015) On The Twitters : @ALEC_states: A lot of interest & excitement around @ScottWalker speaking at #ALECSanDiego! Room is packed! #ALECldeas @TimesofSanDiego: Standing ovation for Scott Walker at #ALEC when he vows to cancel deal with Iran. @sharonchenfox5: #ScottWalker "We need people in Washington to understand they're there to serve the people and not the other way around." #ALECSanDiego @rorycarroll72: Scott Walker at #ALEC. 'We took on the unions and won. We defunded Planned Parenthood.' Cheers. @TimesofSanDiego: Gov. Scott Walker exits ballroom at #ALECSanDiego after 25-minute talk. Second standing ovation from as many as 1,300 registered for mtng. ### 11: WWW .SCOTTWA LKER.CO M PAID FOR BY SCOTT WALKER INC. WWW.SCOTTWALKER.COM This email was sent by: Scott Walker Inc. P.O. Box 620590, Middleton, WI 53562 Unsubscribe Print Page 1of1 Subject: ALEC From: Br. Mario Crivello (mcrivello@stcam.com) To: leahvuk@yahoo.com; Date: Thursday, July 30, 2015 7:28 PM Dear Leah, Heartfelt congratulations in being named the new chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council. It sounds like quite a task, but I mow you are up to it. You are in my prayers as you face these new challenges. Blessings, Bro. Mario Crivello, MI https ://us-mg5 .mail. yahoo .com/neo/launch? .rand=OOgpvlripv3a1 10/20/2015 Print Page 1of1 Subject: Legislative Staff Training From: Laurel Buckley (lbuckley@alec.org) To: jlambert@alec.org; Joel.Dusoe@charleskochinstitute.org; ashley@philking.com; Cc: jwall@alec.org; phil@philking.com; leahvuk@yahoo.com; mbowman@alec.org; Date: Friday, July 31, 2015 8:15 AM Good morning everyone, It was great seeing you last week in sunny San Diego. Thank you for joining us last Thursday as we began the conversation about legislative staff trainings at our meetings. We are now looking to put some of those ideas to work and wanted to have a call to capture any follow up thoughts you may have. I will be sending out a calendar invite for a call on Wednesday, August 19 to a larger group. Before I set up a time, I wanted to check in with you to make sure you all will be able. Can you please let me know if th re is a best time for you that day? Thank you all, Laurel Buckley Director of Development and Midwestern Relations American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, 6th Floor Arlington, VA 22202 P: (571) 482-5059 C: (202) 689-9208 Email: lbuckley@alec.org https ://us-mg5 .mail. yahoo .com/neo/launch? .rand=OOgpvlripv3a1 10/20/2015 ·:..-.- --: --- : p :._:::::_·. -.- - -_ ·---::-:-:·-:;.; . : i:: -- -----------------------From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Vukmir, Leah Friday, July 24, 2015 9:05 AM Lisa Nelson Wilhelm Meierling; Jeff Lambert; Phil King Re: CBS 58 - Gov. Walker gives keynote speech at ALEC conference Just tweeted it - please RT! Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 24, 2015, at 6:56 AM, Lisa Nelson wrote: > > I think this is fantastic! Shows that D's can attend and explains us in a more direct way. > >We should share! > >Lisa B. Nelson > Lnelson@alec.org > (202) 573-1334 > »On Jul 24, 2015, at 4:59 AM, Vukmir, Leah wrote: >> >> » Not bad - my local station: >> » http://www.cbs58.com/clip/11705551 /gov-walker-gives-keynote-speech-at-alee-conference >> >> » Sent from my iPhone 3 !·:·."':::_::-:"·.:'.·>·:-.~: .-.. - ,-_... _._._-;,._:· Dear HHS Members: It is possible the King v. Burwell decision could be handed down as early as this morning. If the ruling does come out this morning, we will hold a conference call to discuss the decision and its implications at 1:00 PM ET today. The conference call information will be circulated in a separate email. ALEC has been following this case closely, and a plan has been put together on Capitol Hill that offers a way forward regardless of the outcome of the ruling. Keep in mind the current federal budget continues until September 30, so it is possible the Court's decision will incorporate that deadline. In addition to the potential call today, ALEC will arrange at least one more call featuring Members of Cong(ess to discuss the plans they have in place and how their plans impact healthcare in the states. If the King v. Burwell decision is not released today, please note that we will hold a call on the day of decision. Thank you, and if you have any questions or need anything, please feel free to reach out. Sincerely, Bartlett D. Cleland Vice President Center for Innovation and Technology American Legislative Exchange Council bcleland@alec.org This email was sent to : judson@iudsonhlll.com This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - vjew our policy Uodate Profile and Subscriotion Preferences 12 I Unsubscrjbe From All Emails 1-· · I - -- --- ·--- .· - : .-:-.· -·- - .·: J--·-··. Sue Swayze, National Pro-Life Women's Caucus < information@sba-list.org > Tuesday, July 07, 2015 2:27 PM Sen.Vukmir NPLWC Newsletter, July 2015 From: Sent: To: Subject: ,8!~ tti~J.§lmst nel:.~:<>.from yrew vo1.1r rellow pro-Hf§.J!!'.Qmen1 acro§!§..tb.£S:2.l!O~J.:Y this small onl!ne or In vour 01 obile bmwser. Equipping and Connecting Pro-Life Women Lawmak~n; :-- -- ·" ----·------·- - __ - __ _ ,, - ·- ------ - - - ··- I The Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Director Sue Swayze, Program Coordinator (317) 440-6998 I sswayze@sba-list.org j 1707 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20036 i -- - - ____:_,,,... _ __ - -- - - - - - __ , ______ . - - - --- - I I #theyfeelpain - US Senate Introduces Pain-Capable Bill Follow Us: D [~~::1 rm MEMBER NEWS Arizona State Senator Kimberly Yee was a guest radio host on Faithtalk 1360 KPXQ's Koinonia program last week. She interviews NPLWC South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham introduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on June 11th. It is identical to the bill passed by the US House and currently has 45 original co-sponsors. Sen. Graham stated at his press conference that his aim is to make Americans "think --- --·- ·- -·······-······- - · --- 79 - - - - -- - Director the Hon. Marilyn Musgrave to discuss recent pro-life gains at the state and federal level and pro-life prospects for 2016. --:-:- : -- - .. ·----·-..··--.- - ..- -~ I>·:· - . -~--.· long and hard about wholesale abortions at 20 weeks." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised a vote. The women also discussed the work of National Pro-Life Women's Caucus·members! Senator Yee has been a SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser has been a member of the Caucus Leadership team since its creation in 2013. Listen to the podcast here. strong vi.sionary and a driver of the Pain - Capable bill in Congress. "Part of the whole strategy here is to build support for a prolife president," Dannenfelser explained to CBN News. She has secured written commitments from 13 Republican presidential candidates that they would support the bill if they are elected to the White House (see 2016 Where do they Stand? on right) . Her comments last week in The Hill call it "just and smart." 2016: WHERE DO THEY STAND~ •'•"'" !.ll':"~ ~c:;~" I•~·~.,'""· ,~•'.L:.-~~ ';';>;•Jl).ol':J._....,,,.. "l'a':'... V•!V"'·•:' ·"'t="";V--~·."'.1,,.,' RfADMORE Are you going to ALEC in July? Join us in San Diego! You are cordially invited to network with your pro-life peers in San Diego. PRO-LIFE FACT 37 Consecutive Gallup Polls: Americans Support Limits on Abortion 20-WK UPDATE-14 STATES & COUNTING .1;~---• ~ .~~, l ·. : Morning Networking Event for Women Pro-Life Office Holders Friday July 24, 2015 9:30 a.m. PT Manchester- Grand Hyatt Hotel, Gaslamp CD Room San Diego, CA Sponsored by: National Pro-Life Women's Caucus* CLICK HERE TO RSVP *not associated with or endorsed by American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) which is meeting at the same location. AP: Abortions Declining in Nearly All States Almost all states have seen a decline in abortions - an average of 12% nationwide since 2010 - according to a 80 ==-'. ..;., . __ . _, . =- Tuesday, July 07, 2015 8:44 AM Vukmir, Leah SURPRISE: Thank You Dinner Honoring Victor Schwartz To view this email as a web page, go~ Don't Forget to RSVP! The SURPRISE Victor Schwartz Legacy Dinner is Thursday evening, July 23 in San Diego while you're in town for the ALEC Annual Meeting. Victor will love having you there for this special surprise. RSVP to Amy Anderson at AAnderson@alec.org. What: When: Where: Time: RSVP: Victor Schwartz Legacy Dinner Thursday, July 23 during the ALEC Annual Meeting Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego (Room TBA) 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Amy Kjose Anderson at aanderson@alec.org 55 Subject: RE: April 15 From: Laurel Buckley (lbuckley@alec.org) To: leahvuk@yahoo.com; Date: Thursday, April 9, 2015 9:22 AM Anytime! Laurel Buckley Director of Development and Midwestern Relations American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, 6th Floor Arlington, VA 22202 P: (571) 482-5059 C: (202) 689-9208 Email: lbuckley@alec.org -----Original Message----From: Leah Vukmir [mailto:leahvuk@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 10:07 AM To: Laurel Buckley Subject: Re: April 15 Thank you! Sent from my iPhone >On Apr 9, 2015, at 8:10 AM, Laurel Buckley wrote: > > Good morning Senator Vukmir, > > Please find the invite attached. Let me know if you need anything else. > >Best, > > Laurel Buckley > Director of Development and Midwestern Relations American Legislative > Exchange Council > 2900 Crystal Drive, 6th Floor > Arlington, VA 22202 > > P: (571) 482-5059 > C: (202) 689-9208 > Email: lbuckley@alec.org > > > -----Original Message----> From: Leah Vukmir [mailto:leahvuk@yahoo.com] >Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 1:05 AM >To: Laurel Buckley > Subject: April 15 > >Hi Laurel! > > Do you have an e-invite for the April 15 Madison event? If so, could you send it to me ASAP so I can send to my caucus members? > >Thanks! > >Leah > > Sent from my iPad > Subject: RE: April 15 From: Laurel Buckley (lbuckley@alec.org) To: leahvuk@yahoo.com; Date: Thursday, April 9, 2015 9:22 AM Anytime! Laurel Buckley Director of Development and Midwestern Relations American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, 6th Floor Arlington, VA 22202 P: (571) 482-5059 C: (202) 689-9208 Email: lbuckley@alec.org -----Original Message----From: Leah Vukmir [mailto:leahvuk@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 10:07 AM To: Laurel Buckley Subject: Re: April 15 Thank you! Sent from my iPhone >On Apr 9, 2015, at 8:10 AM, Laurel Buckley wrote: > >Good morning Senator Vukmir, > >Please find the invite attached. Let me know if you need anything else. > >Best, > > Laurel Buckley > Director of Development and Midwestern Relations American Legislative > Exchange Council > 2900 Crystal Drive, 6th Floor > Arlington, VA 22202 > > P: (571) 482-5059 > C: (202) 689-9208 > Email: lbuckley@alec.org > > > -----Original Message----> From: Leah Vukmir [mailto:leahvuk@yahoo.com] >Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2015 1:05 AM >To: Laurel Buckley >Subject: April 15 > >Hi Laurel! > >Do you have an e-invite for the April 15 Madison event? If so, could you send it to me ASAP so I can send to my caucus members? > >Thanks! > >Leah > > Sent from my iPad > . .. ·:: :. . :.:. American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 P: (571) 482-5018 · C: (703) 283-5904 F: (703) 373-0927 Email: jlambert@alec.org Upcoming Meetings: 2015 Spring Task Force Summ it - May 15, 2015 - Savannah, Georgia 2015 Annual Meet ing-July 22 - 24, 2015 - San Diego, California 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit-December 2-4, 2015 - Phoenix, Arizona The American Legislative Exchange Council is o 5Dl {c)3 nonprofit organization and Is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States dedicate.d to the principles of limited govemment, free markets and federalism. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the Nationo/ Board of Legislators and Is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of pr/vote, foun dation and think tonk members. Website I Facebook I Twitter I Blog 283 ....,._____________________________________ From: Marty Thursday, July 16, 2015 7:33 PM Sen.Vukmir Re: Sen. Vukmir - 5th District E-Update Sent: To: Subject: You/re a tool for for the people that fund alee and an enemy to anyone who works for a living. Drop dead you sellout bitch .. . but before you do, please remove me from your propaganda mailing list. On Thursday, July 16, 2015 2:40 PM, Sen.Vukmir wrote: Visit my Website aj Follow me on Facebook JFC Concludes Work; Governor Walker Signs StatE Budget Investment in K-12 Education Remains our Top P1 Bucks Arena Over the last several weeks, hundreds of my co nstituents have contacted my office or spoken with me at events regarding a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks. People on both sides of the issue have made well intentioned and thoughtful arguments for their point of view and these conversations have enhanced my u!1derstanding of the issue. After reflecting on these conversations and reading a wide array of articles about both this specfflc arena project and the impact of other arena projects across America, I have decided to su pport the final deal to build a new arena in Milwaukee. The final deal strikes an important ba lance between limited public funding and a 1';1~'.-:=!b, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to K- 12 education. The Joint Fin Com mittee has made education a top priority by restoring K-12 funding by $1 pupil in the first year and adding an extra $100 per pupil in the second year, c: investment of $196 million over the biennium. We were committed to going al beyond restoring funds to K-12 education. It's imperative that we ensure Wisc students get a world- class education. We must provide our students the tools to succeed and the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills to thrive in sc will continue to invest in our schools to set up our students for future success. t he future of Wisconsin. I think it's important that the state legislature continu with local school districts to control costs, so every dollar we send to public sc be spent more effectively. '-:=----;. -,,r =.,....-.: -:;, •...,., . -_ I :; __,.,, ____ -..,.-..----~..,..,,,, 65 ~ - -..,,._ _,.·~~-- - -- ~ ·. =-· -- .·. strong financial commitment by the team owners, as well as those attending events at the arena in the future. By making an investment at the state level, we can take advantage of the rising salary ca p in the NBA and capture an expanding income tax base. This will allow us to fund priorities like K12 education and infrastructure in future budgets without increasing taxes on middle-class families. I would not have supported state financing for an arena without a meaningful commitment from the team owners and those who plan-to attend games . Th at is why I was happy to see the financial investment by the team as well as the inclusion of a ticket surcharge in the final deal. I look forward to the Milwaukee Bucks continuing to be an important partner for the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County and the state of Wisconsin . Governor Walker Signs Bill That Reforming Educational Options for Special Needs Students Delivers Worker Freedom Governor Scott Walker has signed the Right-ToWork bill, which protects employees by prohibiting t hem from being forced to join a union and pay d ues as a condition of their employment. Wisconsin becomes the 25th Right-To-Work state. The law will improve our business climate and trigger economic growth. States such as Indiana and Michigan have seen increases in the number of manufacturing jobs after passing Right-To-Work laws, so there is evidence it will help attract new businesses and additional jobs to our state. As companies consider where they might move or g row, Wisconsin needs to be an integral part of the co nversation so we can bring more good-paying j obs to the hard-working people of the Badger State. There have been a few instances of erroneous reporting by media outlets on Right-ToWo rk . It's important to remind Wisconsinites that t h is law does not prohibit workers from joining a union . It ensures that workers have the individual freedom to decide whether to join or not join a u nion. Right-To-Work does not elim inate existing unions, does not void existing labor contracts, does not prohibit collective bargain ing and does not prohibit workers from organizing a union. Businesses in states outside of Wisconsin that are considering relocation care a great deal about Right-To-Work. Wisconsin workers should expect t o see more opportunity ahead . Specia l needs families will be provided more educational choices under a moti1 advanced and that was passed by JFC. The effort will improve special educatic t he pu blic and private school settings, by reforming both the open enrollment statewide voucher programs . The committee also approved the first increase i edu cation aid in eight years. The centerpiece of the proposa l is the creation of Needs Scholarship that will finally give parents a true choice between a public failing to meet their child's goals and a private school. Children who have beer open enrollment will now have the ability to transfer to a qualified private sch( Special Needs Scholarship will give parents and students options in choosing t privat e school to meet the student's educational needs. These children and far t ra pped. Their public school has failed them, and their chance of open enrollm been taken away. We are giving families hope that their children can finally gE education they deserve. The motion also makes needed changes to the state'~ enrollment program. Currently, school districts can deny an open enrollment c fo r a special needs child. This has led to 44% of special needs fam ilies becomi tra pped in a public school not meeting their child's needs. The resident school will no longer be able to deny a special needs student from taking advantage 1 jhighly popular open enrollment program . We are finally creating true ch~ice fc special needs students. Families have been trying to work within the open enr .Program to move their children out of a public school that has failed them . Unfortunately, they have had the door slammed in their face time and time a~ are now breaking that door down . ! Protecting Long Term Care We are giving the Department of Health Services limited authority to negotiate with the Federal Government on potential changes to FamilyCare to i ntegrate long term and medical care. This plan requires public input, includes a self- directed option, and gives patients choice between iiilii'.I • .., _i:~ -~ - - - - - · ..... - - - 66 ....... :J I:.··· .:~~-:;.:· ~' ·: -·~ ::::-:~::::<::: :: :;:: .:. ·., :.:=..:.-: . • ·~ •• ·:·· . . :.:::::;s ;.:. :::..-:·:. ·-;::::::_:/:_:;.. ·:-: .. ·.·.. ::_;_.;:_::·~-;-~ : :·:-···.::: Did You Know? JlLEC ::::;.• _ ..... STATES THAT ALLOW CHARTER SCHOOLS -- .'~:: Charter Schools are allowed in all but seven states. Vermont, West Virginia, Kentucky, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Montana do not allow charter school systems. A recent national survey of American adults found 69 percent of Americans favor school choice policies. Read more here. '""'"''"'·'""" '""·'""""'" @.•ALEC_States Thfs email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States Pl!•;;,•i.~t.;;::,-.!b;: 1 •... •·· i·1' : I" J ..1l f ~· ..~. 1···1"' ! ·:.:. 1..,,;:,.1!. t. • We respect your right to privacy - view our ooljcv Update Profile and Subscrjption Preferences 161 I Unsubscrjbe From All Emails ..-_.,.-· ·... : I:::.:::.:.. -·- ::~ . -...: ;.- - .-.- -:. . ..._.._________________________________________ From: Sent: To: Subject: Mark Meckler on behalf of Mark Meckler < MarkMeckler@cosaction.com> Friday, July 17, 2015 7:59 AM Sen.Vukmir Your are invited to join the Convention of States·caucus DearSenator Vukmir, On behalf of the Convention of States Project, a historic effort to invoke Article V of the Constitution to impose meaningful restraints on federal power, I want to cordially invite you to become a charter member of our groundbreaking Convention of States Caucus, and to attend two special events at the upcoming ALEC conference in San Diego on July 23rd and 24th. Thu.rsday evening, July 23rd, will mark the inaugural meeting for the Convention of States Caucus. On Friday morning we will host a workshop with the nation's leading Article V expert, Rob Natelson, who will present an initial draft of Convention Rules that he developed with COS co-founder Dr. Michael Farris. We will also unveil a website which will allow all Convention of States Caucus members to provide input on the Rules before they are finalized. These Rules will then be available for official adoption when the Convention of States is called. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court have underscored the urgency of our mission to impose effective, constit_ utional restraints on all three branches-of the federal government. And we are gaining ground-we saw an unprecedented 36 states file our application so far this year, and it made significant progress in many of th-ese. As we see the achievement of our goal within reach, we want to help the 62 .·-• ;~ -: .·. states prepare for the Convention. And we want you to be a part of that. Please join the Convention of States Caucus as a charter member today, even if you are unable to attend the ALEC Conference. RSVP below: Be Part of this Historic Event! INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE CONVENTION OF STATES CAUCUS Thursday, July 23rd at 7:00-9:00pm Harbor House Restaurant - Seaport Village (light refreshments*-no host bar) ALEC WORKSHOP-Article V & the Proposed Rules for a Convention of States Friday, July 24th at 9:30-10:45 am R$W-;_. ...-. . ,,.f .. ' ;jtf(if. -. '\~ . " w 0.:lR w· Q;~~;,\.i(a.U. CUS:.; . . ' *We are not allowed to offer free refreshments to legislators from the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa and Tennessee Copyright © 2015 Convention of States Action, All rights reserved. The Convention of States Project Our mailing address Is: Convention of States Action 100 Congress Ave. Suite 2000 Austin, TX 78701 Add us to your address book 63 unsubscribe from this list update 64 . From: Sent: To: Subject: .j I.·> Heartland Institute~ Gwendalyn Carver Friday, July 17, 2015 12:52 PM Sen.Vukmir Heartland Weekly Email: California Pounces on Uber, Says It Must Prove Drivers Aren't Racist II] Like i Maryland Bans Fracking Despite Governor1s Opposition H. Sterling Burnett, the Heartlander Gary Stone, vice president of engineering for Five States Energy, says Maryland's limited experience with the process and benefits of tracking may have contributed to support for the ban. "Maryland joined New York and succumbed to a coalition of environmental activists and others under the 'Don't Frack Maryland' campaign to pass a veto-proof twoyear moratorium on hydraulic fracturing," Stone said. READ MORE Subscrip The Heartland lnstitut4 email subscriptions to newsletters and public newspapers. Subscril ······-·-··-·--· -- - 56 ~: . . _., ··-. ---::· _._, --.·-·.·.·. 1-·.••• ·.- · Research & Commentary: Continuing Affordable Care Act Problems Podca Matthew Glans, Heartland Research & Commentary Approximately 18 million Americans who are eligible to buy insurance through Obamacare have chosen not to buy it through state and federal exchanges, even after two years of marketing with our tax dollars. Maybe that's because premiums have skyrocketed in 2015 with more hikes on the way. Dozens of health insurance providers under Obamacare have already requested premium increases for 2016 . You can get all of Hea podcasts as soon as t produced! Just search "Heartland Institute" in store and subscribe. ~ Matching Many employers spon matching gift program match charitable contr made or volunteer hm by their employees. 81 companies even mate by retirees and/or spo your employer doesn'1 matching gifts prograr start one! Help make 1 double your donation · Heartland Institute! RE READ MORE California Pounces on Uber, Says It Must Prove Drivers Aren't Racist Gene Koprowski, Somewhat Reasonable Predatory California regulators fined ridesharing innovator Uber Technologies, Inc. and suspended its operations license, pending appeal. The ruling judge stated Uber "has not complied with state laws" designed to ensure drivers don't discriminate against possible passengers based on their race or place of residence. READ MORE GiveN Patriot ($50) Heartlan receive QPR, our qua1 newsletter, and invitat Heartland events. Featured Podcast: Anthony Watts: Why Climate Pata Are Faulty Friend ($100) Heartla receive Patriot-level b1 also receive free copiE Heartland Policy Studi Global temperature records are only as good as the data collected at the stations and the honesty of those doing the collecting. In this Heartland Daily Podcast, Anthony Watts explains how errors in methodology at weather stations call into question the entire hypothesis of catastrophic man-caused global warming. Sustaining ($250) Su donors also enjoy a 2! discount on all events included with our prof1 in monthly conference hottest issues of the d LISTEN TO MORE Patron ($1,000) Patrc also receive monthly c new publications from . ...... ----~ ~;;i.--·~--- - - - -- - --· 57 ______ ___ _____ ,_ .. .. 1-:.-::::-.·. I : - . M... •:• -•• - - . -:-_ -~- ·: . ·-:--.-, I·.-: · - -·· -·-·•I I Heartland Institute an< Performance Reports they care about most. I Benefactor {$2,500) Benefactors are incluc planning the Annivers; Dinners and may atte1 VIP receptions before Heartland events. .1 I I President's Council 1 President's Council de attend the annual Pre1 Council Retreat featur networking and social with other leaders of ti market movement, me Heartland's Board of [ senior staff, and speci :M iE ANS; A.. LCJNG GOLF & :E ASON- Watch the Tenth lhternational Conference on Climate Change! I I I l The Heartland lnstitute's Tenth International Conference on Climate Change (#ICCC10) was another huge success. You can watch the entire conference online at · olimateconference. heartland.org. Watch the full panels composed of some of the leading climate scientists and energy policy experts as well as keynote addresses by Sen. Jim lnhofe, Rep. Lamar Smith, and author Mark Steyn. SEE WHAT ilc:Cd~10 1 -2 018 iwashlngton,~ DC ~Ju_:ne· 11~12, YOU MISSED! llEAR'l'LAND lNS'rl'l'U T'E _ _HtA~TLANO..ORG _ _ _,_, -- ___________ ,.,.,, ,. ____ _ - Contact Joseph L. Bast President jbast@heartland.org An Austrian Economist's Advice for Greece and the EU Richard Ebeling for Somewhat Reasonable Over several decades Greek governments accumulated a fiscally unmanageable debt and have be.en unwilling to introduce any meaningful, long-term economic and budgetary reforms to get the country's political-economic house in order. Ludwig Von Mises would surely ·have an explanation for the problems and a free-market solution. READ MORE Visit giving.heartlanc make a tax-deductible today. If you have any or would like to make contribution over the ~ contact Gwen Carver 4000 or gcarver@he~ Gwendalyn Carver Director of Developme qcarver@heartland.c i J t t ~t: -~~ Brittney Jones Development Assistar bjones@heartland.01 Robin Knox Foundation Coordinat rknox@heartland.or• 58 .· ·, . :~ ~:·.<: .~.-.• ·- - I·.. '.·:~-: r-···;·---"··--·-··---=--- - - . ---· ·----..·- - _,.. ,_ - - - --- ----·-·-··-- -·----------··-·-- ----· ---Aaron Stover Director of Developme Region astover@heartland.c Stop Propping up Crony-corporatist Biofuel Companies Paul Driessen, Somewhat Reasonable "Politicians, bureaucrats, and eco-activists clearly care little about the coal mine workers and communities they have destroyed. Why should biofuel producers be more sacrosanct and protected - based on false claims that these fuels ensure emission reductions, 'homegrown' energy supplies and climate stability?" READ MORE James Taylor Vice President of Dev• jtay!or@heartland.or The Heartland lnstitut1 3939 North Wilke Roa Arlington Heights, ILE 312/377-4000 phone www.heartland.c giving.heartland i - Why Your State Should Copy Nevada's School Choice Plan -· ~ --~~~ Lance Izumi, th e Heartlander "Many of the public schools in this country that serve ... students [from middle-income families] are not as good as people think they are. It is therefore critical for states to enact programs, such as Nevada's groundbreaking education savings accounts, to give all parents the ability to choose the best educational options for their children. Choice is a right for all, not just for some." READ MORE l ' .~:.- .. " POLICY[ • Search 32,000 policv documents Get the latest policy n• The Heartland lnstitutt the world's most robw d~cument database. f !·' ~ Bonus Podcast: William Freeland: Puerto Rico's Financial Mess Puerto Rico is a beautiful country that currently finds itself in an ugly mess. William Freeland, research analyst with the American Legislative Exchange Council, explains how federal regulations and bad economic policies caused the territory's historic financial problems. LISTEN TO MORE 7--~ · -- · - ·· - · - - . . - . , , - _ . _ __ U M " - - - - - - - - - -··· - - - - - - - - - - - - -- 59 .· ...· I :':·.·-::· -·~--- - - - - 1.•~-- -. ~ _ _ _ ,,,,,, _ .· ___ . . - - --~-- -- ~- ---- · -·- - _. . . .,,,___ .:-.·. - - -- _ _ .-;.._· _____ :. -·---.::.: .·._,...._ ·-- . -: Did Obama Cover Up Real Reason for Obamacare Website Crash? Justin Haskins, the Blaze Why couldn't Healthcare.gov handle visits from the more than 30 million people it said lacked health insurance and needed to enroll in Obamacare? Because it expected the states to handle most of the traffic - which is exactly what the losers in King v. Burwell argued before the Supreme Court. Yet another reason that decision was so illogical. READ MORE A Congresswoman Demands Peace, Love, and Big Brother Internet, Man r . . ·-···· Seton Motley, RedState Democrat Rep. Anna Eshoo of California penned an editorial for the San Francisco Chronicle that has the strong whiff of patchouli a bunch of warmed-over hippie-dippie nonsense in defense of a huge government power-grab over the Internet. The Flower Children of the Summer of Love have come full circle, now advocating the kind of Big Brother tactics they used to oppose. READ MORE Invest in the Future of Freedom! Are you considering 2015 gifts to your favorite charities? We hope The Heartland Institute is on your list. Preserving and expanding individual freedom is the surest way to advance many good and noble objectives, from feeding and clothing the poor to encouraging excellence and great achievement. Making charitable gifts to nonprofit organizations dedicated to individual freedom is the most highly leveraged investment a philanthropist can make. Click here to make a contribution online, or mail your gift to The Heartland Institute, 3939 North Wilke Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. To request a FREE wills guide or to get more information to plan your future please visit My Gift Legacy http://leqacy.heartland.org/ or contact Gwen Carver at 312/377-4000 or by er:nail at gcarver@heartland.org . If Amazon.com is one of your go-to sources for household purchases, gifts, and of course books, consider starting at Smile.Amazon.com inste the same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com ... and if you cho.ose The Heartland Institute asyour I charity, Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to us. START HERE 60 ..: : --.: ' . -. -~=.;:·: -- .. ) ,_._.: .-:-.;;-- .·.· . ··.·-· This message was sent to Rep.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov from: Email Marketing by Heartland Institute: Gwendalyn Carver I bjones@heartland.org I Heartland Institute I 3939 North Wilke Road Arlingbn Heights, IL 60004 Unsubscribe 61 I 1t1contact ·.-'.· :-"~ : (: .. • i::.. .... .·. -·· . I . From: Sent: To: Subject: Heartland Institute: Gwendalyn Carver Friday; July 17, 2015 12:52 PM Sen.Vukmir Heartland Weekly Email: California Pounces on Uber, Says It Must Prove Drivers Aren't Racist Maryland Bans Fracking Despite Governor's Opposition H. Sterling Burnett, the Heartlander Gary Stone, vice president of engineering for Five States Energy, says Maryland's limited experience with the process and benefits of tracking may have contributed to support for the ban. "Maryland joined New York and succumbed to a coalition of environmental activists and others under the 'Don't Frack Maryland' campaign to pass a veto-proof twoyear moratorium on hydraulic fracturing," Stone Subscrip Laid. REA:O=----~· ______________ 50 __ _____ _ _ ,,.. , _ , The Heartland lnstitut1 email subscriptions to newsletters and public newspapers. Subscril , - - -- ::::.=~:::·:: ::;~:~ =r ·' I ·.-:-.·· .·, .. ··- . -- Research & Commentary: Continuing Affordable Care Act Problems ·- . Pod ca Matthew Glans, Heartland Research & Commentary Approximately 18 million Americans who are eligible to buy insurance through Obamacare have chosen not to buy it through state and federal exchanges, even after two years bf marketing with our tax dollars. Maybe that's because premiums have skyrocketed in 2015 with more hikes on the way. Dozens of health insurance providers under Obamacare have already requested premium increases for 2016. You can get all of Hea podcasts as soon as t produced! Just search "Heartland Institute" in store and subscribe. ~ Matching Many employers spon matching gift program match charitable contr made or volunteer ho1 by their employees_ S· companies even mate by retirees and/or spo your employer doesn't matching gifts prograr start one! Help make i double your donation· Heartland Institute! RI READ MORE California Pounces on Uber, Says It Must Prove Drivers Aren~t Racist Gene Koprowski, Somewhat Reasonable Predatory California regulators fined rid esharing innovator UberTechnologies, Inc. and suspended its operations license, pending appeal. The ruling judge stated Uber "has not complied with state laws" designed to ensure drivers don't discriminate against possible passengers based on their race or place of residence . READ MORE GiveN Patriot ($50) Heartlan receive QPR, our qua1 newsletter, and invitat Heartland events. Featured Podcast: 'Anthony Watts: Why Climate Data Are Faulty Friend ($100) Heartla receive Patriot-level b1 also receive free copiE Heartland Policy Studi Global temperature records are only as good as the data collected at the stations and the honesty of those doing the collecting . In this Heartland Daily Podcast, Anthony Watts explains how errors in methodology at weather stations call into question the entire hypothesis of catastrophic man-caused global warming . 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If you have any or would like to make contribution over the ~ contact Gwen Carver 4000 or gcarver@he~ Lc:JNG GClLF"" BEAS. CJN I l .1 Watch the Tenth International Conference on Climate Change! The Heartland lnstitute's Tenth International Conference on Climate Change (#ICCC10) was another huge success. You can watch the entire conference online at climateconference.heartland.org. Watch the full panels composed of some of the leading climate scientists and energy policy experts as well as keynote addresses by Sen. Jim lnhofe, Rep. Lamar Smith , and author Mark Steyn. SEE WHAT )II T~E.. HEARTLANO l.NSTlTU'l'& YOU MISSED! HtAR1:LANO .oF'.G '-- - -·-- ·-----·--··...·-- I ·! ]_---=::--=-. ;·c·;;=!::::o==::c.-:c= .... :........ - -. Joseph L. Bast President jbast@heartland.org An Austrian Economist's Advice for Greece and the EU Richard Ebeling for Somewhat Reasonable Over several decades Greek governments accumulated a fiscally unmanageable debt and have been unwilling to introduce any meaningful, long-term economic and budgetary reforms to get the country's political-economic house in order. Ludwig Von Mises would surely have an explanation for the problems and a free-market solution. READ MORE -- ..- Contact Gwendalyn Carver Director of Developme gcarver@heartland.c I k I I ·~: i j '. Brittney Jones Development Assistar bjones@heartland.o Robin Knox Foundation Coordina1 rknox@heartland.or .... .... _ 52 •• ,-·- I ··-···-- -- - . _,... ·- ··-'-·-· ·-~-~----···· --·-·--- -·- - I• ... .-.• - · - ·- · • • • _ , ::....__ - e - - - · -.. - - - - - - -- - - - -- - Aaron Stover Director of DevelopmE Region astover@heartland.c Stop Propping up Crony-corporatist Biofuel Companies Paul Driessen, Somewhat Reasonable "Politicians, bureaucrats, and eco-activists clearly care little about the coal mine workers and communities they have destroyed. Why should biofuel producers be more sacrosanct and protected - based on false claims that these fuels ensure emission reductions, 'homegrown' energy supplies and climate stabillty?" 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Anna Eshoo of California penned an editorial for the San Francisco Chronicle that has the strong whiff of patchouli a bunch of warmed-over hippie-dippie nonsense in defense of a huge government power-grab over the Internet. The Flower Children of the Summer of Love have come full circle, now advocating the kind of Big Brother tactics they used to oppose. READ MORE r I· Invest in the Future of Freedom! Are you considering 2015 gifts to your favorite charities? We hope The Heartland Institute is on your list. Preserving and expanding individual freedom is the surest way to advance many good and noble objectives, from feeding and clothing the poor to encouraging excellence and great achievement. Making charitable gifts to nonprofit organizations dedicated to individual freedom is the most highly leveraged investment a philanthropist can make. I I 1 Click here to make a contribution online, or mail your gift to The Heartland Institute, 3939 North Witke Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. To request a FREE wills guide or to get more information to plan your future please visit My Gift Legacy http://legacy.heartland.org/ or contact Gwen Carver at 312/377-4000-or by email at gcarver@heartland.org. If Amazon.com is one of your go-to sources for household purchases, gifts, and of course books, consid~r starting at Smile.Amazon.com inste the same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com ... and if you choose The Heartland Institute as your I charity, Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to us. START HERE ___ ______ ,, 54 . . ·:·- This message was sent to Sen.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov from: Email Marketing by Heartland Institute: Gwendalyn Carver I bjones@heartland.org I Heartland Institute I 3939 North Wilke Road Arlington Heights, IL 60004 Unsubscribe 55 I ((;Contact - :-:· • -· : =--~ From: Sent: To: Subject: '.: 1·_:-:-:-:-'.-. Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of mary firnrohr Wednesday, July 22, 2015 11:07 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul22,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. mary firnrohr 21565 Lancelot Dr Brookfield, WI 53045-1620 43 ·; -~-·:·· From: Sent: To: Subject: ·. . ::: . -·· - Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Yvonne Barker Wednesday, July 22, 2015 11:07 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul22, 2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madiscn, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am w·iting to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the scien ce on global warming to policy makers and lobbying tb rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I unde·stand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. Yvonne Barker 1546 S 71st St West Allis, WI 53214-4829 44 - . :.· -: '· From: Sent: To: Subject: •••.• ·: ·:·. c-;···· ··::. Uniqn of Concerned Scientists on behalf of G Allen Daily < action@ucsusa.org > Wednesday, July 22, 2015 10:07 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul22,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison; WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to supportthe use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry · lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Mr. G Allen Daily 4119 N 110th St Wauwatosa, WI 53222-1104 45 :2 ·.--· I .::.. From: Sent: To: Subject: Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Joan Bach < action@ucsusa.org > Wednesday, July 22, 2015 8:07 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul22,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room i 3i South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you sign ed la~t year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warmin g to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (wWw.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. Joan Bach 2446 N ?0th St Wauwatosa, WI 53213-1322 46 -- r·-- From: Sent: To: Subject: .·:~·-· Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Kian Daniel Wednesday, July 22, 2015 8:07 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul22,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warm ing to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented . I encourage you to read th·e new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decad esofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failura on clean energy and global warming . I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national ·limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. Kian Daniel PO Box 13081 Milwaukee, WI 53213-0081 47 ...:· ·:-· From: Sent: To: Subject: Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Joy Wolden Wednesday, July 22, 2015 4:06 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul22,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir; I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made In a letter that you signed la,st year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, · Mrs. Joy Wolden 2855 N River Birch Dr Brookfield, WI 53045-3113 48 '·". From: Sent: To:, Subject: -:>: - • l . . .•· Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Lillia Langreck, SSND < action@ucsusa.org > Wednesday, July 22, 2015 3:06 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul22,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) . Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the scien ce on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa. org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy, and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Dr. Lillia Langreck, SSND 13105 Watertown Plank Rd · Elm Grove, WI 53122-2213 49 . .• 1···;.;'.·:·.' ~ : From: Sent: To: Subject: ·.· Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Bob Burkart-Lemke < action@ucsusa.org > Thursday, July 23, 2015 12:07 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALE<;: and support climate action Jul23,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC'S record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincernly, Mr. Bob Burkart-Lemke 301 N 73rd St Milwaukee, WI 53213-3622 40 :--.· ·. :.~ .- -~.::-: ·-·~ From: Sent: To: Subject: - Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Margaret Mcguire < action@ucsusa.org > Thursday, July 23, 2015 10:07 AM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul23,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 . Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary tb the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I · encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming . I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. Margaret Mcguire 2530 N 96th St Milwaukee, WI 53226-1757 41 .. . 1-..:,._;-: - .• __..________________________________________ From: Sent: To: Subject: Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Joann Adkinson < action@ucsusa.org > Thursday, July 23, 2015 2:37 AM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul23,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warm ing to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeceptlon) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global_ warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. Joann Adkinson 2869 N 90th St Milwaukee, WI 53222-461 O 42 !... -- .. From: Sent: To: Subject: Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Editha Nottelmann Thursday, July 23, 2015 3:37 PM Sen.Vukmir ?top sidi,ng with ALEC and support climate action Jul23,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Stre.et Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to rea d the new report from the Union of Concern ed Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would fl'.ake us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. Editha Nottelmann 7146 W Hadley St Milwaukee, WI 53210-1134 39 l ~-:: -:·-·. -·: :-. ·, From: ' Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Karen Schlais Thursday, July 23, 2015 8:08 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding With ALEC and support cl imate action Sent: To: Subject: Jul23,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear S~ate Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of dis·seminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbyi ng to rollback clean energy poli cies is well documented. I encourage you to read t he new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesotdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC . I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called ."model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Mrs. Karen Schlais 2945 S 130th St New Berlin , WI 53151-4037 38 .....________________________________________ .• t- From: Sent: To: Subject: Paul Scoptur Friday, July 24, 2015 4:08 PM Sen.Vukmir still waiting .... when you get back from the ALEC meeting, would you give me the courtesy of a response to my emails dating back to July 3? Paul J. Scoptur 37 I •. ·.-. ---------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Rws Friday, July 24, 2015 9:43 PM Sen.Vukmir From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: At ALEC meeting in California, Walker touts Wisconsin laws Did taxpayers pay for you to go all the way to San Diego to give Walker a hug? I hope not... Check out this article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: At ALEC meeting in California, Walker touts Wisconsin laws http://on.jsonl.in/1 LFEVmw · 36 ·-· ··· ·· -- · _ ::, From: Sent: To: Subject: :::::-: ...... . !·:-:-:-:-:>:. Paul Trotter Friday, July 24, 2015 10:28 PM Sen.Vukmir Why Scott Walker is so dangerous - The Washington Post Really Leah? ALEC, which championed many of Walker's anti-union policies, provided a friendly reception Thursday. ALEC official Leah Vukmir (R), a Wisconsin state senator, introduced him by talking about the "unhinged wrath of the forces" who opposed him and their "unprecedented vile behavior." https ://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-scott-walker-is-so-dangerous/2015/07/23/8b462bea-3182-11 e5-97ae30a30cca95d7_story.html?hpid=z2 35 !_:.:.>·. -:- . :- 411m1'=______________________________________ From: · Sent: To: Subject: Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Kelly Witt Saturday, July 25, 2015 11:39 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul 25, 2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www . ucsusa.org/decad~sofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a model for failure on clean energy and global warming. I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clean Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Ms. Kelly Witt 1708 S 168th St New Berlin, WI 53151-1316 kelly78901@yahoo.com 33 .... ··- .- ---------------------------Frqm: Sent: To: Subject: Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of Forrest Netzel < action@ucsusa.org > Saturday, July 25, 2015 12:37 PM Sen.Vukmir Stop siding with ALEC and support climate action Jul25,2015 State Senator Leah Vukmir State Capitol, Room 131 South 2 East Main Street Madison, WI 53702 Dear State Senator Vukmir, I am writing to urge you to end your association with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Contrary to the claims made in a letter that you signed last year, ALEC's record of disseminating disinformation about the science on global warming to policy makers and lobbying to rollback clean energy policies is well documented. I encourage you to read the new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org/decadesofdeception) to understand why people like me are so concerned about ALEC. I understand you may be attending ALEC's annual meeting in San Diego this week. If so, I encourage you to speak out against so-called "model policies" that, if enacted, would make us a mocel for failure on clean energy and global warming . I urge you to support the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency to cost-effectively meet the first-ever national limits on global warming pollution from power plants, known as the Clea:i Power Plan. Please tender your resignation from ALEC so you can focus on representing constituents like me, not the industry lobbyists that ALEC caters to. Sincerely, Mr. Forrest Netzel 14255 W Maylore Dr New Berlin, WI 53151-3862 photonetz@aol.com 34 I,' -·>.: . -' 9111111!______________________________________ From: Tom Kastle Sent: To: Subject: Sunday, July 26, 2015 9:57 PM Sen.Vukmir ALEC Comments Dear Senator. I was appalled to see your comment regarding the "unhinged wrath" of the protesters in your ALEC speech. The Wisconsin Uprising, as you should know, was the largest protest outside DC since the Civil War, and was arguably, the most peaceful protest in US history. Each day 10,000120,000 people gathered, yet, after 3 months, the entire process garnered 18 arrests ... less than a typical UW Badger game. On the other hand, Governor Walker's "crack down" of the Solidarity Singers, after most protesters went home resulted in 300 arrests; all of which were later deemed unconstitutional and thrown out of Court. The Uprising was a direct inspiration to the Occupy Movement which turned into a global phenomenon and shaped the current dialog of class inequality around the world. The Sing Along continues every weekday at noon and is, despite the crude and illegal efforts of the Walker administration, the longest running protest sing in history; over 1, 100 days at this point, I believe. Keeping in mind the egregious legislation developed and advocated by ALEC, leading to many major US corporations leaving the organization, I find your participation offensive, especially as a Wisconsin public servant. As a citizen of Wisconsin I ask that you apologize for your apparently thoughtless comments regarding the most peaceful exercise of our Right to Free Speech and Assembly and resign your position with an organization that has caused severe damage to the voting rights and environmental protection of our great State. Thank you for your consideration. --Tom Kastle Tom Kastle Middleton, WI 608-204-2882 office 773-575-7244 cell 32 \."·:· •• ··=:·.·.. From: Sent: To: Subject: :- .·. 1 •. :-• • • Mitchell Nussbaum Monday, July 27, 2015 3:10 PM Sen.Vukmir ALEC Chair Dear Sen. Vukmir, Congratulations on becoming the chair of ALEC. I'm sure you'll do a great job. You've done a great job promoting their bills in Wisconsin. But now that you're chair of ALEC, I believe you should resign your senate seat since it is a big conflict of interest to chair a group that promotes rightwing politics and writes bills to help the billionaires and corporations to get richer. As a legislator you're supposed to represent constituents in Wisconsin. You are also responsible for the whole state whenever you vote for a bill. But ALEC bills . are written by people being paid by billionaires in Kansas and other states. That is not good for the state of Wisconsin. You should do one or the other, but not both. Please resign your senate seat. Sincerely, Genie Ogden 28 .. . . ~. From: Sent: To: Subject: Paul Trotter Monday, July 27, 2015 2:13 PM Sen.Vukmir Scott Walker Is the Belle of the ALEC Ball I PR Watch Really Leah - I was there with my wife. Wisconsin Senator Leah Vukmir, a former nurse who is soon to become the chairwoman of the ALEC board and an ALEC darling herself, .s et the stage when she introduced Governor Walker by referring to the "unhinged wrath" of protesters who engaged in "unprecedented vile behavior that lasted for weeks and weeks." Hmmm . I was there, with my five -month-old baby and my 4 -year-old, holding our homemade signs. It was the most peaceful collection of thousands of people in Wisconsin's history. - See more at http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/07/12893/scott-walker-belle-alec-ball#.dpuf http://www. prwatch .org/news/2015/07/12893/scott-walker-belle-alec-ball 29 - ··· -- ·.·.·, I. ·.. ·. ______________________ -.; From: Sent: To: Subject: Martens, Bill < bill.martens@wpr.org > Monday, July 27, 2015 8:48 AM Sen.Vukmir; Booth, Jason; Fuller, Lucas; Gugel, Mattias RE: Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-8 a.m. I see that Ms. Vukmir was also just recently named the next national chair of ALEC. I don't know why that didn't come up in my Google search, but thankfully she tweeted about it. Knowing that, I think she'd be an even better guest than I initially thought! FYI, I'm going to send a request through ALEC, too. Bill Martens I Producer/Director of The Joy Cardin Show I Wisconsin Public Radio 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 l .(608) 265-4547 I www.wpr.org/joy From: Martens, Bill Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 8:38 AM To: 'Sen.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov'; 'Jason.Booth@legis.wisconsin.gov'; 'Lucas.Fuller@legis.wisconsin.gov'; 'Mattias.Gugel@legis.wisconsin.gov' Subject: Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-B a.m. Hello, Bill Martens here from the Joy Cardin Show on Wis. Public Radio. I'm wondering if Sen. Vukmir would be free to join us on our show tomorrow - Tue., July 28 - from 7:33-8 a.m. We want to talk about ALEC. The DNC put out a release last week that ripped Gov. Walker for his ties to ALEC and that it led to right-to-work, the elimination of collective bargaining and other policies the Dems don't like. One of their guys is going to join us from 7:07-7:33~ I came across an opinion piece that Sen. Vukmir wrote for the Journal Sentinel in 2012 that praised ALEC because it provided a way for lawmakers to share pro-market ideas that lead to better public policy: http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/vukmir-in-defense-of~alec-m 178vk7-175017861.html I'm hoping she can talk more about that and how it's made Wisconsin a better state. This would consist of questions from Joy and calls/emails from listeners. Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether we can work this out and thanks very much for your assistance. Bill Martens I Producer/Director of The Joy Cardin Show I Wisconsin Public Radio 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 I (608) 265-4547 I www.wpr.org/joy 30 ! · · · ·-: ·. ·. : •• __.________________________ From: Sent: To: Subject: Martens, Bill Monday, July 27, 2015 8:26 AM Sen.Vukmir; Booth, Jason; Fuller, Lucas; Gugel, Mattias Interview request from Wis. Public Radio - Tue., July 28, 7:33-8 a.m. Hello, Bill Martens here from the Joy Cardin Show on Wis. Public Radio. I'm wondering if Sen. Vukmir would be free to join us on our show tomorrow - Tue., July 28 -from 7:33-8 a.m. We want to talk about ALEC. The DNC put out a release last week that ripped Gov. Walker for his ties to ALEC and that it led to right-to-work, the elimination of collective bargaining and other policies the Dems don't like. One of their guys is going to join us from 7:07-7:33. I came across an opinion piece that Sen. Vukmir wrote for the Journal Sentinel in 2012 that praised ALEC because it provided a way for lawmakers to share pro-market ideas that lead to better public policy: http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/vukmir-in-defense-of-alec-m178vk7-175017861 .html I'm hoping she can talk more about that and how it's made Wisconsin a better state. This would consist of questions from Joy and calls/emails from listeners. Please let me know at your earliest convenience whether we can work this out and thanks very much for your assistance. Bill Martens I Producer/Director of The Joy Cardin Show I Wisconsin Public Radio 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 I (608) 265-4547 I www.wpr.org/joy 31 .:.:_:_.,:.:·.-: :·:·:-:- :·>.-:-:-:- ~=- -.· ' >·'.· -:-·•.• :- ~~:-: : ... ........___________________________________ Wilhelm Vleierling Friday, July 17, 2015 3:16 PM Wilhelm 'vteierling New ALE:: Video -- You're a star From: Sent: ·To: Subject: Hi there, I'm looking forward to seeing you at next week's Annual Meeting. It is set to be one of the largest meetings ever. On Thursday, we will debut the video linked below titled "it's great to be an ALEC member," comprised of clips from interviews conducted at the 2014 winter rreeting. Thank you for sitting for interviews. I hope you like the final product. https://www .youtu be .com/watch ?v=rbOdEm5m UVY &featu re=yo utu. be ***PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS VIDEO YET. IT WILL PLAY PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THURSDAY AT LUNCH*** Best, Bill Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs 571-482-5007 wmeierlinq@alec.org 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 . c··. .7J_LE . .. ... ; . . . ... 1\merf;r.m l t~ISll}1i""(• E~nge Council·.. Upcoming Meetings: 2015 Annual Meeting-July 22 - 24, 2015- San Diego, California 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit - December 2-4, 2015 - Scottsdale, Arizona 2016 Spring Task Force Summit - May 6, 2016 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Amen·can Legislative Exchange Council is a 501{c)3 nonprofit organization and is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federallsm. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the National .Board of Legislators and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of private, foundation and think tank members. Website I Facebook I Twitter I Blog 36 ·~- _.; . ·: ,:::·· ;::'.·.· .. i:~:::~:~;~:~:~:::~ }: : ::.:·:· . Uodate Profile and Subscription Preferences 35 I Unsubscribe From All Emails ;._._., ::-:-.-; ..-.·· ·-· -·· · .-.· ......... ..... : I ...•.·-...•.. .:-.·....:-.-:-:· •'- .·.. ·-·· .-. --------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: . American Legislative Exchange Council Tuesday, July 07, 2015 11:06 AM Vukmir, Leah ALEC Events and Education 07-07-2015 To view this email as a web page, go~ New Annual Meeting Speakers Frank Luntz - Public Opinion Pollster, Elbert Lin - Solicitor General (WV), State Representative Rick Miller (TX) and Travis Brown, Economist Join Governor Scott Walker, Senator Ted Cruz, former Governor Mike Huckabee, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, actor Clint Howard and economist Dr. Arthur Laffer. Review the preliminary agenda of policy workshops, task force and subcommittee meetings, the inaugural Iron Lady Reception and much more. View Updated Hotel Information Here. THIS Friday, July 1O-- Conference Call: Refining 101 Would you Jike to better understand how the refining industry turns crude oil into more useful products such as gasoline, diesel , kerosene and-other petrochemicals? Join us for a conference call where you can learn about the refining process, the economics of the 52 -_;.-.---' J:> + ,.- :! -· ::•..·. . .- ..• 2015 GOVERNORS! TAX'l>ROP.DSACS a Toi1t lntrcmcs ;~~! Tn.-ftl!dnctioos § BetlhTa.ii:ll'>UeHl!S&J\eduUSons- e Nl!WIV EiC?'~ Governor American City County Exchange - Partners at the Local Level ort Invite them to join the American City County Exchange Council (ACCE), America's only nonpartisan free market forum for municipal policymakers. CCE members are also welcome in San Diego for the 2nd CCE Annual Meetin , July 22 and 23. This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - view our policy Update Profile and Subscrjption Preferences 54 I Unsubscrlbe From All Emails ._...._______________________________________ From: Sent: To: Subject: American Legislative Exchange Council Thursday, July 09, 2015 11:02 AM Vukmir, Leah ALEC Digital Exchange 07-09-2015 To view this email as a web page, go~ ALEC Annual Meeting Updates Review workshop additions and the updated agenda here. New Speaker: Diane Harkey - California Board of Equalization Register here. Review NEW HOTEL information here. RSVP Today to Tour the Port of San Diego -- Wednesday, July 22 The ALEC Task Force on International Relations and Federalism invites all Annual Meeting attendees to join a tour of the Port of San Diego. Transportation to the port, safety equipment and all other materials provided. When: ALEC Annual Meeting: Wednesday, July 22 Where: Buses depart the Manchester Grand Hyatt at 8:00 AM returning prior to the Opening Lu nch session RSVP: RSVP required to participate. Please RSVP to Karla Jones at kjones@alec.org One of the centerpieces of the Smart Citv: San Diego as a System Initiative , this port was the first to implement public-private partnership smart building initiatives to reduce energy consumption. Through the Go Global initiative, the Port is poised to become one of the most important in the nation, driving economic growth in San Diego and encouraging foreign investment. 44 :~ .· •.. ~-!···-:·: j - ':-· >>. • :-. :-.-;.·. :·· ·-----: .·. '• ··-·, = ,- .-.· · .· ........ : -. =· ·.·..· !·'I -...·.·---·-. ------- ..· ...·..·.-- . ·.-. ····- --·-·.-..... RSVPs are required to participate. Please contact Karla Jones at kjones@alec.org to register for the tour. THIS Friday, July 10 -- Conference Call: Refining 101 Would you like to better understand how the refining industry turns crude oil into more useful products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene and other petrochemicals? Join us for a conference call where you can learn about the refining process, the economics of the refining industry and problems posed by overly burdensome regulation. Friday, July 10, 2015, 12:00 PM ET There are two ways to participate: Option 1: Webinar . This option will allow you to see the accompanying slide shows and images associated with the presentation. 1. Navigate to the webinar registration page and click the "Register" button at the bottom of the page. 2. Key in the registration password "crude". 3. Fill out your name and email address and click "Submit". 4. You will then receive email instructions containing a link to join the webinar on Friday. Option 2: Call-In This option will you to listen to the presentation, but you won't be able to see the accompanying slide show and presentation. 1. Call toll-free: 1-877-668-4493. 2. Use access code: 662 758 069# If you have any questions, please contact John Eick at (571) 482-5008 or at jeick@alec.org. 45 .. . - (<: ::::-:::·: :-::<· '. . .... :.: -:-:- . •' -::·:·: · ·: : :-.·: -:·. --· .-. .... ...-.·-· RI ~ 0 #50 CT 0 rn #50 NJ i;;J 0 #50 DE G 0 #50 MD~ 32 #31 o ~ ~ #50 1=HIGHEST 50=LOWEST 'Natur.11 Gas PrnducUon bV State (Million O..bic Feot). ••o Sll!'llfies Negligible"' No Production. @ALEC_States AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL American Legislative Exchange Council in the News Map: Natural Gas Production in the U.S. -American Legislator State Legislatures Consider Future of American Labor - Governing Magazine Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights: Thoughtful Spending Limitations Can Protect Taxpayers American Legislator STEM -- Will it Replace Liberal Arts? - American Legislator Labor Battles Heat Up in State Legislatures - Huffington Post Labor Battles Heat Up in State Legislatures - Stateline - Pew Charitable Trusts ALEC: Tax reform leads to major boost in N.C. economic competitiveness - The John Locke Foundation DEA Data Collection Program Served as Model for NSA Program -American Legislator ALEC Grows Its Comms Shop - Politico Grady v. North Carolina -- Satellite Based Monitoring Programs are Searches -American Legislator 46 •. • . ,._ I-·-:-:-:·:··._.·.; Coalition Works to Have One Million Fewer People Behind Bars - Yahoo! News Smart is The New Tough: Prison Reform -American Legislator July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta - ALEC.org Off to a Bad Start: START-UP NY Spends $45 Million and Only Creates 76 Jobs - RedState This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - view our oolicy Uodate Profile and Subscription Preferences 47 I Unsubscribe From All Emails :~ f:::·: =. ~~.:_ ~\;:{:'.;: ~{::/.·:-. .. ;- . -::_:::::·::-::: ,:{\{::/ .;. :{.; ._:::;:;:;:;::'.;:=:: :;:; :.·:-:···:.-.:·:-:-:-:-:·>: :. ·- -. . ;.,.:-· . ......____________________________________________ From: Sent: Jonathan Williams Monday, July 13, 2015 1:01 PM Vukmir, Leah ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform Update: Happy Fiscal New Year To: Subject: To view this email as a web page, go ~ Dear Friends, The race is on for state economic competition. Our State Tax Cut Roundup report documented that 17 states significantly cut truces in 2013, and 14 states significantly cut taxes in 2014. This year, our State of the States: An Analysis of the 2015 Governors' Addresses report revealed that more than 20 governors proposed tax relief. As we say in Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competftiveness Index, competitive tax rates , reasonable spending and free market policies create an environment of economic opportunity. Since our last update, our ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform staff joined our members and allies in five cities across four states for briefings and events: • Dover, Delaware: Rich States, Poor States legislative briefing. • Parsippany, New Jersey: Rich States, Poor States presentation at New Jersey's Center Right Meeting. • Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill presentation with the Cato Institute on "Proven Strategies to Restrain Spending: An International Perspective." • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Rich States, Poor States legislative briefing. • Raleigh, North Carolina: Rich States, Poor States presentation at the John Locke Foundation's Shaftesbury Society Luncheon. Watch the presentation here. Research and commentary from the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform staff: • American Legislator: Texas Legislature Passes Significant New Tax Relief and Continues to Lead on pro-Growth Reforms 40 ·~·: . - '.:; -~. ' ~-:-:-:-:-: :-:-:-:-:-:-:- I· ·.-. ·~ -.· .•. • .·.•. • American Legislator: A Capital Gains Tax Would Hurt Economic Opportunity in • • • • American Legislator: New Report Reviews Governors' State-of-the-State Addresses American Legislator: Connecticut Set to Raise Taxes, Businesses Consider Relocation American Legislator: Jonathan Williams Discusses New State of the States Report on The Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal Live RedState : Off to a Bad Start: START-UP NY Spends $45 Million and Only Creates 76 • • American Legislator: "State-of-the-States" Snapshot for the New Fiscal Year American Legislator: Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights: Thoughtful Spending Washington State Jobs Limitations Can Protect Taxpayers As always, please don't hesitate to contact me if the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform can be helpful in your state. I hope to see many of you later this month for our ALEC Annual Meeting in San Diego, California . . Sincerely, Jonathan Williams Vice President Center for State Fiscal Reform American Legislative Exchange Council Direct 571.482.5066 Email: jwilliams@alec.org Twitter: @taxeconomist This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 United States We respect your right to privacy - view our oollcy Manage Subscriptions I Uodate Profile I Unsubscribe 41 .-.·. .·.- : ..··: .·.·.-.· ...·· !·.·:-:-:·:·:::·. . ...... , . :·:.'_.. :;:::;":·: ·..· ····} - . -;--:. .. .-.·.··-·· ------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: American Legislative Exchange Council Tuesday, July 14, 2015 11:02 AM Vukmir, Leah ALEC Events and Education 07-14-2015 To view this email as a web page, go here. New Annual Meeting Speakers Diane Harkey - California Board of Equalization Frank Luntz - Public Opinion Pollster, Elbert Lin - Solicitor General 0NV), and State Representative Rick Miller (TX} Join Governor Scott Walker, Senator Ted Cruz, former Governor Mike Huckabee, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, actor Clint Howard and economists Dr. Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore and Travis Brown. Review next week's agenda of policy workshops, task force and subcommittee meetings, the inaugural Iron Lady Reception and much more. View Updated Hotel Information t1ere. RSVP Today to Tour the Port of San Diego -- Wednesday, July 22 The ALEC Task Force on International Relations and Federalism invites Annual Meeting attendees to join a tour of the Port of San Diego. 37 -.· · :.·-, -~ ~: ·.· .. -.·-· Transportation to the port, safety equipment and all other materials provided. When: ALEC Annual Meeting: Wednesday, July 22 Where: Buses depart the Manchester Grand Hyatt at 8:00 AM returning prior to the Opening Lunch session RSVP: "RSVP required to participate. Please RSVP to Karla Jones at kjones@alec.org One of the centerpieces of the Smart City: San Diego as a System Initiative .• this port was the first to implement public-private partnership smart building initiatives to reduce energy consumption. Through the Go Global initiative, the Port is poised to become one of the most important in the nation, driving economic growth in San Diego and encouraging foreign investment. RSVPs are required to participate. Please contact Karla Jones at kjones@alec.org to register for the tour. Download the ALEC App for Next Week 1s Annual Meeting Downroed the flilW AU::C App, ava.lfa.ble on .Apple, Alldrcld and l(fiidle Flre. Download the free app today. This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Ar!ington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - view our poli cy 38 .. · .. -. ~ -- --··-:-.;: ...-.· Update Profile and Subscription Preferences 39 . .. I Unsubscribe ·.·.--·.· .·.·.·.·· From All Emails '--· · · . r.· ··--·- . -- :- •. ' - ~ ·--···=-··--· ~ ·.-:<-:-:-··.·· .. . ! . - - •'\. ~ .- ·-·-.·. ·.-.. .· . -.-.-.. ; 9lllllllml----------------------...--------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Representative Phil King Monday, July 06, 2015 9:01 AM Vukmir, Leah By Invite Only: ALEC Leadership Dinner To view this email as a web page, go here. Dear Senator Vukmir, Please join Debra Crew, President and Chief Commercial Officer of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and myself at the Annual Meeting Leadership Dinner. This exclusive reception and dinner is by invitation only on Tuesday, July 21 at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, respectively.. To RSVP for this special event, please contact Sarah Taylor at staylor@alec.org. Debra Crew will deliver the keynote address and kick off the 42nd ALEC Annual Meeting with the highest-ranking state lawmakers in the country. Please join us on Tuesday, July 21 for the Leadership Reception and Dinner. Sincerely, Representative Phil King, Texas (HD-61) 2015 National Chair American Legislative Exchange Council 57 ..... .· Mt A~r::=:: -.:.:, .... .:.:· :·;,=,~/:;~::: .. - i,;=+t:\:ii~C''! .. This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This emall was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 United States We respect your right to privacy - vjew our policy Manage Subscriptions I Update Profile .I Unsubscribe 58 -:::·.--·--·-:: /· .:·. ----------------------------------From: news=wispolitics.com@deliverOl.blastnewsletters.com on behalf of WisPolitics Staff < news@wispolitics.com > Friday, July 24, 2015 8:15 AM WisPolitics Notification Services (WisPolitics.com) FRI AM Update -- 24 July 2015 Sent: To: Subject: Wisconsin'S Premier Politic'ai>, entrepre,,evrship {l;ni:;I oppartu!nlly. University Research Park From WisPolitics.com ... -- Gov. Scott Walker canceled his weekend campaign plans so he can attend the funeral of Marine Sgt. Carson Holmquist, a Wisconsin native who was killed in the Tennessee shootings last week. · The events in North Carolina and New Hampshire will be rescheduled, Walker's campaign said. -- U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, is expected to travel to Kenya and Ethiopia as part of the delegation accompanying President Obama on the trip, according to the White House. Moore is also expected to travel aboard Air Force One for the return flight from Ethiopia. -- Filling in for Walker on the governor's weekly radio address, Health Services Secretary Kitty Rhoades praised a budget amendment to require drug testing for welfare applicants. Calling it "a path to a healthier future," Rhoades applauded the new measure, saying it will ensure a more efficient, effective and accountable state government. Included in the new drug screening measure is free drug treatment and job training to allow "everyone who wants a good, family supporting job 11 to get one. 20 !·.·-:::'-: _ :~- . ... . .. ··· ---·. ~ See the release: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml? Article=352813 -- In the Dems' weekly address, Rep. Terese Berceau of Madison accused the state Republican Party of attempting to dismantle the GAB an turn it into the state government's "watchdog" into 11 a lapdog. 11 · Berceau accused Republicans of trying to hide the source of their political donations and altering voting methods and legislative maps to help their advance their party. "They want to win any way they can, fair or not, 11 said Berceau. Berceau said keeping the government open and transparent is a priority for the Dems, while the majority party focuses on improving its own prospects and that of the governor. See more: http://www.wispolitics.com/1 006/150723Radio.pdf Hear the·addresses, organized by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, by going to the righthand column at http://www.wi-broadcasters.org TOP HEADLINES At ALEC meeting in California, Scott Walker touts Wisconsin laws ... "I'm for real reform in Washington. I know it can work. It's worked in our state," Walker told a cheering audience Thursday .... Introducing Walkm at the ALEC conference, Vukmir said the group made lives better by reducing the cost of government. Vukmir, the first vice chairwoman of ALEC, will become its national chairwoman next year. ... Mary Young , president of Save Our Schools Wauwatosa, said she was disappointed that Vukmir had time to attend the ALEC conference but not meet with her group .. . Taxpayers paid $15,000 in attorneys fees and damages last year, and Vukmir turned over documents related to ALEC as part of the settlement of an open records lawsuit by the · Center for Media and Democracy. [Stein] http://jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/318296781 .html Walker criticizes Iran nuclear deal ... addressed [ALEC] annual meeting ... Hundreds of protesters rallied Wednesday outside the downtown San Diego hotel ... some carrying signs that read "Stop the Assault on Working People" and "Big$$$ Out of Politics.• "I understand you had a few protesters yesterday. For us that's just getting warmed up, 11 Walker said to applause before recalling his fierce battles with organized labo~ . ... became most animated on [Obama'·s nuke] agreement with Iran ... "Iran is not a place that we should be doing business with," he said, drawing a standing ovation during a 25-minute speech that stuck to familiar themes of a lightly regulated economy and muscular foreign policy. Citizens for SelfGovernance Meckler: 11 1 think he's trying to build his foreign policy credentials and it obviously resonated -here. 11 Walker, HUckabee were only prez candidates after Cruz cancelled due to Senate votes. Huckabee wailed on Supreme Court's same-sex ruling and trade agreements that cost US jobs. ALEC's Meierling touted about 2,000 mostly GOP lawmaker members, about 300 corporations, advocates and others, with roughly 1,300 of them registered for the weekend of workshops and speeches, noted several corporate members dropped after Trayvon Martin shooting, leading ALEC to drop its support of stand-your-ground laws. [Spagat of AP] 21 ,.. :.:: . _.·, --· ----- .: ·-- I • http ://news. yahoo. com/qops-wal ker-h ead Iin es-conservative-gather in g-san-d iego-0 7051 21 56-e lection. htm I Dana Milbank: Why Scott Walker is so dangerous ... ALEC, which inspired many of Walker's anti-labor efforts in Wisconsin, drew several hundred union protesters as legislators arrived here this week for its annual conference -- and this delighted 11 Walker. 1 understand you had a few protesters yesterday," he told the conservative legislators. 11 For 11 us, that's just getting warmed up. That's nothing. We got 100,000 protesters. ••• went on to celebrate his triumphs over the demonstrators [ 11 thuggery"] ... described collective bargaining as a 11 corrupt 11 11 system" and diagnosed union leaders as having a sense of entitlement. ... described public-sector union members as the 11 haves" taking advantage of [taxpayer] "have-nots 11 ••• [once likened protesters to murderous ISIS] ... This is the essence of Walker's appeal -- and why he is so dangerous. He is not as outrageous as [Trump, Cruz], but his technique of scapegoating unions for the nation's ills is no less demagogic [reminiscent of McCarthy's red scare] ... ALEC, which championed many of Walker's anti-union policies, provided a friendly reception Thursday. ALEC official Leah Vukmir (R), a Wisconsin state senator, introduced him by talking about the "unhinged wrath of the forces" who opposed him, and their 11 unprecedented vile behavior." ... bulk of Walker's stump speech to the Kochbrothers-financed ALEC was about how his "big, bold reforms took the power out of the hands of big government special interests" -- namely, unions .... [touted "Kohl's curve"] .. . Left unmentioned: how his big, bold reforms produced only half the number of jobs he promised, and resulted in delayed debt payments and deep cuts to education to overcome a budget deficit. https://washinqtonpost.com/8b462bea-3182-11 e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7 story.html Scott Walker cancels campaign stop in NC to attend Chattanooga funeral ... on Saturday .. .. will instead attend the funeral of Sgt. Carson Holmquist, who hails from ... the town of Grantsburg, Wisconsin. : .. ordered the flags in Wisconsin lowered after Holmquist was one of five killed at an operational support center in Tennessee .. . "We hono,r the memory of Sergeant Carson Holmquist, and we will never forget the courage anc;f sacrifice he displayed serving this great country," he said then in that statement. http://myfox8.com/2015/07/23/scott-wal ker Scott Walker Hates Raising Taxes. But If You Own A Sports Team, He'll Talk Walker's backing a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks -- and it's not the first time he supported a tax-financed stadium .. [then-rep. Walker voted for regional Miller Park sales tax] The tax is still in effect today .... It has remained a source .of controversy. In each of the last two legislative sessions, groups of lawmakers sought to end the tax increase. The Walker campaign did not r~spond to request for comment about the 1995 increase .... does not involve direct tax increases .. uses state bonds and county funds ... with the cost of property tax exemptions granted to the arena, taxpayers will pay for more than 80 percent of the project's estimated cost ... includes a $4 million -annual reduction in state contributions to Milwaukee County, which could potentially lead to ... additional tax increases or cuts to public services .... Walker and the team have argued that a new arena will revitalize Milwaukee and have a major economic impact across the state. But research has shown ... little if any benefit for state and local economies. Bucks owner group's Hammes ... now serves as the Walker campaign's fundraising chairman. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scott-walker-sports-arena 55b016abe4b07af29d577883 Scott Walker says public has no right to some records on key issues ... Two months after they denied access to the records , Walker and GOP lawmakers tried to gut the open records law. They gave up the idea within two days of the Legislature's budget committee approving it, and Walker soon afterward said the move was a "huge mistake." .. "Making these internal discussions just as open to disclosure as the final version of the budget would inhibit the tree 22 I·--;.·.;:,.. exchange of ideas, opinions, proposals and recommendations among those involved in deciding what to include in the final legislation/' administration counsel Gregory Murray wrote ... In a statement Thursday, Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick said state law allowed the administration to withhold the records .... 11 We have been and will continue fulfilling open records requests pursuant to current law, as we always have," her statement said. Eleven of the 12 record denials were made on May 8, the new documents show. The 12th was issued a week later, on May 14. [DOA's] Werwie didn't say why so many were issued the same day, ... [CMD's Fischer] said the timing was ... 11 a wellconsidered strategy to avoid scrutiny of the way the Walker administration came up with the budget. 11 Senate Majority Leader Fitzgerald turned over the document that showed Vos made original request, but did not blame VOs, "In the budget, everything is collaborative. We knew what they were doing. 11 http://jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/318294111.html John Doe targets go on the record to slam probe Targets of an investigation into alleged election law violations by Gov. Scott Walker's supporters emerged from anonymity Thursday to renew sharp criticism of John Doe prosecutors, whose probe was blocked last week by the Wisconsin Supreme Court .... strategist R.J. Johnson told a Wall Street Journal editorial writer he was in an airplane when word reached him that his 16-year-old son had awakened in their home to find six law e·nforcement officers executing a search warrant. ... On the newspaper's opinion page Thursday, Johnson and his business partner Deborah Jordahl both raised as an issue the presence of children when their homes were searched. Both also said officers refused to allow phone calls to lawyers .... Experts in law enforcement have said it is difficult to judge the accuracy of published statements about the raids because the prosecutors and police are under a John Doe secrecy order and barred from telling their side of the story. And the John Doe targets haven't challenged the legality of the raids in court, so prosecutors haven't had a formal opportunity to respond .... Schmitz, the special prosecutor, declined to respond to the statements. He said in an email Thursday that he is continuing to weigh whether to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the state court ruling, and the state court's order for the return of property seized in the investigation. http://host.madison.com/b70a756e-31 b6-5f45-a850-5b4d0e 19e778. htm I DNR may allow more projects to skip pollution studies ... wants to permanently expahd the list of projects that don't require an environmental analysis, including air pollution permits, decisions affecting factory farms and dam repairs .... Officials with the Republican-controlled DNR say the proposal will help streamline the agency's requirements and save money . ... [MEA] sent the DNR a letter in June calling the exemptions 11 overexpansive." DNR's Gosh no comment. MEA's Williams: 'This Will have a ripple effect of environmental and public health impacts that may continue for decades to come. 11 Farm Bureau Fed 1s Richard no position because 11 it's a relatively minor issue" and shouldn't affect factory farm regulation. Rehash DNR's reduced environmental citations, reduced DOJ prosecutions, Walker extending to 20 years clean water compliance for wastewater plants, paper mills and food processors and relaxing iron mining regs. [Richmond of AP] http://lacrossetribune.com/5 72323b5-0c65-507 a-ada3-1 87f603eb8d8. htm I Sen. Ron Johnson regrets referring to 'idiot inner city kids' ... talking about the issue of school choice ... "It's unbelievable to me that liberals, that President Obama, of course he sends his children to private school, as did Al Gore, and Bill Clinton and every 11 other celebrated liberal, Johnson said Monday on 131 o WIBA-Milwaukee. "They just don't want to let those idiot inner city kids that they purport to be so supportive of... they don't want to give them the same opportunity their own kids have. It's disgraceful. 11 ... We asked Johnson's office what he meant, and at first they thought we must have misheard him. We didn't. Then we heard from the senator himself .... 11 0bviously I am a huge supporter of school choice, it infuriates me that these young inner city kids are trapped in poverty," he told us. 11 1 was being, that quote is, I'm being very sarcastic in 23 that's how liberals .view these underprivileged kids. That is not my viewpoint in any way." ... understood how "hearing that little snippet" might make one "go, yikes .... Trust me I wish I would not have said that. That's not what I mean." http ://wash inqton post. com/news/powe rpost/wp/2015/07 /23/sen -ron TODAY'S CALENDAR http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Content=22 - 8:30 a.m.: AG Schimel's Open Government Summit, 413 North, State Capitol http://wispolitics.com/1006/opengovtsummit.pdf (c)2015 WisPolitics.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction or retransmission of this publication, in whole or in part, without the express permission of WisPolitics.com is prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction violates United States copyright law (17 USC 101 et seq.}, as does retransmission by facsimile or any other electronic means, including electronic mail. LINKS: Home page I Press releases I Calendar I Interviews I Contact us I Budget Blog I Election Blog I Quorum Call I DC Wrap 24 ··: . . ... ·-· co mpeting providers . Integration of ca re provid es better care for customers and doctors, as well as a better value for taxpayers . With Waukesha Co. Exec./Senator Paul Rep. Rob Hutton joins me in testifying to repeal the state's prevailing Farrow prior to the Elm Grove Memorial Day Parade My interns at a bill signing with Governor Walker Interns left to Right: Lexi Boumstein (UW-Madison), Rachel Ramthun (UW- LaCrosse), Corissa Pennow (UW-Madison) Repealing Prevailing Wage Law For Local Governr Prevailing wage has been a hotly contested issue in the state Capitol for sever months . Thanks to the hard work of many of my colleagues, including RepresE Hutton and Jacque, as .well as Senators Stroebel, Nass and Lasee, we have rei compromise that will greatly benefit the taxpayers of Wisconsin . The reform we agreed on provides two key victories for conservatives and tax First, by repealing prevailing wage for local governments and school districts, provide cost relief to taxpayers starting in 2017. Second, this newfound costs eventually pave the way for a full repeal by illustrating the inflated costs creat current prevailing wage law. The impact of prevailing wage on our local school been one of my largest concerns. School superintendents like Mark Hansen frc Elmbrook have been among the most persistent and persuasive voices in this Ev ery time a school district in this state puts a project out for bid, they face U possibility of inflated costs because of a special interest giveaway mandated b government. That is simply not right, especially when school districts around I fa ce other challenges that are forcing them to find cost savings wherever poss eliminating prevailing wage for schools and local government, I am hopeful wt provide relief that will create real savings for these local bodies and the taxpa '. support them. Giving local governments the ability to competently manage th• proj ects will provide a blueprint far a full statewide repeal in the future . Th roughout the debate around prevailing wage, I have worked to ensure that philosophical objections to prevailing wage were clear. I have a disagreement supporters of Wisconsin's prevailing wage law at a fundamental level; I do no1 government should arbitrarily set wages in the marketplace. I know this is no\ premise for most of the people I represent in the 5th Senate District, but for ! rea·son, this is a radical idea in the eyes of some. Prevailing wage reform will I opportunity for those doubters to be converted. When the savings for local go and schools are calculated it will be impossible for special interests to continu• In the way of a full repeal of prevailing wage. While a full repeal of prevailing my ultimate goal, this reform is an important victory for schools and local gov across Wisconsin while keeping us on the path to full repeal in the future . =========·:·..: ::. __ ~.~~~ ~:..-.r-i--::::::.=~:;M ...=i--=::::: ... '. ......:-1....7!::.-_-V:,:tl!l!::.:=•.::~, 67 . . ,;: -••• :: ,,, _ _,,,,:·:::::::::::::.=::.-::==::::.:.'.•::~~::;:::;:::::::::::::::::,:•:== I .·:·:-- . ···-----, I l Proud to celebrate these 4 young men becoming Eagle Scouts at the Mitchell Park Lodge in Brookfield Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to Washington D.C. for Vets on June 6 Feel free to visit my Facebook page for updates on the 5th District and our gre · Wisconsin . Sincerely, 68 J •·• ~..__ From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: -·=·-- _______________________________ Jon Netzler Wednesday, July 15, 2015 9:59 PM Sen.Miller; Rep.Heb! Sen.Carpenter; Sen.Cowles; Sen.Darling; Sen.Erpenbach; Sen.Farrow; Sen.Fitzgerald; Sen.Gudex; Sen.Hansen; Sen. Harris Dodd; Sen.Harsdorf; Sen.Larson; Sen.Lasee; Sen.Lassa; Sen.Lazich; Sen.LeMahieu; Sen.Marklein; Sen.Moulton; Sen.Nass; Sen.Olsen; Sen.Petrowski; Sen.Ringhand; Sen.Risser; Sen.Roth; Sen.Shilling; Sen.Stroebel; Sen.Taylor; Sen.Bewley; Sen.Vinehout; Sen.Vukmir; Sen.Wanggaard; Sen.Wirch; Sen.Tiffany; 1 Lisa Gierke Why I'm leaving Wisconsin Dear Senator Miller and Representative Hebl, Please share my story to illustrate how the governance of Wisconsin since 2011 is driving exceptionally talented people of the 30-year-old generation (and their families and dollars!) out of Wisconsin--and out of the U.S.! I'm Jon Netzler. I tum 32 years old next Monday, July 20. My wife Lisa Gierke and I have lived in Stoughton, WI, since August of 2008, and we've lived our entire lives in Wisconsin with our families; I'm originally from Manitowoc and Lisa is from Middleton. Lisa and I became public school teachers together, and both our mothers and grandmothers were teachers in Wisconsin. I worked at Epic in Verona as a corporate trainer for one year (August 2010-August 2011) prior to becoming a full-time Language Arts teacher at Stoughton High School, where I have taught since September of 2011. I've never regretted leaving the private sector to pursue my dream job teaching high school students. In exactly four weeks my wife Lisa and I are moving to Saudi Arabia to teach at an international school in Jubail, and we are unsur.e whether we will ever return to the state of Wisconsin where we both grew up, where we both graduated from UW~Madison, and which we both love. Why are we leaving? One significant reason that led to our decision is that we cannot stand the elected representatives' continual assault on average, working Wisconsinites! Today's passage of the bill to publicly finance the Bucks' new arena is truly a new low. What a proverbial slap in the face to all past, present, and future average, working people of Wisconsin! Lisa and I have chosen to continue our careers not enriching lives in our home state, but instead sharing our · talents and dollars in a very foreign land. In a twisted way, Scott Walker and his legislative rubber-stampers and their monied benefactors are to thank. They've made it all too easy for bright, young professional educators like Lisa and I to leave. Trust me, since 2011, Llsa and I have received the message loud and clear: people like us aren't valued here, except as resources to be exploited. Hell, we teachers are barely even protected in public school here! The school where we will teach in Saudi Arabia is not the answer to all of our problems, and the ironies of my future situation aren't lost on me. (I'm an English teacher.) But honestly, why would two bright, young working 69 1•. ::-:-. I • 1- : . -,- • • - professionals like Lisa and I choose to build our education careers and settle with our family HERE? After the evisceration of collective bargaining rights, the gutting of public education funding, and the scapegoating of public workers, why would we stay? We feel disrespected and degraded as teachers in Wisconsin. Wisconsin's public education system has been savaged in just four short years. Who knows if it can ever recover? Every financial bill passed by Wisconsin legislators these days seems crafted to benefit the ultra-rich by preying on good people like Lisa and I. Apparently these days, giving a quarter billion dollars of Wisconsin taxpayers' money as corporate welfare to the owners of the Milwaukee Bucks is more important than funding the UW System, and other equally important public institutions. Any person with a functioning conscience should be outraged by this deal with the owners of the Milwaukee Bucks. It's like the evil cherry on an unholy corporate-giveaway sundae. At this point, our leaving the state of Wisconsin--our boycotting of Wisconsin--is the most significant thing we can do to express how wholeheartedly disgusted we are by the pernicious policies enacted by Scott Walker, his Republican caucus, and the judges that rule in their favor, and their ALEC masters. You can keep the Bucks. But you've successfully lost great teachers. And as the saying goes, no one knows where a great teacher's influence ends. Sincerely, and so long, Jon Netzler 70 r.· ·-~ !.-:-:::··.. ~--------------------------Senator Andre Cushing Friday, July 10, 2015 1:38 PM Sen.Vukmir My bags are packed I'm ready to go! Will I see you? From: Sent To: Subject: REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE +i ~.,u,~~~~I~.• ~i~: tf!ll, NCSL tEGISl..ATIVl'. , . ~ ; ~- .._ ~-~~.if:?.-~ -~,_:.t:~·-- -~ ·· .. - _ DearlLeah - ~--. : -;:'..;.I-~~,~ _,. -: ~ .t ;1 •y J •ri .. ._. ; .. -'As,:~µai, . su~~~rls ~, bu~y· tjme fo;:c;tH of us.:~ Fq·1 9JJr~9·-~a:ny lo~g apd ·g ;u~lr~g:_ legisfa"!}ive. s~?°~ion_s~ it,1s,Q1c~:-~a take.'a bit of time §lW~y·fr'om the.State fiousr:r and . recol]n·-e·ct with'.coJ.l_eagues aTid.i hose workinf;j:'~n irnporta:.nt issues: During-the summer -~­ '· and ~~11 "I tryio:attend and/or P!lrticip?te in'.<:t f!Umber of important events:..·.Taking part in ~ 1_ _ ...- _ ..: ....:.,...,._, - - - · - ..,_~_·_. _,__: - • - .... - - 71 "-- _ ....... .~. · - - - - ~- - -"'-- I :: ~ I•.·.·.·!·. f .·. ·.-. .•: ~r- · ~; I J,. ....... -_.-"-·: - · - · · . . ..... _ ,_ _ ........... .. . . ····-..··--··· - ··- 118.tio_oar:, cqnfe(en~e·s and discussi_ons affords· me-the opportunity to learn about what :Works:.apd_wh~t fl_besn.'! '-York in other_states. . , ' - I ~ ~ -• • : ''';-- 4: - . • ···- -1 · . ~ W~il~ ~aip~ ~~p~rience_d som~ c~alle.,nges ~ith divrded leadership in the two Chambers ~:'of1he· L~g-!s!atuye, w_e w~re able-to come together and improve our business ..~!irp~t9:r: 1:··: -.<·~· :.-.. -:; k - . .:·-·-·. I .·• ·:, chris manders Thursday, July 09, 2015 4:36 PM Sen.Vukmir RE: Senator Vukmir - 5th District E-Update Leah, Voucher school expansion is not a victory for Wisconsin families. Estimates are that our public schools could face losing $600-800 million in the coming years! That is not a victory! That is a defeat for public education and Wisconsin families all across the state. You should be ashamed of yourself! Stop destroying our great public schools and colleges!!!!! Chris Manders Feel free to call me at 414-678-1632 .... From: Sen. Vu km ir@legis. Wisconsin .gov To: chrismanders@hotmail.com Subject: RE: Senator Vukmir - 5th District E-Update Date: Fri, 20 Mar iOlS 14:25:42 +0000 Chris, Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts about the 2015-16 Wisconsin state budget - _particularly your thoughts about the K - 12 education budget. I know you've contacted my office many times on this issue, and I appreciate your willingness to get involved in the legislative process and share your thoughts on state funding. Gov. Walker gave us a good starting point to begin discussions about the budget. His budget focuses on ensuring parents b_ave a say in their child.ten's education, reforming our government, developing our workforce and holding the line on taxes to protect middle-class families. The governor understands these priorities will help build a better Wisconsin and more pros~erity for future generations. Now, as a member of the Joint Finance Committee, I will be working with the governor, fellow budget committee members and legislators over the next few months to listen to the concerns of Wisconsinites as we work to discuss, amend and move this proposal through the budget process. Again, thank you for reaching out to me to share your opinions on the state budget. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me again. It is an honor to work for and represent the residents of the 5th Senate District! Sincerely, Leah Vukmir State Senator 5th District 74 • - > .:~:-. : ·.;::: . From: chris manders [mailto:chrismanders@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2015 9:16 AM To: Sen.Vukmir Subject: RE: Senator Vukmir - 5th District E-Update Supporting voucher school expansion while cutting our public schools and colleges is just plain wrong! You should not be supporting this! Do the right thing for our state! Stand up for our children, the future, and public education!!! It's far past the time to start doing the right thing! Your parties flawed property and income tax breaks created our budget problems. Time to target tax breaks to the 90% tha~ need them. Cap off the top 10%. Start being responsible to your state! Start doing the right thing not the ALEC party way! Shame on you Leah for not supporting our public schools and our children!!! From: Sen. Vukmir@legis.wisconsin .gov To: chrismanders@hotmail.com Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 16:59:14 -0600 Subject: Senator Vukmir - 5th District E-Update Visit my Website ~ Governor Walker rolls out 2015-17 Biennial Budget Follow me on Facebook Governor Scott Walker outlined his priorities for investment, which calls for irr our state's education system, reforming our government, developing our wor~ holding the line on taxes to protect middle class families. The Governor under these priorities will help to build a better Wisconsin and more prosperity for fu ... _; , The Governor included in his budget plans an expansion of the school choice r The plan is to provide parents in any school district with the opportunity to pa in the statewide school choice program by removing the cap on the number o· choice participants. Our state's education is a top priority for the immediate fl Th rough bold reforms like School Choice and Open Enrollment, we have given th e tools to chart bright futures for their children . I will continue to support ec initiatives that create better options for parents and their children. We must e ' parents to choose the best education available for their kids. Our g~al is to co work of creating world- class educational standards for Wisconsin . 5 Upcoming Town Halls 'Qressman Jim Sensenbrenner is holding Town <>ting s during Februa ry and March and two The Governor has also given the UW System full flexibility of its use of state r whi le maintaining college affordability with another two-year tuition freeze. In fo r the· added flexib ility, state taxpayers will realize $150 million in savings an We will continue to lessen the tax burden of our citizens. This plan protects th 75 . . .· J .;.;:·. . . ; '; of them fall within the 5th district. Town Halls are a ta x payers and helps us grow a stronger UW System for the future, which will great way for my constituents to share their views remains among the elite in the nation . on issues facing the state and nation. Governor Walker is also calling for continued property tax relief and is commit Sun. February 8 ensuring that property taxes are lower in 2018 than they are today. The state legislature will also remain committed to lowering taxes for our hard-working New Berlin City Hall 7 pm and businesses and investing in areas of need . Sat. March 21 ••M•u:- -.- - - - - - •Mn _ __ , . . _,_: - - -- --.- - ·- - - -M......- -- -. -·· .::· Brookfield Public Safety Building 11 am Complete Town Hall Schedule - CLICK HERE 3 WI Prep Stars Chosen to Play in McDonald's All-American Game (L to R) Rep. Dave Heaton, Rep. Beth Meyers, Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Leah \i Sen. Lena Taylor WAUWATOSA WEST STUDENTS WIN STATE 'WE THE PEOPLE' COMPET Arike Ogunbowale of Divin e Savior Holy Angels, Diamond Stone of Whitefish Bay Dominican and Henry Ellenson of Rice Lake have been chosen to play In the McDonald's All-American High School basketball game. The game will be held April 1 at the United Center in Chicago. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m. and the boys contest starts at 8 p.m . Ari ke will play for Notre Dame next season. Henry will play for Marquette. Diamond will make his ch oice official this spring. Arike and Diamond are cousins who grew up 3 blocks from each other in Wauwatosa. Group to compete in National Competition in April After winning Wisconsin's "We the People" competition for the eighth straight Wa uwatosa West High School students are preparing to head to Washington, 24-29, to represent Wisconsin in the national competition featuring state winr all 50 states. The state competition, which was held on January 10 at Marque1 School of Law, simulated a congressional hearing with students testifying befc of judges, answering questions, and demonstrating their understanding of the Constitut ional principles of our democratic government. The Wauwatosa West students now have the tremendous task of raising $60,1 ensure that the entire team can travel together to the national hearings. The ' planning several fundraisers, including a brunch and silent auction on Sunday, fro m 10 a.m. to 3 pm at O'Sullivan's, 12525 West North Avenue in Brookfield . the event is $15 at the door. Reservations are encouraged as this event fills q make one, please call 262-784-1656. Donations can also be sent to the atten1 Mateske at Wauwatosa West High School, 11400 West Center Street, Wauwat 53222. Checks should be made payable to: Wauwatosa West High School witt People" in the memo section. If you would like a receipt for tax purposes, pie< a note with your check. Donations can also be made via a secure website at http: // ww w.qo fun dme.com /tdubw ethepeoplelS. Th e Wisconsin state champion, Wauwatosa West group members include: Bre Blaney, Kate Darling, Libby Dennik, John Dettlaff, Lakia Faison , Adam Fendo! Gabriel, Dana Gaertner, Alyssa Goodwillie, Ella Hago pia n, Nick Ha gopia n, Oliv 76 .. ~- -:·: .· '..:~ :·· . •,• :.. -; .·. .· .-~--. 1·- ·' I I Rachel Haynes, Chrissy Hembrook, Claire Kartz, Alex Lee, Aubrianna Mierow, Mystrow, Jordan Pasbrig, Jake Plantz, Lindsey Starrett, Brandon Toye, Jordan Truman Tyson, Nyjia Williams-Treadway and Morgan Zygmunt. Teaching assi~ the group include Wauwatosa West seniors Nina Best, Emelia Zaeske and Sab Black. i Freedom and Prosperity: Governor Scott Walker's 2015 Budget Address Governor Walker's entire budget address - CLICK Feel free to visit my Facebook page for updates on the 5th District and our grE of Wisconsin. Sincerely, HERE 77 ~---------------------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Mary Stetter Thursday, July 09, 2015 9:22 AM Sen.Vukmir budget My vote and voice used to count for something in this state. Now it doesn't. Big money, special interest groups count. ALEC needs to stop writing the bills and policies for our state. Mary Stetter 78 I-.--~-·1 I recent Associated Press study. Advocates on both sides of the issue rushed to explain the declines, citing the impact of the 2010 elections as one key factor. Our National Pro-Life Women's Caucus knows this first hand! Marjorie Dannenfelser, SBA List president, explains the impact of sonograms to allow us to see girls and boys in the womb on Fox News. Chuck Donovan, president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research and education arm o:= the Susan B. Anthony List, also explained more about the abortion decline in The Daily Signal. ...._ ..... __ I,..·- - . .. Induced Abortion Increases Later Pre-Term Birth __ __ .. ,,,_, , _,_, ,,_ ~a~cus Bre~~fast in"~~st Virg:ia; L:gislature ~ve:r;d~ ------Governor's Veto on Pain Bill 1 I New NPLWC members in West Virginia enjoyed a time of fellowship with SBA List during the last days of session. From left: Representatives Border-Sheppard, Kessinger, Upson and Summers. Right: Sue Swayze, NPLWC Coordinator, with WV Assistant Majority Whip Kelli Sobonya, author of the PainCapable bill. · - - ---- - - -·- -"·---. - ------- 81 -:- __ -- ,,.. . . -·-- Pro-life legislators in West Virginia overcame their Govemo'r•s veto of the Pain Capable Child Protection Act in March. NPLWC Coordinator Sue Swayze v'sited the lovely WV Capitol the day before the veto override was complete . 1"· _ From left: WV Delegates Amy Summers, Terry Waxman, Asst. Maj. Whip Kelli Sobonya, Sue Swayze/NPLWC, Delegates Jill Upson, Ruth Rowan, Anna Border-Sheppard, and Lynne Arvon. NPLWC Members Sponsor North Carolina Landmark Bill Gov. Pat McCrory recently signed into law HB 465, the Women and Children's Protection Act of 2015, authored by NPLWC members Representatives Susan Martin (primary), Pat McElraft, Rena Turner, Pat Hurley and Jacqueline Schaffer. This bill was the top legislative priority of SBA List and the North Carolina Values Coalition. "This pro-life, pro-woman legislation empowers women and holds abortion businesses accountable," said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "We are grateful to the North Carolina General Assembly for working together to protect women and children." SBA List was on the ground in North Carolina recently to help with the bill. From left: Speaker Pro Tempore Paul Stam, NPLWC Leadership Circle member and sponsor Rep. Jacqueline Schaffer, Tami Fitzgerald SBA List NC State Director & leader of the North Carolina Values Coalition, and Chris Crawford, SBA List. Wisconsin and Ohio are halfway there! · Both pass pain bills through the Senate; Charlotte Lozier [ Institute Provides Medical and Scientific Expertise _ L____--.--_---- , . ,- ---.. ·- - -, -,- -.-~-·.--- -82 ..---:'(:- - - . 'i'.''J _ _ _ _ ·:~- - _ - t--.-:: ~. :::: ::::. ... _. l,I - ·. --..·..._ i ~or::g closely - .: _.__.__ ··- . ·=· • w~~olleagues Wiscon~i:-~lg~,t~~lie, ~~ ~~ ~es~rch :d edu:at~c at : BA our arm, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, provided input into these top priority bills to ban late- term abortions ! when the baby can feel excruciating pain. The pictures below tell the story of Wisconsin SB 179's successful journey through the Senate. Now on to the House! Charlotte Lozier Institute Associates Dr. Maureen Condie (left of flag), Dr. Sheila Page (in front of flag) and Dr. Donna Harrison (in green) and key Wisconsin leaders flank SBA List's Hon. Marilyn Musgrave. ·--, SB 179 is authored by NPLWC Leadership Circle member and WI Senate President Mary Lazich (left, with Hon. Marilyn ,I Musgrave). The pain bill has passed the Senate and awaits a j hearing in the House. Likewise, Ohio has a terrific agenda of pro-life bills this session, including the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Working with our colle~gues at Ohio Right to Life (see picture below), SBA List and its education and research arm, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, have assisted with scientific and legal expertise in the Senate hearings for SB 127. Read their full testimonies here. SBA List was in Ohio with expertise and support -=or the fetal pain bill. From left: Charlotte Lozier Institute VP Dr. David Prentice, Lozier Associate Angelina Baglini Nguyen, SBA List VP Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Ohio Governor John Kasich, Kayla Atchison, Director of External Affairs, Ohio Right to Life, Stephanie Ranade Krider, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life and Sue Swayze. We also hosted a luncheon for pro-life women le·;Jislators in Ohio to give them encouragement and j ! support, and our experts offered a policy briefing to Ohio advocates and legislators later in the day.cy briefing to Ohio advocates and legislators later in the day. i l._~ - ·..·-- - . .- - - - - -- 83 --- - - ·-------;-- - - - .. ;·". - --- ·- ··-- .... ----·-·-'-• -----,----·-· -· --- - - ------- - - -- --·-·--- Dr. David Prentice, Charlotte Lozier Institute, discusses the science of pain of babies in the womb at a briefing for advocates and legislators in Ohio. Angelina Baglini Nguyen, JD, discussed the legal standing of pain bills and the state interest to protect its citizens from pain. The Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, SBA List Vice President and Director of the NPLWC, spoke about effective ways to communicate pro-life issues. NPLWC Member: MD Delegate Afzali authors Pain Bill Delegate Kathy Afzali authored a pain bill in the General Assembly of Maryland this session. Her work over the next few months may include hosting a meeting for ·supporters of the bill with SBA List and leaders of the NPLWC. Great leadership! See her interview here. Millenials on the Move! West Virginia Delegate and NPLWC member Kayla Kessinger (left) joins other young women leaders in the pro-life movement at the "Unlocking Potential National Women's Conference" sponsored by Carly Fiorina. The other participants, from left, are Genevieve Plaster, rese?irch assistant at the SBA List's education arm the Charlotte Lozier Institute, Tina Whittington, Executive Vice President for Students for 84 - --·- -.--····-... . - - "'1" - - - · . - -·-· - - -· • Life of America, and Alison Howard, Former Communications Director at Concerned Women for I ·l America and Mallory Quigley, Communications Drector for the Susan B. Anthony List. Are you a millennial or do you have a legislative co league who is? Join the National Pro-Life Women's Caucus to network, learn and grow! I I Contact us. Meet NPLWC Member Rep. Donna Hicks It was a joy to meet Representative Donna Hicks (R-SC) in Dallas, TX last summer at our inaugural networking event for pro-life state legislative leaders. We've been talkirYJ together ever since! In her second term in the South Carolina House of R:~presentatives, Donna is active in pro-life issues and was a co-author of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act with other NPLWC members Reps. Wendy Nanney and Heather Ammons Crawford and Senator Katrina Shealy. D·Jnna continues to reach out and participate in SBA ~·- List activities and we are proud to recognize her leadership. (Given the recent · - ......__ __. events in South Carolina, we ask that you please keep Donna & her peers. in the legislature in your thoughts and prayers.) Why do we need pro-life women's voices in the political process? The pro-life woman's voice is crucial to every conversa~ion about the unborn, especially in the political process where policy is made. Our voices make a difference; as women we must take every opportunity to speak about our experiences and beliefs about the horrors of abortion and how it affects not only the life of the unborn child, but the health of her own bJdy. It's vitally important for policy makers to hear the opinions of those most closely affected by the laws whether they have suffered an abortion or not. As a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, I am privileged to serve on the Judiciary committee, which hears the pro-life bills. I hear testimony from both sides of the debate and have been encouraged by the number of pro-life women who a:e stepping up to make their voices heard in the debate. No longer do abortion minded women control the conversation. Every woman has the potential to make a difference in the pro-life debate, and, whether an elected official or a citizen, her voice matters and needs to be heard in the legislative process. Why Is it important for you to conm;ct with other women leaders through the National Pro-Life Women's Caucus? Through the caucus network we are a part of a larger voice on life. We are able to support one another and share the successes and challenges of the pro-life debate in each of our states. We share strategies, resources and contacts. Advancing the pro-life message can be difficult and draining, and I find that the caucus network is there to lend support and encouragement as needed. I I l·--··- .- -..-,r:r;::·-,-, ··--··-=- - ---- - - - ----- :-::-:-::-:: - 85 :-:-: --:~::-----:--::-;; ·-·- - - - - - _ _ , , . - - .. . ~- - ·· · - · - - - .... - - • - - • • _,_ 4 - --- ~- - - · - - .. -- -· --- .. _ ' This year I attended the SBA List Summit in Washington, DC. We heard the latest in medical research from the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research and education arm of SBA List, that will determine how we perceive and talk about the unborn in future policy decisions. Senators and Congressmen addressed the Summit and outlined their next steps in the national debate. I met pro-life leaders from across the nation. Later that evening I attended the Gala and was greatly encouraged by the large number of donors from across the country that have been in the fight a long time. I was 3nergized by the people I met and strengthened by the unity in our commitment to prctect the unborn. These events are great energizers and are full of ~eful information y::iu can take back to your state. I made great contacts, visited with new friends and carried home a plethora of resources that will help me in South Carolina this next year. I am grateful for the women's caucus and have been privileged to connect with several women in other states. I look forward to developing new relationsh ps as we continue this fight together. What is your impression of the Susan B. Anthony List? For most of us it's about taking the little steps forward, knowing how lo weather the setbacks and keeping the pro-life message moving in the right direction. I need research support, data and strategy that I can access quickly. I trust SBA List and its research arm, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, to provide accurate and timely information for me. They have come through for me many times on just a moment's notice. Susan B. Anthony List gives pro-life women a platform from which to speak that gives credibility and accountability to the conversation. I appreciate the email updates and calls to action that inform me on the national debate. SBA List's timely information helps me on the state level to meet issues head on with well researched and accurate information that I can use immediately to respond to the press or initiate my own press release to expose an issue that needs attention in my sta:e. Contributions or gifts to Susan 8 . Anthony List, Inc., a 501 (c)(4) organization, are not tax-deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Donations may be tJSed for political purposes such as supporting or opposing candidates. All donations are made to the general treasury of the Susan B. Anthony List, Inc., and are not - designated for any particular purpose. Donation will be used in the sole discretion of the Officers and/or Board of Directors in accordance with the mission and purposes of the SBA List. l't-- • •• •O Sat:Jrday, July 04, 2015 9:08 PM Sen.Vukmir Ple3se reconsider Open Records Assult Senator Vukmir, Making public records private is a bad idea. I want to join the Milwaukee J oumal Sentinel, The Maciver Institute for Public Policy and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty in requesting that you roll back the proposed provision limiting acces ~ to public records. I consider you a public servant and ashamed to see my state senator's name on such legis: ation. Such action makes me wonder what you personally have to hide. Your close association with ALEC make me wonder where your loyalties lie. Thank you for your time, 1 James Wend 2413 N. 64th Street . Wauwatosa, Wi 87 ... I • From: Sent: To: Subject: Bill Drogemuller Saturday, July 04, 2015 11:56 AM Sen.Vukmir Purposed changes to the "open meeting" laws Dear Senator Vukmir: I am opposed to any and all changes to "open meeting laws''. You voted to encourage secrecy in government and the slippery slope into corruption . No one is willing to come forth and stand up and say "I did it", why? For you this is beginning to fit a farnilia~ pattern (ALEC law suit). This silent behavior by the Republican majority on the Joint Finance Committee speaks volumes as to the assumed long term m:Jtives of power and corruption, welcome to Illinois! Shame on all of you. Sincerely, Bill Drogemuller Sent from my iPad . Bill Drogemuller 88 .·· .. : I:·.·:< . - From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: ::- ..... ·._ ·---·: ... .• Me Saturday, July 04, 2015 8:46 AM Rep.Sanfelippo; Sen.Vukmir govgeneral@wisconsin.gov Open Records On the morning of July 3rd we opened our morning newspaper and begin reading. The Joint Finance Committee of the Legislative Body for the State of Wisconsin wishes the citizens of the state a Happy Fourth of July by sec:retly slipping ANOTIIBR proposal into the budget bill which would destroy the public's ability to monitor our governing bodies. There is no :nore basic right of the citizens than to have the ability to have access to all records that ID:fluence the creation of the laws that govern them. People have the right to know. It's just that simple. And, once again, this is anJther proposal that has absolutely, positively no business being included in the creation of the budget! How ironic that they chose to try tO circumvent "government of the people, by the people and for the people" on the anniversary of this nation 1s ti:rih! SHAME, SHAME, SHAME. The following paragraphs are taken from the Milwaukee Journal article this morning, July 4th": "All 12 Republicans on the committee voted for the motion. Joining Nygren, Darling, Kooyenga and Olsen in voting for the motion were eight other Republicans: Sen. Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls; Sen. Howard Marklein of Spring Green; Sen. Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst; Sen. Leah Vukmi:r of Wauwatosa; Rep. Mary Czaja of Irma; Rep. Dean Knudson of Hudson; Rep. Amy Loudenbeck of Clinton; and Rep. Michael Schraa of Oshkosh. 11 "A lawsuit also prompted Vukmir to release records last year about her work with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council. Vukmir, who voted in favor of the changes to open records law, declined to comment." "The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council said th:! proposal was "cowardly" and called out Walker, who has said in the past that the state Legislature needs to be more transparent. 11 The above is another typical exao.ple of Scott Walker talking our of both sides of his mouth. Senator Vukmir, in choosing to agree with this outrageous proposal you are again showing your disdain for your constituents and your allegiance to your Republican alli~s. When are you going to stand up for yourself and the people you claim to repre.sent and tell the powers that be 11 No 11 ? We certainly hope that each of you had the opportunity to read the article "Open Records Changes Blasted" and the Op-Ed in this morning's Jouoal Sentinel and realize what a terrible mistake it would be if you allow any form of Motion 999 to be taken up as a vote. The only way you can sincerely wish the citizens·of this state a Happy Fourth of July is to erase the existence of this ou:rage0"1s idea. Carl and Marge Zelinski West Allis Sent from Marge"s iPad 33 ~----------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Peter Van Dyk Saturday, July 04, 2015 12:54AM Sen.Vukmir Open Records vandykp.vcf A lawsuit also prompted Vukmir to release recordE. last year about her work with the conservative American . Legislative Exchange Council. Vukmir, who votec in favr:.r of the changes to open records law, declined to comment. cat got your tongue you cock sucking two bit bitcl:. J ,.,;::,.. --- From: Sent: To: ·cc: Subject: ; ...: F. Thomas.Olson Friday, July 03, 2015 9:11 AM Sen.Vukmir Sen.Olsen Open Records Law Dear Senator VukmirThis morning's Appleton Post-Crescent - my wife and I have a weekend home near Waupaca - has an article about the astonishing changes to Wisconsin's Open Records Law that was approved by the Joint Finance Committee In an amendment to the state budget that will be presented to the Legislature next week. I am deeply distressed by this eleventh-hour change to a law that has served Wisconsin well for many decades . Why Is this a budget item at all? Why didn't it receive a separate, and public, discussion? Why did you (and Senator Luther Olsen) refuse to disdose what you .thought about the change, especially since you voted for it? Whatever happened to ''government in the sunshine"? I suspect that what Bill Lueders has described as a "full frontal assault on the open records law" is in large part an attempt to h.ide the unseemly - and , I would submit, malign - Influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council on legislation in Wisconsin. The manner in which this change apparently was proposed and presented to the Committee is just why it is important to have an Open Records Law in the form in which it currently exists in the Wisconsin Statutes. Frederick T. Olson 603 N. 68th St. Wauwatosa, WI 5321:3 414-256-3689 hkofto@yahoo.com 91 j·.-_.._:: ~.. ;· ·---------------------news=wispolitics.com@deliverOl.blastnewsletters.com on behalf of WisPolitics Staff Friday, July 24, 2015 4:15 =>M WisPolitics Notification Services (WisPolitics.com) REPORT -- 24 July 2015 From: Sent: To: Subject: REPORT -- 24 July 2015 Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers - DO NOT FORWARD Access the mobile version of the REPORT: http:ijwispolitics.com/mobile.iml? Article=352941 TABLE OF CONTENTS • • • • • • • • • • Quotes of the week Political stock report Review: Walker's state campaign finance report shows presidential priorities State still working on tally of Walker security costs for campaign to cover Wiley says top~three finishes in early states would sustain Walker campaign Led by Darling, five JFC members among top fundraisers during budget season Week ahead Political TV Names in the news Lobbyist watch QUOTES OF THE WEEK I understand you had a few protesters yesterday. For us that1s just getting warmed up. - Gov. Scott Walker addressing an ALEC gathering in San Diego where hundreds of protesters rallied outside. To be clear, this conclusion ends the John Doe investigation because the special prosecutor1s legal theory is unsupported in either reason or law. - Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, writir.g for the conservative-leaning majority in a 4-2 decision that closed the John Doe investigation into coordination between conservative· groups and Scott Walker's campaign during the recalls. 3 ·- I ·- I: . I···-·=··. ... within the realm of issue advocacy, the majority opinion's theme is 'Anything Goes. 1 -. Justice Shirley Abrahamson, in her dissent. In light of the findings and the discovery of the relationship between the GAB director and an IRS official, the citizens of Wisconsin have the right to know what laws are being broken behind closed doo"rs at the very agency that is supposed to ensure accountability in government and elections. - Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, calling for a state Department of Justice investigation into the Government Accountability Board. Now that this challenge to the law has been resolved, the Government Accountability Board is prepared to work with the Legislature to bring clarity to the campaign finance statutes consistent with the Court's decision. - GAB Chair Judge Gerald Nichol. The decision represents a loss for all of the citizens of Wisconsin -- independents, Democrats and Republicans alike. - Francis Schmitz, who in August 2013 was appointed special prosecutor in the Doe investigation. Clearly, they don't want to have election watchdogs. They want to have election lap dogs. - Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, 0-Kenosha, after Gov. Scott Walker suggested getting rid of the GAB to "replace ff with something more fair, accountable and transparent." They just don't want to let those idiot inner city kids that they purport to be so supportive of, that they want to help out, they just don't want to give them the same opportunity their own kids have. - U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson talking with conservative radio host Vicki McKenna. Johnson, R-Oshkosh, later said he was being "very sarcastic" and making a reference to the viewpoint liberals hold about underprivileged children. One thing that I won't do is just say, as a candidate, 'I'm going to tear up the agreement on the first day.' That's great, that sounds great but maybe you ought to check in with your allies first, maybe you ought to appoint a secretary of state, maybe secretary of defense, you might want to have your team in place, before .you take an act like that. - Jeb Bush on Walker's promise to immediately revoke the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran. I believe that a president shouldn't wait to act until they put a cabinet together or an extended period of time, I believe they should be prepared to act on the very first day they take office. It's very possible, God forbid that this would happen, but very possible, that the next president could be called to take aggressive actions, including military actions, on their very first day in office. - Walker. Do you want me to ... come home from school and my dad to get.deported? - Luis Flores, 8, confronting Walker in Iowa about his immigration policies. We're a riation of laws ... My point is that you have to follow the law, follow the process. - Walker in response. It's all based on fundraising. Let's be honest. I mean, you have to go where the money is. - Rick Wiley, Walker's campaign manager, te/.'ing a WisPolitics luncheon how the campaign prioritizes requests for Walker to appear. See more from the luncheon below. 4 }~---· ..·f = This $5 million cut to us ... is huge for us, given that we don 1t have a lot of extra fat to cut. This is not something that we asked for. This is something that was done to us. - UW Colleges Chancellor Cathy Sandeen announcing a reorganization that includes 83 staff and administrative job cuts. Rep. Barca and Speaker Vos, this humble representative doesn 1t want to publicly call you 1stupid. 1 I'm just asking for the damage to my reputation to be repaired, and an apology from both of you that you were wrong with your interpretation of my statements would be a good starting point. - GOP Rep. Bob Gannon, R-Slinge.r, claiming vindication after Assembly leaders chided him for vowing he wouldn't vote for the buoget unless it included significant changes to the prevailing wage law. Gannon cited an opinion from the Ozaukee County DA. This project is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Wisconsin. - GOP Sen. Alberta Darling, speaking in favor of the Bucks arena bill before it passed on a 21-10 vote. I think they did a good job of getting the ball across the goal line over there, and the changes made sense. But I can 't say that we're going to give them veto power over anything that we do or don't do. - Assembly Minority Leader Jim Steineke, discussing the bill ahead of next week's planned vote in the Assembly. POLITICAL STOCK REPORT --A collection of insider opinion-(July 11-24, 2015) Rising Scott Walker: The guv's official campaign ·rollout generates good press, he has overflow crowds at his initial stops, he's near the top in nearly all of the national or early state polls out there, and he gets to sign a strong anti-abortion bill that will help solidify some conservative support. All in all, not a bad place to be as he officially gets his campaign off the ground, insiders say. That Walker got a good crowd in Waukesha is no su ~ prise to insiders considering that's ground zero for his launch into the national political discussion; he spent Election Night there in 2012 as he successfully fought off an attempt to recall him. Still, fans are thrilled to see big crowds also turn out at stops in places such as Nevada, South Carolina and New Hampshire. But nationally, he and other candidates find it hard to break through all. the attention on Donald Trump. Walker also has to walk back comments about the Boy Scouts ban on gay leaders having 11 protected children, 11 is criticized for saying he doesn't know if being gay is a choice, and critics seize on his comment the minimum wage is "lame." And at home, critics say he struggles to build a solid record on jobs with continuing scrutiny on his jobs agency, WEDC, and reports of a rise in local unemJloyment rates. Then there's the fundraising chase. Insiders say no one is going to be in Jeb Bush's territory with the more than $100 million haul reported between his super PAC and his campaign. That dwarfs the $32 million combined that was raised between the super PAC backing the guv, the advocacy group Walker created in January and his state campaign account. But bac;kers say they're happy with the money, particularly because it's not easy to raise donations when you're not an official candidate yet. They also argue Walker doesn't have to match Bush. He just has to make sure he has enough to compete in the early states with the hopes that creates momentum that leads to dollars. Walker campaign manager Rick Wiley says at a WisPolitics.com luncheon this week that Iowa isn't a must-win for the guv and he's running as a "uniter." Others, though, believe the guv has to deliver in the Hawkeye State or risk failing to live up to the expectations game. Wisconsin insiders believe Walker is well-positioned to capitalize on what 5 1-··=····- they believe will be the eventual Trump flameout. While regularly in the top tier of GOP candidates, Walker also often has the best favcrability rating anc is a top second choice for those backing someone else at this point. That, some argue, means once the field starts to narrow, Walker will be in prime position to pick up castoffs from othercam~igns. His backers also argue he continues to show the underpinning of a solid organization that w II help him weather any early ups and downs to be a player in the race well into the process. Abortion opponents: Wisconsin 's anti-abortion forces got a major win when Gov. Scott Walker signed a ban on the procedure aft<:-r 20 weeks. But more wins could be on the way, spurred by the video of Planned Parenthood officials that's sparked outrage from Republicans across the country. Ever since the guv issued a pledg e earlier this year :o sign legislation banning abortions after 20 weeks -- what proponents call the 0 ain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act -- insiders knew it was a matter of time before majority Republican lawmakers got around to it. The only question was whether it would include exemptions for things such as rape and incest. But the legislation clears both houses without those exemptons as proponents argue victims of rape and incest make decisions to terminate their pregnancies well before the five-month mark. Still, others say while the concept of banning abortion after that point may not bother moderate voters too much, leaving out those exceptions could make thin~s a little dicey in swing districts. There are also more abortionrelated bills coming down the pipe ine. Rep. Andre .Jacq e, R-De Pere, is circulating three bills that would take direct aim at Planned Parenthood. They would: redirect millions of dollars in federal grants away from Planned Parenthood; force famil}'-planning clinics to bill the Medicaid program the actual cost, plus a "reasonable" dispensing fee, for drugs acquired through the Medicaid 340B program; and ban selling, transferring or experimenting on aborted fetuses. The latter bill also would establish regulations for the disposal of fetuses and wou .d require those who perform abortions to identify and report the gender of the fetus, if possibk3. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin calls Jacque's bill draft another "political attack" on :he group and says it doesn't offer tis~ue donation services. Milwaukee residency requirements: When Republicans tucked a provision into the 2013-15 budget that largely prohibited local governments frcm er.forcing residency requirements for their employees, it was seen as a coup for Milwaukee police officers and firefighters. Many had chafed under the city's requirement, whic dates to 1938, and the budget provision let munis only require police and firefighters live within 15 miles of the gcw.ernment unit. But the 1st District Court of Appeals this week overturns that budget provision, declaring Milwaukee is free to again enforce its residency requirement for all municipal employees because the state law violated the home rule amendment. Following approval of the 2013-15 budget, Milwaukee officials continued to enforce the requirement, prompting a lawsuit by the Milwaukee Professional Police Association, and the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association soon joined the action. A county judge upheld the law, but it was appealed as city officials argued it v olated the home rule amendment, under which state laws can trump local ordinances only if they ae a matter of statewide concern and affect every municipality uniformly. The 1st District Court of Appeals found the budget provision failed to meet that two-part test and was largely geared toward Milwm..;kee. While more than a dozen other communities had residency requi~ements in effect Hher the budget provision was approved, there "is no dispute that, while the statute does not overtly single out any particular municipality, it will have an outsize impact on the City of Milwaukee," the court wrote. Following the initial suit, the city had agreed in court not to enforce the residency rule, and the mayor says city officials will now discuss how to proceed . The unions, meanwhile, criticized the r Jling and are gearing up for an appeal. Homeowners: A new report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance finds property taxes fell 2.3 percent in 2014-15 and accounted for the smallest share of state income since 1946. Meanwhile; one of the guv's favorite talking points about the new budget is property taxes on the typical home 5 -;- · :=·······:: will be lower in 2016 than when he took office in 2010. The WisTax study found the 2.3 percent drop in overall property taxes was the first decrease since the 1996-97 fiscal year. Then, the state brought down the levy by pumping new state money into public schools, decreasing their reliance on property taxes. A similar step helped prompt the latest drop as Republicans put $400 million into the tech college levy while imposing revenue limits on the districts. That lowered those property taxes 48.9 percent, offsetting increases elsewhere on homeowners' bills. It all combined to put the state's property tax burden at 3.6 percent of income, the lowest level it's been since 1946. Meanwhile, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau was still working on final calculations. But Director Bob Lang says he expects a drop of about $2 in each of the next two years for the median-valued Wisconsin home. See the WisTax report: http://www. wispolitics. com/1006/150716wistax.pdf Joe Donald: Madison~based insiders don't know much about the Milwaukee County judge who's announced plans to run for the Supreme Court next year. But he apparently knows how to make an impression with his first campaign finance report. Donald reports raising $109,388 over the last half of June as he got his campaign off the ground. Insiders note a good chunk of that money came in through four $10,000 donations -- two from Californians, along with Richard Cudahy, a Milwaukee financial adviser; and Mark Thomsen, a Brookfield attorney -- and he loaned himself $7,500. Still, operatives also point out it all spends the same, anj it's impressive for any first-time candidate for the Supreme Court to raise that kind of cash in just tw::> weeks. It will be important, they add, for Donald to. prove it wasn't just low-hanging fruit and that he has a good team around him to continue his fundraising. effort. They also are waiting to get a better feel for the judge who was first appointed to the bench by GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1996 and for the dynamic that may develop in next year's court race. Justice Patrick Crooks hasn't said officially whether he'll seek another term, but many insiders consider that unlikely. JoAnne Kloppenburg, who nearly knocked off conservative Justice David Prosser in 2011 and has since won a spot on the appeals court, is in, and conservative darling Rebecca Bradley, now an appeals court judge in Milwaukee, is considered a possible candidate as well. Insiders note Kloppenburg didn't put much effort into fundraising after she announced beyond the $25,000 loan she gave her campaign. That perplexes some. Still, she retains . good name ID after her 2011 bid and has endeared herself to some progressive voters after that race, which turned into a proxy fight over Act 10. Some 'Jelieve next year is Bradley's best opportunity to run if she wants to win a seat on the cour: anytime soon. After the 2016 race, conservatives Annette Ziegler in 2017 and Michael Gableman in 2018 will be the next justices to face the voters, and insiders don't see her challenging either of them. While she would assuredly have the backing of conservative groups if she ran, same say Donald's fundraising should send a message that she needs to get ready sooner rather than later for a bid. Still, insiders speculate it could be an interesting primary dynami.c if all three ran. Kloppenburg would likely lock up a lot of support on the left, while Bradley could count on a good chunk of those on the right. So where does that leave Donald in three-way primary to advance to the general election? Some of that may be answered, insiders say, once Donald -- and his views -- become better known. a Mixed Jennifer Shilling: The Senate minority leader may have done what's right for the good of the state in supporting the Bucks arena and getting enough of her members on board to make it a big "yes" vote in that chamber. But insiders debate whether it was good politics for the long-term goal of Dems winning back control of the chamber. Heading into the ecent debate, Republicans had made it clear they would need three or four votes to pass legisl3.tion, and insiders believed Shilling had an interesting decision to make. With three of the four Milwaukee Dems expected to be on board, some thought it could come down to Shilling to be the deciding vote if things were close. Should she side 7 1,·.·.;'.·. . • . .. ·.·.· . with three members of her caucus, but lose what cou ld be good issue to pound Republicans with on the campaign trail next year? Instead, the vote was a runaway 21 -1Oas Republicans didn't need as many as some thought and other Dems such as Janis Ringhand from Janesville and Jon Erpenbach of Middleton voted yes. Some say labor getting behind the deal helped pave the way for some of those Dems' votes. Still, others questior the political calculation that was made. Dems had a golden issue in their hands to use in the next couple of elections against any out-state Republicans who voted to give taxpayer money to the Bucks after cutting $250 million to UW, keeping public schools treading water and any number of issues that don't play well with swing voters. But with six Dems on board, some insiders say that strategy will have to be discarded. Others argue while it may have made more political sense to keep that in her back pocket, Shilling also sent a message to the · Milwaukee business community and donors that she's someone they can work with if Dems ever get back to the majority. That, some say, could pay dividends down the line. a . Milwaukee Bucks: It was surprisingly easy to get a Jublic financing package through the Senate. But it could be surprisingly messy to get it through the Assembly, insiders say. Heading into the recent Senate vote, many believed Republicans would need at least the votes of three Milwaukee Dems and maybe a fourth member of the minorfty i:arty to get it through . But after making changes to address Dem concerns and adding a ticket surcharge, the bill sails through 21-10. Still, ahead of the vote, team officials made clear they weren't thriUed w h the idea of a ticket tax, and Milwaukee County Exec Chris Abele is downright unhappy with a change made to win the support of Sen . Chris Larson , 0 -Milwaukee. The original plan called for the county to contract with the state to collect outstanding debts to account for its $4 million a yea· share. But the bill that clears the Senate drops that, though the county still could go after those det::.:-s for its share. Larson says the state shouldn't be part of any decision that goes after those unable to pay their bills to help finance a professional sports arena. A fourth of the ticket surcharge would ;;io to reduce the state's share of the package, while the rest would go toward more quickly paying off bonds issued for the plan. But some believe all of that ticket tax should help that cause instead af just three-fourths. Meanwhile, Majority Leader Jim Steineke ups the mark for needed Dem votes. At one time, 15 seemed like the number. But now Steineke says it could be 15 to 20. Some believe no one really knows what the hard count is in the Assembly GOP caucus. And they aren't sure how to win over many Dem members outside the Milwaukee delegation. If you're from Green Bay, for example, how can you support state taxpayer money for a Bucks arena when it was all local tax dollars that went into the renovation of Lambeau Field more than a decade ago? Speaker Robin Vo:s is just back from a vacation that he put off to take up the budget, so some are hoping his return will bring things into focus with a hard count. But Assembly Republicans aren't scheduled to caucus again until right before Tuesday's floor vote, and it's still not clear to some how many Dem votes there will be. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee, said he's asked for changes and needs them locked in before he'll vote for the bill Tuesday. And Rep. Jocasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, mentions things such as requirements on wages and local hiring, as well as a path for workers to organize if desired. That, insiders say, would crater GOP support for the bill. Still, some Dems point out their colleagues int e Assembly weren't at the table when the deal was struck in the Senat~. They're just doing their due diligence. But any changes to the bill would send it back to the S!3nate, where backers lost Paul Farrow, A-Pewaukee, as he resigned his seat to focus on being· Waukesha County exec. His replacemer:, Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, would likely be a no if it came back through. It has project backers hoping the Assembly can find a way to just pass the Senate bill, be done with it so lawmakers can get ~ h e ·heck out of Madison for the rest of summer. Falling Ron Johnson: Wisconsin's senior senator takes "leat from Dems for sarcastic remarks to a conservative radio talker and for comments during a Senate hearing on the nuclear deal with Iran. Talking with a conservative radio host, Johnson re~erred to "idiot inner city kids" during a discussion 8 .·..... :: !· ....: ,.·.· . on school choice, saying later that he regretted the statement and was being 11 very sarcastic" as he tried to characterize a viewpoint held by liberals. And during a Senate hearing on the Iran deal, Johnson drew derision in some corners for discussing "electromagnetic pulse 11 weapons with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. One Washington Post blogger caps off the rough week by giving Johnson the nod for the "Worst Week in VVashington, " a distinction that comes on the heels of a strong fundraising performance by 2016 opponent Russ Feingold. Johnson gets some early backing in the form of a $500,000 ad from an Illinois-based super PAC, but the group's ad is mocked by Dems for its quality and for the inclusion of a Photoshopped picture of a meeting between President Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani -- a meeting that never took place. Overall, insiders say the events don't help the re-election chances for a senator who already is considered among the most vulnerable in the country next year. GAB: The state's election and ethics agency was already on the chopping block before the state Supreme Court decision against the John Doe case came down. But the details in the majority's opinion only fuel that fire, sparking a call from Speaker Robin Vos for an investigation of the agency and prompting the guv to call for the GAB's elimination. Insiders say the latter may be the most noteworthy. Walker hadn't previously been as vocal a critic of the agency as some Republican lawmakers. But this week he says the GAB should be replaced by something "more fair, accountable and transparent." The comment prompts GAB Director Kevin Kennedy to say while the guv and lawmakers are free to make chan!;,eS, it would be "shortsighted" to ignore the agency's successes. Insiders don't expect Kennedy to fi nd much sympatry with GOP lawmakers. Sti.11, insiders warn Republicans may want to tread ca;efully. Ask many voters about the Government Accountability Board, and you'll get a blank stare. But if Dems can couple what Republicans eventually do to the agency with the aborted attempt to gut the open records law and other issues that don't play well with swing voters, they could find a coherent campaign issue that could play well with swing voters, some strategists say. See more on the GAB on this week's "UpFront with Mi'ke Gousha." Details below. Wisconsin roads: Wisconsin's mads, and the state's maintenance of them, take a pounding in the press and from a national research group. First, Politico runs an in-depth analysis on the country's love affair with highway expansions and uses Milwaukee's Marquette and Zoo interchanges to illustrate how state government keeps buying the Ferrari when a mid-priced sedan would suffice. That spare-no-expense mentality on expansions, according to the story, crowds out public transit investments and an ever-growing maintenance list ~or the roads thE! state already has. The story cites anti-sprawl group Smart Growth America figures showing, between 2009 and 2011, Wisconsin spent 39 percent of its highway money on maintenance and 61 percent on new capacity. And that comparison is set against a backdrop of a federal judge putting at least a temporary kibosh on a $143 million Highway 23 expansion between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan after ruling the state failed to properly project future traffic volumes along the 19-mile stretch of highway. The Legislature, in the recently passed budget, cc.lied for an audit of the DOT's traffic forecasting methods, but Gov. Scott Walker vetoed the provision, saying the Joint Legislative Audit Committee already can request such a review. That budget also :xit Walker's proposed $1.3 billion in borrowing for roads to $500 million with another $350 million in reserve, a move critics say will ·let megaprojects such as the Zoo Interchange suck up the money while further stressing local road maintenance. Backers of the cut said the state's credit card is almost maxed out and $1.3 billion in borrowing-would have left the state paying an unsustainable 22.6 cents on debt for every transportation dollar taken in during the second year of the biennium. Wisconsin's road money woes are, in part, mirrored by those at the federal level, where Congress has passed 33 short-term fixes for the Highway Trust Fund rather than committing to a long-term solution. The fund is set to expire again July 31, and the U.S. DOT recently released a report showi1g to what degree roads in the nation are suffering. The report ranks 9 .~ ~ ·: . : .- .::_:,~ . ~-· :· . - 1 Wisconsin s roads third-worst in the country, with 7i percent of them in poor/mediocre condition. Then yesterday, TRIP, a national transportation research group, piles on with a report ranking road 1 conditions in the nation s large and mid-size urban areas. For large cities, Milwaukee ranks 13thworst with 46 percent of its roads in poor condition. Madison scores the same ranking for mid-size areas, with 36 percent of its roads in poor shape. But the TRIP report digs deeper tq show road maintenance doesn't just cost government; drivers also take a hit. Milwaukee ranks 21st-highest in vehicle operating costs per driver at $753. Madison was even higher for mid-sized areas, ranking 14th with a $685 price tag for drivers. John Chisholm: The Milwaukee County DA is looking at the prospect of Eric O'Keefe 1s shadow hanging over him for years to come, and conservatives believe he deserves it. Following the state Supreme Court1s ruling ending the probe into coordination between Gov. Scott Walker's campaign and conservative groups during the recalls, Chisholm faces a torrent of criticism from the right. That includes O'Keefe, who was targeted in the probe, saying the guv will be asked to remove Chisholm from office and that lawyers who participated in the probe should be disbarred. Insiders say it's unlikely Walker would heed any call to remove Chisholm from office. They ask, "Can you imagine the firestorm he'd create by sacking the local prosecutor who led an investigation that touqhed his former aides (John Doe I) and those that backed him in the recalls (Doe II)?" But O'Keefe can be a very real thorn in Chisholm's side, they say. While it's an open question if Chisholm can be held somehow legally responsible for conducting the probe, insiders say he shouldn't feel too comfortable with someone like 0 1Keefe -- who feels he's been wronged, has a lot of conservatives who believe the same and has access to a lot of resources -- able to make Chisholm's life unpleasant. Payday lenders: The industry got a big win when tlle Joint Finance Committee added a provision to the budget that would have let it offer new financial services. But Gov. Scott Walker nixes the provision, writing in his veto message the expansion was 11 overly broad and significantly exceeds that of any other financial institutions." Walker's veto wasn't a shock to insiders, considering a coalition of business groups -- including WMC and the Wisconsin Bankers Association -- urged him to nix the changes, writing in a letter the provision would give payday lenders 11 an unlimited scope of authority" not provided to other financial institutions. Still, it's ;mrhaps the most significant of the 104 vetoes Walker issued. The guv says changes of that magnitude 11 should be addressed as separate legislation where the implications can be more carefully explored. 11 TRY THE NEW WISPOLITICS.COM MOBILE WEB APP The updated WisPolitics.com app includes contact info for the Walker administration, legislators and Congress, plus links to WisPolitics news, WisOpinion links, press releases and the event calendar. It also includes county-by-county maps of statewide election results, multimedia links and subscriber-only access to the on/ine product archi11e. * Go to http://app.wispolitics.com on your mobile device to use the app * Learn how to pin it to your home screen here: http://wispolitics.com/index. iml?Article=276235 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 10 .·.. _.. ··. - I· .·.·-.. ·- REVIEW: WALKER'S STATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT SHOWS PRESIDENTIAL ,. PRIORITIES Gov. Scott Walker's state campaign finance report covering the first six months of the year has all the hallmarks of a candidate continuing to build his brand outside of Wisconsin, a WisPolitics.com · review shows. The review found, among other things: *Walker raised 83 percent of his money from out-of-state donations, significantly higher than his past reports. *Walker spent almost $3.4 million on direct mail and solicitation expenses, including telemarketing, an unusually high amount for someone who wouldn't be on the state ballot again until 2018. *And Walker burned through 96 percent of the money he raised, an unusual clip for a reporting period that doesn't include a state election. One longtime Walker backer said the calculus was simple. "There's nothing wrong with keeping your donors warm," the supporter said. To critics, the report is proof that Walker has Wisconsin in his rearview mirror and never will run for guv again. U.S. law prohibits candidates from transferring their state funds to their federal campaigns. They are limited to making committee-to-committee contributions under the appropriate limits, and Walker's state report shows he gave $1 ,000 on Jan. 16 to Our American Revival, the nonprofit advocacy group he created at the start of the year. Still, a check of the report shows other ways Walker's state campaign may benefit his presidential bid. For example, Walker's state campaign spent almost $2.5 million during the first six months of the year on mailing services, typically direct mail, and $891,063 on solicitation expenses. That easily dwarfs the $925, 147 combined Walker spent on those services in the first half of 2013, the last reporting period to also cover a budget introduction. It's also in line with the almost $3.8 million Walker's campaign sp.ent on direct mail and telemarketing in the last half of 2014 as he successfully won re-election. Insiders also note Walker's presidential campaign and super PAC could pay his state cam0aign to rent that list. The spending fits in with Walker's reputation for being willing to spend money to raise money. His aides have previously argued the resources vv·alker put into fundraising were a long-term investment. By building out his mailing list, for exarnple, Walker has been able to accumulate a national network of small-dollar donors. While it is expensive to recruit them upfront, the campaign is able to hit them up time and time again for small er donations that add up over time -- a significant part of Walker's fund raising prowess. 11 .., ....· j.: :·':··'· __. ;.:~ -·=·. ''That's why he had a presidential mailing list before he was even a presidential candidate," said one Wisconsin GOP operative. ''There's not a governor in the country that has a mailing list like he has. 11 Still, Walker's burn rate in the first half of 2015 was iJnusual even for him, and out-of-state donations made up a bigger chunk of his overall haul than it has in any previous reporting period. Between Jan. 1 and June 30, Walker raised just short of $5.9 million. The almost $5.7 million he spent accounts for 96 percent of his haul. Walker has spent more than he took in on past reports, but those were in the heat of a state campaign. On his January continuing report, for example, \tValker reported spending $8.1 million after taking in $5.4 million. That period included activity from mid-October through the end of the year and covered the final weeks of his campaign against Dem Mary Burke. Likewise, he spent almost $1.7 million in the pre-primary period last year as he raised $1 .2 million. But on his July 2013 report, he raised $3.5 million and spent almost $2.1 million, a burn rate of 59 percent. · Walker also turned his attention more toward out-of-state donors than he has in the past. Of the almost $5.9 million Walker raised in the first half of this year, $4.9 million of it came from outside Wisconsin, accounting for 83 percent of his money. Walker pulled in more from out-of-state donations in his pre-primary report ahead of the unsuccessful attempt to recall him in 2012. But the $7 .3 million he raised from outside Wisconsin came at a time when he did not face contribution limits and accounted for 55.5 percent of the more than $13.2 million he reported for that period. Campaigns also typically shed significant staff costs following an election. But Walker spent $298,683 on staff salaries for the first six months cf 2015, more typical of a campaign in the middle of an election. By comparison, he dropped $541,503 on staff wages during the last half of 2014 and $311,867 during the first six months of last year. In the first six months of 2013, he spent $90,997. Scot Ross of the liberal One Wisconsin Now, a frequent critic of Walker's fundraising practices, said it's obvious Walker is catering to a national audience using money raised through his state campaign. Ross said the effort may be within the letter of the law, but he questioned if it followed its · spirit. He also argued the effort was not just about expanding Walker's fund raising network, but improving his brand. 11 lt1s absolutely about him sending two-page front and back fundraising letters to remind all of his donors how much they love him, 11 Ross said. STATE STILL WORKING. ON TALLY OF WALKER SECURITY COSTS FOR CAMPAIGN TO COVER Gov. Scott Walker's political operation has promtsed to cover the travel and security costs racked up 12 : ·_-·-·-:· , .:-: I- >'. ' by the state as he embarks on a presidential bid. But it could be a while before he gets a bill. A WisPolitics.com open records request shows sta~e costs for dignitary protection services dipped slightly in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period two years ago even as Walker increased out-of-state travels in the early stages of his presidential bid. But more than three months after WisPolitics.com first requested details, the Department of Transportation has been unable to break down how that money was spent on travel, salary and benefits, and other expenses to provide protection for Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, their families and visiting dignitaries. DOT spokeswoman Peg Schmitt said agency officials still were reviewing details of the money spent on dignitary protection services during the first three months of 2015. So far, the agency has been able to say only that it spent $573,425 on salary and fringe benefits, lodging expenses and travel for tho~e troopers in the unit during the first three morths of 2015. That's down slightly from the $588, 771 that was spent during the same period in 2013. Wis Politics.com chose the first quarter of 2013 for a comparison becaue it was the last pericd in which Walker had introduced a budget. The Department of Administration, meanwhile, is still working on the security-related travel expenses that will be submitted to Walker's political operation for reimbursement. That bill, however, won't include the salary and fringe benefits paid to the troopers, said agency spokesman Cullen Werwie. We are working to finalize the invoice related to security-related expenses thus far for 2015, 11 he said. 11When that invoice is finalized we will be ablE: to provide it." 11 WisPolitics.com first requested details on Walker's security costs in early April, before the guv's office released his calendars showing extensive oJt-of-state travel; he didn't list a single in-state event for 19 days in the month of March. His security costs then became an issue as the Joint Finance Committee took up the budget later in April and Dems proposed to require quarterly reporting on the guv's travel-related costs. The motion was rejected by the GOP majority. That week, Walker's Our American Revival annm.nced it would reimburse the state for all of Walker's political travel costs, including the security detail. The statement said that would cover all hotels, flights, rental cars and any other travel expenses for troopers when they are on political trips. To date, Walker's political organization hasn't made any payments to the state for those costs. A spokeswoman said that pledge to cover those expenses has now transferred to his presidential campaign. She said "we're working through the p~ocess" but didn't respond to a follow-up request for details on all the campaign plans to cover. WILEY SAYS TOP-THREE FINISHES IN EARLY STATES WOULD SUSTAIN WALKER CAMPAIGN A win, place or show in the first four presidential primary states would be good eno_ugh to punch Gov. Scott Walker's ticket to the second round of the GOP nomination fight, his campaign manager said. 13 -.· . lt . :~~- I.:_,:_-__ . -··. ·.: That second round, in many ways, is the money round for candidates. If they can get a strong showing in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, all of which are scheduled to hold primaries or caucus contests early in 2016, the door opens to the 1,400 delegates that await in March, Walker adviser Rick Wiley told a WisPolitics.com luncheon at the Madison Club on Tuesday. Walker leads state polls in Iowa, but Wiley wouldn't classify the state as a "must-win" for the guv, though many analysts see it that way. Still, Walker's campaign.is focusing on Iowa with a plan to eventually visit all 99 of its counties. "So you just have to get to that second round," said Wiley, a former executive director of the state GOP and ex-RNC political director. "And 1.think strcng fund raising will get you there, the top three in those early states will get you there, and then we'll see where we go from there." Those first four states hold 133 delegates, Wiley said. In the first half of March 2016, he said, there will be more than two dozen contests, including Super Tuesday, with 135 congressional districts. "It's a variety of places that you have to go campaign , and I think that helps us tremendously to get our message out," Wiley said, "because if we focu s, you know, if this thing were decided in the first four states, which I don't think it will be, then you haven't been able to get your message out." He said John McCain fell into that trap in 2008 when he clinched the nomination in March and then sat on the sidelines while Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton fought it out until June. "I remember sitting there watching this, I'm thinkin1;i, 'God, this guy can't get any traction. No one is talking about him because the Democrats are goin•;J for three months,"' Wiley said. "And regardless of whether they're beating up on one another, theyJre still in the news every single day." Clinton, he said, could face a similar problem in 2016. With candidates able to draw sometimes $4 million from super PACs, the field could stay stacked until around the Iowa caucus, said Wiley, who also worked on Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. "She's the coronated one, and the Republicans are still doing these primary contests," he said. "I think it bodes well for us." The validity of that theory will play out on the campaign trail. After declaring July 13 and doing a post-announcement tour, Walker this week kicked off a swing that included stops Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. and Thursday in San Diego. He nad also planned stops over the weekend in New Hampshire and North Carolina, although he canceled those in order to attend the funeral of Marine Sgt. Carson Holmquist, a Wisconsin native who was killed in the Tennessee shootings last week. If Walker is the last Republican standing, Wiley said, his status as Wisconsin governor would improve the party's chances to retake the White I-louse. During the luncheon Tuesday, he described an electoral map that essentially leaves up for grabs 12 states, many-of which are in the Midwest. Those states -- including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa -- hold 79 crucial electoral votes, Wiley said. Without even one of those states, the pressure is on Republicans to take every other battleground and not lose Florida, he said. Walker, though, can swing those votes, Wiley said. 14 1:-:.·c::_ -- - -·- .. . . ·-- ··. ·-: .~{· ··-·. • -. t· • - 11 Donors, activists are tired of losing, and if you nominate a Republican governor from the Midwest, I think you have an opportunity :o wil one of these Midwestern states, 11 he said. "And the electability, if you add one of these Midwestern states back to the mix, it changes the map dramatically." Ohio Gov. John Kasich, too, might be poised to bring in swing midwestern voters. Kasich, the 16th nationally recognized candidate and eighth sitting or ex-guv running, declared Tuesday, the same day as the luncheon . But Wiley shrugged off his candidacy, saying: "The more the merrier, let's be honest. 11 Honestly, I've lost track of how many people are in this race, 11 Wiley said. "But I just like where we are. 11 11 Listen to Wiley's luncheon talk: http:/jwispolitics.com/1006/150721 Wiley.mp3 LED BY DARLING, FIVE JFC MEMBERS AMONG TOP FUNDRAISERS DURING BUDGET SEASON The Republican co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee topped the list of fund raisers in their respective houses during the first 1alf of 2015, a WisPolitics.com review shows. 'And of the two, Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, raised the most in the Legislature, coming in at $64,220 in total receipts. She drew the bulk of that money through individual contributions, which totaled $49,420, including 15 $1,000 donations. Among those maximum individual contributions was one from Susan Kasten , who is listed as retired and living in Vero Beach, Fla. The maximum donations also included $1 ,000 from JR McKeithan Jr., who is listed as chairman of Tamarack Petroleum Co. Inc. in Milwaukee, and Patti McKeithan, both of whom have the same Milwaukee address. JR McKeithan contributed $2,000 March 30, but Darling returned $1,000 April 7. Darling collected $9, 125 through conduit contributions, including those from the energy, real estate, insurance and chiropractic fields. PAC contributions to Darling totaled $5,675 and were topped by $1,000 donations from PACs representing Wisconsin credit unions and Alliant Energy. No. 2 in the Senate for fundraisin·;i was Rick Gudex, R-Fond du Lac, who is considered the top Dem target in 2016 after he won his seat by 600 votes in 2012. He raised $48,878, spent $3,278 and had $70,710 cash on hand. Nearly half of the money he raised came from conduit contributions. Of those conduits, hospital groups led the way with $4, 700 in contributions. Insurance and real estate groups rounded out tr.e top three in conduit contributions, with $2,200 and $2, 150, respectively. Though Darling's fellow JFC Co-chair Rep. John Nygren, A-Marinette, topped the Assembly for fundraising, he was well behind Darling with $23, 144 in total receipts. Conduit contributions represented the majority of that tJtal at $19;715. The top conduit contributor t:J Nygren was the ready-mix, stone and gravel, and engineering 15 . ·•·.·- -: :. -·r··-· ·:·· industries, which combined gave him $3,475. The second highest conduit contributor was a group of people listed as either homemaker, retired or with no occupation or employer; that category combined to contribute $3,450. Nygren listed only nine individual contributions, with the largest, at $1,000, coming from Melanie Hubbard, Assembly finance director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Elise Nelson, who is listed as a legislative liaison for the Public SeNice Commission, contributed $500. Nygren did not list any PAC contributions. Three other JFC members were among the top fundraisers in each house: Republican Luther Olsen, plus Dems Jon Erpenbach and Chris Taylor. The top fundraisers in each party in the Senate were: Senate GOP 1. Darling: $64,220 raised, $55,024 cash on hand. 2. Gudex: $48,878 raised, $70,710 cash on hand. 3. Luther Olsen, of Ripon: $43,992 raised, $50,862 cash on hand. The JFC member will be on the ballot next fall, and some conseNatives have raised the possibility of a primary challenge. Senate Dems 1. Dave Hansen, of Green Bay: $10,315 raised, $40,469 cash on hand; he has been a top GOP target in the past and is up for re-election next year. · 2. Julie Lassa, of Stevens Point: $8,41 o raised, $45,582 cash on hand; she also will be on the ballot next fall. 3. Jon Erpenbach, of Middleton: $8, 192 raised, $10, 136 cash on hand. The top fundraisers in each party in the Assembly were: Assembly GOP 1. Nygren: $23,144 raised, $104,253 cash on hand. 2. Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester: $15,537 raised, $184,117 cash on hand. 3. John Macco, of Ledgeview: $1 3,682 raised; $11,600 cash on hand. 4. David Steffen, of Green Bay: $12,795 raised; $34,380 cash on hand. 5. Chris Kapenga, of Delafield: $9,785 raised; $13,965 cash on hand. Kapenga was running for Senate· during the fundraising period, and the numbers reflect the latest Senate report. Assembly Dems 1. Mandela Barnes, of Milwaukee: $15,785 raised; $32,661 cash on hand. 2. Jocasta Zamarripa, of Milwaukee: $14,315 raised; $12,326 cash on hand. 3. Chris Taylor, of Madison: $13, 116 raised; $45,295 cash on hand. 4. Daniel Riemer, of Milwaukee: $12,911 raised; $24,942 cash on hand. 5. Melissa Sargent, cif Madison: $10,235 raised; $77,235 cash on hand. WEEK AHEAD M-onday: Gov. Scott Walker campaigns in Illinois - 1:15 p.m.: Chuck's Harley-Davidson, Bloomington - 4:45 p.m.: Billy Goat Tavern, Chicago 16 ·..· I: : :·-·=-.-·· -.· -.-.-;... --·- -- -·-·.·:-: .. -.-- Tuesday: Walker campaigns in Philadelphia - 1 :15 p.m.: Pat's King of Steaks - 1 :45 p.m.: Geno's Steaks Tuesday: Assembly floor session to vote on Bucks arena - 11 a.m.: Assembly Chambers, State Capitol Tuesday: Marquette Law School conference on public attitudes toward the Chicago megacity. - 8 a.m.: Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan St., Milwaukee POLITICAL TV (Check local listings for times in your area) "UpFront with Mike Gousha" is a statewide commercial TV news magazine show airing Sundays around the state. This week's show features GAB Chairman GERALD NICHOL answering criticism of the GAB, Assembly Minority Leader PETER BARCA, D-Kenosha, discussing possible Assembly Dem support for next week's.Milwaukee Bucks arena vote and Iowa Poll director J. ANN SELZER on Walker's performance in the state. *See viewing times in state markets here: http://www.wisn.com/upfront/ *Also view the show online each Monday at WisPoritics.com "Rewind," a weekly show from Wisconsin Eye and \'VisPolitics.com, is available online. On this week's episode, WisPolitics.com's JR ROSS and VVisconsinEye's STEVE WALTERS discuss the GAB, the Bucks and Walker's rollout campaign. *Watch the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brZ9w1tvENI Wisconsin Public TV's "Here and Now" airs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays. On this week's program, Sen. DEVIN LeMAHIEU, R~Oostburg, and GAB director KEVIN KENNEDY discuss the future of the GAB; AG BRAD SCHIMEL talks about the new Milwaukee gun violence task force; and JOHN HOLEVOTI, a government policy adviser with the Dairy Business Association and SUJHEY BEISSER, the president of the board of directors of Centro Hispano, talk about immigration in Wisconsin. "Sunday Insight with Charlie Sykes" airs at 1o a.m. Sunday on WTMJ-4 in Milwaukee. "For the Record" airs at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on WISC-TV in Madison. Host NEIL HEINEN. "Capitol City Sunday" airs at 9 a.m. Sunday on WKOW-TV in Madison, WAOW-TV in Wausau, WXOW-TV in La Crosse and WQOW-TV in Eau Claire. · "The Insiders" is a weekly WisOpinion.com web show featuring former state Sens. TED KANAVAS, A-Brookfield, and CHUCK CHVALA, D-Madison. ~--iis week they discuss Gov. SCOTI WALKER'S presidential campaign rollout, the end of the state budget and Senate Dems' votes on the Milwaukee Bucks' arena. *Watch the video: http://www.wisopinion.com/index.iml?mdl=article.mdl&article=62205 *Listen to the show: http://wispolitics.com/1006/150724insiders.mp3 NAMES IN THE NEWS 17 ·:. .-_· .. ; I ::---. Send items to staff@wispolitics.com Sen. LEAH VUKMIR, A-Wauwatosa, was named rational chairwoman of the American Legislative Exchange Council. She will take over the role in December. Prior to the appointment, Vukmir was · first vice chairwoman for ALEC. Attorney General BRAD SCHIMEL administered the oath of office to seven new assistant attorneys general. They are: SHELLY RUSCH, a former Dane County assistant DA; CHRISTOPHER LIEG EL, a former Milwaukee County assistant DA; AMBER HAHN, a former St. Croix County assistant DA; KATHERINE SPITZ,.who worked at Foley & Lardner; MICHELLE VISTE, a former Dane County deputy DA; MPOLI SIMWANZA-JOHNSON, a former associate with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek; and LAURE RAKVIC-FARR, former owner of LRF Legal Counseling. See the release: http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/20150723 New AAGs.pdf TOM GERMAN, the deputy secretary of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, is taking over as acting secretary with the departure of longtime Executive Secretary TIA NELSON. Nelson's last day in the post was today as she prepares to join the Outrider Foundation Aug. 1. See the announcement from the Outrider Foundation: hto://www. wispolitics.com/1 006/1507220utrider.pdf EMMA SHULTZ, formerly the executive assistant for the Wisconsin Propane Gas Association, was named interim executive director. Read the announcement: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=352524 The Wisconsin Technical Col~ge System Board elected·new officers during a meeting at Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac. JOHN SCHWANTES, a senior director with Johnsonville, was appointed to one-year term as board president; MARK TYLER, president of OEM Fabricators, was named vice president; and PHIL BARANOVJSKI, a retired K-12 administrator, will continue as the board's secretary. Read the announcement: http ://wtcsystem. ed u/n ews-med ia/n ews room/tech-co Hege-board-elects-officers ENDORSEMENTS: - RUSS FEINGOLD, endorsed by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO For more Names in. the News, see subscriber products from earlier in the week plus the WisPo/itics.com press release page: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.lml?Content=21 For upcoming events, see the "Week Ahead" in this product and in your e-mail Monday morning. Click here for the online calendar: http://www.wlspolitics.com/index. lml?Content=22 If you have a contribution, e-mail staff@wispo/Wcs.com LOBBYIST WATCH (from the state Government Accountability Board) Fourteen changes were mad9 to the lobbying registry in the past 1O days. Follow this link for the complete list: https:l/lobbving. wi.gov/Who/LobbvingReqistryC.'1anges/2013REG/SearchBvDateRanqe 18 .. -· -·· .·:-:· .:· .·.· ·-·· (c)2015 WisPolitics.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction or retransmission of this publication, in whole or in part, without the express permission of WisPoliUc~com is prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction violates United States copyright law (17 USC 101 et seq.), as-does retransmission by facsimile or any other electronic means, inch.Iding electronic mail. LINKS: Home page I Press releases I Calendar I Interviews I Contact us I Budget Blog I Election Blog I Quorum Call I DC Wrap 19 ~-------------------------------------American Legislative Exchange Council Tuesda:1, July 21, 2015 11:02 AM Vukmir. Leah ALEC Events and Education ( 7-21-2015 From: Sent: To: Subject: 1 To view Download the ALEC Smartphone App thl~ email as :i web page, go~ This Week: ALEC Annual Meeting ALEC Leadership and Staff are currently in San Diego for the 42nd ALEC Annual Meeting and may take longer to ond to reguests. Please excuse any dela s. - · ·"'~,_~ . -,--. MM~ .......,.U._AUCA!'fl..~ •"r!JIN."'1!......"dW.-nr.. ALEC Congressional Caucus Call July 28: Transportation Empowerment Act Both the states and Congress are grappling with how to shore up critical roads and infrastructure. While state leaders face mounting infrastructure maintenance needs, feder:il funding c·ften corr&s with unwanted strings attached. Following August recess, the Congress will debate how to reform the Highway Trust Fund. Ccnservatives have put forward a piece of legislation that refies upon the princip'es of federalism and limited government. 33 f. ··-·.... -·-· ... ·.·.·.·:-:-:·:- -.. · ~:~ . .-.•.: . • ~ ·:1 •. -: i:::::;:::;:::::::--;:::;:: •• ·: :-::·:-·:': .... -.; .- .[-:-::::::::":-: --·· :- · .-::_. ~· Please join Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores and Representative Ron Desantis, sponsor of the Transportation Empowerment Act, tor a call to discuss a conservative path forward in transporation policy for states. ho: RSC Chairman Bill Flores, Representative Ron Desantis, Free market legislators and thought leaders hat: The Transporta:ion Empowerment Act and the states here: Dial - (719) 457-2€64, Code - 5020299 hen: Tuesday, July 28 -- 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET 5LLEC j~~~;~;;: NATURAL GAS PROD~CTION STATE BY STATE 2013 ,.,,,.,..,,,,,""''""~""'"'" . ~:'.'~~'.... RI tY.J 0 #50 CT ttJ 0 #50 NJ Fil 0 DE o. #50 f;,~ #50 MD~ 32 #31 0 &~ #50 ,,, 1=HIGHEST SO=LOWEST •Natural Gas ProdtKHon by State (MIUion OJbk: Feet). ••o Slgnl~es Negligible or No Production. @ALEC_States AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EKCHANGE COUNCIL This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisoonsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange :ouncil 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - view our oolicy 34 L: ~:- ·-.- .-. -.- -~- ! . :::: ·- ·- ·.=:-· _·.-: •· . I• ' • I am wondering what has happened to the GOP that i.s supposed to be the party of small government.You are a bunch of hypocrites. You have already told cities how they can pay for road repair and a host of other things kike eliminating sick days for workers. Now you essentially weaken the regulations that cities and counties make to protect their lakes, rivers, and streams. Why must you meddle? And of course you must decide what folks can do in their bedroom and you must interfere when a woman is making health care decisions with her doctor. Your abortion bill makes no allowances for pregnancy anomalies. I demand you vote no on SB 179 I would like to know how much money you have allc·cated to the GAB to educate the voters of this state about your voter suppression rule. With 300,COO people in this state not having a.voter ID, you are responsible that they know how to get one. You voter suppression rules are absolutely meanspirited and unfair to so many. How you can expect a city of 600,000 to have the same voting hours as a village of 10,000 people is beyond anyone's imagination. If you want to make things fair why don't you fix it so everyone has equal convenience :o vote? So, what about it? How much money have you given them? Now I see that you want to write off 7.6 million in debt that WEDC has given out and can't recoup. What a dirty shame. That money could have gone to education of our kids. And now I see that you are trying to mess with the prevailing wage. Again, why must you pull Wisconsin to the bottom. always trying to !ewer wages of our workers. I doubt that most of you in the JFC even know how the prevailin_ g wage is calcula1ed. Do not repeal this law! You may save a bunch of money up front but it harms my ne4ghbor:: ! Now I see you are trying to eliminate the legislative audit bureau from auditing WEDC. What is wrong with you? You put partisan appointees in p.ace to 3.Udit WEDC. This is a case of the fox guarding the hen house. This will erode Wisconsin's tradition of clean , open and transparent government. Citizens cannot count on getting factJal information. We need more oversight, not less. I see this idea was proposed by someone who is a member of ALEC. Did this come from them? I do know that 2/3 of all legislation passed rn the last 5 years was a product of ALEC. Maybe some of you, who were members of ALEC Defore, are no longer members, but you have ALEC ingrained in your blood. How about working for the people of Wisconsin instead of the big corporations? Evidently you folks are completely iynorant concerning skills of auditors when you can just ignore them like you are doing. The legislative audit bureau have done award winning work and you just dismiss them. It's another case of fixing something that isn't broken. This case of putting partisan appointees is similar to your promoting the non-educated to teaching positions and not knowing how the prevailing wage is calculated. And now we have another case of eliminating the qualified when you cut 17.5 scientists from the DNR. Now the environmental decisions can all be based on politics. I guess you and Walker would rat~er have climate change decisions and pollution decisions made by politicians instead of someone that is truly educated in the field . I guess partisan politics people can ·better d~cide what to do about pollutants as well as drugs, industrial additives and other agents in the wa-.er 11 order to keep the special interests and those who give contributions to· Walker's pre~idential campaigns happy .. I read the article by Caroline Levine in the Cap Times concerning the UW system. I absolutely agree with her. I know you would like to get rid of ~e'1 ure in the UW system. Faculty need this protection so they can safely proceed in their search for truth without fearing that they will be penalized if what they publish does not agree with regents or others in authority on campus or legislators. And now I see 106 that almost all the regents have been appoirted by ·w alker. So it all ends up being one big partisan authority. Who knows what might happen if any professor happens to mention-the words 11 climate change 11 ? This is a dangerous precedent and I demand you not mess with it. Plus you are diabolical in the removal of 250 million dollars from the UVvM budget. Put it back! Sincerely, Joanne Kaus 1136 Sunset Ln Grafton, WI 53024 2623769085 107 . :• . ·~. ;·. •.• - .. ,· .·.. ·- ----------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: American Legislative Exchange Council Monday, July 27, 2015 7fJO PM Vukmir, Leah RESCHEDULED: Tomorrcw's ALEC Congressional Caucus Call on the Transportation Empowerment Act To view this email as a web page, go here. RESCHEDULED: ALEC Congressional Caucus Call on the Transportation Empowerment Act Tomorrow's conference call regarding the Transportation Empowerment Act will be rescheduled. Updated call information will be distributed as soon as arrangements are made. ALEC t hanks Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores and . Representat ive Ron Desantis for their desire to inform ALEC members about a conseN ative path forward in transportation policy for the states. This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: Arperican Legislative Excha 1ge Councll 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - view our oolicy Update Profile and Subscrjotion Preferences \ Unsubscribe From All Emails 30 ~:: ·.·. . .:::::::: .· ·.·. ·.. · . . ·.·.·: :·_._._:·_:_·:·_,_:=._~=...._:._::_.'.·...·.·..:_-:_.__. ·_:__,_._:_._...·_._,:_..·,-.==.·,·..·.·..·.·.·.·.·.·,·.·_·. :·:_.·_.. ·.- .· ·:-.. ~=::::::·::::::::::>::::::::·:.:. .. ·.· :-.:-:---:·: This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This emall was sent by: American Legislative Excha11ge Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arllngton, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to prlvac}' - ylew our oollcy Update Profile and Subscription Preferences 32 I Unsubscribe From All Emails I ·. :·:· . •. - . . ••.• .. 1· .- _: •. -:-:-:-: :-: : :-, ~ •-· - ... - . ------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: American Legislative Exc1ange Council Tuesday, July 28, 2015 11:28 AM Vukmir, Leah ALEC Events and Educatfon 07-28-2015 To view this emall as a web page, g9 hfilg_,_ RESCHEDULED: ALEC Congressional Caucus Call on the Transportation Empowerment Act Today's call regarding the Transportation Empowerment Act will be rescheduled. Updated call information will be distributed c.s soon as arrangements are made. ALEC thanks Republican Study Committee ctiairr.ian Bill Flores and Representative Ron Desantis for their desire ~o inform ALEC members about a conservativ e path forward in transportatio1 policy for the states. New ALEC Video - Click and Share Please share the below video with friends and colleagues. 27 I: !. -- New Mexico ~ • It's great to be an ALEC member American Leglsl~ti~~ Exchange Cou11cil (ALEC) RI [] 0 #50 CT Cl 0 #SO NJ r:1 0 #SO DE @l 0 1150 MDm 32 #31 _.,. !=HIGHEST SO=LOWEST "N•tuflll Gos Produttion bys- (Minion QJblc Feet), ••o Signifies Netllgible or No Production. @ALEC_States AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL 28 /.·:-:-:-:·:·:·.· _.,..·.·: This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Leglslatlve Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drlve 1 Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - view our pollcv Update Profile and Subscription Preferences 29 I Unsubscrfbe From All Emails .·.: :-:·:-. -·~ ;.....• - I -·~. --:__ .... ·::.. . --.: .. - .· ------------------------Bill Meierling Wednesday, July 29, 2015 1L39 AM Vukmir, Leah ALEC July 2015 Leadership Exchange From: Sent: To: Subject: To view this email as a web page, go~ Dear Leadership: This month, ALEC staff engaged with members c.nd the public through conference calls, member events and articles in news media and community biogs. Also during July, ALEC and ACCE staff: • Conducted a conference call educating lawmakers about the refining industry • Released a new ALEC video, "It's a Great Time to be an ALEC Member" • Completed one of the most successful Annual Meetings in years: a More than 1,300 attendees a More than 350 first-time attendees a More than 70 credentialed media a Conducted an educational tour of the Port of San Diego a Held a successful Medical Educational Life Sciences Academy a Kicked off the ALEC Women's Caucus at the Inaugural Iron Lady Reception a Interviewed ALEC members for a new video - to be finalized soon a Scott Walker talks with ALEC n San Diego o Mike Huckabee talks with ALEC in San Diego . a Lisa B. Nelson, American Legislative Exchange Council CEO - on KUS! San Diego • Media coverage of the 42nd ALEC Annual Meeting includes: o State Senator Leah Vukmir named ALEC National Chair - WDJT CBS Milwaukee o Unions v. corporations - Orafl{;e County Register o Gov. Walker Wows ALEC, VYWs 'Steel' Foreign Policy - Times of San Diego o At ALEC meeting in California. Scott Walker touts Wisconsin laws - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel o Huckabee & Arkansas Legislators at California ALEC Gathering - NPR Arkansas 24 i:--: ·,:-. :_ :-: .- .. ·::: _ ·, -~ ~ ::::~.:~ ·::;:;: ::. -:-=····. -- . :_..: ~ ; ..- .·. -- ·-·.·-.--·..-.. ··-·... ,. o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Trump Haunts ALEC Meeting as Huckabee 'Swims in Own Lane' - Times of San Diego Walker: 'I will terminate deal with Iran' - ABC 10 San Diego Presidential Hopefuls Walker and Huckabee to campaign in San Diego - San Diego News 6 7 House members in San Diego for conservative group ALEC - Miami Herald Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker criticizes Iran nuclear deal -Associated Press Kathleen Peters responds to Dems' dig on her ALEC trip - Tampa Bay Times Walker to ALEC: Cancel Iran Deal , Defund Planned Parenthood - Breitbart Convention of States Project Launches Legislator Caucus and Website at American Legislative Exchange Council Meeting - PR Newswire Democrat Defends ALEC Pole with Ex-Bolt Benirschke - Times of San Diego GOP hopefuls. protests at event - San Diego Union Tribune Lawmakers leave budget b3hind, head to California conference - WRAL North · Carolina GO P's Ted Cruz Bows Out of San Diego ALEC Meeting - Times of San Diego Three Republfcan presidential candidates to visit San Diego - KUS! News San Diego 3 Republican presidential candidates to speak in San Diego Wednesday - CBS 8 San Diego Republican Presidential Candidates to Visit S.D. This Week - Times of San Diego • Received media coverage on a \lariety of topics, such as: o States should copy winninq policies for economic growth - The Hill o Morris: Send Virginia's foreign prisoners home - The Roanoke Times o Unions Seek Sweetheart Deals in Sacramento - 600 KOGO News Radio o Pa. Association of School Retirees hires new executive director - Centre County Gazette . o National Teachers Union Boasts of Having 'Conservative' Members While Undermining Their Values: - Michigan Capitol Confidential o Saine named budget chai- - Lincoln Times-News o Civil asset forfeiture: Private property rights' ne xt frontier - Northwest Georgia News o States Battle Cities Over Minimum Wage - Huffington Post o Deer Park pol pushes hyper-local ALEC arm - Cincinnati Inquirer o Brazile: Changes could cut prison population - Amarillow Globe-News · o Heartland Daily Podcast - William Freeland: Puerto Rico's Financial Mess Heartland Institute o Coal industry has new litmus test for Republican governors - The Washington Post o Bipartisan reform directly ahead - Daily Journal Online o The Information Content of the ALEC-Laffer-Moore-Williams Economic Outlook Ranking - Bui/fax.com o State Legislatures Consider Future of American Labor - Governing o VIDEO: Tax Reform Helped N.C. Leap to No. 4 in Economic Competitiveness o - Carolina Journal Online o Labor Battles Heat Up in State Legislatures - Huffington Post o Labor Battles Heat Up in State Legislatures - Stateline: Pew Charitable Trusts o Coalition Works to Have One Miiiion Fewer People Behind Bars - Yahoo! News o July 2 ALEC Statement on WXIA Atlanta -ALEC.erg • Published policy-focused articles and editorials, including: o Budget Debate Highligh:s Pennsylvania's Need for Fundamental Tax and Pension Reform - Amercan Legislator o President and Congress follow States' Lead on Criminal Justice Reform American Legislator 25 -· : ·,·_ .·. ·... ·.. .·.. · ·>. ·) .·.·-· a a o o a o o o o I- .. -.-.._- · ·--:·: -··- :·-·- . .:.- .. Jonathan Williams Discusses Per nsylvania's Competitiveness on PMA Perspective - American Legislato.~ Taxing the Cloud: Chicago Decides to Tax Residents for Usin-g Netflix American Legislator Map: Natural Gas Production in t1e U.S. -American Legislator Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights: Thoughtful Spending Limitations Can Protect Taxpayers - American Legislator STEM - W ill it Replace Liberal A rts? -American Legislator Smart is the New Tough: Prison n eform -American Legislator DEA Data CoUectlon Program Served as Model for NSA Program - American Legislator Grady v. North Carolina - Satellite Based Monitoring Programs are Searches American Legislator Off to a Bad Start: START-UP N {Spends $45 Million and Only Creates 76 Jobs - RedState Best, Bill Meierling Vice President, Public Affairs American Legislative Exchange Council This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange C)uncll 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, Unit:ed States We respect your right to privacy - view our ooljcy Update Profile and Subscription Pre=erences 26 I Unsubscribe From All Emails ··::~ . ·-· ;: '.·' - . -~ ·:-:-.-:~·;_.:: : .-·-- .·· ":· - :=..:= ;..:-~-:·: >>:-:-:·:.: -.. -· - _... •-·-.-. . ----. j J.·.· ~······· •••• ~--------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: American Legislative Exchange Council Thursday, July 30, 201:. 11:18 AM V!Jkmir, Leah ALEC Digital Exchange 07-30-2015 To view this email as a web page, go b.filsh Governor Scott Walker talks with ALEC in San Diego - Watch and Share: Former Governor Mike Huckabee talks with ALEC in San Diego Watch and Share: 21 !·::::::::~<< - .·. . ...·.. •.•' ... .·.·.. =· ~·-· !-:.:':':::::::-: .. ~ -- - American Legislative Exchange Council in the News States should copy winning policies for econom c growth - The Hill State Senator Leah Vukmir named ALEC National Chair - WDJT 58 Milwaukee Morris: Send Virginia's foreign prisoners home - The Roanoke Times Gov. Walker Wows ALEC, Vows 'Steel' Foreign Policy - Times of San Diego Kathleen Peters responds to Dems' dig on her ALEC trip - Tampa Bay Times 7 House members in San Diego for cooservatl:.-e group ALEC - Miami Herald Huckabee & Arkansas Legislators Attend ALEC Gathering - Arkansas NPR Walker to ALEC: Cancel Iran Deal. De.fund Planned Parenthood - Breitbart Walker: 'I will terminate deal with Iran' - ABC 10 News San Diego Presidential Hopefuls Walker and Huckabee to Campaign In San Diego - San Diego News 6 Trump Haunts ALEC Meeting as Huckabee 'Swims in Own Lane' - Times of San Diego Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker criticizes Iran nuclear deal -Associated Press Scott Walker's pl"esidency: Iran_nucle3-r deal goes 'on day one', then Obamacare - The Guardian At ALEC meeting in California. Scott Walker touts Wisconsin laws - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Lawmakers leave budget behind, head to Ca ifornia conference - WRAL North Carolina 1 Three Republican presidential candidates to visit San Diego - KUSI News Republican Presidential Candidates :o Visit S.D. This Week - Times of San Diego 22 . :-:.: . : ~ :.-·.· -.· · ~· .. _·· .· Lisa B. Nelson - American Legislative Exchange Council - KUSI News San Diego This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.goY This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchan(;e Co1X1cll 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, Jnted States .rJ P~ ·N>;'l;:'·{'i}:ty We respect your right to privacy - view our policy Update Profile and Subscription Preferences I Unsubscribe From All Emails Z3 "'T'" t:W ·h::;·--1 .. .. l. ·•r"··u··' '..,4'-ir~.I ·d 1 .- _!.,. •••: . ....-:· - J !··::::::::_ .· · i---:=::::_:::>: _.' .. ::· ·- .-_·_ :.. :·~ ,; :.:.:-~ '-: : · . ; : · · : · · : : · - : · · ;..~-::-;-:·::::::::::::-:.: ·: ·.- ,-=-·-.. ._.; - -···- - -: . -·- -·-. - - .-.·. .. . mllml---------------------------------Lisa B. Nelson Thursday, July 30, 2015 1:12 °M Vukmir, Leah ALEC CEO Update From: Sent: To: Subject: To view this emc:il as a '>Veb page, go~ Dear members, It's a great time to be at ALEC. l ime and time c.gain, ALEC members at last week's annu[;!.I meeting repeated that phrase. Certainly, the eneryy around the meeting was incredibly positive. Wyoming Representative Norine Kasperik comm anted that the meeting was like "a shot of patriotic adrenaline ." All told, more tha n 1,300 attendees, 350 first-time attendees and 71 members of the media heard from t hree presidential candidat:is, participated in more than a dozen workshops and training sessions and discussed free-market policies that will have a measurable impact on economic free dom in the states. During the meeting, 2015 ALEC Chairmar Phil King (TX-61) shared some very important numbers with attendees. Because misinformatio1 about ALEC persists, it is critically important that you internalize these numbers an:l share them with your colleagues and networks: • • • • • • • • • • 25% of all state legislators are ALEC members 25% of Congress are ALEC alum1i Six sitting governors are ALEC alumni (iNalker, Kasich, Haley, Fallin, Bentley, Dalrymple) Four presidential candidates are ALEC alumni (Walker, Kasich, Rubio, Graham) 382 new legislator members have joined ALEC since the 2014 election 313 city, county and municipal elected officials are members of the American City County Exchange 30 new private sector members rave joined so far in 2015, compared with 17 at the same point last year o Of those 30 new membe~s. three joined IN SAN DIEGO because they were so impressed 71 reporters attended the Armua- Meeting 30 million American jobs are created by ALEC member companies 60 million Americans are represented by ALEC member legislators 18 . ·. ;;...·.·-·.. ·:::::::····· :::..•·.·:·:·:·:·.·.·;·.·. -· • - ·=···.; •• I ~- . . . . .. . -.. ...... .... It should be quite clear that the message here is: It's a great time to be at ALEC. There is more energy, collaboration, programming, continuing education and idea exchange than at any point · in recent years. To long-time members: thank you for your commitment to this organization. To new members: you are part of a new day at ALEC. Together, we will set priorities to grow healthy state economies. To all members: We will only win and continue to grow if you share this story. Big-government activists would have the public believe AL.EC is suffering, and certainly, there have been struggles in the past. But, we have emerged stronger than before. Your commitment to this organization, and your words of support shared with your friends and colleagues will make all the difference. ALEC routinely shares assets that can make promotion easier. At the meeting, ALEC released two new videos that clearly share our mission and purpose. Watch and share them here: ALEC San Diego: A Shot of Patriotic Adrenaline ;c . r71LEC :·;:; : ; ../1 . . - • ·t 5711-, EC ALEC San Diego: A Shot of Patriotic Adrenaline Ill ~~c...ndl!ALEC} ~It's great to be en ALEC member .. Ill ::::.::~~~(AW:) It's Great to be an ALEC Member As always, the ALEC staff Is here to serve you. If you have any feedback from the meeting or if there is something you think ALEC can do better or differently, please let me know. We are looking forward to releasing an incredible amount of educational material and programming as well as hosting a variety 'of academies around the country over the next several months. I hope you take advantage of these opportunities, and look forward to seeing you December 2 - 4 in Scottsdale for the States and Nation Policy Summit. Sincerely, 19 •' t ·, 1·.'. ·.·•· . .·. '. .·.· . .·.· Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States We respect your right to privacy - view our policy Update Profile and Subscription Preferences 20 I Unsubscrlbe From All Emails .. -·- . r: . .::= !·:..•.:.. .....__________________________ From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Michael Bowman Thursday, August 06, 2015 11:18 AM phil@philking.com; Alan Clemmons; Andre Cushing; Bill Cadman; Bill Seitz; Blair Thoreson; Curry Todd; David Frizzell; Dawn Pettengill; Gary Banz; Heather Koszka (Sen Anderson Aide); James Buck; Jason Saine; Joe Harrison; Joel Anderson; John Piscopo; Judson Hill; Sen.Vukmir; Linda Upmeyer; Norine Kasperik; Phillip Gunn; Ray Merrick; Susan Wagle; Wayne Niederhauser; William Howell Lisa Nelson; William Carmichael (wcarmichael@asc-usi.com); Jimmy Wall · FW: Board Review Board Policy Review Letter and Summaries AM 2015.pdf; AMlS Approved Model Policy V2.pdf August 6, 2015 ALEC Executive Committee: ALEC's Task Forces met in San Diego, CA at the 2015 Annual Meeting. This memorandum serves as official notification of all model policy approved in San Diego. In accordance with Section IX of the Task Force Operating Procedures, Executive Committee for the Board has 20 days from today to review and determine whether the proposed model policy approved at the 2015 Annual Meeting is within the scope of ALEC's core issues. Therefore, the Executive Committee has until August 26, 2015at11:59PM to complete this review. In order to expedite the approval process, the reviews by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors will occur concurrently within the 30 days. Any Board of Director may request a review of any of the enclosed policy before the entire Board at the next scheduled Board Meeting, or by default the enclosed model policy will be approve as ALEC policy. The Board of Directors has until September 5, 2015at11:59PM to review and endorse the model policy that was approved by the Task Forces. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Michael Bowman, Vice President of Policy, at mbowman@alec.org or 202 557-8483, or Brian Hawkins, Policy Coordinator, at bhawkins@alec.org or 571-482-5004. Attachment: Board Policy Review is six pages Attachment: AM15 Approved Model Policy is 117 pages Sincerely, · 4~~_/ Michael D. Bowman Vice President of Policy 10 ·.-.-.--·.- ··.·- -·-· cc: Lisa B. Nelson cc: ALEC Staff Michael D. Bowman· Vice President of Policy 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 D 571.482.5050 M 202.557 .8483 2lLEC Amaf.£011 k~!s;~1r;t, E:c.'CitilO!JI? Co1,1t1df ·.·.""'-·· Upcoming Meetings: 2015 Annual Meeting -July 22 - 24, 2015 - San Diego, California 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit- December 2-4, 2015 - Scottsdale, Arizona 2016 Spring Task Force Summit - May 6, 2016 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 11 _.:-;.- .-.----·- .·.. : :--: :-: : ·::·:_ .. --. -~ .· .· ~-----------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: Lisa Nelson Thursday, August 06, 2015 9:24 AM Phil King; Sen.Vukmir Fwd: Great hit in WSJ Will send to the full board when I return but thought you should know about this great hit. I Lisa B. Nelson Lnelson@alec.org (202) 573-1334 Begin forwarded message: From: Shana Sally Date: August 6, 2015 at 3:05:16 PM GMT+2 To: Public Affairs , Lisa Nelson Cc: Britt Nelson , Montana Hyde , Autum.n Posey Subject: Great hit in WSJ Enjoy© The Republican Revels Begin The GOP in 2016 can consolidate five years of historic election victories-or blow it. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-republican-revels-beg:.n-1438813508 ALEC is the American Legislative Exchange Council, the right-of-center group that creates policy templates for state legislators who want to push issues such as the reform of public pensions or school reforms. This is life in the daily trenches of U.S. politics. Because of ALEC's success in the states, progressive groups began a campaign to drive ALEC's corporate contributors away from the "right-wing extremists." Best, Shana Shana M. Sally Media and Public Affairs Coordinator American Legislative Exchange Council W: 571-482-5012 M: 202-309-127 4 ssally@alec.ora 12 •:-'_ ·.-:-:. -:-:-: . ~ · = . ··=· . . .- ·...;. 1-·.<-:·:-:- ·.... ·• •, : ~ . ·-·--····· -·.· .... 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 2lLEC Amai:itLJn ~(l{)Wl.llM< fa~;l'umga Council Upcoming Meetings: 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit - December 2-4, 2015 - Scottsdale, Arizona 2016 Spring Task Force Summit- May 6, 2016 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The American Legislative Exchange Council is a 501{c}3 nonprofit organization and is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the National Board of Legislators and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of private, foundation and think tank members. Website I Facebook I Twitter I Blog 13 Legislative Member Reimbursement \<~\~t"~c_\;\ Name of Legislator: Date: . 0/\3/\5 . Amount Requested~ '7-(o°i · '10 Date(s) of Event: Check Payable To: .~~-\(~'_\J~~+-'-\-~_t-=s---"C'--'--\r\--'---_ Name: --4tv\-----'-'-'i \(-'·---' City: _ ,_\l\_._°'. . . .d-=-\;;,"' . . ""o......t\___ State: Address: P. 0 . 'f ux \J L _-J~v_\_'1------- Zg 5 ~ Zip Code: 5 0 2Q ~ *Upon State Chair approval and submission please expect up to 30 days to receive payment Incomplete requests, including missing receipts and inaccurate totals, will delay payment. *Please accompany this form with all receipts. If supporting documentation is not provided or incomplete, payment will be delayed. *Please submit this form to ALEC within four weeks after the trip was completed. Travel Reimbursement forms not submitted within this time frame will delay payment. *Due to the holidays please note reimbursements for the States and Nation Policy Summit submitted after December 15th will not be mailed until after the holidays. *Mileage reimbursement total calculated using current Standard Mileage Rate of .555- reimbursement for mil~cie is based on discretion of state chair. TRAIN/ CAR TRANSIT MEALS HOTEL Food/other ** EVENT REG. OTHER EXPENSE Taxis/ AIR-FARE Amount Mileage pkng Amount $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (All receipts must accompany Legislative Member Reimbursement Form) Approved=----~~~~---~~~~- State Chair Date:------ Total Expenses Amount Approved: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ For Office Use Only Please mail, fax, or email this form to: Spencer Chretien Membership Coordinator 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 Fax: (703) 373-0927 schretien@alec.org Phone: 571-482-5013 Account: IJate IJepartlnentAfanager Batch #: - - - - - - To Be Paid On: - - - - Comments: _ __ _ __ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ;-. --. ·~-~- 1--=:- - -· -- -· -;----.- -·-· ;._. ~-------------------------------------------Lisa Nelson Sunday, August 16, 2015 4:42 PM phil@philking.com Jeff Lambert; Sen.Vukmir; Bill Carmichael Re: ALEC invitation From: Sent: To: .Cc: Subject: Fingers crossed! Lisa B. Nelson Lnelson@alec.org (202) 573-1334 On Aug 16, 2015, at 4:51 PM, "phil@philking.com" wrote: State Representative Phil King Begin forwarded message: From: Brandi Brown Date: August 16, 2015 at 2:01:53 PM CDT To: "phil@philking.com" Subject: ALEC invitation Rep. King, George P and Speaker Weatherford both passed on your invitation to Governor Bush to participate in the December ALEC meeting. We have the dates penciled in and will stay in touch with you as the Fall doses in. We are not yet scheduling December so we will need a bit more time to confirm either way. We appreciate you always thinking of Governor Bush and offering the opportunity to speak to the members. We do hope to take you up on it. Best wishes, Brandi L. Brown bbrown@jeb2016.com #allinforJeb 1 . :,• ·::-:· ' _..._______________________ __________ ........ .....4,.\1· phil@philking.com Sunday, August 16, 2015 3:52 PM Jeff Lambert; Lisa Nelson; Sen.Vukmir; Bill Carmichael Fwd: ALEC invitation From: Sent: To: Subject: State Representative Phil King Begin forwarded message: From: Brandi Brown Date: August 16, 2015 at 2:01:53 PM CDT To: "phil@philking.com" Subject: ALEC invitation Rep. King, George P and Speaker Weatherford both passed on your invitation to Governor Bush to participate in the December ALEC meeting. We have the dates penciled in and will stay in touch with you as the Fall closes in. We are not yet scheduling December so we will need a bit more time to confirm either way. We appreciate you always thinking of Governor Bush and offering the opportunity to speak to the members. We do hope to take you up on it. Best wishes, Brandi L. Brown bbrown@jeb2016.com #allinforJeb 2 ~{-. ·.-.. . i ------------------------From: Vukmir, Leah Saturday, August 01, 2015 5:40 AM Gugel, Mattias Fwd: ALEC discussion on Vivitrol Sent: To: Subject: Mattias, I am willing to meet with Adam - am interested to learn more ... Leah Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Adam Rondeau Date: July 30, 2015 at 7:37:44 PM CDT To: "Leah.Vukmir@legis.wi.gov" Cc: Mark R Smith Subject: Re: ALEC discussion on Vivitrol Sen. Vukmir, As Mark indicated I have been working in Wisconsin on the prescription opioid/heroin issue. I would welcome the opportunity to sit down and talk about some of work we are doing in other states to help address the issue. Please let me know your interest/availability. Adam Rondeau RN, BSN Alkermes Inc Associate Director, Government Affairs & Policy Cell: 586-215-2313 Sent from my iPhone On Jul 24, 2015, at 12:05 PM, DVG wrote: Leah - I want to put you in touch as we discussed with Adam Rondeau from Alkermes. Adam covers Wisconsin and has been working with Rep. Nygren on the heroin legislation from this past session. Your committee assignments on judiciary and public health, including your background as a nurse are germane. Please feel free to reach out to Adam when you have an opportunity or he will I'm sure look for an chance to meet with you in the fall as you are planning for the new legislative session. I look forward to seeing you soon. Travel home safely. Mark R. Smith 1 1.,..:::-: The Da Vinci Group 202 7441345 www.davincigroup.org Washington, D.C. Newport Beach Phoenix. Austin Sent from my iPhone 2 Salutation Representative First Name Last Name Jeremy Thiesfeldt Title Representative Bob Gannon Wisconsin Representative Wisconsin Representative Primary State/Province WI WI Representative Mike Kuglitsch Wisconsin Representative WI Senator Stephen Nass Wisconsin Senator WI Representative Tyler August Wisconsin Representative WI Representative Jesse Kremer Wisconsin Representative WI Representative Tyler Vorpagel Wisconsin Representative WI Representative Representative Representative John Mary Terry Nygren Czaja Kats ma Wisconsin Representative Wisconsin Representative Wisconsin Representative WI WI WI Representative Representative Michael Ken Robert Leah Schraa Skowronski Brooks Vukmir State Representative Wisconsin Representative Wisconsin Representative Wisconsin Senator WI WI WI WI Representative Senator ... ...-::-.-· ·.---:.•..'.• .• .. , ...·.·.·. .. . .. . . .. :-. •• .._.....___________________________________ Vukmir, Leah Saturday, August 01, 2015 5:40 AM Gugel, Mattias Fwd: ALEC discussion on Vivitrol From: Sent: To: Subject: Mattias, I am willing to meet with Adam - am interested to learn more ... Leah Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message; From: Adam Rondeau Date: July 30, 2015 at 7:37:44 PM CDT To: 11 Leah. Vukmir@legis.wi.gov" Cc: Mark R Smith Subject: Re: ALEC discussion on Vivitrol Sen. Vukmir, As Mark indicated I have been working in Wiseonsin on the prescription opioid/heroin issue. I would welcome the opportunity to sit down and talk about some of work we are doing in other states to help address the issue. Please let me know your inten::st/availability. Adam Rondeau RN, BSN Alkermes Inc Associate Director, Government Affairs & Policy Cell: 586-215-2313 Sent from my iPhone On Jul 24, 2015, at 12:05 PM, DVG wrote: Leah - I want to put you in touch as we discussed with Adam Rondeau from Alkermes. Adam covers Wisconsin and has been working with Rep. Nygren on the heroin legislation from this past session. Your committee assignments on judiciary and public health, including your background as a nurse are germane. Please feel free to reach out to Adam when you have an opportunity or he will I'm sure look for an chance to meet with you in the fall as you are planning for the new legislative session. I look forward to seeing you soon. Travel home safely. Mark R. Smith .1 The Da Vinci Group 202 7441345 www .davincigroup.org Washington, D.C. Newport Beach Phoenix. Austin Sent from my iPhone 2 Print Page 1of1 Subject: Senator Vukmir on ALEC, the Walker Campaign and What's next on the GOP agenda in Madison ... From: Edge Staff (staff@edgemessaging.com) To: Bee: leahvuk@yahoo.com; Date: Friday, August 7, 2015 1:58 PM What's next on the legislative agenda in Madison? How do Republicans in Madison overcome their disagreements? What does the American Legislative Exchange Council do? Edge Messaging's Brian Fraley sits down with Wisconsin State Senator Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) to discuss legislative developments, her role at ALEC and Governor Scott Walker's presidential campaign. Later, Fraley is joined by Right Wisconsin's Collin Roth for the weekly Rundown. LINK https://vimeo.com/135691056 https://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=OOgpvlripv3al 10/20/2015 :"." •.. __:_.. .::_ - -· 1- <·-:-·:· . ~. -- -. . -- ... 4ljiiilllll!____________________ From: Jonathan Williams Saturday, August 08, 2015 1:01 PM Vukmir, Leah Center for State Fiscal Reform Update: Record Task Force Attendance -- More than 1,300 Attend San Diego Annual Meeting Sent: To: Subject: To view this email as a web page, go ~ Dear Friends, I enjoyed seeing many of you at our ALEC Annual Meeting in San Diego this summer. More than 1,300 attendees, 350 first-time attendees and 71 members of the media heard from three presidential candidates and discussed free market solutions for economic opportunity. If you weren't able to join us in San Diego, you can see the videos from all of our plenary session speakers at the ALEC YouTube channel. Our Task Force meeting had record attendance and featured a legislative leader's panel to speak about successful tax reform efforts that included Senator Bob Rucho (NC), Representative Jason Saine (NC), Representative Mike Hill (FL) and Representative Phil Stephenson (TX) . In addition to other informative presentations from policy experts, the task force approved several pieces of model policy which will become official ALEC model policy pending legislative board approval later this summer. All ALEC model policies can be viewed on our website. · During our Annual meeting, 2015 ALEC Chairman, Representative Phil King of Texas, shared important statistics about ALEC with our attendees: • • • • • • • 25-percent of all state lawmakers are ALEC members 25 percent of Congress are ALEC alumni Seven sitting governors are ALEC alumni (Walker, Kasich, Haley, Fallin, Bentley, Dalrymple, Branstad) Four presidential candidates are ALEC alumni (Walker, Kasich, Rubio, Graham) 382 new legislator members have joined ALEC since November 2014 313 city, county and municipal elected officials are members of the American City County Exchange 30 new private sector members have joined ALEC so far in 2015 1 .·:·=· ·.- -·.•.· ·.;; J:.:. =·· • 71 reporters attended the 2015 Annual Meeting • • 30 million American jobs are created by ALEC member companies 60 million American jobs are represented by ALEC member legislators It's a great time to be at ALEC. We continue to grow, and I hope you will join us at the States and Nation Policy Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona from December 2 to December 4. As always, let me know how our Center for State Fiscal Reform can be helpful. I look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Jonathan Williams Vice President Center for State Fiscal Reform American Legislative Exchange Council Direct 571.482.5066 Email: jwilliams@alec.org Twitter: @taxeconomist This email was sent to: leah.vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov This email was sent by: American Legislative Exchange Council 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 United States We respect your right to privacy - view our policy· Manage Subscriptions I Update Profile I Unsubscribe 2 From: Sent: To: Subject: Jamie Corey Tuesday, August 18, 2015 10:14 AM Sen.Vukmir Records Request Dear Senator, Pursuant to the Wisconsin state open records act, I request access to and a copy of all correspondence, including but not limited to emails, text messages, memoranda, agenda, draft legislation, draft resolutions, and other records, pertaining to the following entities: -AIEC (The American Legislative Exchange Council) -The Jeffersonian Project -ACCE (The American City County Exchange) The scope of this request includes yourself, as well as all staff that report to you. Please note that this request includes all emails sent or received on official state email accounts, as well as any other email accounts that have been used for official business. The search for records may be limited to March 1, 2015 to the present. It is understood that these materials have in the past been provided by ALEC as downloadable files via various websites. Once viewed online, downloaded, printed, or otherwise in your possession, these materials become a public document subject to the state open records law. This request also includes any and all records available through a web hyperlink. The Center for Media & Democracy is a non-profit reporting organization, and the disclosure of the materials requested here would be in the public interest, greatly benefiting public understanding of the workings of government. As such a waiver of any fees is requested. If the waiver is not granted, we agree to pay any reasonable copying and postage fees of not more than $20. If the cost would be greater than this amount, please notify us. Please provide a receipt indicating the charges for each document. If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Jamie Corey The Center for Media and Democracy PO Box 259010 Madison, WI 53725 3 From left to right Senator Andre Cushing: Governor Paul LePage, Jonathan Williams It was an honor to spend Tax Day with a real tax reformer, Governor Paul LePage of Maine. Governor LePage has taken to heart the message of economic competitiveness from Rich States, Poor States. His recently proposed constitutional amendment would radically enhance economic opportunity by making Maine the 10th no-income tax state by the year 2020. By offering a proposal to eliminate the state income tax, Governor LePage is taking a bold step to increase economic opportunity for all Mainers. Since our last update, our ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform staff joined members and allies in eight cities across five states for briefings and events : • Lafayette, Lake Charles and Shreveport, Louisiana: Rich States, Poor States events with the Louisiana Chapter of Americans for Prosperity. • Midland, Michigan: Rich States, Poor States presentation at Northwood University's Freedom Seminar. • Concord, New Hampshire: Rich States, Poor States lunch briefing with Representative Pam Tucker, state chairman Representative Jordan Ulery, state chairman Senator Gary Daniels, and Task Force chairman Representative Ken Weyler. • Augusta, Maine: Rich States, Poor States press conference with Maine Governor Paul LePage and Rich States, Poor States lunch with state chairman Senator Andre Cushing. • Portland, Maine: Rich States, Poor States lunch briefing with the Maine Heritage Policy Center. • Montgomery, Alabama: Rich States, Poor States legislative briefing with state chairs Representative Terri Collins and Senator Greg Reed and Representative Jack Williams. 201 -!ll!!!!lllm-------------------------------------------------From: Sent To: Subject: Scott Rogers, Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force Monday, August 17, 201510:41 AM ·sen.Vukmir State Legislators' Article V Caucus Newsletter August 2015 STATS tEGtSLATORS ~RTICLE CAUCUS Newsletter edition 31, August 2015 • The Supreme Court Trampled Article V • Associated Press Story Highlights Article V 'Buzz' • Presidential Contenders Not Addressing Debt Problems Enough • Debt Is Besetting More Governments • ·CBO Director Says U.S. Debt Ratio Hitting a New High • Article V Issues Prominent at ALEC Convention • Suggested Rules for a Conve.ntion of States Unveiled • CoS Taps Bob Berry to be Regional Director • 'Supply Side' BBA Proposed Supreme Court Has Trampled Article V An August 12 article by Dana D. Kelley on ArkansasOnline (affiliated with the Arkansas Democrat- Gazette) pointed out that the recent Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage did more than wipe out many state laws and state constitutional provisions. Regardless where one stand on the subject of the decision, as the writer points out, "the Court essentially amended the Constitution ... and brazenly circumvented the process established by the framers. " Kelly notes that popular issues like the women's right to vote and voting rights for 18-yearolds who were being sent off to fight wars were brought about by legitimate constitutional amendments ... even though in those earlier days appeals were brought to the Supreme Court to certify those "rights". 4 About the recent Supreme Court decision the writer asks, "IfArticle V can be so casually , trodden down, with apathy as the main public response (despite some exceptionally erudite dissents), how safe can other articles and sections (of the Constitution) be?" Read Dana Kelly's entire article HERE AP Story Highlights Article V 'Buzz' On August 10 Associated Press writer Will Weissert produced a nationally syndicated story about Article V activity around the country. His piece, "Constitutional convention sparkling buzz, but odds still long" had some factual errors, and repeatedly used the wrong name for an Article V convention, but in view of its wide distribution will likely raise the awareness of the Article V process across the cotintry. The story gave reference to the Convention of States (CoS), Compact for America (CfA), and BBA Task Force campaigns. It also referenced the WolfPAC campaign, but unfortunately he inaccurately implied that that drive is part of the other three campaigns. But he did point out that "Every state ex,cept Vermont has a legal requirement for a balanced budget, but Congress does not". One example of how the Associated Press story was used can be read HERE. Presidential Contenders Not Addressing Debt Problems Enough The August 6 GOP Presidential Debates included 17 participants. Most of them alluded to out-of-control federal spending and debt-growth. But during the debate and follow-up interviews, only John Kasich, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Dr. Ben Carlson, Rand Paul and Rick Perry mentioned anything about supporting a balanced budget amendment to the constitution via an Article V convention of states. In a July 23 theTownTalk blog (an affiliate of USA Today) former U.S. Senator Tom Colburn talked about the GOP Presidential aspirants and said: "... none of them is addressing in a meaningful way the greatest threat to our republic: our gigantic and rapidly growing national debt." Colburn, an advocate for using the tools in Article V went on to say: "... the federal government's unfunded liabilities (future expenditures minus future tax revenue) now exceed a whopping $127 trillion - better than $1.1 million per taxpayer. That's not merely unsustainable; it's suicidal. " See Senator Colburn's remarks HERE. Meanwhile, the August 12 edition of The Washington Times reports that Citizens for SelfGovernance (affiliated with the CoS movement) will launch a major radio advertising push later this month to force the topic into the GOP presidential conversation. See that article HERE. Debt Besetting More Governments During August the government of Puerto Rico-made it official: they cannot pay their $72 billion in accumulated public debt. Moody's Investor Service said that Puerto Rico's missed 5 debt payments are the first in what it believes will be broad defaults on the commonwealth 1s debt. As Puerto Rico officials made their announcement, Greece was beginning to deal with the realities of their excessive debt. Ambulances stopped running, banks closed for several days, ATMs limited withdrawals, and unemployment climbed further. Meanwhile on July 28 the Washington DC-based Peterson Foundation released a report entitled 11 Nation 1s Fiscal Outlook Remains Top Concern for Overwhelming Majority of Americans". The report noted that ''More than eight in ten voters want the President and Congress to spend more time addressing our nation's fiscal future." See the Peterson report HERE, and their Consumer Confidence Index HERE. American Debt-to-GDP Ratio Hits New High During July Congressional Budget Office Director Keith Hall testified before the U.S. Senate. He warned that the publicly held debt of the U.S. government, when measured as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product GDP), is headed toward a level the United States has seen only once in its history-at the end of World War IL According to a CNSNews.com report, Hall stated "To simply contain the debt at the high historical level where it currently sits-74 percent of GDP--would require either significant increases in federal tax revenue or decreases in non-interest federal spending (or a combination of the two)." The CBO Director reported that his office "estimates that the US. government debt held by the public will be 74 percent of GDP (before the end of 2015). That is higher than the 69percent-of-GDP debt the U.S. government had in 1943-the second year after Pearl Harbor." The entire extensive report can be read HERE. Article V Issues Prominent at ALEC Convention July 21through24 state legislators from around the country gathered in San Diego for the 42nd Annual American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) meeting. Numerous speakers, workshops and task force meetings included content about the various current Article V efforts. The three primary Article V movements (Convention of States, BBA Task Force and Compact for America) were well represented with booths and special sessions. Even in the hallways discussions could be heard about how states can use Article V to strengthen federalism. At one session, upon the invitation of Ohio Senate President Keith Faber, a group of state legislators met to discuss ways to counter concerns about a possible runaway Article convention. U.S. House Judicial Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Georgia Senate Majority Leader Bill Cowsert also addressed the group. By way of a unanimously adopted resolution, the group of legislators committed to support a rule specifying that at an Article V convention each state would have one vote, and that delegates would be limited to discuss just one topic - a balanced budget amendment. 6 From: Sent: To: Subject: Ruth Conniff on behalf of Ruth Conniff < newsletter@progressive.org> Sunday, August 02, 2015 10:03 AM Sen.Vukmir Sticking Up for Planned Parenthood Your Weekly Newsletter From the Desk ofRuth Conniff Dear Progressive Reader, I've known State Rep. Chris Taylor for a long time. When she left her job as legislative director for Planned Parenthood to become a state legislator in Wisconsin, she became The Progressive's inside source at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), joining the group progressive Congressman Mark Pocan aptly described as "a dating service for corporations and Republican legislators," and filing a series of funny, compelling, and ili,st1.arbin~f~Jl?JI11?. for our website. Chris is a brilliant lawyer, a great public speaker, and passionate advocate for progressive values. This week, she wrote a terrific piece on our website defending Planned Parenthood against what she calls the latest "smear campaign" against the organization-a series of videos produced by undercover antiabortion activists speaking with clinic staff about fetal tissue research. Taylor gives her personal history as a mother who suffered through a series of unsuccessful pregnancies, and she testifies to her admiration for her former colleagues at Planned Parenthood, who face threats and attacks every day to keep providing care to women who really need it. 25 - I- • ·--· ~' '-)In "V'-/hv \.(•Iv:. Ml1L1l~ft J~_efeD. d JFLrrn~,~d f'a-~F..;1.rtJ~.;J Qd," Taylor also reports on a recent ALEC convention, where attacking Planned Parenthood was a popular talking point for Republican presidential candidates. Her report shows how tight the rightwing network really is. Even though ALEC purports not to be concerned with social issues, including abortion, during the convention, in an adjacent room, there were "national anti-abortion groups exhibiting their model policies and · rubber fetuses." Those model policies-include draft proposals for state laws that ban all abortions after 20 weeks, ·even in cases of rape, incest, and in pregnancies with potentially fatal medical complications. They include onerous waiting periods and hospital admitting privilege requirements that make it harder and harder for doctors to do their jobs. Governor Scott Walker was at the ALEC convention, bragging about shutting down Planned Parenthood clinics all over Wisconsin. Thanks to his efforts, five clinics in rural areas of his state that didn't even provide abortion services are no longer offering cancer screenings and birth control services. Overall, 25 percent fewer women had access to a women's health center in 2013 than did in 2010, Taylor reports. That's nothing to celebrate. This assault on women's basic access to health care and the right to control our own bodies is anathema to progressive values. The recent film footage produced by anti-abortion activists who managed to get inside Planned Parenthood is part of a decades-long campaign to try to discredit the organization. As Taylor explains, "Anti-abortion activists want to talk about death and fetal tissue and body parts, leaving women out of the discussion on abortion and reproductive health. They ignore the reality of women's lives, and the dreams that we have for ourselves and the families we may, or may not, someday have." The bottom line is this: women are smart enough to make their own decisions about-what to do when they are pregnant. As progressives, we need to band together and stick up for our shared values. 26 ~;-• . . _•:•: ~ That's why, here at The Progressive, we are proud to stand with our friends at Planned Parenthood. In Solidarity, Ruth Conniff, Editor-in-Chief P.S. Please make a doi1j1RliQii t<.~GE~;L to help us defend women and mothers who deserve to not only to make their own personal decisions, but to be part of the discussion surrounding their reproductive health! ~ DONATE TODAY 0 / / : I, - Like us on Face.book! Tvveet us! Check out our website! Copyright © 2015 The Progressive, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our webs[te. Our mailing address Is: The Progressive 409 E Main St Suite 100 Madison, WI 53703 Add us to 'your address book unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences 27 I<·:·.·:·.· ·~ ·= i··-· .·.· .· From: • • ·•.· • Jean Brooks Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2015 7:57 AM To: Sen.Vukmir Did you attend ALEC's conference? Subject: State Senator Leah Vukmir, I am writing to ask if you attended the American Legislative Exchange Council's annual conference in San Diego last week. I am very concerned about ALEC's influence. ALEC is an organization that has repeatedly put corporate profits above the desire of the American people. By refusing to become a member of ALEC, you stand with your constituents who fight every day to achieve the American Dream by working hard, playing by the rules, and building a stronger middle-class. Jean Brooks 7706 W. Hayes Avenue West Allis, Wisconsin 53219 24 ---------------------·. From: Sent: To: Subject: The Heritage Foundation Saturday, August 08, 2015 7:08 AM Sen.Vukmir The Heritage Insider: The really bad argument for Planned Parenthood, clean power plans are hazardous to your health, the Latvian model, and more Updated daily, lnsiderOnline (insideronline.org) is a compilation of publication abstracts, how-to essays, events, news, and analysis from around the conservative movement. The current edition of The INSIDER quarterly magazine is also on the site. August 8, 2015 Latest Studies . 37 new items, including a Goldwater Institute report on how the campaign against "dark money" threatens free speech, and a Hudson Institute assessment of the Iran deal Notes on the Week The really bad argument for Planned Parenthood, clean power plans are hazardous to your health, the Latvian model, and more Latest Studies Budget & Taxation • On the Dynamic Scoring of Fiscal Policy - American Enterprise Institute • New Generation of Tax Reform Offers Greater Potential for Growth - The Heritage Foundation •Corporate and Individual Tax Expenditures -Tax Foundation Economic and Political Thought • Hamiltonian Constitutional Interpretation: In Defense of Energetic and Limited Government - The Heritage Foundation Economic Growth • Modi One Year On - Hudson Institute Education • A Case for the Study of Average-Performing Students in College Match - American Enterprise 15 Institute • Academic Match and Fit: What Can We Learn From Stated Preferences, Student Actions and Collegiate Outcomes? - Ameri.can Enterprise Institute • Enrollment Management and the Low-Income Student - American Enterprise Institute • Exploring Potential Federal Policies to Improve College Match - American Enterprise Institute ·Matching Talents to Careers: From Self-Directed to Guided Pathways -American Enterprise Institute • The Effect of State Policy on College Choice and Match - American Enterprise Institute • How Online Schools Can Improve Student Achievement - Goldwater Institute • The Head Start CARES Demonstration: Another Failed Federal Early Childhood Education Program - The Heritage Foundation • Federal Overreach and Common Core - Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research Elections, Transparency, & Accountability • The Victims of "Dark Money" Disclosure - Goldwater Institute • Revisiting the Lessons from the Voter ID Experience in Texas: 2015 - The Heritage Foundation Foreign Policy/International Affairs • Organized Crime in the Americas: A Call to Action - American Enterprise Institute • The Shadow of Yalta - Hoover Institution ·The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the Military Balance in the Middle East-- Hudson Institute Health Care •New York's Next Healthcare Revolution - Manhattan Institute Information Technology • Avoiding a Train Wreck: Giving Government a Market Incentive to Vacate Spectrum - Free State Foundation Monetary Policy/Financial Regulation ·The Dodd Frank Act Five Years Later: Are We More Prosperous? - American Enterprise Institute ·The Dodd Frank Act Five Years Later: Are We More Prosperous? -American Enterprise Institute •What's Wrong with Prudential Bank Regulation and How to Fix It - e21 - Economic Policies for the 21st Century National Security • 2016 National Defense Authorization Act: Stuck on Compensation and Retirement Reform - The Heritage Foundation ·Terror in Paradise: 73rd Terrorist Plot Highlights Need to Act-The Heritage Foundation Natural Resources, Energy, Environment, & Science • Lifting the Crude Oil Export Ban - American Enterprise Institute • EPA's Clean Power Plan Overreach - Competitive Enterprise Institute • Fooled Again: The Nuclear Waste Administration Act .Preserves Futile Status Quo - The Heritage Foundation 16 . I - . ·Less Carbon. Higher Prices: How California's Climate Policies Affect Lower-Income Residents Manhattan Institute • Assessing the Social Costs and Benefits of Reaulating Carbon Emissions - Reason Foundation • Rebutting the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan's Claims - Reason Foundation The Constitution/Civil Liberties • Ending Forced Annexation in Texas - Texas Public Policy Foundation Transportation/Infrastructure • Don't Strangle Uber! - Hoover Institution • Travel Taxes: The Hidden Trifecta - National Center for Policy Analysis ·The Pacheco Law Has Cost the MBTA More than $450 Million. Here Is the Evidence - Pioneer ·institute for Public Policy Research Welfare . ·Comments on the House Ways and Means TANF Reauthorization Discussion Draft-American Enterprise lnstit~te Notes on the Week Liberals are making a really bad argument for Planned Parenthood. Is it really the case, as some liberals have been claiming, that eliminating federal funding for an organization that provides abortions would lead to an increase in abortions? According to that argument, Planned.Parenthood's non-abortion family planning services would suffer if funding were eliminated, which would produce more unwanted pregnancies, and more unwanted pregnancies lead to more abortions. Ross Douthat notes some evidence that declines in abortion rates have not been primarily a function of access to Planned Parenthood services: Depending on how you calculate things, the nationwide abortion rate has been in steady decline since either the 1980s or the early 1990s. Over that same period, inflationadjusted Title X funding - again, the funding that is.allegedly essential to keeping the abortion rate low - has dropped by 60 percent, according to the Guttmacher lnstitute's estimate. [ ... ] [A]s Michael New noted [... ],the unintended pregnancy rate actually rose somewhat from the 1990s until the Great Recession ... which is, once again, the same period in which the overall abortion rate precipitously declined. That decline, in other words, didn't happen primarily because fewer women were getting pregnant; it happened because fewer pregnant women decided to have abortions. 17 ; . . - :..·.·- . -- ~ Douthat goes on to point out that there is a false choice lurking behind this liberal argument of convenience: If, like many of the moderate-liberal columnists writing on this issue, you are 1) made at least somewhat uncomfortable by the dismemberment of living human beings in utero but 2) are convinced that Planned Parenthood's non-abortion-related services are essential to the common good, why not write a column urging Planned Parenthood to, I dunno, get out of the dismemberment business? If all these other services are such a great, crucial, and (allegedly) abortion-reducing good, why do you, center-left journalist, want them perpetually held hostage to the possibility of public outrage over the crushing of tiny bodies in the womb? If a publicly-funded institution does one set of things you really like, and another thing that makes you morally uncomfortable, why are you constantly attacking that organization's critics and telling them that they just have to live with the combination, instead of urging the organization itself to refocus on the nonlethal, non-dismembering portions of its business?[ ... ] Tell the allegedly "pro-life" institution you support to set down the forceps, put away the vacuum, and then we'll talk about what kind of family planning programs deserve funding. But don't bring your worldview's bloody hands to me and demand my dollars to pay for soap enough to maybe wash a few flecks off. [New York Times. August 5] Clean power plans are hazardous to your health. The administration's new clean power plan, writes Julian Morris, "is likely to harm public health, increase energy bills for households and businesses, destroy American jobs, and cause blackouts in communities across the country." A couple highlights from Morris's deconstruction of the White House's fact sheet on the plan: The White House asserts, "The Clean Power Plan, and other policies put in place to drive a cleaner energy sector, will reduce premature deaths from pOwer plant emissions by nearly 90 percent in 2030 compared to 2005 and decrease the pollutants that contribute to the soot and smog and can lead to more asthma attacks in kids by more than 70 percent." Indeed, in its regulatory impact assessment of the original Clean Power Plan rules, these public health benefits accounted for the majority of all benefits. But these benefits do not come from reducing greenhouse gas emissions: they come from reducing other emissions, such as particulates. Yet these "public health benefits" would be achieved far mote cost effectively by targeting harmful emissions directly. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is already targeting such emissions. To claim such benefits for the Clean Power Plan is either double counting or misdirection, or both. [ ... ] The White House claims that the rule will, "Give a head start to wind and solar deployment and prioritize the deployment of energy efficiency improvements in lowincome communities that need it most early in the program through a Clean Eoergy Incentive Program." 18 ::~ .. . . . . . -. ... - - 1-:-:> ::.: --- While it is no doubt true that people living in low-income communities would benefit from energy efficiency improvements, it is far from clear that a federal rule is the best way to stimulate such investments. Meanwhile, increasing the proportion of energy generated by wind and solar power is likely to be highly regressive - harming the poor more than others. Poorer consumers spend a higher proportion of their income of energy, so any policy that increases the cost of energy will disproportionately affect such poorer consumers, who will spend more on energy and have less available for other items. In other words, it will make poor people poorer. Since poverty is associated with health, the Clean Power Plan will almost certainly adversely affect the health of those who are already poor. [Reason Foundation, August 31 Latvia shows how to do economic recovery. Greece actually could recover from its fiscal nightmare, writes Dan Mitchell, if the Greek government would simply commit to letting the private sector grow faster than the red ink: [T]he Baltic nations are a good role model, as explained by Anders Aslund in the Berlin Policy Journal. With Latvia being the star pupil. ... austerity policies have not been attempted most aggressively in Greece: all three Baltic countries pursued more aggressive fiscal adjustments, especially Latvia. The Latvian government faced the global financial crisis head-on .... The Latvian government carried out a fiscal adjustment of 8.8 percent of GDP in 2009 and 5.9 percent of GDP in 2010, amounting to a fiscal adjustment of 14. 7 percent of GDP over the course of two years, totaling 17.5 percent of GDP over four years, according to IMF calculations. Greece did the opposite. According to the IMF, its fiscal adjustment in the initial crisis year of 201 Owasa paltry 2.5 percent of GDP, and in 2011 only 4.1 percent, a total of only 6.6 percent of GDP over two years. Greece's total fiscal adjustment over four years was only 11.1 percent of GDP. In other words, Latvia (like the other Baltic nations) did more reform and did it faster. And it's also worth noting that the reforms were generally the right kind of austerity, meaning that expenditure commitments were reduced. Whereas Greece has implemented some expenditure reforms, but has relied far more on tax increases. Better policy, not surprisingly, meant better results. In 2008-10 Latvia suffered an output decline of 24 percent, as much as Greece did In the six-year span from 2009-14. However, thanks to its front-loaded fiscal adjustment, Latvia was ab-le to restore its public finances after two years. The country has shown solid economic growth, 19 averaging 4.3 percent per year from 2011-14, according to Eurostat. ...The consequences of tepid Greek fiscal stabilization have been a devastating six years of declining output, even as the Latvian economy has revived. In 2013 Latvia's GDP at constant prices was 4 percent lower than in 2008, while Greece's was 23 percent less than in 2008, according to the IMF. A cumulative difference in GDP development of 19 percentage points over six years cannot be a statistical blip .:.. it is real. The bottom line is that Latvia and the other Salties were willing to endure more shortterm pain in order to achieve a quicker economic rebound. [International Liberty, August ZJ Robert Conquest, R.l.P. Robert Service remembers Robert Conquest, the great historian of Soviet totalitarianism, who died this week at 98: He was a tireless investigator of Stalin's tyranny. His Power and Policy in the USSR was a landmark, conceptually and empirically, in the analysis of Soviet totalitarianism; it was all the more remarkable since he had to glean a lot of his data from that most unpromising source, the Moscow newspaper Pravda. Just as extraordinary was his Great Terror. It was Bob who invented the term to describe the appalling inhumanities perpetrated by Joseph Stalin against his own countrymen and others in their millions. In Harvest of Sorrow he gave a voice to the Ukrainian peasants who starved to death under the impact of agricultural collectivization. In these and later books, he became recognized for his scrupulous attention to factual detail while providing a searing account of the travails of Russia and its borderlands. When he updated The Great Terror for its later editions, there was little he needed to alter in the general picture. In postwar Britain he was as much a literary figure as a historian. His poems were read out in English secondary-school classes as exemplars of the new clear-writing style that repudiated verbal abstruseness. His verse, like his historical prose, was limpid and engaging. As recently as the collection titled Penultimata he produced brilliant poetry much of it dedicated to the biggest questions of life and death - that will survive any test of posterity. People loved his impish sense of humour - in his younger days he was a dedicated practical joker. Grim though his works on history and politics could be, he himself was full of a joie de vivre. He was a handsome fellow, always well-turned out and ready for a jolly evening after a day's work. His close friends included several of the literary giants of the decades after the second world war such as Anthony Powell, Kingsley Amis and Philip Larkin. With his lovely wife Liddie, who looked after him splendidly in his declining years, he was always an engaging host. Nobody visited their home without coming away with a store of anecdotes. {Hoover Institution, August 41 Campuses are more hostile than ever to free speech. People need to get over the idea that they have a right not to be offended, Jim Doti, President of Chapman University, tells Nick Gillespie: 20 [·-: ·:·.. Put these events on your calendar: Some important conservative movement events in the next six months: 2015 ·August 21 - 22: Americans for Prosperity's Defending the American Dream Summit, Columbus, Ohio . ·August 28 - 29: Steamboat lnstitute's Freedom Conference, Steamboat Springs, Colo. ·September 18: Heritage Action for America's Presidential Forum, Greenville, S.C. • September 25 - 27: Values Voter Summit, Washington, D.C. ·September 29 - October 2: State Policy Network Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, Mich. ·October 15 - 16: Philanthropy Roundtable's 2015 Annual Meeting, Las Colinas, Texas • October 15 - 17: Young America 's Foundation's High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch (for high school students), Santa Barbara, Calif. ·October 21: National Review lnstitute's Annual William F. Buckley Jr. Prize Dinner, Dallas, Texas • November 5 - 8: David Horowitz Freedom Center's 2015 Restoration Weekend, Charleston, S.C. ·November 11 - 12: Atlas Network's Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner, New York, N.Y. ·November 13 - 14: Young America's Foundation's Fall Conference at the Reagan Ranch (for college students), Santa Barbara, Calif. • December 2 - 4: American Legislative Exchange Council's 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit, Scottsdale, Ariz. 2016 ·January 6 - 8: Texas Public Policy Foundation's 13th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature, Austin, Texas ·January 22: March for Life, Washington, D.C. • January 28-30: Legatus Summit, Orlando, Fla. 21 I ..·:::.·. ;--···· & & -·=·~: The other workers affected by minimum wage: The main problem with the minimum wage is that it makes low-skilled workers unemployable. Another problem, however, arises when workers at the margins are pulled up to the new minimum: All of the workers who are more senior and skilled then expect a raise as well. As Mark Perry and Michael Saltsman note, that CEO who earlier this year decided to make $70,000 the minimum annual salary for workers at his company is now having trouble hanging on to the most skilled and productive employees. They resent the big bump in salary given out to the employees who produce the least value for the company. And that dynamic is present in the fast-food business, too, note Perry and Saltsman: [A] recently enacted minimum wage increase to $15 an hour has some veteran restaurant employees seeing red. In an interview with Seattle alt weekly the Stranger, one fast-food staffer who spent years working her way up the ladder described it this way: "I want everyone to be paid a living wage, but that wage should not be expected, but earned. Deserving it should be more than just showing up." Another line cook confessed his frustration with the policy: "Man, I just spent all this time climbing through the ranks to get to $15 an hour, and now some random person is going to come in and make the same wage at a far-less stressful, demanding job." These experienced employees are not alone in feeling short-changed. The Employment Policies Institute commissioned Survey Monkey to poll 300 people nationwide who earn $12to $15 an hour.[ ... ] Forty-six percent of these employees opposed a law giving inexperienced new hires the same $12-$15 hourly wage that they're earning. Regardless of whether they favored the new pay policy, over 90% of them would expect their own wages to increase significantly as a result. (Nearly half would expect to be paid an additional $5 or more per hour.) [Investors' Business Daily, August 5] Is public policy rigged against the young? That's the case Diana Furchtgott-Roth and Jared Meyer make in their new book, Disinherited: How Washington Is Betraying America's Young. Consider how various public policies either make it harder for young people to launch a career or shift burdens from the young to the old: Occupational licensing protects established businesse~ (mostly owned by older folks) from new entrants; the new ban on unpaid internships makes it harder to gain experience in a field; minimum wage laws make it harder for low-skilled workers (usually younger people) to obtain employment at all; the Affordable Care Act was designed to subsidize the health insurance of the elderly with premiums paid by younger people; and the bills for insolvent entitlement programs for the elderly will eventually come due, and today's young wrn be the ones picking up the tab. Meanwhile, the peculiar non-profit, semi-cartelized accreditation system of higher education has been a formula for colleges and universities to capture ever-rising federal aid in the form of ever-rising tuition. The set-up leaves students tens of thousands of dollars in debt by the time they graduate. 22 Veronique deRugy, reviewing Furtchgott-Roth and Meyer's book, provides a snapshot of the economic situation facing the youth: First, six years into the economic recovery, the unemployment rate for people ages 20 to 24 is 9.9 percent. That's twice the rate for those 25 or older. But that's nothing compared with the unemployment rate of 18.1 percent faced by teenagers. The rate for African-American teens is 31.8 percent. As a result, the labor force participation of teens and other young people has dropped to 55 percent-its lowest level since the government began tracking it in 1948. It has forced this generation to delay important milestones, such as moving out of their parents' home, getting married and starting a family. [Reason, August 6] Have a tip for lnsiderOnline? Send us an e-mail at insider@heritage.org with "For Insider" in the subject line. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lnsiderOnline. Looking for an expert? Visit PolicyExperts.org. The Heritage Foundation I 214 Massachusetts.Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 I 202.546.4400 You are subscribed to Heritage Foundation e-mails as sen.vukmir@legis.wi.gov. If you want to change your e-mail prefer~nces, please click here to update your subscription . 23 ..,.__________________________ From: Sent: To: Subject: Jill Norgaard Tuesday, August 11, 2015 2:43 PM Sen.Vukmir NFRW Meeting - AZ Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged Hi SenatorVukmir, I met you at ALEC last month in San Diego. I am following up on my invitation for you and Gov Walker to attend the National Fed of Republican Women meeting here in September. There are over 1500 people signed up already. I would Love to introduce Team Walker at the Convention, Best Regards Representative Jill Norgaard District 18 Vice Chairman, Commerce Banking and Finance Education 602-926-3140 14 I ~ •.. 4m111________________________________________ From: Sent: To: Subject: Owcharenko, Nina < Nina.Owcharenko@heritage.org> Thursday, August 13, 2015 1:05 PM Sen.Vukmir Follow up materials Hi Leah, It was so good to see you at ALEC and a great chance to reconnect with others. I wanted to pass along a recent blog that summarizes much of my presentation at the taskforce and a link to the paper as well. All the best, Nina http://dailysignal.com/2015/08/11/what-states-can-do-now-to-be-ready-for-an -obamacare-repea l/ http://thf media.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/pdf/IB4441.pdf Nina Owcharenko Director, Center for Health Policy Studies and Preston A . Wells, Jr. Fellow Institute for Family, Community, and Opportunity The Heritage Foundation 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 202-608-6221 heritage.org 13 :-·! ·•• :-: . :-: -: :. .· .... 1:-:-: ··---·.·. -~· ...-.---.- ·- - .. -- ~~·----------------------------------------From: Sent: To: Subject: American Legislative Exchange Council Tuesday, August 04, 2015 11:02 AM Vukmir, Leah ALEC Events and Education 08-04-2015 To view this email as a web page, go here. ALEC San Diego: A Shot of Patriotic Adrenaline ~c EC ALEC San Diego: A Shot d Patriotic Adrenaline • =l9'Mi.m:MT10CDoVl=i(.u.ECl U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Addresses ALEC in San Share: 14 Diego~ Watch and . -::.; .'\. ·.· (·-· -.··: . . .. ···.:' "::=:::: ·:·· . . . . . • 1.-.-:-.-: ... •· .•.· •. -~-.-~ ~-: .• .. ... .· ..-:-_.___ Ted Cruz talks with ALEC in San Diego 1111 Americ-an Legls_~!'• Eiu:haoge CWnoB (Al.EC) Governor Scott Walker Talks With ALEC in San Diego - Watch and Share: Former Governor Mike Huckabee Speaks to ALEC in San Diego Watch and Share: ALEC National Chairman Phil King: ALEC By the Numbers 15 !<:::::: ':':-:::·- :':·. ·::· .-:· .·:-:-:· :;.:-:· :-. ·~ ... . __ .· ·. . ·····.·. Rep. Phil King: By the Numbers America~ Leg0._!".~~ Exchange Council (AL.EC) II I, iJi&IA ~~ i . West Virginia Solicitor General Elbert Lin Speaks to ALEC in San Diego West Virginia Solicitor Gen. Elbert Lin in San Diego 1111 M\eri""" Leg~ Exch Thursday, August 06, 2015 11:50 AM Vukmir, Leah ALEC Digital Exchange 08-06-2015 To view this email as a web page, go here. The ALEC App: Not Just for Meetings Access model policies, reports, task force documents and more. ALEC San Diego: A Shot of Patriotic Adrenaline ~c .. i l i ~~ j ALEC San. Diego: A Shot of Patriotic Adrenaline 1!11 =~~&htn~ci.undl(~ ALEC National Chairman Phil King: ALEC By the Numbers -25% of all state lawmakers are ALEC members -25% of Congress are ALEC alumni -Seven sitting governors are ALEC alumni (Waiker, Kasich, Haley, Fallin, Bentley, Dalrymple, Branstad) -Four presidential candidates are ALEC alumni (Walker, Kasich , Rubio, Graham) -382 new legislator members have joined ALEC since November 2014 -30 new private sector members have joined ALEC so far in 2015, compared with 17 at the same point last year -350 first-time attendees participated in ALEC San Diego -71 reporters attended the 2015 Annual Meeting 6 -30 million American jobs are created by ALEC member companies -60 million American jobs are represented by ALEC member legislators U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Addresses ALEC in San Diego - Watch and Share: Ted Cruz talks with ALEC in San Diego 1111 American Le.gis~e~-~ Exchange ccunc:d (ALEC) Governor Scott Walker Talks With ALEC-in San Diego - Watch and Share: Former Governor Mike Huckabee Speaks to ALEC in San Diego Watch and Share: 7 ••.·: ··- We respect your right to privacy - view our policy Update Profile and Subscription preferences / Unsubscribe From All Emails 9 Jeff Kros From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Debbie Lesko Saturday, September 12, 2015 1:43 PM Jeff Kras Fwd: handout materials- Correction SolarMarketingMaterials.pdf; Jon&Marie Ford Constituent Letter.pdf; KarenTruelockConstituentLetter.pdf; SB1465Summary.pdf -------- Forwarded Message -------Subject:handout materials- Correction Date:Wed, 10 Jun 2015 17:17:02-0700 From:Debbie Lesko To:John Eick , Debbie Lesko -Hi John, After further thought, I think we should also include a summary of the legislation in the handout ... which should be the top page. I've attached the summary. Thanks! Debbie Lesko -------- Forwarded Message -------Subject: handout materials Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2015 16:17:00 -0700 From: Debbie Lesko • • • To: CC: Hi John, I've attached the documents I'd like you to print and staple together as a handout to the Energy Task Force members for my presentation. They can be 2 sided, thus only needs 3 pages total. Thank you! Debbie Lesko 1 , .. Jeff Kros From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Debbie Lesko Saturday, September 12, 2015 1:51 PM Jeff Kras Fwd: RE: 7/16 Conference Call: ALEC Women's Caucus ALEC Women's Caucus Contact List.xlsx; AM 2015 - Registered Female Legislators 7172015 .xlsx -------- Forwarded Message-------Subject:RE: 7/16 Conference Call: ALEC Women's Caucus Date:Fri, 17 Jul 2015 21:03:41 +0000 From:Marie Vulaj To:pamzt@comcast.net , janangel4u@wavecable.com , swkrebs@comcast.net , hagan4ohio@gmail.com , yherrell@yahoo.com , nkasperik@bresnan.net CC:'Debbie Lesko' f8el:rbie@Bel:rl:Jieteslm.tort1) <'1&blaie@eebbid:e!llte.eeF-lt.,., Lisa Nelson , Jimmy Wall , Laurel Buckley , Sarah McManamon , Molly Fuhs , Karla Jones . Ashley Varner Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to join the first conference call for the ALEC Women's Caucus! We are looking forward to working with you to grow this caucus and develop the skills of free market female legislators like yourselves. I wanted to follow up with a couple items: • A list of the female legislators who are attending the Annual Meeting, broken up by region. I hope you have the opportunity to introduce yourself at the Annual Meeting and encourage them to attend the Inaugural Iron Lady Reception. As a reminder, the reception is on Thursday, July 23 from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM! • Contact information for all the Women's Caucus contacts Your regional representatives will follow up with you after the Annual Meeting with a full list of the ALEC members in your region, including those members who have not renewed for this year. If you have any suggestions for survey questions to distribute at the Iron Lady Reception, please send them along! I look forward to sharing the survey responses with you after the Annual Meeting. Safe travels to sunny San Diego! My best, Marie Vulaj Marie Vulaj 1 • Director of Nonprofit and Corporate Relations Office: 571-482-5025 Cell: 703-254-3696 mvulaj@alec.org 2900 Crystal Drive, Sixth Floor Arlington, VA 22202 ~LEC Upcoming Meetings: 2015 Annual Meeting - July 22 - 24, 2015 - San Diego, California 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit - December 2-4, 2015- Phoenix, Arizona The American Legislative Exchange Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organiza~ion and is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the National Board of Legislators and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of private, foundation and thmk tank members. Website I Facebook I Twitter I Blog Lisa Nelson; Jimmy Wall; Laurel Buckley; Sarah McManamon; Molly Good afternoon all, You should have all gotten a calendar invitation for today's call with a NEW time! I look forward to speaking with you at 2:45 ET! Thursday {7 /16) 2:45PM - 3:15PM Dial In: 1-800-704-9804 Participant ID: 19784354 Best, Marie From: Marie Vulaj Sent: Friday, July 10, 2015 5:56 PM To: pamzt@comcast.net; 'janangel4u@wavecable.com'; 'swkrebs@comcast.net'; 'hagan4ohio@gmail.com'; 'yherrell@yahoo.com'; 'nkasperik@bresnan.net' Cc: 'Debbie Lesk Lisa Nelson; Jimmy Wall; Laurel Buckley; Sarah McManamon; Molly Fuhs; Karla Jones; Ashley Varner Subject: 7/16 Conference Call: ALEC Women's Caucus Good afternoon ALEC Women's Caucus Regional Chairs, First of all, thank you for accepting the position of Regional Chair for the ALEC Women's Legislator Caucus! We are excited to begin work on this program and look forward to hearing your ideas on how we can promote and support female legislators who are committed to limited government, free markets and federalism. In advance of the ALEC Annual Meeting and the first annual Iron Lady Reception, please plan to join us for a conference call with Senator Debbie Lesko (AZ), chair of the ALEC Women's Legislator Caucus, ALEC CEO Lisa Nelson and the ALEC caucus staff. Details for the conference call are below: Thursday (7/16) 2:30PM - 3:15PM To RSVP, please contact me at mvulaj@alec.org or 703-254-3696. My best, Marie Vulaj 703-254-3696 MarieVulaj Director of Nonprofit and Corporate Relations Office: 571-482-5025 Cell: 703-254-3696 mvulaj@alec.org 2900 Crystal Drive, Sixth Floor Arlington, VA 22202 ~LEC.e; Upcoming Meetings: 2015 Annual Meeting - July 22 - 24, 2015 - San Diego, California 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit - December 2-4, 2015 - Phoenix, Arizona The American Legislative Exchange Council is a 501{c)3 nonprofit organization and is the largest nonpartisan, volunta1y membership organization of state legislators in the United States dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the National Board of Legislators and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a groL!p of private, foundation and think tank members. Website I Facebook I Twitter I Blog 3 ALEC Women's Caucus Contact List Salutation First Name Last Name Role State Mobile Email Work Phone Delegate Susan Krebs Southeast Chair Mrs. Lisa Nelson ALEC CEO Representative Christina Hagan Midwest Chair OH hagan4ohio@gmail.com (330) 257-1988 (614) 466-9078 Representative Pamela Tucker Northeast Chair NH pamzt@comcast.net (603) 531-0085 (603) 431-8982 Representative Yvette Herrell Southwest Chair NM yherrell@yahoo.com (575) 430-2113 Representative Norine Kasperik Board Liason WY nkasperik@bresnan.net (307) 689-5939 (307) 257-7875 Senator Jan Angel West Chair WA janangel4u@wavecable.com (360) 204-0776 (360) 786-7650 Senator Debbie Lesko Chair AZ (602) 312-5234 (602) 926-5413 Ms. Ashley Varner Southeast Regional Representative Avarner@alec.org Ms. Karla Jones West Regional Representative Ms. Laurel Buckley Ms. Marie Ms. Ms. MD swkrebs@comcast.net (410) 371-0848 lnelson@alec.org (410) 371-0848 (571) 482-5000 202-997-4857 571-482-5035 Kjones@alec.org 202-870-4221 571-482-5017 Midwest Regional Representative lbuckleJl@alec.org 202-689-9208 571-482-5059 Vulaj Northeast Regional Representative Mvulaj@alec.org 703-254-3696 571-482-5025 Molly Fuhs Southwest Regional Representative Mfuhs@alec.org 202-870-1603 571-482-5030 Sarah McManamon Events Director SMcManamon@alec.org 202-557-8491 571-482-5026 ..:.. Salutation First Name Last Name Gender Region Title Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer Female Midwest Iowa Representative Representative Cheryl Grossman Female Midwest Ohio Representative Representative Dawn Pettengill Female Midwest Iowa Representative Representative Kris Langer Female Midwest Representative Representative Donna Lichtenegger Female Midwest Missouri Representative Representative Christina Hagan Female Midwest Ohio Representative Representative Barbara Sears Female Midwest Majority Floor Leader Representative Mary Czaja Female Midwest Wisconsin Representative Representative Kathy Crawford Female Midwest Michigan Representative Representative Rhonda Rhoads Female Midwest Indiana Representative Representative Linda Miller Female Midwes~-- Iowa Representative Senator Leah Vukmir Female Midwes Senator Jenna Haggar Female Midwest ""- South Dakota Senator Senator Phyllis Heineman Female Midwest South Dakota Senator Representative Valerie Fraser Female Northeast New Hampshire Representative Representative Pamela Tucker Female Northeast New Hampshire Representative Representative Patricia Morgan Female Northeast Rhode Island Representative Delegate Kathy Byron Female Southeast Virginia Delegate Delegate Susan Krebs Female Southeast Maryland Delegate Representative Sarah Stevens Female Southeast North Carolina Representative Representative Colleen Burton Female Southeast Florida Representative Representative Paulette Rakestraw Female Southeast Georgia Representative Representative Addia Wuchner Female Southeast Kentucky Representative Representative Kim King Female Southeast Kentucky Representative Representative Kathleen Peters Female Southeast Florida Representative Representative Mary Littleton Female Southeast State Representative Representative Patsy Hazlewood Female Southeast Tennessee Representative Representative Sheila Butt Female Southeast Tennessee Representative Representative Courtney Rogers Female Southeast Tennessee Representative Senator Gail Bates Female Southeast Maryland Senator Honorable Vicki Truitt Female Southwest Texas Representative Wisconsin Senator Representative Stephanie Klick Female Southwest Texas Representative Representative Kristey Williams Female Southwest Kansas Representative Representative Lois Landgraf Female Southwest Colorado Representative Representative Brenda Barton Female Southwest Arizona Representative Representative Connie O'Brien Female Southwest Kansas Representative Representative Perry Buck Female Southwest Colorado Representative Representative Lori Saine Female Southwest Colorado Representative Representative Cathrynn Brown Female Southwest New Mexico Representative Representative Kelly Townsend Female Southwest Arizona Representative Representative Michelle Ugenti Female Southwest Arizona Representative Representative Margaret Rogers Female Southwest Mississippi Representative Representative Erin Davis Female Southwest Kansas Representative Representative Lisa Billy Female Southwest Oklahoma Representative Representative Kim Ransom Female Southwest Colorado Representative Representative Jodie Laubenberg Female Southwest Texas Representative Representative Jill Norgaard Female Southwest Arizona Representative Representative Pam Peterson Female Southwest Oklahoma Representative Representative Geanie Morrison Female Southwest Texas Representative Representative Cindy Burkett Female Southwest Texas Representative Representative Yvette Herrell Female Southwest New Mexico Representative Representative Regina Cobb Female Southwest Arizona Representative Representative Karilyn Brown Female Southwest Arkansas Representative Senator Julia Lynn Female Southwest Kansas Senator Senator Nancy Barto Female Southwest Arizona Senator Senator Laura Woods Female Southwest Colorado Senator Senator Jane English Female Southwest Arkansas Senator Senator Susan Wagle Female Southwest Kansas Senator Senator Lydia Chassaniol Female Southwest Mississippi Senator Senator Kim David Female Southwest Oklahoma Senator- State Co- Chair Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook Female Southwest Kansas Senator Senator Linda Collins-Smith Female Southwest Arkansas Senator Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook Female Southwest Kansas Senator Senator Debbie Lesko Female Southwest Arizona Senator Representative Luanne VanWerven Female West Washington Representative Representative Norine Kasperik Female West Wyoming Representative Senator Jan Angel Female West Washington Senator Senator Kim Thatcher Female West Oregon Senator Senator Mary Souza Female West Idaho Senator Senator F. Ann Millner Female West Utah Senator Senator Pamela Roach Female West Washington Senator Primary State/Province Account Name: Account Name IA Iowa Legislature OH Ohio Legislature IA Iowa Legislature SD South Dakota Legislature MO Missouri Legislature OH Ohio Legislature OH Ohio Legislature WI Wisconsin Legislature Ml Michigan Legislature IN Indiana General Assembly IA Iowa Legislature WI Wisconsin Legislature SD South Dakota Legislature SD South Dakota Legislature NH New Hampshire Legislature NH New Hampshire Legislature RI Rhode Island Legislature VA Virginia General Assembly MD Maryland Legislature NC North Carolina General Assembly FL Florida Legislature GA Georgia General Assembly KY Kentucky General Assembly KY Kentucky General Assembly FL Florida Legislature TN Tennessee Legislature TN Tennessee Legislature TN Tennessee Legislature TN Tennessee Legislature MD Maryland Legislature TX VTruitt Consulting, LLC TX Texas Legislature KS Kansas Legislature co Colorado Legislature AZ Arizona Legislature KS Kansas Legislature co co Colorado Legislature Colorado Legislature NM New Mexico Legislature AZ Arizona Legislature AZ Arizona Legislature MS Mississippi Legislature KS Kansas Legislature OK Oklahoma Legislature co Colorado Legislature TX Texas Legislature AZ Arizona Legislature OK Oklahoma Legislature TX Texas Legislature TX Texas Legislature NM New Mexico Legislature AZ Arizona Legislature AR Arkansas Legislature KS Kansas Legislature AZ Arizona Legislature co Colorado Legislature AR Arkansas Legislature KS Kansas Legislature MS Mississippi Legislature OK Oklahoma Legislature KS Kansas Legislature AR Arkansas Legislature KS Kansas Legislature AZ Arizona Legislature WA Washington Legislature WY Wyoming Legislature WA Washington Legislature OR Oregon Legislature ID Idaho Legislature UT Utah legislature WA Washington legislature Email linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov grossman47@gmail.com dawnpettengill@gmail.com tjlanger@siouxvalley.net donna.lichtenegger@house.mo.gov hagan4ohio@gmail.com repsears47@gmail.com rep.czaja@legis.wisconsin.gov kscraw@msn.com rhondarhoadsOO@gmail.com ljm@hwmiller.com leah. vu kmir@legis.wisconsin.gov jenna@jennahaggar.com sen.heineman@state.sd.us valeriefrasernh@gmail.com pamzt@comcast.net pmorgan14@cox.net kathy@kathybyron.com susan.krebs@house.state.md.us sarah.stevens@ncleg.net colleen. burton@myflorida house .gov paulettehouserep@gmail.com addia.wuchner@lrc.ky .gov kim.king@lrc.ky.gov kathleen .peters@myfloridahouse.gov littletonm@aol.com rep .patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov rep.sheila.butt@capitol.tn.gov rogersfor45@gmail.com delegategail@comcast.net vicki@vtruittconsulting.com stephanieklick@yahoo.com kristeywilliams@yahoo.tom lois.landgraf.house@state.co.us barton4az@gmail.com edconob@aol.com perrybuck49@gmail.com lori.saine.house@state.co.us c.brown.nmSS@gmail.com ktownsend@azleg.gov mugenti@azleg.gov mrogers@house.ms.gov erindavis0708@gmail.com lisajbilly@okhouse.gov kimransom@hotmail.com jodie.laubenberg@house.state.tx.us jnorgaard@cox.net pampetel@att.net geanie.morrison@house.state .tx.us cindy.burkett@house.state.tx.us yherrell@yahoo.com reginaecobbazrep@gmail.com karilyn@reagan.com julia.lynn@senate.ks.gov nbarto@azleg.gov senatorlaurawoods@grriail.com jane .english@senate.ar .gov susan.wagle@senate.ks.gov lchassaniol@senate.ms.gov david@oksenate.gov mary@pilchercook.com lindacollinssmith@gmail.com mary@pilchercook.com lvanwerven@comcast.net norine.kasperik@wyoleg.gov janangel4u@wavecable.com kim@kimthatcher.com msouza@senate.idaho.gov fannmillner@gmail.com pam.roach@leg.wa.gov Jeff Kros From: To: Debbie Lesko Saturday, September 12, 2015 1:49 PM Jeff Kros Subject: Fwd: Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force- ALEC Sent: -------- Forwarded Message -------Subject:Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force- ALEC Date:Thu, 28 May 2015 19:27:42 -0700 From:Debbie Lesko To:Darin Mitchell CC:Debbie Lesko Hi Darin, I've assigned you to the ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. You will be receiving an email from ALEC with the agenda for that task force 35 days prior to the meeting. Your task force meets on Friday July 24th from 2:30-5:30pm. In order to be eligible for scholarship funds, you need to attend your task force. Thanks, Debbie Lesko AZ Chair 1 LEAHVUKMIR State Senator October 20, 2015 Jamie Corey The Center for Media and Democracy PO Box 259010 Madison, WI 53725 Jamie, In response to your email requesting public records dated August 181h, please be advised that the Senate Chief Clerk now has the records available for you. This office is located in the South Wing Basement of the Capitol at your earliest convenience. The Senate Chief Clerk can be reached by phone at (608) 266-2517. In making these disclosures, we have made several redactions. First, redactions have been made to personal cell phone numbers, which are available in a telephone book in the public library if published, and are confidential if not published. These redactions were made under the balancing test, Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a), because the public interest in disclosure of this information is outweighed by the expectation of privacy. Second, pursuant to the public records law, portions of the document that are nonresponsive because they pertain to unrelated matters have been redacted. (For example, we redacted my name and the names of other staff members at the top of emails). See Wis. Stat. § 19.36(6). To reiterate, the information you requested is now available at the Office of the Senate Chief Clerk, located in the South Wing Basement of the Capitol at your earliest convenience. The Senate Chief Clerk can be reached by phone at (608) 266-2517. Sincerely, · Office of State Senator Leah Vukmir STATE CAPITOL P.O. Box 7882 •MADISON, WIS C ONSIN 53707-7882 (608) 266- 2512 •FAX (608) 267-0367 American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT 0 FREE MARKETS 0 FEDERAUSM ALEC News Clips States and Nation Policy Summit 2015 Board Report Compiled November 9, 2015 5-l LE C LIMITED GOVERNMENT • FREE MARKE rs Contents General ALEC Coverage .......................................... ........................................ .................. .......... .................. 3 American Legislative Exchange Council Unanimously Votes to Adopt Convention of States Resolution Language ..................... .. ...... ............. ........ .............. ............... .. .. ..... ....................... .. ......... ................... .......... 3 Senate to hold hearing on digital due process rights ............................. ................................................... .... 5 How the States Turned Right ................................................ ....... .. ...... ................. .. ... ........ ... ........ ......... .. .. ... 7 Lawmakers and donors plot strategy against GOP in the states ...................................................... ! ............. . 14 Liberals' version of ALEC doing what liberals chastise ALEC for doing .............................. ................ ......... 17 Lawmaker's anti-ALEC bill is anti-constitution ............ .. .... ......... ............ ......... .......................................... .. 20 Obama and the G.O.P.'s Red Sea ... ............... ........ ................ ........ ........ ......... ... ............... ........... ................ 23 State Factor on the Effect of State Taxes on Charitable Giving .......................... ............. ......................... 26 Yes, tax hikes do cut charitable giving ...................... ....... ................. ....... ........ .. ........ ......... ........... .. ....... ... .. 26 ALEC Report: Personal Income Tax Rates Directly Affect Charitable Giving Levels .................... .... .... ........ 28 Why High Taxes Hurt Charities ................... .. ..... ..... ....... .. .. ... .. ..................... .... ............. .. ... ........... ........ .. .... .. 30 Lower Taxes Strengthen Civil Society ................ ... ......... ........ .. .............. .... ..... ... .... ........... .......... ....... ... .. ..... 33 High State Income Tax Rates Discourage Philanthropists, Fuel Bureaucrats ......................... ................... .. 35 State Factor on the Transfer of Federal Lands ................. ..................................................................... ..... 37 Transferring federal lands not a kook idea ...................... .. ......................................................... .. .............. 37 Federally Managed Lands in the West: The Economic and Environmental Implications for the State ...... 39 Rich States, Poor States- Updates ..................................... ........ .......... ... ....................... .......... ...... ... ........40 Bleeding Blue States Dry ............................................... ....... .. .. ...... ........................ ....................... .. .............40 Americans Migrating From High-Tax States To Low ................................................................................... 42 Nearly 1,000 People Move From Blue States to Red States Every Day. Here's Why . .......... .. ............... ... ...44 Annual Meeting Coverage ............................................ .. .... ........................................................................46 Good Morning San Diego - Lisa Nelson - American Legislative Exchange Council - CEO ............. ............... 46 The Mike Slater Show .................... ... .................. ... .. ... .............. .. ............. ..... ....... ............ ... ............ ...... ...... .. 47 TODAY ON THE TRAIL with ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE: ....................................................... ................ .48 Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker criticizes Iran nuclear deal ...... .. ......................................... .... ..... ................ .49 Republican presidential candidates bring campaigns to ALEC .................................................... .. .............. 51 State Senator Leah Vukmir named ALEC National Chair ........................................................................... .. 52 Governor Walker delivers keynote remarks at ALEC annual meeting ., ..........................................................53 2 America·n Legislative Exchange Council· • FEDERALISM ALEC Members Enact & Introduce More Legislation 2.14 Relative Number of Bills Enacted Relative Number of Bills Introduced Q U 0 rU m data cl11ven pol1 l11_s :JJLEC 'American 1 Leg1slahve I Exchange 1Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARl(ElS • ffOERALISl\1 ALEC Members Collaborate More on Legislation 2.71 2.38 Q u0 rurn data driven politics 57J_LECI LIMITED GOVERNMENT. FREE MARKETS • Amencan Leg1slal1ve Exchange ~~~:~::SM · 5ZJ.LEC - • American Legislative Exchange Council LIMllED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM General ALEC Coverage Bloomberg American Legislative Exchange Council Unanimously Votes to Adopt Convention of States Resolution Language PR Newswire September 15, 2015 http://www.bloomberg.com/research/markets/news/article.asp?docKey=600201509150948PR NEWS USPRX PH02158-1 PURCELLEVILLE, Va., Sept. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last week the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) officially adopted the language of the Convention of States Project's application for an Article V Convention as model policy language. The wording calls for an Article V Convention of the States limited to proposing constitutional amendments that "impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for Members of Congress." The Convention of States Project ("COS") is an initiative of Citizens for Self-Governance. This official adoption of the language by the ALEC Board as model policy language for state legislatures follows a unanimous vote by the organization's Task Force on Federalism and International Relations at its July meeting in San Diego. Representative Ken Ivory (R-UT), the Public Chair on Federalism for the Task Force, said: "As a member of ALEC and a state legislator, I am extremely excited to see the Convention of States Project making so much headway. Our federal system is no longer functioning as it was designed to, and the state legislatures are the nation's last hope of restoring it. We need to use the Article V process the Constitution provides for that purpose." A record 37 state legislatures have seen the model language introduced this year, and four states (Florida, Georgia, Alaska, and Alabama), have already passed its operative provisions. With committed volunteer leaders and a veritable grassroots army in place across the nation, the convention of States Project is leading the way toward an Article V amendment-proposing convention with real potential to restore the balance of power between the states and the federal government. Mark Meckler, President of Citizens for Self-Governance, said "ALEC is the premier organization in the country hosting legislators of both parties who believe in federalism and constitutionally limited 3 - 51 LE C Amenca·n Leg1sla11ve Exchange Council· LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM government. We are proud that the Convention of States Resolution has been adopted by ALEC as model policy. With the resolution having already been introduced in 37 states, and many of our sponsors ALEC members, this was a natural fit. Like Sen. Tom Coburn, Mark Levin and so many other conservative figures, we believe the Convention of States Project presents the only comprehensive solution to address the nation's problems." The COS approach is to frame the topic of the amendment-proposing convention rather than predetermining specific amendments. This approach has garnered the active support of hundreds of thousands of Americans determined to rein in the federal government they view as way too powerful and characterized by rampant overreach and abuse of power. State legislators, too, are taking notice of COS not only because of its mammoth and growing grassroots army, but also because of the talented experts who have joined forces with the effort to address the practical necessities for the nation's first-ever Article V Convention. At a jam-packed breakout session of the July ALEC conference, COS unveiled a complete draft of initial convention rules and invited state legislators to participate in a state-of-the-art online forum to provide feedback on them. The draft was created by Professor Robert Natelson and Michael Farris, two of the nation's foremost Article V scholars. The 200-plus legislators participating in the further development of these rules constitute the COS Caucus, representing 40 different states at press time. To learn more, visit www.conventionofstates.com . Contact: Tamara Colbert Phone:C(626)244-5571 Email To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit: http://www.prnewswire.com/newsreleases/ am erica n-legi slative-excha nge-co u ncil-u nan imo usly-votes-to-a do pt-convention-of-statesre so Iution-la nguage-300143178. htm I SOURCE Convention of States Project 4 5l1. LE c · · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARl\E1S • FEDERALISM Senate to hold hearing on digital due process rights Rudy Takala September 15, 2015 http://www. was hi ngto nexa miner .co ml sen ate-to-ho ld-hea ring-on-d igita 1-d ue-processrights/a rticle/2572126 The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a hearing Wednesday morning on the standards that law enforcement agencies must meet to search electronic records and messages. The committee will consider reforms to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which sets the bar that law enforcement agencies must meet to obtain warrants to snoop through digital property. The law, passed in 1986, governs search warrant requirements but has not been updated to reflect modern technology. Critics say that has allowed law enforcement to circumvent due process for virtual searches. Currently, federal statutes allow law enforcement agencies to obtain e-mails, text messages and other private communications using an administrative warrant, the requirements for which are not as stringent as those imposed by probable cause. Proposed reforms would increase the standard to require a probable cause warrant in most cases. The legislation has been the subject of proposed action for years, and a bipartisan coalition, led by Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., appears set to pass some sort of reform this year. However, at stake is how much the law would change. In pa,r ticular, reform advocates have suggested that it should end "civil agency" exemptions, which allow agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission to claim an exemption from the law's requirements. A group of privacy advocates and leaders in the software industry, such as Apple, Amazon and the American Civil Liberties Union, have called for a number of additional reforms as part of a coalition called "Digital Due Process." One ofthe most prominent would be requiring federal authorities to obtain a warrant before obtaining GPS data from mobile phones. However, federal agencies such as the Justice Department have been engaging in that practice for years and it is highly unlikely that federal authorities would use the law's changes to impose such a requirement. Bartlett Cleland, vice president of Innovation and Technology at the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, another member of Digital Due Process, told the Washington Examiner he is optimistic about the direction the hearing will take. However, he noted, "I would hope ... we don't get 5 ;:zJ_LEC - American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM lost along the way with comments about fears and who might slip through the fingers of law enforcement. "I would like to see an acknowledgement and a change in the approach of law enforcement," he said. "This is not a debate about whether information can be obtained by law enforcement. This is a debate about whether law enforcement needs to get a warrant to get information." The Business Software Alliance, comprised of companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, Symantec and other technology industry leaders, sent a letter to lawmakers Monday asking them to pass the proposed revisions. The law, they said, "was enacted in 1986, years before most Americans had even heard of the Internet." "Given this context, ECPA's standards require updating to better reflect the reality of today's onlineenabled world," the letter said. Victoria Espinel, president of the Software Alliance, is one of the witnesses scheduled to testify on the matter before the Senate panel Wednesday. 6 51. LE c · · Legislative American Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKElS • FEDERALISM NATIONAL REVIEW How the States Turned Right John Hood September 28, 2015 http://www.nationa Ireview .co m/a rticle / 424 702/re publ ica n-dom inance-states-how-it-happened Republicans have a large field of serious contenders seeking their party's presidential nomination. Democrats don't. Why? The Clinton factor may be one reason. While Hillary may not thrill Birkenstock liberals in college towns or "Black Lives Matter'' activists in big cities, her husband's eight years in the White House during the relative peace and prosperity of the 1990s are a pleasant memory for Democratic voters, and these years produced an entire generation of party leaders who remain loyal to the Clinton political organization. Despite her manifest flaws as a candidate, there simply may not be enough political space for a viable challenger. However, I'm more interested in the other frequently cited reason for the dissimilarity between the two presidential-primary fields: During the Obama years, Democrats have been decimated in congressional, state, and local elections, thus reducing the potential pool of political talent. This is true as far as it goes. But particularly in the states, it doesn't go back far enough in time. Once the dominant force in state and local government, Democrats began to lose their hold on legislatures, governorships, judgeships, and a variety of other offices in the late 1980s. Indeed, two key developments in this process occurred 30 years ago, just as Ronald Reagan was beginning his second term as president. One concerned politics. The other concerned public policy. Far from being an inevitable consequence of impersonal social forces, the subsequent rise of the Right in the states reflected the hard work, strategic thinking, and innovative ideas of a group of people whose contributions remain largely unheralded or misunderstood. A 1985 Summit on the States The political part of the story begins in east Tennessee. If you drive down the Lamar Alexander Parkway about 30 miles south of Knoxville, you will find a resort called Blackberry Farm nestled up against the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a working farm and a family retreat. For a small group of Republican politicians and strategists who met there one weekend in July 1985, however, retreat was the furthest thing from their minds. Just six months earlier, Ronald Reagan had rollicked to reelection over Walter Mondale by winning 49 states. Republicans had gained 16 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and maintained their majority in the U.S. Senate. But below the federal level of government, the GOP remained firmly in the minority. Despite the impressive size of President Reagan's reelection wave, Republicans gained just one state governorship in 1984, giving them 16 to the Democrats' 34. In most 7 JlLEC American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM states, Democrats had long enjoyed control of both legislative chambers, often by wide margins. Republicans won majorities in only eleven state legislatures in 1984, a decline from the 15 legislatures they had won in the middle of the initial Reagan victory four years earlier. The Republicans who convened at Blackberry Farm that sweltering summer were convinced that their party's electoral successes at the top of the ticket could be parlayed into greater gains down the ballot. Some had already made such gains. The host of the gathering, Lamar Alexander, was into his second term as governor of Tennessee. He'd begun his political career by managing the 1970 campaign of Winfield Dunn, who became Tennessee's first Republican governor in half a century. Alexander attempted to follow in Dunn's footsteps in 1974 but was swamped by the post-Watergate Democratic tide. On his second try in 1978, he succeeded. Later, Lamar Alexander would run for president, serve as U.S. secretary of education and president of the University of Tennessee, and then enter the U.S. Senate. Governor Alexander's short guest list for the 1985 Blackberry Farm weekend included Pennsylvania governor Dick Thornburg and New Hampshire governor John Sununu, respectively the chairman and vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association. Both would later join Alexander in the Bush 41 administration. The participants also included two GOP consultants, Bob Teeter and Doug Bailey, and three key members of the Conservative Opportunity Society in the U.S. House: Carroll Campbell (soon to become governor of South Carolina), Connie Mack (soon to become U.S. senator from Florida), and Newt Gingrich, who within a decade became the first Republican speaker of the House in two generations. Two other Republican leaders were involved. One, House Minority Whip Trent Lott, helped plan the meeting but couldn't attend because of a scheduling conflict. The other leader, one of Lott's closest friends in the House, did attend the Blackberry Farm summit and played a key role in it, although his name won't be as familiar to most readers. He was Jim Martin, a chemistry professor turned politician (and the subject of my just-published biography, Catalyst). Although just 50 years old and elected governor of North Carolina only the previous November, Jim Martin was actually the most experienced politician at the Blackberry Farm summit. His first electoral win, to the governing board of North Carolina's most populous county, came in 1966. The other politicians in attendance had won their first victories in the 1970s or early 1980s. By the time Martin won the governor's race in 1984, he had already spent 18 years in public office, including twelve years in Congress. As a member of the first Republican-commission majority in his county and then a veteran of many battles on Capitol Hill, including the crafting of the Reagan tax cuts in 1981, Martin had been both a trailblazer and a bridge-builder. While he was a congressman with a conventionally conservative voting record during the 1970s and early 1980s, Martin had come to believe that the GOP needed a different message if it wanted to achieve success down the ballot in traditionally Democratic places. Republicans needed a plan "to make us more effective in governing while also making us more effective in politicking," he said later. At Blackberry Farm, he used his experience to help bridge the gap between the state governors, who tended toward political pragmatism, and his former congressional colleagues, 8 · 51.LEC · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE Mo\RKETS • FEDERALISM who led a conservative insurgency on Capitol Hill during the early 1980s. Jim Martin had a foot in each camp. In addition to their shared partisan interest, Martin had much in common with two of the participants, John Sununu and Newt Gingrich. All three were former college professors. Sununu had a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and had spent years as a professor and associate dean at Tufts University before beginning his political career in 1973 as a state legislator. Gingrich had a Ph.D. in education from Tulane and taught at West Georgia College for eight years before being elected to Congress (on his third try) in 1978. As for Martin, he had earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Princeton University and then returned to his undergraduate alma mater, Davidson College, in 1960 to teach. They were hardly the only intellectuals in the room. Bob Teeter, for example, was a Michigan State-trained sociologist and polling pioneer. And Doug Bailey had earned his Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts University and then worked for Henry Kissinger at Harvard, a relationship that eventually led Bailey into Republican politics. (Two years after the Blackberry Farm meeting, Bailey would found The Hotline, one of the first daily political-briefing services in America.) Opportunities down South These were brainy, determined men. They included both establishment GOP figures such as Thornburg and conservative revolutionaries such as Gingrich. What brought them together was a shared belief that the Republican party could become the majority party in state government by developing an effective message, building a political and policy infrastructure at the state level, recruiting strong candidates, and broadening their donor base. Thornburg called their emerging strategy the "Reagan Revolution Stage 2." In the coming months, as many of the Blackberry Farm participants focused on the GOP's emerging opportunities in the old Confederacy and border states, another name presented itself: The Second Southern Strategy. The first "Southern Strategy" project emerged in the 1960s from Republicans' wish to break the Democrats' electoral lock on the region. While Dwight Eisenhower and other GOP candidates had made some headway during the 1950s by targeting affluent or upwardly mobile voters in the South's growing metropolitan areas, the Republican strategists of the 1960s sought to broaden the playing field by using the conservative views of rural and small-town whites on crime, civil rights, religion, and foreign policy to win split-ticket votes for Republican candidates for president and other offices. (One of the Republican National Committee operatives behind the 1960s Southern Strategy, Brad Hays, would later become Jim Martin's political consultant.) While the initial Southern Strategy employed wedge issues to detach voters from their longtime home in the Democratic party, that was insufficient to make the Republican party competitive down the ballot. The Second Southern Strategy of the 1980s and early 1990s sought to attract new voters to GOP campaigns for governorships, legislatures, and local offices by offering an appealing alternative to Democratic governance. It meant addressing their practical demands for better schools, better roads, 9 51LEC American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM and better economic opportunities. It wasn't enough for GOP candidates to clutch the coattails of their presidential candidates. They needed a relevant, credible message of reformed and effective government. And they needed a realistic strategy for converting that message into electoral victories. The strategy came into sharper focus within months of the Blackberry Farm meeting. Speaking at a Republican leadership conference in early 1986, Lamar Alexander challenged attendees to rethink their pitch to Southern voters. "Washington issues are tremendously important and so fascinating," he said. "But when we get together, that's all we talk about, and the Democratic governors are running down the street proposing programs to improve the schools, clean up the garbage, fix the roads, and make the children more healthy - and they get elected." Later that year, Martin and Alexander convened a new group, the Southern Republican Exchange. Its purpose was to give Republican legislators, local officials, candidates, and strategists an opportunity to compare notes not simply on political tactics but also on new ideas for addressing issues such as education, crime, and transportation. The formational meeting in August 1986 "was the politician's nightmare: everyone we invited came," quipped Alexander to veteran Washington Post reporter David Broder, who joined the 49 GOP activists at the Nashville gathering. Newt Gingrich was also there. He argued that conservative Republicans didn't need to compromise their principles to win state and local races. They can promise "lean but strong government," he said. While Martin and Alexander focused their attention on cultivating new ideas and candidates to boost Republican fortunes in the South, other Blackberry Farm participants were hard at work elsewhere. For example, in 1986, Gingrich decided to assume control of a political-action committee, GO PAC, that former Delaware governor Pete du Pont had initially founded in 1978 to train Republican candidates for state and local office. Gingrich dramatically increased the budget and national impact of GOPAC, beginning with the 1986 election cycle. As for Thornburg and Sununu, the chairman and vice-chairman of the Republican Governors Association, they spent much of 1985 and early 1986 recruiting a strong field of GOP candidates and raising a huge war chest to support them. Martin, Alexander, Gingrich, Thornburg, and Sununu reassured the candidates, donors, and activists they were cultivating that although the political party of a reelected president tended to sustain major losses in his second midterm election - the so-called six-year itch - Republicans running for state office could effectively decouple themselves from the national trend with an aggressive, well-funded campaign on issues of local concern. Down-Ballot GOP Victories, in 1986, Defying the Trend They were proven right. Although President Reagan's party lost seats in the U.S. House and its majority in the U.S. Senate in 1986, it enjoyed spectacular successes down the ballot. Republicans achieved a net gain of eight state governorships, including victories by Bill Clements in Texas, Bob Martinez in Florida, Henry Bellman in Oklahoma, Guy Hunt in Alabama, and Blackberry Farm participant Carroll Campbell in South Carolina. The down-ballot victories in 1986 were highly unusual for a president's party - which had lost an average of six governorships in midterm elections since World War II - and surprised nearly 10 51. LE c · · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM everyone in the national political establishment. The main exception was David Broder, who had reported on the Blackberry Farm summit in 1985 and interviewed Lamar Alexander, Jim Martin, and other key figures in the run-up to the 1986 elections. The summit's significance was more broadly understood after the elections, with National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr. labeling it "a historic way station in Republican politics in the South" on his TV show Firing Line. Today, 30 years after the Blackberry Farm summit, Republicans are the dominant party in state capitals, with 65 of the nation's 99 legislative chambers, 31 governorships, and 24 states where they hold both the executive and legislative branches. Over the next few years, Southern Republican Exchange meetings grew larger and larger. Gingrich's GO PAC expanded, too. More of the party's energy and financial resources were focused on state and local politics. Other states began to emulate the party-building strategies pioneered in Tennessee and North Carolina. The breakout finally came in 1994, when Republicans won a majority of the nation's governorships and a plurality of the nation's state legislatures. Over the next 16 years, partisan fortunes waxed and waned, but the Democrats never regained their former dominance. Then, in 2010, the bottom dropped out for them. Today, 30 years after the Blackberry Farm summit, Republicans are the dominant party in state capitals, with 65 of the nation's 99 legislative chambers, 31 governorships, and 24 states where they hold both the executive and legislative branches (Democrats hold both in only seven). A Revolution of Ideas The second part of the story of the Right's rise in state capitals isn't about politics. In fact, many of the individuals involved weren't partisan Republicans. They were libertarians, independents, even Democrats. Their passion wasn't recruiting and training candidates, building get-out-the-vote organizations to wage the political ground war, or raising money to finance the political air war. Instead, they wanted to engage in the war of ideas. Observing the growing importance of think tanks and alternative media outlets in the nation's capital during the first years of the Reagan Revolution, they sought to replicate these institutions in the states, where the focus would be not on the national economy or foreign policy but on precisely the kind of bread-and-butter issues that Lamar Alexander, Jim Martin, and the other Blackberry Farm participants were talking about: schools, roads, and other state and local services. There had already been some free-market institutions created outside of Washington and New York City. California hosted the Reason Foundation and the Pacific Research Institute (and was the original home of the Cato Institute). The National Center for Policy Analysis had just opened in Dallas. Perhaps because of geography, these groups tended to be less fixated on federal issues. Still, state policy wasn't their primary focus. A Washington-based group, the American Legislative Exchange Council, did prioritize state issues, but it primarily served its legislative members and didn't maintain a constant presence in state capitals across 11 - 2l LE C American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MAR KETS • FEDERALISM the country. Some conservative and libertarian activists had recognized the potential value of such a presence early on. A couple of state-oriented think tanks with a free-market emphasis even sprang up in the 1970s. Alas, they didn't last. It wasn't until 1984 that the idea really took hold. That was when a group of Chicago-area libertarians led by businessman Dave Padden created a new organization called the Heartland Institute and recruited Joe Bast, then finishing his senior year at the University of Chicago, to run the new organization. Conservative and libertarian activists in other states took notice of Heartland's founding. In 1985, they compared notes, traveled to Washington to visit the Heritage Foundation and Cato, and began recruiting donors and staff. That year, John Andrews and other like-minded Coloradans founded the Independence Institute. The following year, businessman and Heritage Foundation trustee Tom Roe created the South Carolina Policy Council. In 1987, Michigan's Mackinac Center, Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Foundation, and Florida's James Madison Institute followed suit. By the end of the decade, they had been joined by the Goldwater Institute in Arizona, the John Locke Foundation (JLF) in North Carolina, the Pioneer Institute in Massachusetts, the Alabama Family Alliance (now called the Alabama Policy Institute), and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, among others. These think tanks were independently created, largely funded by donors within their respective states, and often reflected the diversity inherent in the broader movement - some were libertarian, others traditionalist, still others affiliated with groups such as the Family Research Council. Nevertheless, they emphasized what they had in common and soon began meeting regularly as the Madison Group to discuss operational and policy issues. In 1992, the meetings took formal shape as the State Policy Network (SPN), a kind of trade association for the emerging movement. During the ensuing two decades, the movement continued to broaden and deepen. Today, the Right runs some 65 think tanks devoted to state and local affairs. As the Left began to perceive a threat to its traditional dominance of policy development in state capitals, it initially responded, in the 1990s, by creating its own new wave of state-based think tanks. When that proved insufficient - or at least required more patience than leftists possessed - they turned to demonizing SPN members as elements of a vast right-wing conspiracy. Ironically, it was actually the left-wing think tanks that were often funded predominantly by out-of-state foundations and operating as little more than transmitters of talking points and policy papers produced out of Washington and New York. The anti-SPN attacks themselves were largely recycled, with only the names changed to indict the innocent. Contrary to the claims of leftist conspiracy theorists, the two movements I am describing - the political one to elect more Republicans in down-ballot races and the institutional one to create right-of-center think tanks and media outlets in the states - were independently conceived and not coordinated by some cabal of GOP billionaires. They proved to be complementary efforts, yes, and there were indeed some individuals who involved themselves in both. Independent Institute founder John Andrews eventually became president of the Colorado Senate. Tom Roe was a key leader of the South Carolina Republican Party and an adviser to President Ronald Reagan. My friend Art Pope served in North Carolina governor Jim Martin's administration and the state legislature before founding the John Locke 12 · 5ll.LEC • Legislative American Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Foundation, then later served in the legislature again as well as becoming the state budget director under current governor Pat McCrory. Sitting governors with strong ties to SPN members include Indiana's Mike Pence (one of the founders of Indiana Policy Review), Massachusetts' Charlie Baker (former executive director of the Pioneer Institute), Nebraska's Pete Ricketts (founder of the Platte Institute), and Maryland's Larry Hogan (a former board member of the Maryland Public Policy Institute). But other state think-tank founders and leaders have tended to eschew electoral politics - the organizations themselves are nonpartisan, of course - and more than a few have found themselves at odds with longtime Republican politicians whose votes failed to match their rhetoric. During most of my tenure at JLF, Democrats controlled North Carolina's legislative and executive branches. We criticized them when they raised taxes and encroached on the freedoms of North Carolinians, to be sure, but we also worked ceaselessly to find common ground on other issues. Think tanks aren't vehicles for political campaigns, and they tend to founder when partisan operatives try to run them as such. Their credibility depends on their independence. Republicans have lost the popular vote for president in five of the past six elections. But the party as a ' whole is stronger than it has been since the 1920s, on Capitol Hill and in states and localities across the country. So is the conservative movement. Still, the truth of the matter is that Republicans are more likely than Democrats to embrace the conservative movement's policy agenda of lower taxes, less government, and more choice and competition in the delivery of services such as education and health care. As the GOP gained a foothold, and then some, in states where it hadn't previously been a factor, conservative think tanks found more opportunities to advance their long-sought policy reforms. At the same time, new Republicans governors, legislators, mayors, and other officeholders wouldn't have had as extensive a policy agenda to enact - and would have been less likely to stick with it over time - if there hadn't been strong, innovative, and effective think tanks and other free-market groups in state capitals. The practical results are easy to see. Parents have more educational choices. In many jurisdictions, households and businesses are keeping more of their own incomes while facing fewer and simpler regulations. Privately owned and operated road-capacity and other infrastructure, once little more than theoretical constructs in think-tank policy reports, are now increasingly common. States really have become true laboratories of democracy, although the lab results would probably have both surprised and dismayed the originator of the phrase, left-leaning Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis. Republicans have lost the popular vote for president in five of the past six elections. But the party as a whole is stronger than it has been since the 1920s, on Capitol Hill and in states and localities across the country. So is the conservative movement. It's worth taking a moment to credit those individuals who had the vision to foresee these outcomes 30 years ago - and the perseverance to make them a reality. 13 21 LEC American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM POLITICO Lawmakers and donors plot strategy against GOP in the states By Theodoric Meyer and Kenneth P. Vogel September 30, 2015 http://www.politico.com/ story/2015/09/do nors-lawma kers-plot-agai nst-gop-states-214245 Some of the country's biggest liberal donors are quietly huddling this week with Democratic state lawmakers in Washington, preparing a nationwide fight to take back state legislatures from Republicans. The closed-door meetings represent a milestone for the young group orchestrating the fight, the State Innovation Exchange - or SiX for short. The group appears on track to outraise previous efforts to push liberal polices in the states and is looking to generate more cash and momentum. During a day of briefings at the White House on Wednesday, the legislators will talk with top administration officials about strategies for advancing progressive priorities in the states. Nick Rathod, SiX's executive director and a former deputy director for intergovernmental affairs in the Obama administration, will also be there . President Obama will speak to the legislators at the Ejsenhower Executive Office building on Wednesday afternoon . The meeting with Obama could give the group an extra boost as it courts some of the country's top Democratic donors, who are flying in to learn more about its efforts. They include Christie Hefner, the former Playboy chief executive; Rob McKay Jr., the heir to the Taco Bell fortune; Andres. Lopez, a prominent lawyer in San Juan, P.R.; and Naomi Aberly, a top bundler and a member of the Democratic National Committee's finance committee. The donors are also invited to SiX's three-day conference starting Thursday in Washington, where hundreds of state lawmakers, Democratic operatives and progressive activists will discuss the group's first year and work to chart its future. The organization was formed late last year in an attempt to erode Republicans' increasing dominance in state capitals from Carson City to Tallahassee. It's also designed to counter the influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC, the well-financed group that had been crucial to advancing conservative priorities in the states in recent years. The group wants to raise $2 million to $3 million this year, Rathod said, "and we 're a little more than halfway there." While he declined to say exactly how much the group has raised thus far - SiX is set up 14 · 5l.lLEC • American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM as a nonprofit and does not have to reveal its donors - the group seems likely to raise more than the last liberal effort to combat ALEC, the Progressive States Network. That group raised $1.3 million in 2011, its best year. It's still far less than the $7.3 million budget that ALEC commanded in 2013 - the most recent year for which tax filings were publically available - but the conference could help SiX catch up. About a dozen members of the Democracy Alliance, the high-dollar liberal donor club, are expected to attend, Rathod said, as well as Gara LaMarche, the alliance's president. Convincing big donors to support SiX, when Hillary Clinton and Democratic groups trying to retake the Senate next year are also clamoring for their money, won't be easy, LaMarche said. But he said it is crucial to reversing Republican dominance in state capitals. Republicans control both chambers of 30 state legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures; Democrats control only 11. The GOP holds the governorship and the legislature in 23 states compared to seven controlled by Democrats. La Marc he has worked to convince donors of the need to contribute to state-level efforts in addition to federal ones, he said. "There's an effort to educate national donors about the whole picture, not just where they live," he said. "What I'll be looking for while I'm there is who's there and what they're getting out" of the group's work, LaMarche added. One prominent liberal donor not attending the conference, Patricia Bauman, told POLITICO she hadn't given to SiX yet but would consider supporting it. "I think it's a good idea to provide resources to state legislators that are different from what they're getting from ALEC," Bauman said. SiX isn't the first liberal group to try to combat ALEC, Bauman noted, but she said she thought it stood a greater chance of success than previous efforts. "Their connections are better, their strategy is better," she said. SiX doesn't help Democratic candidates win elections, although regaining control of state legislatures in 2020 ahead of congressional redistricting is certainly on the minds of Democratic donors hoping to win back the House of Representatives. (Republicans' success in influencing redistricting after the 2010 census is widely credited with helping the GOP maintain control of the House.) 15 5lJ. LE C American Leg1slat1ve Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Instead, SiX works with the liberal state lawmakers to craft bills that promote liberal priorities, including paid sick leave, boosting the minimum wage and reducing the prison population. The group has also fought against conservative bills, Rathod said, such as versions of Indiana's controversial religious freedom law that have been proposed in other states. The conference includes sessions titled "Reproductive Rights in 2016," "College Affordability and Student Debt" and "Clean Energy Economy," according to a copy of the agenda provided to POLITICO, as well as a lunch with leaders of the Black Lives Matter Movement and a keynote address by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. The group now has nine staff members based in Denver, Washington and Madison, Wis., Rathod said. But it remains far behind its Republican counterpart, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and other conservatives groups working at the state level command in both staff and resources. "It's nowhere near what those groups have," Rathod said. "We need to scale up relatively soon and significantly in order for it to be a fair fight." "If we do raise enough money, I would like to add a PAC," he added. "It would be called SiX Pac, which I think would be cool." 16 · 5?J.LEC · LIMITED GOVERNMENT • FREE MARKET~ ~atchdog.org Liberals' version of ALEC doing what liberals chastise ALEC for doing M.D. Kittle October 2, 2015 http://watchdog.org/240836/liberals-alec-legislation/ MADISON, Wis. - For all the grief the left has given the American Legislative Exchange Council and the mostly conservative legislators who call themselves members, liberals have created their own state model-legislation organization - backed by lots of so-called 'dark money' cash. Imitation - even tinged with a healthy heaping of hypocrisy - is, indeed, the sincerest form of flattery. The State Innovation Exchange, also known as SiX, has been described as the liberal answer to ALEC. While its Democratic Party partners have blasted ALEC for its free-market, limited-government agenda, SiX is doing the exact same thing with left-wing causes. And the organization definitely has the ear of the left's commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama. This week, 54 state legislators from around the nation attended a summit of Democratic lawmakers in Washington, D.C., hosted by SiX. On Tuesday, Obama led them in a pep rally urging the lawmakers to do in their states what Congress has been unwilling to do at the federal level: pass his sweeping liberal agenda. It's a call from the top down to drive states to mete out stiffer environmental regulations in bolstering Obama's climate change initiatives, as well as push hikes to the minimum wage and other key progressive campaigns. The lawmakers also met with Democratic donors through SiX, which longs for the same kind of success on the left with model legislation that ALEC has had on the right. SiX is the creation of a merger of the Progressive States Network, the American Legislative Issue Campaign and the Center for State Innovation. "Consolidating resources from each of these organizations allows SiX to offer an unprecedented home for state and local elected officials to discuss and drive progressive policy initiatives, building on the best ideas and the greatest successes from across the country," the organization declares on its website. 17 American Legislative Exchange Council • FEDERALISM S4 LEC - American Leg islative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM In other words, it can attempt to replicate the things it has chastised ALEC, the State Policy Network, and other conservative policy champions for doing. SiX hopes to raise $2 to $3 million this year, Nick Rathod, the career Democratic operative who heads up SiX, told Politico. Rathod's allegiance is clear. He served as Obama's liaison to state officials and led state campaigns for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's gun safety group. Last year, the organization said ultimately it hopes to bring in $10 million annually in its effort to put power back in the hands of progressives in state legislatures. They have their work cut out for them . According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Republicans lead both chambers of 30 state legislatures, while Democrats control 11. While liberals have railed against the alleged influence corporations have had on lawmaker members in ALEC and the "dark money" conspiracy on the right, SiX, too, is a nonprofit that is not obligated to reveal its donors. As Politico reported, some of the country's biggest liberal donors quietly huddled together with "Democratic state lawmakers in Washington, preparing a nationwide fight to take back state legislatures from Republicans." Among the big-money liberals in attendance, according to Politico: Christie Hefner, the former Playboy chief executive; Rob McKay Jr., heir to the Taco Bell fortune; Andres Lopez, a prominent lawyer in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Naomi Aberly, a top bundler and a member of the Democratic National Committee's finance committee. About a dozen members of the Democracy Alliance, the group organized by billionaire left-wing cause subsidizer George Soros, were expected to attend this week's get-together with SiX and their lawmaker allies. Soros has pumped hundreds of ryiillions of dollars into the shadowy network of radical organizations. The Democracy Alliance, whose many members criticize "dark money'' on the right, does not disclose their donors. So who picked up the tab for the Dem lawmakers to attend the political pep rally? Patrice Arent, Minority Caucus manager for the Utah House of Representatives, said no taxpayer dollars were used to subsidize her trip. "Nobody paid to fly me in," she said, although she acknowledged SiX paid for a luncheon attended by the lawmakers. Just how much money the exchange floated for the event is unclear. SiX officials could not be reached for comment. 18 51. LE c ·· • American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKElS • FEDERALISM A White House official told Watchdog the White House did not incur any costs for the event, and that state legislators who attended "incurred their own costs." Answering Watchdog's open records request, Wisconsin Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller said no state funds were used to pay for Rep. Cory Mason's trip. The Racine Democrat did not return two calls seeking comments. He and his liberal colleagues have been highly critical of ALEC and what they see as the council's powerful influence on Republican-led legislation in Wisconsin. But Mason, like his fellow Dems, has leaned on left-leaning groups backed by powerful liberal interests to craft bills. As conservative columnist Christian Schneider noted in April 2014, Mason has introduced a bill that would have taxed earnings from businesses that kept "tax havens" in foreign countries. "Perhaps coincidentally, this effort to go after offshore 'tax havens' is a primary goal of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG), Ralph Nader's national lobbying group. In fact, Mason's bill could have been lifted whole cloth from the group's 2013 report 'Offshore Shell Games,' which recommends exactly what Mason prescribes," Schneider wrote in a column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Arent, the Utah lawmaker, said the SiX initiative boils down to partnerships and resources to advance progressive causes. "Certain initiatives have started to pass in the states," she said. "We are trying to make sure we have the resources to move those issues forward nationally." 19 - ~LEC LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM WisconsinlVJatchdog.org Lawmaker's anti-ALEC bill is anti-constitution M.D. Kittle October 26, 2015 http://watchdog.org/243921/alec-chris-taylor-legislation/ MADISON, Wis. - It's pretty clear state Rep. Chris Taylor doesn't much care for the American Legislative Exchange Council and its limited government, free-market principles. But now the Madison Democrat and self-described anti-ALEC spy wants to put regulatory chains on the organization for doing what Taylor's left-leaning allies freely do every day. Taylor is the author of the "ALEC Transparency Act," legislation driven directly by her loathing of the model legislation group, a proposal that on its face appears to be unconstitutional. It would "require organizations like ALEC" to register and report their "lobbying activities" in the Legislature. It would seem organizations such as the State Innovation Exchange, also known as SiX, the liberal answer to ALEC, would be bound by the same restrictions. So, too, would a long list of other tax-exempt nonprofits, such as the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and the United Way. Taylor did not return multiple calls seeking comment. Bill Meierling, ALEC's vice president of communications, said it is "disappointing" that Taylor, an "active member'' of ALEC, would introduce "ill-conceived legislation aimed at silencing discussion and debate across the political spectrum. "It seems odd Taylor would follow a failing trend using progressive, copy-cat legislation that has already been rejected in other states," Meierling said. Taylor's bill is strikingly similar to liberal model legislation proposed and opposed in several other states with Republican-led legislatures. Interesting that Taylor and her liberal colleagues have railed against conservative model legislation in Wisconsin and elsewhere as she taps language from model legislation that places a huge target on ALEC's back. American Legislative Exchange Council I Such legislation also is littered with constitutional questions. 20 · 51.LEC • Legislative American Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT • FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM "I have a problem with the notion that people who put out public pronouncements about legislation should be subject to regulatory requirements," said constitutional law expert Rick Esenberg, president and founder of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. "We all should be free to say what we think the Legislature should or should not do without having to go through a bunch of regulatory hurdles." "It's inconsistent with protection for political speech and participation in democracy, and to the extent that the bill is signaling out ALEC, that's really wrong." Esenberg said. The fact that Taylor dubs her bill the ALEC Transparency Act suggests it is simply a way to pander to the liberal base, Esenberg said. "This is a stupid politician trick and not a serious suggestion to address a real problem," he said. The bill has about as much chance at passing in this Legislature as the Chicago Cubs have winning the World Series this year. So is there another motivation behind all the press releases for a bill that isn't going anywhere? Meierling pointed to the many fundraising appeals Taylor sends out in advance of and following each ALEC meeting she attends. Note Taylor's post on her ALEC conference experiences. It's hard to miss the big red "DONATE TODAY" button. "I expect her purpose with this bill is to make money, not to change Wisconsin," Meierling said . Taylor is a member of ALEC, and she makes a big show about openly "spying" on the organization' s meeting, which are open to all legislative members - Republican or Democrat. "I recently donned a conservative blue suit and suppressed my political ideals to attend an American Legislative Exchange Council conference, the nation's most influential conservative policy organization," Taylor wrote in a widely distributed column following one of the meetings. "As a Wisconsin Democratic legislator, I was able to see the ALEC agenda in action." She boasted that she "forked over nearly $1,000 out of pocket to cover her ALEC conference expenses, unlike many of her Republican colleagues who received "corporate funded 'scholarships"' to cover travel, hotel, food and conference registration costs. Taylor's bill also requires organizations that provide "scholarship funds" to legislative members for the attendance at conferences to disclose "certain information" within 90 days of each disbursement. She wants names - of legislators, legislative staff, and other state officials who received the funds, along with names of corporations or individuals paying into the fund. ALEC is among a litany of organizations that offer travel reimbursement for a variety of reasons . Members of 501(c)(3) organizations are technically donors to those groups. Taylor's requirement of donor disclosure appears to violate the 10th and 14th amendments and NAACP v. Alabama. 21 51 LE C American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Taylor's colleague, state Rep. Cory Mason, earlier this month attended a series of events hosted by SiX, including a get-together of 54 left-leaning state lawmakers with President Obama. While there were no state funds involved in covering the Racine Democrat's expenditures, according to an open records request with the Assembly clerk, it's not clear whether Mason received reimbursement from SiX. He did not return calls seeking comment. We do know that SiX picked up the tab for a D.C. luncheon. To Meierling and other right-of-center groups under assault by an increasingly aggressive left, Taylor's bill is just another example of liberals attempting to restrain ideas they do not like. "The American Legislative Exchange Council encourages legislators to share ideas across party and state lines to make government work for everyone - something Taylor has never done in Wisconsin," he said. 22 · 51.LEC · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM THE NEW YORKER Obama and the G.O.P.'s Red Sea JOHN CASSIDY NOVEMBER 5, 2015 http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/obama-and-the-g-o-p-s-red-sea Coming after the drubbing Democrats received in last year's midterms, Tuesday was another bad Election Day for the Party. In Kentucky's gubernatorial race, Matt Bevin, a Tea Party Republican who made rolling back the state's participation in the Affordable Care Act a central part of his platform, defied the opinion polls to win handily, bringing the number of G.O.P. governors across the country to thirty-two. In Virginia, a well-funded Democratic bid to take control of the State Senate failed. In Mississippi, voters rejected an effort to change the state's constitution to guarantee more funding for public schools. And in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the country, a ballot measure that would have banned discrimination on the basis of age, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and a number of other categories was defeated by a wide margin. Republicans didn't take long to place the blame for the Democrats' woes on President Obama, and to crow about their chances in 2016. "There were 29 democrat governors in 2008," Ben Walters, a fundraiser for the Presidential candidate Ben Carson, commented on Twitter. "When Bevin is sworn in there will be 17." Referring to the election in Virginia, which was closely watched in Washington, Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, tweeted, ".@GOP heads into the 2016 election with positive momentum and with the right vision to put our country back on track." There is no arguing that the Democrats have suffered a series of big setbacks at the local level. In a report issued earlier this year, a Party task force that included Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, and Steve Beshear, the outgoing Democratic governor of Kentucky, noted, "We have suffered devastating losses at all levels of government since 2008 including: 69 House Seats; 13 Senate Seats; 910 State Legislative Seats; 30 State Legislative Chambers; 11 Governorships." With Bevin's victory, that last figure is now a round dozen. Even before Tuesday, there were no Democratic governors in states south of the thirty-ninth parallel. Now there aren't any along a line stretching from the Florida Panhandle to the Great Lakes, either. It's a similar story in state legislatures. In 2008, the Republicans controlled both chambers in fourteen states; today, they control both chambers in thirty states. Some of these states are sparsely populated, but some aren't. In five of the ten most-populous states in the country-Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas23 571 LE C American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Republicans run the governor's mansion and both houses in the State Legislature. If you look at a map of who controls American politics at the local level, it is a sea of red. How much of this can be put down to dissatisfaction with Obama? In some places, such as Kentucky, where Mitt Romney won more than sixty per cent of the vote in 2012, disapproval of the President clearly played a role. Bevin, and groups supporting him, ran ad after ad seeking to tie the Democratic candidate, Jack Conway, to the President. (Conway, in turn, ran ads trying to distance himself from Obama.) The Republicans also harped on and on about the supposed evils of Obamacare. Since Kentucky is one of the Southern states where the Affordable Care Act has had a lot of success in bringing down the rate of uninsured (Arkansas is another), Bevin's effectiveness in demonizing health-care reform was depressing, if not entirely surprising. Rather than acknowledging Obamacare's successes, he played on voter concerns about rising premiums, large deductibles, and restricted doctor choice. In a state with a lot of evangelical Christians, Republican opposition to gay marriage also played a role. The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza wrote, on Tuesday, that Bevin has Obama to thank for his victory, at least in part. This is true. But before buying the line that Obama has been a disaster for the Democratic Party in general, two other factors should be noted. First, it isn't anything new for the Party of a twoterm President to suffer electoral losses on Capitol Hill and at the local level. It's the norm, as Philip A. Klinkner, a political scientist at Hamilton College, pointed out in an article on Vox, last month. When Bill Clinton was elected, there were thirty Democratic governors across the country. When he left office, there were seventeen. When George W. Bush entered the White House, there were twenty-nine Republican governors. When he left, there were twenty-two . Judging by the number of governor's mansions it now controls, the Democratic Party isn't in worse shape now than it was in 2000. The other factor that needs to be taken into account is a historical one. Support for the Democratic Party and some of its policies was ebbing in Southern states like Kentucky and Mississippi long before Obama came along. The Party's problems below the Mason-Dixon line date back to the Civil Rights Act and Richard Nixon's Southern strategy, which was based on attracting disgruntled white Southerners to the G.O.P. Oba ma's Presidency may well have sped up the electoral secession of the Confederate states from the Democratic Party, but it didn't start the process. The big question now, of course, is whether this development is permanent. In mining the demographic trends that are affecting states like Texas and Florida just as much as the rest of the country, particularly the rise of the Hispanic vote, can the Democrats start to recapture some of the ground they've lost in the South, and also in states surrounding the Greatlakes, such as Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin? The short answer is that if they do, it is likely to take a while. Next year, there will be another eleven races for state governorships, and the Republicans will be hoping for wins in Missouri and West Virginia, where the Democratic incumbents-Jay Nixon and Earl Ray Tomblin- can't run again because of term limits. The Democrats' best shot of a gain might be in North Carolina, where the Democratic attorney general, Roy Cooper, is challenging Pat McCrory, the Republican governor. 24 · 5-l LEC • American Legislative Exchange Council , LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Since voters will also be picking a President next November, turnout should be considerably higher than it was on Tuesday and in last year's midterms, which should help Democrats, on balance. Despite Republican inroads into the white working class, most Americans who are poor or living on modest incomes still tend to go Democratic. But getting them to vote in local elections is a big challenge in years when there isn't a Presidential election. On the other hand, the electoral map favors the Republicans. To the extent that local races continue to be seen as referendums on eight years of Obama in the Oval Office, it is tough to see Democrats doing well in places like Missouri and West Virginia, where the President's approval ratings are below forty per cent. And even if the Democrats hold steady in 2016, they will face another big challenge in 2018, when thirty-six governor's mansions will be up for grabs. In addition to exposing Democratic constituencies to Republican efforts to cut social programs, dismantle environmental protections, and weaken labor unions, the Party's losses at the local level are also handicapping it nationally. More Republican state legislatures means more congressional districts gerrymandered to benefit the G.O.P. And the dearth of Democratic governors is depriving the Party of potential future leaders. When it was at a low ebb during the Reagan years, Southern Democrats like Clinton and Al Gore helped revive it. Today, it is hard to identify their successors. After consoling themselves with their success at the Presidential level, some senior Democrats are finally facing up to the dangers facing the Party and the extent to which it has fallen behind the Republicans in organizing at the local level. The report by the D.N.C. task force acknowledged that the G.O.P.'s "stranglehold on state houses, governorships and congressional seats is a by-product of more than 30 years of organizing, fostering talent and significant financial investments at the state and local level." I Efforts are under way to match the Republicans. Earlier this year, the Democracy Alliance, a group of wealthy Democratic donors that includes George Soros, agreed to spend tens of millions of dollars at the local level, on such initiatives as building up progressive networks, launching ballot initiatives, and countering Republican groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council. "People have gotten a wake-up call," Gara LaMarche, the president of the Democracy Alliance, told the Washington Post. "The right is focused on the state level, and even down-ballot, and has made enormous gains. We can't have the kind of long-term progressive future we want if we don't take power in the states." Smart Democrats recognize that reviving their Party is a long-term project. Ironically, however, they could get a short-term boost at the local level if they lose the White House ~ext year and the G.O.P. retains its majorities in the House and the Senate. With the Republicans exerting complete control in Washington-no screaming, please-there would be the potential for a backlash come the 2018 midterms. Democrats, however, need to do more than pin their hopes on the emergence of another unpopular Republican President. 25 - 2l LE C LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM State Factor on the Effect of State Taxes on Charitable Giving Yes, tax hikes do cut charitable giving Rudy Takala September 23, 2015 http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/yes-tax-hikes-do-cut-charitable-giving/a rti cle/ 2572640 A new study has found that people who pay more in taxes are less generous when it comes to charitable giving. Looking at data from 1997 to 2012, researchers at the American Legislative Exchange Council found that taxpayers who give more to the government keep more of their money overall than their less-heavily taxed counterparts in other states, because they don't bother giving to charity after government has finished with them. "When all state taxes are considered, a 1 percentage point increase in the total tax burden is associated with a 1.16 percent drop in charitable giving per dollar of state income," the report states. In all, 41 states experienced increases in charitable giving. Of the nine that had the largest increases, the report found, four do not impose a personal income tax. Those were South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. Nine states saw a reduction in the amount that was donated to charity. Of those, one-third are among those with the highest income taxes in the nation. Those are Hawaii (with a personal income tax of 11 percent), Minnesota (9.85 percent) and New York (8.82 percent). Measured as a percentage of adjusted gross income, the most charitable states were: 1. Utah 2. Wyoming 3. Georgia 4. Alabama 5. Mississippi 6. Oklahoma American Legislative Exchange Council 26 · 5ll.LEC · LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE 7. Idaho 8. South Carolina 9. North Carolina MARl~ ETS 10. Maryland On the other end of the spectrum, the least generous states from 41st to 50th were New Mexico, Hawaii, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Alaska, Maine, West Virginia, North Dakota and New Hampshire. Additionally, the report found, donations from the wealthy comprised the vast majority of charitable giving, with 70 percent of charitable deductions being claimed by those with incomes of $100,000 or more. "States with smaller governments tend to provide for perceived public needs by giving more to charity to fill that gap," the report concluded. "Moreover, citizens tend to respond to tax increases by decreasing their charitable giving, while increasing their charitable giving in response to tax reductions." 27 American Legislative Exchange Council • FEDERALISM - 51 LEC American Leg1slat1ve Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM analvsts~, Tlre e>.pars' i:xpcrt!. . ALEC Report: Personal Income Tax Rates Directly Affect Charitable Giving Levels Je nnifer DePaul Septem ber 23, 2015 http://services.taxanalysts.com/taxbase/stn3 .nsf/%28Number/2015+5TT+184-6?0penDocument&Login A state's personal income tax rate directly affects its overall level of charitable giving, according to a September 23 American Legislative Exchange Council report. In "The Effect of State Taxes on Charitable Giving 11," authors William Freeland, Ben Wilterdink, and Jonathan Williams explored how each state's personal income tax rate affects charitable giving. Total charitable giving grows at a faster rate in states with higher rates of economic growth than in states with low rates of economic growth, the study found. "Charitable giving is an important aspect of civil society that is often not taken into consideration in terms of economic policy and growth," Williams said. Williams said the report was designed to start a conversation about ways policymakers can encourage tax competitiveness in concert with philanthropic giving. Total charitable giving in 2014 was $456.73 billion, or about 2.6 percent of total GDP, according to "Giving USA," an annual publication of the Giving USA Foundation. Between 2008 and 2012, residents in Wyoming, Utah, and South Dakota gave the most to charity per individual, the ALEC report said . For example, Wyoming residents gave $24,275.88 on average over that four-year period. Conversely, residents in New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island gave the least, with Rhode Island residents giving just $2,929.28 on average over that four-year period. For every 1 percent increase in a state's total tax burden, there is a 1.16 percent decrease in the state's rate of charitable giving, the report said. Similarly, a 1 percent increase in the personal income tax burden is associated with a 0.35 percent decrease in charitable giving per dollar of state income, the report said. Charitable giving increases when an individual's tax burden is reduced because taxes reduce both an individual's income and potential income growth, which could have resulted in subsequent charitable giving, the report said . 28 · 5ZJ.LEC - American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARl\ETS • FEDERALISM "While it is clear that tax reductions do not necessarily translate into loss of government services -there are many ways that governments can spend tax revenues more efficiently -- it is certainly relevant that when taxes are reduced, charitable organizations are likely to offset reductions in public benefits," the report said. Rates of charitable giving grew the most in Wyoming, North Dakota, and Connecticut during the 20082012 period, the report found: Wyoming's giving saw more than 756 percent growth, North Dakota donations increased nearly 30 percent, and Connecticut's giving grew by just over 22 percent. Ten states saw a decline in charitable giving over the same period, with Oklahoma, Virginia, and Louisiana experiencing the largest declines, the report said. "Allowing individuals and businesses to keep more of what they earn to save, spend, and invest leads to higher rates of job growth, domestic migration, and total economic output," the report said. "The data suggest that in addition to those benefits, pro-growth tax and fiscal policy climates are conducive to higher rates of growth in charitable giving." The report used data from the IRS, the Tax Foundation, and ALEC's own calculations. 29 SJJ_LEC American Leg1slat1ve Excll ange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARl~ETS • FEDERALISM Opportunity Lives Why High Taxes Hurt Charities Daniel Huizinga September 24, 2015 http://opportunitylives.com/why-high-taxes-hurt-charities/ People give less to charity when state taxes are high, a new report from the American Legislative Exchange Council finds. The conclusion, though unsurprising to students of economics, is nonetheless relevant to policy decisions about how best to help the poor. Raising taxes to fund government social programs may end up taking away funding from more effective charity organizations. In "The Effect of State Taxes on Charitable Giving," authors William Freeland, Ben Wilterdink' and Jonathan Williams document what happens to private philanthropy when states raise or lower taxes. After examining different tax rates in all SO states, the authors concluded that a 1 percent increase in the personal income tax burden leads to a .35 percent decrease in charitable giving per dollar of state income. When the authors include all state taxes (not just income), the effect more than triples. They found that a 1 percent increase in the overall tax burden caused charitable giving to fall 1.16 percent per dollar of state income. Charitable Giving in the United States --··-- - - - - - - - 250 QI :g 100 ·t: "' ..c: u ] 50 i2 0 '97'98'99'00'01 '02 '03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12 Source: ALEC 30 · 511.LEC • American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM The report offers three reasons for the negative effect on philanthropy. First, higher taxes cut into people's take-home pay, making charitable giving more difficult. Second, higher taxes can reduce future income by hindering economic growth. Finally, taxes sometimes "crowd out" charitable giving as people feel they have already done their part toward helping others. Numerous studies and policy experts have recognized that nongovernmental organizations, including churches and faith-based charities, secular nonprofits and even for-profit corporations tend to have more success combating poverty than large, bureaucratic government agencies. Yet this point is often forgotten in tax policy debates, which often assume that cutting taxes will deprive the poor of life-saving services. "Civil society may well appropriately-and perhaps more efficiently-fill necessary gaps in public needs that might happen to arise alongside a back stop of more money in taxpayer pockets, more economic growth and a government that provides for core social needs," the report argues. With 1.5 million tax-exempt organizations in the United States, there are ample opportunities for Americans to support just about any cause they like. Charities are forced to compete for money and ensure effective outcomes. Inflation-adjusted charitable giving across the country has increased consistently over time, except during the recession. But charitable giving varies considerably by state, and the ALEC report helps to shed light on how tax rates influence those differences. 2014 Charitable Contributions by Type of Recipient Organization ($ in Billions) Religion $114.90 v Gilt!. to Individuals $5.42-2% Da'lm:~ En11 i ranment/An i mals $10.50- 3% International Affairs $15.10 Human Services $42.10 Arts, Culture, Humanities $17.23 Gifts to Foundations $41.62 Public-Society Benefit Health $26.29 $30.37 Source: ALEC 31 :;J.LEC American Leg 1slat1ve Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM The states that give the most to charity as a percentage of income? Utah, Wyoming and Georgia. Bringing up the rear of the list were New Hampshire, North Dakota and West Virginia. States with no income taxes saw especially large increases in charitable donations. "In every category, over each time period, the nine no income tax states grew their rates of charitable giving more than the nine states with the highest income taxes," the authors observe. From 1997 to 2012, charitable giving in the 10 states with the highest tax burden grew 27 percent. But giving grew twice as fast in the 10 lowest-tax states. "The trend in these results is clear; the states with more pro-growth tax and fiscal policies tend to also have higher rates of growth in charitable giving," the authors said. Jonathan Williams, one of the report's authors and vice president of the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform, said he hoped the report would "start a conversation about what steps state policymakers can take to encourage tax competitiveness, economic opportunity and philanthropic donations." Americans are a generous people. The more public policy that encourages private generosity, the better. 32 5lJ. LE c · · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM ~atchdog.org Lower Taxes Strengthen Civil Society Julian Adorney October 5, 2015 http://watchdog.org/ 240842/lower-taxes-strengthen-civil-society/ Donald Trump just proposed a tax increase on the wealthy and, in typical Donald fashion, didn't spend much time discussing the possible downsides. But whenever we consider raising taxes, it's important look at the trade-offs: what else could we be doing with that money? A new analysis by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) highlights one such trade-off: higher taxes reduce charitable spending. A tax increase of 1% causes a reduction in charitable giving of 0.09%, according to the council's inter-state analysis. Higher taxes leave citizens with less net income to spend or donate. Higher taxes also restrict economic growth, further reducing the amount of money that people are likely to contribute. A $0.09 decrease for every dollar given to charity might not sound like much. But charities tend to be more efficient than government programs, which means that $0.09 donated to charity will have more impact than the same amount in the hands of government. Charities need to compete with each other for scarce donors, who are attracted by results. Thus, they have a constant incentive to innovate, cut waste, and outperform each other in order to grow. Government programs, by contrast, may be well-meaning, but the lack of competition tends to result in inefficiency and underperformance, compared to private organizations. For example, when the Workforce Investment Act created a workforce training program 56 per cent of the people who enrolled were able to find jobs. A private charity competitor, Cincinnati Works, was able to achieve a success rate of 84 per cent. The other factor at play is that government spending crowds out private charities; when taxes rise on education, for instance, citizens are less likely to donate to educational charities because they think they've done enough just by paying higher taxes. This effect is powerful: a 1 per cent increase in government spending on X causes a 0.5 per cent reduction in charity contributions to X. It would be easy to assume that greater government funding for something like education would improve education. In fact, by reducing after-tax income and by crowding out more efficient private 33 I . 5l1. LE C American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVER NMENT• FREE MARKElS • FEDERALISM organizations, government funding may make the situation worse. This may explain why the tripling of government funding to K-12 education, which has occurred since 1970, has failed to increase educational outcomes. And there is a second trade-off to consider: when we raise taxes, we're sacrificing civil society. Many liberals assume that voting for a larger social safety net makes one generous. But those who support higher taxes are not merely voting away their own paychecks; if they wished to do that, they could just write the government a check. Rather, they are voting away their neighbors' paychecks. John is voting to pay Paul, but only by robbing Peter. By contrast, giving to charity is a noble and voluntary use of a person's own resources. It represents individuals making a personal sacrifice in order to improve society. Donating may even make people more empathetic. Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness, argues that being generous, "leads you to perceive others more positively and more charitably," which "fosters a heightened sense of interdependence and cooperation in your social community." Being charitable, in short, actively strengthens civil society. Candidates on both sides of the aisle believe that we should raise taxes in order to increase government funding for the social safety net. But we don't need an inefficient and sometimes dangerous ' government safety net. We need a thriving, empathetic civil society whose members care for each other and personally sacrifice to make the world a better place. Lower taxes, not higher taxes, can make that goal a reality. 34 5lJ. LE c · · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Forbes High State Income Tax Rates Discourage Philanthropists, Fuel Bureaucrats By Rex Sinquefield October 5, 2015 http://www.fo rbes.com / sites/rexsin guefield/2015/10/05/hlgh-state-income-tax-rates-discouragep hila nth ro pi sts-fu e 1-b urea ucrats/ When discussing matters of public policy and taxation, we often draw the correlation between high tax rates and undesirable economic climates. While it is certainly true that burdensome tax rates cause businesses and workers to seek better opportunities in different places, it is also true - and far less frequently discussed - that high state income tax rates have a negative impact on charitable giving. States with already high (or steadily increasing) tax rates and low adjusted gross income {AGI) growth levels see less charitable giving than those with low tax rates and faster AGI growth levels. A new policy study from the American Legislative Exchange Council does an excellent job laying out the facts and figures that show the relationship between tax burdens and charitable giving. Tellingly, a one percent increase in the personal income tax burden correlates with 0.35 percent decrease in charitable giving. Even more troubling, when all state taxes are placed within this equation, an increase of 1 percent in the total tax burden is associated with a 1.16 percent drop in charitable giving, per dollar, of state income. The ALEC study examines how charitable giving grew (or diminished) within the 50 states between 1997 and 2012. On the top-ten list of states with the fastest growth in total charitable giving, four {Texas, Wyoming, Washington, and South Dakota) do not levy an income tax at all. After performing more than 1,000 regressions, the ALEC researchers found that patterns of income growth also tracked closely to increases in charitable giving. As a state's total AGI went up, so too did the rate of charitable giving. Between 2008 and 2012, states with the most significant growth in AGI saw an average growth in charitable giving of 14.04 percent per recipient. On the other hand, the ten states with the most sluggish AGI growth saw growth of just 10.41 percent per charitable recipient during that same time period. Americans are incredibly generous people. In 2014, according to figures from Giving USA, total charitable giving was $358.38 billion, or approximately 2.1 percent of total gross domestic product {GDP). The new ALEC study should inform discussions on how best to help the millions of Americans living below the poverty line. Higher taxes harm charitable giving in three key ways. First, higher taxes 35 51 LE C American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM take a bite out of Americans' take-home pay, thereby making it more difficult to give as much as they would like to charity. Second, higher taxes can have a chilling effect on economic growth (e.g. companies do not want to make investments in high-tax states), which impacts future income and future ability to give charitably. Finally, people forced to pay higher taxes often feel like they have already "done their part" to help others and therefore are less inclined to make charitable contributions. As the new ALEC study makes ·apparent, a state's tax and business climate significantly impacts the rates of charitable donations - and higher taxes generally mean fewer charitable gifts. With this in mind, it's crucial that policymakers take into consideration the negative effect higher taxes have on philanthropy. Often lacking the red-tape constraints of government programs, charitable organizations find themselves uniquely positioned to address social challenges. Leaders should keep this reality in mind as they create policies that impact the futures of taxpayers. 36 51. LE c · · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM State Factor on the Transfer of Federal Lands aZ\:entral ..... Transferring federal lands not a kook idea Robert Robb September 3, 2015 http://www.azcentral .com/sto ry/ opinion/op-ed/ ro bertrobb/2015/09/03/robb-transferri ng-federallands-not-kook-idea/71662368/ In Arizona, the state taking over federal lands is considered a kook idea. And in Arizona, it has been a kook idea. In 2012, lawmakers referred a ballot proposition flatly asserting that the state had sovereignty over federal lands within our boundaries. Voters rejected it by a 2 to 1 margin. But the idea of the federal government transferring the lands it is supposed to be managing for multiple purposes, excluding areas set aside solely for conservation, isn't inherently kooky. The non-kooky case is made in a paper published this week by the American Legislative Exchange Council, "Federally Managed Lands in the West." The non-kook case begins with a recognition of where the decision will be made. States can't legally take over federal land. The federal government would have to decide to transfer the land to the states. That's hardly unprecedented. In fact, it used to be standard procedure. When Illinois and Missouri were established as states, the federal government had ownership of over 90 percent of their land. Today, the federal government owns less than S percent. The federal government only began retaining ownership of large swathes of land intended for multipurpose management when states in the West began to be formed. The federal government has retained ownership of about half the land in the 12 Western states. It owns over 80 percent of Nevada and two-thirds of Utah. It owns 42 percent of Arizona. Would the states do a better job of managing these lands? That depends on whether you think the lands should lay fallow or be put to productive use. The federal government loses money on the public lands it manages. The states make money, and quite a bit of it. 37 51 LE C American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM The federal government has lost the ability to put lands intended to be managed for multiple purposes to any use other than conservation. There are two reasons for this. The first is that the federal process has become too cumbersome and convoluted to yield the kind of timely and predictable decisions needed to attract investment in private resource or recreational development. The second is that the environmental lobby has acquired an effective veto over federal land use decisions. Federal agencies defer to them. And if a decision goes against them, they litigate it into exhaustion. There used to be a robust lumbering industry in northeastern Arizona. The environmental lobby shut it down. Now wildfires rage out of control. There's not a straight-line cause-and-effect between those developments. But they aren't entirely unrelated either. Now, the federal government is trying to leverage private industry in thinning efforts to reduce the fire risk. But the environmental lobby has succeeded in limiting the harvesting to small-diameter trees, and the project has floundered. The environmental lobby has less influence on state officials than federal ones. They would still be a significant factor if the state were calling the shots. But they would no longer effectively have a veto. _, Other states have actually developed plans to take over and manage federal lands, doing the due diligence to determine whether it would be a good idea and what it would take in terms of state resources. The ALEC paper cites Nevada and Utah as far along in such careful consideration. Arizona hasn't engaged in such an effort. Efforts here have been characterized more by political paroxysm than planning. In the last legislative session, however, a bill was passed to establish a study committee to develop such a plan. It's worthy of study, particularly what might be produced for education if federal multipurpose lands were transferred to the state land trust. That's a step by legislators interested in the topic toward a more responsible approach. But it would be better if the planning and evaluation were being done by the State Land Department under the direction of Gov. Doug Ducey. This is not a high priority. The federal political climate would have to change considerably before devolution of federal land in the West was a realistic possibility. Nevertheless, given the large amount of multipurpose federal land in Arizona, it's worth developing and nurturing, in a non-kook way. 38 · 5ZJ.LEC • LIMllED · GOVERNMENT~ FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM ~ National Center ;,;;:,., r°'Policy Analysis IDEAS CllANGING THE WORl.D Federally Managed Lands in the West: The Economic and Environmental Implications for the State September 11, 2015 http://www.ncpa .org/sub/dpd/index.php? Article 10=26055 The federal government controls, on average, about 50 percent of the land mass of 12 western states -Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. While the Federal Land Policy and Management Act {1976) requires public land to remain under federal ownership, unless there is a "disposal in the national interest" transferring land to state control is a reasonable and economically feasible policy. • States have greater flexibility to increase lease pricing to respond to fluctuating market forces • Land trusts on the state level have a better record of maintaining and developing land resources. • American Leg1slat1ve Exchange Council ·State land trusts can lease public lands for alternative uses, including to conservation groups for restoration. It is significant to note that while the federal government controls a large majority of land in western states, it only controls a small percentage of public land in eastern states. On average the federal government controls only four percent of public land in the states east of Colorado. By refusing to relinquish land rights to western states, the federal government is denying western states the same sovereignty over public lands granted to eastern states. Land is one of the most valuable assets and yet the federal government is mismanaging public lands at great cost to taxpayers. Allowing states to control public land within their borders, particularly western states, would increase revenues from the land and decrease redundant regulations and land subsidy programs. Source: "Federally Managed Lands in the West: The Economic and Environmental Im plications for the State," American Legislative Exchange Council, September 2015. - See more at: http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=26055#sthash.zvA6XbDF.dpuf 39 5lJ_ LE C American Leg1slat1ve Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Rich States, Poor States - Updates Forbes Bleeding Blue States Dry By Steve Moore Sep 25, 2015 @ 02:41 PM http:/ / www.forbes.com/sltes/stevemoore/2 015/ 09/ 25/bleeding-blue-states-dry/ The so-called "progressives" love to talk about how their policies will create a worker's paradise, but then why is it that day after day, month after month, year after year, people are fleeing liberal blue states for conservative red states? The new Census data on where we live and where we moved to in 2014 shows that the top seven states . with the biggest percentage increase in in-migration from other states are in order: North Dakota, Nevada, South Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. All of these states are red, except Colorado, which is purple. Meanwhile the leading exodus states of the continental states in percentage terms were: Alaska, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Kansas. All of these states are blue, except Alaska and Kansas. The latest Rich States, Poor States document (which I co-author) published by ALEC, the state legislative organization, finds that nearly 1,000 people each day on net are leaving blue states and entering red states. This migration is changing the economic center of gravity in America - moving it relentlessly to the South and West. Travis Brown, the author of the indispensable book "How Money Walks," shows that two of the leading factors behind this movement of human capital are 1) whether a state has a right to work law (half of the states do) and 2) how high the top income tax rate is in the state. Nine states have no income tax today and they are creating twice the pace of jobs than are high income tax states. Data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) show a similar trend. Each year the IRS issues a migration data report which examines how many tax filers (and dependents) in the year changed their residency and how much income was transported from one state to another. The numbers for the most recent year (tax filing year 2013) are gigantic and put the lie to the claim that interstate migration is too small to matter in terms of the wealth and economic opportunity in one state versus another. 40 571 LE c · - American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Recommended by Forbes In 2013, Florida gained $8.2 billion in adjusted gross income from out of state rs. Texas gained $5.9 billion - IN ONE YEAR! See chart. Five of the seven states with the biggest gains in income have no income tax at all: Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington, and Nevada. New York was again the big loser with another 112,236 tax filers leaving and taking $5 .2 billion with them . (So much for those lV ads trying to lure businesses into America's 2nd highest taxed state with temporary tax breaks. Illinois lost nearly 67,000 tax filers and $3.7 billion of income it can no longer tax. Net change AGI (thousands of dollars) due to Rank State dornestic migration, 2012 to 2013 1 FL 2 TX 3 SC 4 NC SAZ 6WA 7 NV 411 OH 45 NJ 46 MD ~{ CT 4B CA 49 IL 50 NY Source: Inte rn al Rel(emlre Service $8,231,837 $5,918,195 $1,632,165 $1,518,925 $1,507,784 $1,359,531 $1,269,157 -$."1~Q.? ·li{6&1 ,$'1160.s. 783 -$.1.~27.,~.~9 -$1,~3-~~~9' -$'3,299:367 ., . ,,. . '.$3~ 764, 7.20 ~ ~~ -$5,-2¥1,982 41 - :1LEC American Legislative Exchange Council LIMllED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM INVESTOR'S BUS1NESS DAILY' Americans Migrating From High-Tax States To Low Stephen Moore September 30, 2015 http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-viewpoint/093015-773459-stephen-moore-migrating-inamerica-from-high-tax-states-to-low.htm So-called progressives love to talk about how their policies will create a workers' paradise. Why is it, then, day after day, month after month, year after year, people are fleeing liberal blue states for conservative red states? New census data on where we live and where we moved to in 2014 show that the top seven states with the biggest percentage increases in inbound migration from other states are, in order: North Dakota, Nevada, South Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Arizona and Texas. All of these states are politically red, except Colorado, which is purple. Meanwhile, the leading exodus states, in percentage terms, are: Alaska, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, New Mexico, New Jersey and Kansas. These states, except Alaska and Kansas; are blue. The latest "Rich States, Poor States" document (which I co-author), published by the American Legislative Exchange Council, finds that nearly a net 1,000 people each day are leaving blue states and entering red states. This migration is changing the economic center of gravity in America - shifting it relentlessly to the South and West. Travis Brown, author of the indispensable book "How Money Walks," shows that two of the leading factors behind this movement of human capital are: 1) whether a state has a right-to-work law (half the states do), and 2) how high the top state income tax rate is. Nine states have no income tax, and they are creating jobs at twice the pace as high income-tax states. Data from the Internal Revenue Service show a similar trend. Each year, the IRS issues a migration data report that examines how many tax filers (and dependents) changed their residencies and how much income was transported from one state to another. The numbers for the most recent year (tax filing year 2013} are gigantic and put the lie to the claim that interstate migration is too small to matter in terms of the wealth and economic opportunity in one state vs. another. 42 · 5ZJ.LEC . Legislative American Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM In 2013, Florida gained $8.2 billion in adjusted gross income from new arrivals. Texas gained $5.9 billion. Five of the seven states with the biggest income gains - Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington and Nevada - have no income tax. New York again was the big loser, with another 112,236 tax filers leaving and taking $5.2 billion with them. (So much for those TV ads trying to lure businesses into America's second-highest-taxed state with temporary tax breaks.) Illinois lost nearly 67,000 tax filers and $3.7 billion of income that it can no longer tax. I've never met a Democrat who could come up with even a semi-plausible explanation for why families and businesses are getting out of blue states. They are leaving states with higher minimum wages, pro-union work rules, high taxes on the rich, generous welfare benefits, expansive regulations to "help" workers, green energy policies, etc. People are voting with their feet against these liberal policies. When I debated New York Times columnist Paul Krugman this summer, I confronted him with this reality. His lame explanation for the steady migration from the liberal North to the conservative South was that "air conditioning" has made the South more livable. Americans are evidently moving because of the weather. There are two glaring problems with this theory: California and North Dakota. During the decade ending in 2013, 1.4 million more Americans left California than moved into the once-Golden State. It's a good bet these California refugees didn't leave for more sunshine or better weather. And if warm weather is what is attracting people to the South - and surely there is some truth to that - why did the coldest state outside Alaska - North Dakota - have the biggest population gain in percentage terms in the most recent year? The answer is that workers went to get jobs created by the Bakken Shale oil and gas boom. By the way, California is one of the states richest in oil and natural gas, but its "green" politicians are regulating that industry out of business. So much for caring about working-class Americans. The latest census and IRS data merely confirm what Americans can see every day with their own eyes. Red states are a magnet. There's a downside to this for sure. Conservatives have a legitimate gripe that when blue-staters relocate into prosperous red states they try to turn them blue. That's happened in New Hampshire, where Massachusetts transplants vote for the left-leaning policies they just fled. But the underlying trend is unmistakable: liberal blue states are economic dinosaurs. Will they change their ways before they go the way of Detroit and become extinct? 43 51.LEC American Leg1slat1ve Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM .. 1 :.~i.i THE DAJLYSIGNAL -- - Nearly 1,000 People Move From Blue States to Red States Every Day. Here's Why. Stephen Moore October 9, 2015 http://dailysignal.com/2015/10/09/neClrly-1000-people-move-fro m-blue-states-to-red-states-every-dayheres-why/ The so-called "progressives11 love to talk about how their policies will create a worker's paradise, but then why is it that day after day, month after month, year after year, people are fleeing liberal blue states for conservative red states? The new Census data on where we live and where we moved to in 2014 shows that the top seven states with the biggest percentage increase in in-migration from other states are in order: North Dakota, Nevada, South Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. All of these states are red, except Colorado, which is purple. Meanwhile, the leading exodus states of the continental states in percentage terms were Alaska, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Kansas. All of these states are blue, except Alaska and Kansas. The latest Rich States, Poor States document (which I co-author), published by ALEC, the state legislative organization, finds that nearly 1,000 people each day on net are leaving blue states and entering red states. This migration is changing the economic center of gravity in America-moving it relentlessly to the South and West. Travis Brown, the author of the indispensable book "How Money Walks, 11 shows that two of the leading factors behind this movement of human capital are 1) whether a state has a right to work law (half of the states do) and 2) how high the top income tax rate is in the state. Nine states have no income tax today, and they are creating twice the pace of jobs as are high-income tax states. Data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) show a similar trend. Each year the IRS issues a migration data report that examines how many tax filers (and dependents) in the year changed their residency and how much income was transported from one state to another. The numbers for the most recent year (tax filing year 2013) are gigantic and put the lie to the claim that interstate migration is too small to matter in terms of the wealth and economic opportunity in one state versus another. 44 · 51.LEC · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARl>ETS • FEDERALISM In 2013, Florida gained $8.2 billion in adjusted gross income from out-of-staters. Texas gained $5.9 billion-in one year. Five of the seven states with the biggest gains in income have no income tax at all: Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington, and Nevada. New York was again the big loser, with another 112,236 tax filers leaving and taking $5.2 billion with them. (So much for those TV ads trying to lure businesses into America's 2nd highest taxed state with temporary tax breaks.) Illinois lost nearly 67,000 tax filers and $3.7 billion of income it can no longer tax. I've never met a Democrat who could come up with even a semi-plausible explanation for why families and businesses are hightailing it out of blue states. They are leaving states with high minimum wages, pro-union work rules, high taxes on the rich, generous welfare benefits, expansive regulations to "help" workers, green energy policies, etc. People are voting with their feet against these liberal policies. When I debated Paul Krugman this summer, I confronted him with this reality. His lame explanation for the steady migration from liberal North to conservative South was that "air conditioning" has made the South more livable. Americans are evidently moving because of the weather. There are two glaring problems with this theory: California and North Dakota. In the last decade ending in 2013, 1.4 million more Americans left California than moved into the once-Golden State. It's a good bet these California refugees didn't leave for more sunshine or better weather. And if warm weather is what is attracting people to the South-and surely there is some truth to thatwhy did the coldest state outside Alaska, North Dakota, have the biggest population gain in percentage terms in the most recent year? The answer is that workers went to get jobs created by the Bakken Shale oil and gas boom. By the way, California is one of the oil- and gas-richest states in the nation, but its "green" politicians are regulating that industry out of businesses. So much for caring about workingclass Americans. The latest Census and IRS data merely confirm what Americans can see every day with their own two eyes. Red states are a magnet. There's a downside to this for sure. Conservatives have a legitimate gripe that as blue-staters come into their prosperous red states, they try to turn them blue. That's happened in New Hampshire, where Massachusetts transplants vote for the left-wing policies they just fled. But the underlying trend is unmistakable: Liberal blue states are economic dinosaurs. Will they change their ways before they go the way of Detroit and become extinct? 45 5lJ_ LE C American Leg1slat1ve Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM Annual Meeting Coverage SAN DIEGO'S NEWS CHAN N EL Good Morning San Diego - Lisa Nelson - American Legislative Exchange Council - CEO July 21, 2015 http ://www.kusi.com/clip/11697789/lisa-nelson-american-legislative-exchange-council-ceo Video 46 · 51.LEC · American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM The Mike Slater Show Mike Slater July 22, 2015 http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=13781695 47 · 51. LE C America·n Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT • FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM TODAY ON THE TRAIL with ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE: Michael Falcone July 23, 2015 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/note-donald-trum p-makes-run-border/ story?id=3 2636083 TODAY ON THE TRAIL with ABC'S SHUSHANNAH WALSHE: Hillary Clinton is in South Carolina today. At lOamET, she will hold a discussion with mayors and local officials in West Columbia. At 2:1pm she will hold an economic forum in Greenville. Rick Perry is also in South Carolina today. At 11:30AM he will be at Fat Jacks Grillin' and Chillin'. At 2:00pm, Perry will speak at the Americans for Peace and Prosperity national security forum in Hilton Head. At 4:00pm, he will host a meet and greet with local veterans in Beaufort and at 6:00pm he attends the Beaufort Water Festival. Jeb Bush is spending another day in the first primary state of New Hampshire, holding a town hf!ll in Gorham at 1:45pmET. It's part of his "Taking on Mt. Washington" series. Scott Walker and Mike Huckabee are in California to speak at the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). John Kasich spends another day in New Hampshire, holding town halls in Wolfeboro at 11:30AM in North Conway at S:OOpm. Carly Fiorina has a packed day in Iowa, beginning a five day tour of the first caucus state. Martin O'Malley is in DC holding a discussion on Wall Street reform at the Truman Center for National Policy at HAM. 48 · SlJ. LE c - • American ~~~ Exchange Council LIMllEO GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKElS • FEDERALISM AP Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker criticizes Iran nuclear deal Elliot Spagat July 23, 2015 http://bigstory.ap.org/article/49862b39b31341028celadfe3844b340/go ps-walker-headlinesconservative-gathering-san-diego SAN DIEGO (AP) - Wisconsi.n Gov. Scott Walker told a sympathetic crowd of state lawmakers from around the country Thursday that he would trash the nuclear deal with Iran on his first day as president, striking a combative tone on how he would govern on a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. Walker addressed the annual meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council, whose conservative agenda has made it a target for Democrats, organized labor and liberals. Hundreds of protesters rallied Wednesday outside the downtown San Diego hotel where the meeting is being held, some carrying signs that read "Stop the Assault on Working People" and "Big$$$ Out of Politics." "I understand you had a few protesters yesterday. For us that's just getting warmed up," Walker said to applause before recalling his fierce battles with organized labor. The Republican governor touted efforts in Wisconsin to restrict access to abortions and require voters to present photo identification, pledging to pursue those efforts as president. He became most animated on the agreement with Iran to ease sanctions in exchange for concessions on the Islamic nation's nuclear program. "Iran is not a place that we should be doing business with," he said, drawing a standing ovation during a 25-minute speech that stuck to familiar themes of a lightly regulated economy and muscular foreign policy. Tea party leader Mark Meckler, who heads the conservative group Citizens for Self-Governance, said the enthusiastic response was notable because foreign policy isn't a governor's strong suit. "I think he's trying to build his foreign policy credentials and it obviously resonated here," Meckler said. Walker and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee were the only presidential contenders scheduled to appear at the conference. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz canceled a Friday appearance, citing a need to be in the Senate for votes. 49 51LEC LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARl~ETS Huckabee, meanwhile, lashed out Thursday at the U.S. Supreme Court for making same-sex marriage legal and warning about trade agreements that cost American jobs. ALEC, the acronym by which the group is known, promotes model legislation for state lawmakers on business-friendly issues, including "right-to-work" measures to prohibit companies and unions from requiring employees to be union members. Opponents have pressured companies to break ties with ALEC over the group's positions on the environment, criminal justice and other matters, and ALEC has suffered high-profile defections. Bill Meierling, a group spokesman, said the "vast majority" of corporate departures occurred after Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman while walking home in Florida in 2012. Less than two months after the killing, ALEC ended its support of stand-your-ground self-defense laws, he said . About 2,000 predominantly Republican state lawmakers belong to ALEC, along with about 300 corporations, policy advocates and others, Meierling said. Some 1,300 of them registered for the meeting, which kicked off with workshops on governing higher education, criminal justice, electronic cigarettes and drug patents. so American Legislative Exchange Council' • FEDERALISM 5l1. LE c ' • LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARl~ETS SAN DIEGO'S NEWS CHANNEL Republican presidential candidates bring campaigns to ALEC Mike Millburn & Ed Lenderman July 23, 2015 http://www.kusi .com/story/29616857 /republican-presidential-ca ndidates-bri ng-campaigns-to-alee SAN DIEGO (KUSI) - Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, and Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, were among those scheduled to speak Thursday at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Legislative Executive Council. ALEC bills itself as the country's largest 'nonpartisan voluntary membership organization of state legislators', according to its website. The meetings have been met with protest, however, as local union leaders and more than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the conference. ALEC, they claim, provides methods for corporate lobbyists and legislators to meet outside of the public eye. Walker has been the governor of Wisconsin since 2010, and recently signed legislation placing restrictions on union organization in his state. Huckabee has twice run for president. In a recent poll of Republican candidates, Walker and Huckabee placed second and fourth, respectively. Texas senator Ted Cruz had been scheduled to speak at the conference Friday, but was forced to cancel due to a scheduling conflict. 51 American Legislative Exchange Council • FEDERALISM . :zJ. LE C American Legislative Exchange Council ' LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM State Senator Leah Vukmir named ALEC National Chair David Ade July 24, 2015 http://www.cbs58.com/story/29630092/state-senator-leah-vukmir-named-alec-national-chair Wisconsin State Senator Leah Vukmir received a big honor on Friday, as she was named the next national chair of ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). According to their website, ALEC is "is America's largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators. Comprised of nearly one-quarter of the country's state legislators, business and thought leaders, think tank,scholars and individuals, ALEC provides a unique forum for diverse groups to exchange ideas and develop real, state-based solutions that encourage growth, preserve economic security and protect hardworking taxpayers." Wisconsin Governor and presidential candidate Scott Walker was the keynote speaker at the annual ALEC meeting this past week in San Diego, California. Thursday, Vukmir spoke to CBS 58's David Ade about the organization. Full audio from the interview can be found at the link below. https://soundtloud.com/davidadecbs58/wi-state-s.enator-leah-vukmir-speaking-about-alec 52 5l LE c ·' 0 American Legislative Exchange Council LIMITED GOVERNMENT• FREE MARKETS • FEDERALISM · ,JF(OJLmhod by ·th• American Lel!islat!ve E>ichonge Council (ALEC). The Exchange Coundl supports limited govomment. flee ma rkets and h!deralls m at the strt. level througn •nonpartisan public-private p utiiers~lp at America's state legisl.atof"'5, mernhers of the prTvate Meetings, Conferences and State Activities ...... .. 26 Alumni Society .. ...... ... . .. .. ... .. ......... . .. . .. . 28 sector and the 11:e.ne.ral public. ALE'C Is the nation'.$ largest non-ptirtlsan vo luntary memb•r>hlp ocganllailon of state leg~lato"'· ALEC Is governed by .11 23-mcmber Board of Directors comprised solely of mte leKlslaler!i. The Board of Director> ~ advised by • U-momber Prlv.• to ' Enterprise Advisory Council. Leadership .. .. . ...... ... . .. . . ... .. ........ . .. ... . ... 29 Contacts .... .. ........... .. . .. . .. . . ..... . . .. . . .·.. . . . 31 The Exchange Council Is clossflfed by the Internal Revenue Service as a 50l(c)(3) non-profit public i>olicy and educational organi2lltlon. lndivjdlJats., phllanthroplc foUndatfons, corpor.itfons, companles1 ot assocl- <1tlons are elle1ble to support ALEC's work through mx ~eductible gifts. Model pclicy i!nd r ~solutlon~ are developed by org:nntz.atfcn members: and may or m:ay 11 ot reflect the posttlotts of .Jny lndlvidual member, company, association or non·profit. ·I ·1 ·1 I I / AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL More than 40 years ago, a small group of state legislators and limited government policy advocates met in Chicago to implement a vision: A nonpartisan membership organization for state lawmakers who share a common belief in limited government, free markets and federalism. ' Their vision and initiative resulted in the creation of a voluntary membership organization for people who believe that government closest to the people was fundamentally more effective, more just and a better guarantor of freedom than a distant federal government in Washington, D.C. The ALEC Formula for Success For more than 40 years, ALEC has been the ideal means of fostering discussion regarding public policy ideas aimed at protecting and expanding our free society. Thanks to ALEC members, the duly elected leaders of their state legislatures, the Jeffersonian principles of limited government, free markets and federalism advise and inform legislative action across the country. Over the years, thousands of ALEC members have worked together to create, develop, introduce and guide to er:iactment many of the most cutting-edge, free market policies across the states. The knowledge and training ALEC members receive has been integral to these victories. 1 II A POCKET GUIDE FOR MEMBERS f ·· !:Since the organization's founding, ALEC members have an unmatched record of achieving ground-breaking changes In public policy. ALEC members have had a hand in creating policies that support an equitable system of taxation, reduce frivolous lawsuits, reform education, promote pension reform, reduce unnecessary business regulations, foster innovation, advance patient centered health care and create responsible and sustainable energy policy. ·i·1 " :1 !I ~i 11 This publication serves as a guide for Council members and outlines the mission and capabilities of the organization. The strength of the American Legislative Exchange Council is found in its dedicated membership, and it is important to ensure that all ALEC members are able to oenefit from the resources offered by the organization. I· \! I Mission Statement To advance Limlted Government, Free Markets and Federalism 2 1 ... A POCKET GUIDE FOR MEMBERS AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL ALEC Task Forces The Policy Department is organized into nine Task Forces. Similar to legislative committees, the Task Forces bring together public and private sector members and a number of renowned academic and public policy experts to explore and discuss issues at the forefront of the policy debate. Through these interactions, ALEC Task Forces have developed model policy solutions that limit the growth of government, promote free enterprise and preserve individual liberty. The primary vehicle for the distribution of Task Force work is the development and publication of model policy. These policies are the result of Task Force research and debate and are intended as academic documents for individual study. Each Task Force acts as a clearinghouse for free market model policy. Drawing on extensive resources and policy analysis, ALEC Task Forces provide members with in-depth research on a wide range of issues. The Task Forces have also forged close relationships with leading academic and policy experts. These scholars participate as advisors in Task Force meetings, assist in drafting model policy and interact with members to provide critical insights into issues facing legislators and their constituents. The result is a 3 unique resource for state legislators that is unrivaled in the policy community. ALEC Task Forces - - - - - ·--- - -..• Civil Justice • Commerce • Communic~tions and Technology • Education • Energy, Environment and Agriculture • Health and Human Services • International Relations • Justice Performance Project • Tax and Fiscal Policy 4 AMERICAN LEGISLATJ\IE EXCHANG E COUNCIL A POCKET GUIDE FOR MEMBERS r ., !,.' (i) Civil justice The Task Force on Civil Justice and its members are at the forefront of the efforts to restore fairness and predictability to the civil justice system. The Task Force has worked diligently to promote systematic fairness in the courts through policies that discourage frivolous lawsuits, fairly balance judicia'I and legislative authorities, treat defendants in a consistent manner and install transparency and accountability in the trial system. The Task Force's work has resulted in numerous policy publications, state-level issue briefings, expert witness testimony and educational workshops. made or likely to be made as compensation for the same damages sought in the suit. The Act requires that such payments are to be considered in determining any award, and In re~iewing awards for excessiveness. 'i Transparency In Lawsuits Tort Reform Government Contracts. with Private Attorneys Right to Appeal State Consumer Protection Law Reform Regulatory Compliance Defense Standards .1 I • Whistle Blower Immunity Act: The purpose of this Act is to encourage the exposure of negligent health care providers. The Act limits liability for certain information and safeguards the confidentiality of individuals who come forward to disclose medical providers who practice negligent care. .I 'l • Transparency in Lawsuits Protection Act: This re- quires legislatures to expressly create new rights to sue. It bars courts from implying them where they do not exist. : Major Issues - - - - -- - - • • • • • • i i ,I • ': i 'I Resolution Opposing Unfair and Unbalanced In- j surance "Bad Faith" legislation: This resolution is I .! i responsive to efforts by the plaintiffs' bar, represented by the Association of American Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America) and its state-level affiliates, to enact legislation that undermines settled principles of contract law. :1 ;j., Key Model Policy - -- -- -• Truth in Damages Act: Allows the admission into evidence of proof of collateral source payments 5 6 AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL 'l A POCKET GUIDE FOR MEMBERS •I tm Commerce Members of the Task Force on Commerce participate in the Commerce, Financial Services and Regulatory Reform Task Force and Transportation and Economic Development Joint Task Force. They believe economic freedom is the cornerstone of prosperity and develop model policies that enhance competitiveness, promote employment, encourage innovation and limit government regulations imposed upon businesses. The Task Force develops model policy to facilitate the iniplementation of these solutions in the states and educates ALEC members through Task Force meetings, issue briefings, policy papers and \l!Orkshops. t'•' Major Issues - - ---- - - I, • Commerce, Financial Services and Regulatory Reform • Banking and Financial Services • Property and Casualty Insurance Business Regulation • Labor Issues • Occupational Licensing • Wage Laws Tra~sportation and Economic Development • Transportation Financing • Rail Issues ,·:· '•, " 7 I • Aviation Issues • Commercial Zoning and Real Estate Laws Key Model Policy - - -·----··- - • Establishing a Public Private Partnership (P3) Authority Act: Establishes a state Partnership Committee and an Office of Public-Private Partnerships to identify and establish public-private partnerships. • Regulatory Flexibility Act: Improves state rulemaking by creating procedures to analyze the availability of more flexi\jle regulatory approaches for small businesses. ~ .j • Occupational Licensing Relief and Job Creation Act: limits burdensome government regulations and llcensing requirements on the private sector. :• • Council on Efficient Government Act: Creates a council whose purpose is to ensure that each state agency focuses on its core mission and delivers goods and services effectively and efficiently by leveraging resources and contracting with private sector vendors if those vendors can more effectively and efficiently provide goods and services. ,. r 8 A POCKET GUIDE FOR AMERICAN LEG ISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL • Resolution on the State Regulation of Insurance: Opposes any attempt by the f~deral government to regulate the Insurance industry. • Right to Work Act: Provides that no employee need join or pay dues to a union, or refrain from joining a union, as a condition of employment. tm Communications and Technology With nearly 200 members, representing all regions of the country and every segment of industry, members of the Task Force on Communications and Technology believe constant, dynamic innovation in communications and technology presents numerous complexities that defy traditiona l public polfcy prescriptions. To help policymakers understand the changes underway In the 21st century economy, the Task Force brings together state lei:islators, private industry representatives and policy experts to develop publlc policies that will promote economic growth, freedom of technology and innovatio n in the states. 1'.... ' ..·k"· "' Areas Of focus for the Task Force include broadband deployment and adoption; protecting consumer 9 I. '.'I ~1EMBERS i~ i I choice in privacy; promoting new forms of e-commerce; and growing the high-tech sector of the economy. Additionally, the Task Force has establlshed five subcommittees to thoroughly investigate topics of Interest to the states. These subcomrntttees are: Broadband; E-commerce; Information Technology; Innovation; and Consumer Protection, Critical Infrastructure and SecurityTech nologies. J I I Major Issues-------·----·---··-·-· I .I .I • • • • • ··I Privacy E-commerce Information Technology Cyber Security Innovation .. Key Model Policy -·-·------·--·---------• Model Polley to Control and Monitor Child Predators: Provides a variety of Important requirements and enabling tools for industry and law enforcement to better protect children using the Internet ! ·I •' ,I ! • Breach of Personal Information Notification Act: Provides procedures for notifying individuals of security breaches involving unencrypted personal information. I 10 'I AM E RICAN L E GISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL • Advanced Voice Services Availability Act: Encour- ages deployment of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and other advanced communi~ations services by maintaining existing "light touch"· regulatory framework. • Wireless Tower Siting Act: Encourages deploy- ment of mobile broadband by streamlining the permit process for building or modifying wireless towers. l , ·1 .. A POCKET GUIDE FOR MEMBERS .J I • • • • • Education Finance State Funding Formulas Higher Education . Digital and Virtual Learning Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Education • School Choice II Key Model Polley - - --·- - - .I • Family Education Savings Account Act: Creates ®Education The mission of the Task Force on Education is to promote excellence in the nation's educational system, to advance reforms through parental choice, to support efficiency, accountability and transparencY in all educational institutions, and to ensure America's youth are given.the opportunity to succeed. Major Issues - - - --·- - -- - ~I • AccountabilitY • Alternative Teacher Certification • Student Data Privacy • Public and Private Charter Schools , a tax deduction/credi~. for contributions made by state taxpayers Into students' Coverdell education savings accounts, which allow tax-free savings for both K-12 and higher education expenses. • Higher Education Accountability Act: Expands ac- cess to higher education institutions' public infor. mation for state lawmakers and taxpayers. • Parental Choice Scholarship Program Act: Cre- ates a scholarship program for children to attend the public or non-public elementary or secondary school of their choice. • Alternative Certification Act: Expands access for well-educated, qualified individuals wishing to enter the teaching profession. ' I 11 12 / !. • 1,: AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL • Student Data, Accessibility, Transparency, Accountability Act: The Student Dat'a Accessibility, Transparency, and Accountability Act would require the [State Board of Education/ State Department of Education] to make publicly available an inventory and index of all data elements with definitions of individual student data fields currently in the statewide longitudinal data system. The [State Board of Education/ State Department of Education] would be required to create a data security plan, ensuring compliance with federal and state data privacy laws and policies. Certain contracts would be required to include privacy and security provisions. A Chief Privacy Officer will be created within the State Department of Education whose primary mission includes ensuring department-wide compliance with all privacy laws and regulations. This policy adds new annual security and privacy reporting requirements to the Governor and Legislature. ''i i '' :f'': l•, "' 13 ® Energ'fi Environment and Agriculture The operative principle of the Task Force on Energy, Environment and Agriculture is free market environmentalism. There is a mutually beneficial link between a robust economy and a healthy environment. Natural resources are generally resilient and respond positively ta wise management. Unleashing the creative powers of the free market produces innovative technology and promises new opportunities for environmental stewardship. The Tas~ Force pursues policies that take advantage of the positive forces of the free market to enhance the quality of our natural resources for the benefit of human health and environmental integrity. ·II l I I " Major Issues -·--..- - - - - - • • • • • • • • • • Agriculture Air Quality Biotechnology Climate Change Energy Infrastructure Energy Sustainability Environmental Health Environmental Education Property Rights Water Quality 14 / r- - - j - - - - -- - - .'.MERJCAN LEGlSLATI VE EXCHANGE COUNCIL Key Model Policy - / --·- -- - - - • Right to Farm Act: This policy is designed to define certain farm uses, operations, practices, and products; to provide certain disclosures; to provide for circumstances under which· a farm shall not be found to be a public or private nuisance; to provide for certain powers and duties for certain state agencies and departments; and to provide for certain remedies for certain persons. • Electricity Freedom Act: This act repeals a state's requirement that electric distribution utilities and electric services companies generate a certain percentage of electricity from a slate of politically-preferred renewable sources. Resolution to Retain State Authority over Hydraulic Fracturing: This resolution supports the continued jurisdiction of the states to conserve and properly regulate oil and natural gas production in their unique geological and geographic circumstances. 1, '1 i. • ltesolution Concerning EPA Proposed Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for New and Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants: This resolution outlines a state's responsibility for establishing emission standards and recognizes the EPA's responsibility to form guidelines which, when done properly, will lead to cost effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without requiring units retirement or a curtailment of operations. • Economic Impact Statement Act: This policy is designed to provide environmental protection while permitting the creation of wealth through requiring an economic analysis of new environmental regulations. Key components of the bill include: detailed short-term and long-term economic effects of regulation and legislative review of regulators. ·'::1,,I 15 !11' · Il . A POCKET GUIDE FOR MEMBERS ···· ····· ··············· ··· ·········· ·· ··· ··· ···· ··············· ·····.I (@ Health and Human Services l .I There is no sector'of our economy where the hand of government is more evident than in health care. Half of what the nation spends on health care is public money, and Medicaid has overtaken elementary and secondary education as the largest share of state expenditures. Unfortunately, though the best health care system is consumer-driven, not government-driven, expansion of government involvement has come at the expense of patient control. The Task Force on Health and Human Services endeavors to reassert consumer direction over health spending, recognizing that consumer choice leads to increased access at lower costs, while preserving the safety-net for the most vulnerable and encouraging the inno- ! ' , I 16 / J 1 J1 I,11 ,.ti AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL A POCKET GUIDE FOR MEMBERS vation necessary to meet the growing needs of the nation's diverse populations. • Health Care Price Disclosure Act: Requires health care professionals and health care facilities to make "direct pay" prices·available to the public upon request. Major Issues ------··--------·-··------·--·· • • • • • • Resolution Opposing Medicaid Expansion: Free Market Health Cafe Reform Health Insurance Reform Prescription Drug Coverage Medicaid Reform Expanding Access to Health Care Urges states to reject Medicaid expansion, and instead reform Medicaid to increase access to quality, affordable private health coverage. 1.:1 Key Model Policy - - -- - ::t~ I ~l~:. l 1i.. • Out-of-State Charity care Act: Permits out-of- state health care professionals, licensed and in good standing, to provide charity care at free medical clinics. ~ • Mandated Benefits Review Act: Puts an institu- tional check on mandates that increase health costs. fl~ ,:{ • Medicaid Block Grant Act: Provides a framework :1 1 ,! for requesting federal authorization for block grant funding, eligibility requirements, sliding scale subsidies, provisions for HSAs, a Medicaid reform task force and provisions for long term care delivery. ."I ,," , I• '.~ ~ . Some Missouri Lawmakers Attend Conservative Group's Spring Summit May 2, 2014 By JO MANNI ES http://news.stlpubl icradio.org/ post/some-missou ri-lawmakers-attend-conservative-groups-sprlngsummit I The Missouri House and Senate aren't in session today, but some of their members are expected to have traveled to Kansas City to take part in the American Legislative Exchange Council's spring task-force summit. The council, often referred to as ALEC, is a conservative group that focuses on state issues, often helping develop proposed legislation that some of its lawmaker-members then seek to advance in state capitols ~round the count~. Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, serves on ALEC's board. National ALEC spokesman Bill Meierling said that legislators from numerous states, including Missouri, are expected to make up about half of the 600 attendees at today's summit. A number of Missouri legislators sit on the various task forces that are meeting at the summit, he said, to discuss such policy issues as economic development, health care and taxes. Meierling did not provide a list of attendees for the gathering, which is not open to the public. Jones did not.respond to queries about whether he was attending. Critics, including some progressive organizations and watchdog groups, say that at least 47 current members of the Missouri General Assembly are members of ALEC. A report released this week by a coalition of such critics -- including Progress Missouri, Common Cause, and the Center for Media and Democracy- point to at least 13 bills introduced by Republican legislators this session that mirror wording recommended by ALEC. The measures in question seek to curb union rights, support some sort of private-school vouchers, oppose Medicaid expansion and promote tax cuts. The report also asserts that ALEC's funding from various major corporations is proof that it is primarily advancing corporate interests at the expense of average Missourians. "ALEC gives state lawmakers a way to appear highly active in the legislative process by secretly outsourcing their role in drafting legislation to the corporate special interests that curry influence with lawmakers be~ind closed doors at ALEC meetings," the report said. Among other things, it cited the donations politicians receive from corporations that also contribute to ALEC, as well as the "scholarships" that ALEC gives to legislators to help pay their costs for attending ALEC gatherings. Meierling at ALEC said he is used to seeing such disparaging reports, which he contends generally mischaracterize what ALEC is about. "They're very much looking for a straw man on which to hang negative activities or negative aspirations," Meierling said, referring to the critics. "We certainly do believe in the principles of limited government" and in free-market approaches to various issues, Meierling said. He added that it also seemed unfair to imply that the private sector should have no voice in what goes on in government: "Shouldn't the private sector be involved in conversations about things that are relevant to them?" "But the end goal is to bring people together, from the public and private sector, to have discussions about what has and hasn't worked," Meierling continued. "To the extent that our members are coming together to exchange ideas and ensure best practices, we're certainly pleased." He denied that ALEC targets specific state legislatures or seeks to unduly influence legislators, or that it promotes "model policies" for certain issues. Legislators who have used wording from ALEC gatherings were simply advancing issues they believe in, Meierling said. As for the scholarships, Meierling said the money - roughly $300 for the Kansas City gathering partially cover attendees' travel costs. By design, he said recipients do not know which firms or individuals help underwrite such expenses. Meierling added that progressives also. appear to have created their version of an ALEC counterpart, known as the Progressive States Network. "They do exactly the same thing in exactly the same way," he said, but just advance an opposing point of view. Brendan Fischer, general counsel for the Center for Media and Democracy, said the Progressive States Network doesn't offer scholarships' to legis.lators. He also contended that ALEC's influence was more pervasive and potentially damaging to the legislative process. Fischer said that the so-called scholarships, expensive meals and other perks that ALEC provides to lawmakers "allow corporations to access and influence state legislatures ... The 'scholarship' theme contributes to this environment." Corporations already wield influence through their campaign donations and lobbyists, Fischer continued. "What ALEC does is take this influence to another level. They create this environment for excessive and improper influence, and it all happens in secret." *StarTribune State Rep. Garofalo to talk energy at Missouri conference Rachel E. Stassen-Berger May 2, 2014 http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/257687411.html Republican state Rep. Pat Garofalo on Friday is to talk energy at a national American Legislative Exchange Council conference in Missouri. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to address the American Legislative Exchange Council to speak about America's energy future," Garofalo, R-Farmington, said in a statement. "Energy policy impacts all Minnesotans and leaders at the national, state, and local level must focus on maintaining the safety and reliability of our energy infrastructure." Garofalo has been a Minnesota chair of ALEC, a conservative think tank that has received sharp criticism from Democrats and others for its views and the way it works with the nation's lawmakers. A former House ed ucation committee chair, Garofalo has also served on the group's education task force. In a release, Garofalo described ALEC as: .,the nation's largest public-private partnership with well over 2,000 members. The Council is a non-partisan, non-profit group working to advance free-market principles, and brings together members of the public and private sector include legislators, business leaders, and members of the general public." A few years ago, the New York Times described it as a "stealth business lobbyist," that has "a sophisticated operation for shaping public policy at a state-by-state level." Marching Toward Fiscal Transparency Posted by David K. Rehr May 8, 2014 http:/ /www.govloop.com / profiles/ blogs/ marching-t oward-fiscal-t ranspare ncy Transparency advocates scored another victory in recent weeks with the passage of the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2013 by the U.S. Congress. The White House has already announced that the President Obama will sign the bill into law. This law builds on what has been occurring in the states for over a decade. The non-partisan American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) spearheaded legislation to create an 'open checkbook' in nearly all states. Forty-five states have the checkbook on line that lists individual expenses and millions of individual transactions are available for public review. Connecticut, for example, is typical of what a state government provides: http:Utransparency.ct.gov/html/main.asp. There are sure to be shortcomings and disappointments with the forthcoming federal law, as there have been with the myriad of state checkbook initiatives. But the positive news is that elected officials of both parties enthusiastically supported the legislation. Enactment of the federal Act has demonstrated that both parties could work together on behalf of the people. Once committed to the notion of transparency, it is impossible to turn back. Fundamentally, it is the people's right to know where their money is being spent. They are the ones who generate the wealth that is then taxed and fills the coffers of government at the federal, state and local levels. Tragically, transparency should have never been sought; it should have been prevalent since the beginning of the country. But the past is the past. We can be thankful that transparency, for a variety of reasons, has pushed forward and is accelerating in all units of government. Author Barry Casselman who writes on national politics, and was the first to predict Arkansas Governor William J. Clinton would become President of the United States, among a number of his 'first' observations, recently wrote about this march toward government transparency: "I do not know exactly when the technology that will enable virtually total transparency of American public life will take over from the past, but it's only a matter of time. And when it does come, everyone will ask "How did we live without it?" and "Why did we live without it?" 21 Government leaders now face the issue of whether they should serve as a catalyst for real transparency or work to slow or resist it. But it will come. Of course, real leaders will embrace it openly and accelerate its adoption. For political figures, this will be easier than they might expect, as the public will strongly support them with their votes on Election Day. A George Washington University Battleground Poll released in late March of over 1,000 citizens nationwide revealed that 66% of voters would strongly support a candidate who would make transparent where tax dollars are spent and what results are being achieved for that investment. Non~elected leaders inside government must also show courage and leadership. The politicians make the laws but it is the full-time government employees who turn the laws into reality. We know that. government is historically late adopters of innovation. So instead of raising issues of 'why we cannot move forward' courageous leaders should challenge their team to make finances even more transparent in a thoughtful and intelligent way (including, adding all government programs, making it easier for citizens to understand, and ensuring it is in real-time). This march could not come at a better time. Recent surveys reveal that our citizens' trust in government is on the decline. Partisan bickering is making government activity stagnant. And election campaigns are beyond name-calling and mud throwing. The march toward transparency will provide Americans with tools to engage, monitor and assess the performance of their government. Both the political right and the political left (as well as America's political center which is being stretched at both ends by rigid ideologues) can unify behind this effort. And the trust of citizens will grow which is not only great for America but for future generations of our citizens as well. Montana Slips in Business Competitive Index Monday, 12 May 2014 http:/ /www.bigskybusiness.com/index.php/ business/ economy/ 3488-montana-slips-in-bu sinesscompetitive-index Utah again earns the top spot for states with the best economic outlook in 2014, with Montana falling into the bottom ten, according to the newest edition of the Rich States, Poor States report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council. The report also reveals that big reforms significantly helped Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina improve their national rankings this year. Ranking 43rd, Montana fell from a ranking of 30th, last year. "The big story in our report this year is that fundamental tax and fiscal policy reforms significantly improved the economic competitiveness rankings of North Carolina, Indiana, and Michigan. These states are now better poised to realize real economic growth," said Jonathan Williams, director of the American Legislative Exchange Council Center for State Fiscal Reform and co-author of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic State Competitiveness Index. Rich States, Poor States examines the latest trends in state economic growth. The data ranks the 2014 economic outlook of states using 15 equally weighted policy variables, including various tax rates, regulatory·burdens and labor policies. The seventh edition examines the trends over the last few decades that have helped or hurt states' rankings, and states with low tax rates and right-to-work laws are more likely to have a better economic outlook. The 15 economic policy variables used by the authors to rank the economic outlook of states have shown over time to be among the most influential variables for state growth. The top ten and bottom ten states for 2014 are: (TOP) 1. Utah; 2. South Dakota; 3. Indiana; 4. North Dakota; 5. Idaho; 6. North Carolina; 7. Arizona; 8. Nevada; 9. Georgia; 10. Wyoming. (BOTIOM) 41. Rhode Island; 42. Oregon; 43 . Montana; 44. Connecticut; 45. New Jersey; 46. Minnesota; 47. California; 48. Illinois; 49. Vermont; SO. New York. ana1vsts; 0 TJ1L· ('>. ~·i:rr~' expert; . Summary by raxana1vsrs·- The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), in response to a critique by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) of ALEC's annual state economic competitiveness index report, says the CBPP's study on state taxes and migration fundamentally misinterprets the data and grossly misrepresents the position taken by low-tax advocates. Fun Text Published by ruanaJ~s-ts~· Taxes Do Matter to Migration Jonathan Williams, Will Freeland and Ben Wilterdink May 12, 2014 http:Uservices.taxa nalysts.com/taxbase/stn3.nsf/Current+Ed it ion/00170A8BD13D6A0785257CD80004E BF2?0penDocument The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) recently released a new study that purports to show that state taxes have a negligible effect on the decisions of Americans to migrate from one state to another. The study criticizes research done by Dr. Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore and Jonathan Williams in the yearly publication Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index and other publications that arrive at the conclusion that states should seek to adopt competitive tax and fiscal policies as a way of promoting economic growth. The author of the CBPP report fundamentally misinterprets what the data really means and/or grossly misrepresents the actual position taken by advocates of lower state taxes. For the 43 million Americans who have moved from 1992 to 2011 -bringing $2 trillion with them -- economic policy frequently was a major factor. It is worth pointing out that years of research show that citizens move based on taxes -- and more broadly -- economic policy. States with better public policy see higher job growth, higher gross state product growth, and higher migration. Businesses relocate to states with better economic climates and are able to hire more workers when they have more money left over after taxes, regul(!tory compliance, and legal compliance. That means that citizens looking for a job or higher pay will generally flow to free market states that have enhanced economic competitiveness. Looking at the performance over the last decade of the top and bottom 10 states from this year'sRich States, Poor States demonstrates this migration trend: 24 TOP 10 GSP Growth Utah 74.9 South Dakota Migration 63,532 '53.8 Indiana -27,203 125.1 Idaho 9.8 0.5 10,441 94,969 54.4 32.2 9.7 642,378 50.9 North Carolina 17.7 16,932 43.1 North Dakota Job Growth 5.2 Arizona 50.7 618,037 9.0 Nevada 61.4 273,594 8.3 Georgia 38.1 485,993 2.2 99.5 Wyoming Average Top 10 29,112 BOTTOM 10 GSP Growth Rhode Island 33.6 Oregon 16.6 220,779 65.2 Migration -63,806 66.2 11.1 166,474 -3.3 3.7 Montana 70.0 46,200 Connecticut 35.8 -117,924 -0.9 New Jersey 34.8 -491,479 -1.4 Minnesota 46.2 -64,954 3.0 -1,429,475 0.4 California Illinois 44.4 39.7 -623,467 11.7 -1.6 Vermont 39.4 -5,973 New York 46.6 -1,527,359 Average Bottom 10 45.7 Job Growth 2.4 4.4 411,176 1.8 Furthermore, Dr. Randall Pozdena and Eric Fruits have shown that states that have a higher performance in Rich States, Poor States have stronger economic health. They find that economic freedom, as measure by the Rich States, Poor States economic outlook rankings, accounts for between .25 percent and 40 percent of the variation in state economic performance. The chart below displays their results: Figure 15: Higher ALEC-Laffer Ranks are Associated with Higher State Performance Results Figure 15: Higher ALEC-La/fer Ranks are AssoCiated with Higher State Performance Ranks .50 40 • lMl 30 20 •i The author of the CBPP report makes much of the fact that people who move from one state to another do not explicitly cite "taxes" as the reason for the move when asked. From this data point, the CBPP author concludes that taxes have very little impact on whether people will move from one state to another when in fact, the leading reason people move is for a job. Several key points can be made about why the CBPP report conclusion does not follow from the author's premise. First, just because high taxes were not cited .as the primary reason to move to another state does not mean that taxes were not taken into account and considered among various other factors. Second, even the author of the CBPP study acknowledges there are indeed cases where people move from one state to another primarily for tax purposes. Take an individual moving from California to Texas: higher income earners stand to pay no income tax instead of a top marginal rate of 13.3 percent. Third, the CBPP conclusion tremendously mischaracterizes the position of those who advocate for lowering state taxes. To paraphrase the core arguments made in Rich States, Poor States: 1) Incentives matter: people will generally act in their own best interest 2) Lower state taxes and other policy decisions are important to economic growth 3) Economic growth means more opportunity and prosperity for citizens, including new and better jobs 26 The data shows that people will move to a state if they have reason to believe they will have better opportunities in that state, and an economic climate that is conducive to greater economic growth includes competitive state taxes. Even the CBPP author acknowledges this point, noting that, statistically, nearly a third of people report they are moving or moved for a job. The real question here should have been: Does having lower state taxes mean more economic growth and more jobs? The answer is an unequivocal yes. The facts show that states with low taxes, especially low or no income taxes, consistently outperform their high-tax counterparts in terms of economic growth, which includes job growth and domestic migration. In addition to the table and chart above, the table below succinctly lays out a comparison between the nine states that have no income ta·x versus the nine states with the highest income taxes. Clearly, the no- income tax states are doing far better than their high-tax counterparts. Public policy, including tax policy, matters to economic performance, which in turn matters to migration. Tables 5. 9 No Income Tax States vs. 9 Highest Income Tax States Growth Rates, 2001-2011 States 9 States with Gross Nonfarm State Payroll Population Product 15.00% State& Local Tax Employment 53.50% 12.70% Revenue+ 76.30% with No Income Tax* U.S. 9.50% 51.40% 7.60% 49.80% Average** 9 States with 6.00% 45.20% 4.90% 47,90% Highest Personal Income Tax Rates*. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Laffer Associates FOOTNOTES TO TABLE 5 27 * Equal-weighted average ** Equal-weighted average, does not Include Washington, D.C. + 2000-2010 (2011 data not yet available) END OF FOOTNOTES TO TABLE 5 Other sources substantiate this claim as well. Dr. William McBride, chief economist at the Tax Foundation, performed a literature review on academic studies relating to the effect of taxes on economic growth. Almost all of them found a negative impact on economic growth due to taxes. Even a study from Christina Romer, formerly of the Council of Economic Advisors for President Obama, found that GDP is negatively affected by taxes. Predictably, the CBPP attempted to deny this point, but in a rejoinder, Dr. McBride thoroughly rebuts their work and shows unequivocally that the research consensus from econoi:nists is that taxes do affect economic performance. Travis Brown, author of How Money Walks used IRS data to track the migration patterns of Americans and found they are overwhelmingly moving to low or no income tax states from high tax states. The CBPP author offers two alternatives to explain why it may appear that people are moving to lower tax states and out of higher tax states: weather and cost of living (partiGularly housing costs). Weather cannot serve as a sufficient explanation for why people choose to move -- although it should not be inferred that weather is never considered when deciding where to move, certainly that factor is also considered -- because if weather were the main motivation, then we would expect that California and Florida would both be booming. But in fact, of those two, only Florida is gaining population from other states. Florida, a no income tax state, has gained more than 1 million people on net from 2003-2012, second only to Texas (another no income tax state). Meanwhile, in that same time period, California, the state with the highest income taxes in the country, has lost almost 1.5 million people. Even if weather is a factor, it is clearly not the only thing at play and it is obviously not a factor that legislators can change. As for the cost of living argument, the author of the CBPP report notes that many movers would be likely to save a great deal more on their mortgage than they would on their state taxes. However, if individuals would move to save on housing costs, common sense would also suggest that they would move to save on tax costs. Additionally, while the cost of living may be a factor, it cannot sufficiently explain the patterns of domestic migration. If this were the primary factor for moving, then people would presumably be flooding into downtown Detroit where housing prices have been a bargain for many years. Finally, this argument also ignores the significance of more free market zoning laws that allow for easier and cost effective property development. As even Vax's Matt Yglesias has pointed out, restrictive zoning codes often lower housing supply, which in turn raises prices. Moreover, property taxes also affect the cost of renting a home since those taxes are passed along in rent prices to consumers. Notably, even when looking at housing prices, we see that government policy does affect where people migrate, even if indirectly. 28 Finally, the CBPP author's suggestion that public services are a driver of migration is made with virtually no evidence and rests on shaky logic. When comparing high-tax states to low-tax states, the differences in public services are marginal. Presumably the author of the CBPP report doesn't believe individuals move based on differences in the economic gain from public assistance, while at the same time holds onto his belief that individuals do not move for differences based on economic gain f~om tax policy. Moreover, while individuals may move due to differences in public schools, the case that education outcomes are improved by higher levels of funding stands on extremely shaky ground. Outside of education and public assistance, differences in public services are fairly marginal and exceedingly unlikely to motivate an individual to move. The CBPP report ultimately fails to prove what it sets out to explain: that taxes don't matter to Americans' interstate moving decisions. The author's various arguments for why we see the moving patterns that we do lack sufficient explanatory power to reject the conclusion that taxes matter for domestic migration, even if indirectly. As Rich States, Poor States has documented, there are years of data demonstrating how low-tax states are far more conducive to economic growth than their high-tax counterparts. Economic growth means more jobs and more opportunity, and we know that people move for better jobs and better opportunity. MidlandN D!AILY . EWS ALEC's quest to restor,e American competitiveness May 13, 2014 By Tim Nash http://www.ourmidland.com/opinion/editorials/c837cf32-b6e8-5125-88fd-306673c2f5ea.html On April 25, 2014, Ed Steiner's Op-Ed entitled "Steiner: Lawmakers Active in ALEC; what are their Motives?" appeared in the Midland Daily News. In his editorial, Steiner, a long-time Midland resident, painted the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as an organization that promotes crony capitalism and the aims of big business above what is best for Americans and the U.S. economy in general. Steiner concludes his article by noting "given the aims of ALEC and its insidious nature, it seems prudent to question the motives of those legislators: are 29 they acting for the good of "We the People" or are they promoting the goals of ALEC and it's supporting corporations?" Like Steiner, I am not a member of ALEC. Unlike Steiner, I have attended and spoken at numerous ALEC meetings across the United States. ALEC is a 501c3 non-profit organization which provides a constructive forum for state legislators and private sector leaders to discuss and exchange ideas on key public policy topics that affect economic growth and standards of living at the state level. ALEC meetings provide a forum (for its more than 2,000 state senators and state representatives from across the United States) where practical solutions to state problems can be debated within an environment fashioned around free markets, IJmited government and the constitutional division of powers between federal and state governments. ALEC is non-partisan in nature and bipartisan in terms of its membership with at least three of its national chairs having been Democrats over the past ten years. ALEC is a think tank dedicated to state level public policy issues and potential solutions. ALEC publishes research on a number of issues of interest to its membership. It holds meetings where state representatives, state senators and private sector members discuss a multiplicity of topics and views. Like many organizations, including the American Bar Association, ALEC members oft~n develop model solutions or model bills, to solve problems ranging from job creation and job growth, state tax and budget policy, to education and healthcare reform and sustainable energy policies. ALEC is run by and for state legislators. Private sector members can engcige in the debate on any relevant topic and provide input, feedback and voice their concerns as to whether a policy or model bill will add to job creation and economic growth or deter it. ALEC private sector members include corporations, non-profit organizations and more than 500 individuals. No member donates more than 5 percent of ALEC revenues. ALEC is a resource provider and is not a lobbying group. ALEC's board of state legislators approves all model bills and public policy initiatives that ALEC makes available for use on its website as a resource to state legislators and state legislatures across the country. I find nothing insidious about ALEC and suggest that Steiner look up the definition of the word and then attend an ALEC meeting. I find it very difficult to comprehend why people want to attack an organization that by definition provides a forum for input from a wide range of constituents and viewpoints, all interested in growing the American economy and U.S. standards of living for all of its citizens. Wellknown Democratic economist, Dr. Arthur Laffer, who has advised many American presidents on tax cuts, is often a speaker at ALEC events. Roughly 100 members of our current U.S. Congress were once .state legislators and members of ALEC before they were elected to represent their states in our nations' capitol. None other than Midland's own Congressman David L. Camp, chairman, Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives was a member of ALEC while a state legislator in Michigan, nearly three decades ago. Government consumption of GDP at all levels in the United States has gone from less than 8 percent in 1900 to more than 40 percent today; our national debt is more than $17.5 trillion dollars and is greater than 100 percent of our GDP; American success and our future is being questioned on multiple fronts. In 30 light of all this, perhaps an organization which argues for limited government, fiscal responsibility and seeks the input of a broad number of constituents ought to be a model for debate and emulation, not criticism and attack? Just a thought. Dr. Timothy G. Nash is vice president for strategic and corporate alliances and the David E. Fry chair in free market economics at Northwood University. Comments or questions should be directed to Nash at tgnash@northwood.edu or (989} 837-4323. MissourillJatchdog.org Missourians can fight electronic government spying at ballot box May 19, 2014 . By Josh Peterson http://watchdog.org/145272/missouri-privacy-amendment/ Missouri residents will have the chance Nov. 4 to fight back against government electronic spying by amending their state constitution. HANDS OFF: Missouri residents will have the chance on Nov. 4 to fight back against government electronic spying by amending their state constitution. On Friday, Missouri lawmakers passed a joint resolution, SJ 27,that asks residents to vote to amend the Constitution of Missouri to codify electronic privacy protections into the very fabric of their state legal code. The bill, introduced by Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, now awaits Missouri residents at the ballot box, bypassing the governor's desk since it's a bill regarding a constitutional amendment ..•. Following SJ 27's passage through the House on Friday, Schaaf tweeted, "My SJR 27 passed !"Voters will decide if electronic communications and data should be protected against unreasonable search and seizure!" Schaff's chief of staff. Chris Dunn, previously told Watchdog.org he believed Missouri voters were upset at the level of government intrusion into their lives, noting the highly positive response the bill received . ' from the public and from colleagues. The bill passed unanimously in the House, and 31-1 in the Senate. Shane Trejo, spokesman for the OffNow coalition, a privacy advocacy group, expressed his approval of the bill, saying legislation like SJ 27 can "significantly reduce the practical effect'' of what agencies like the National Security Agency are trying to do with electronic data collected without a warrant. "Compliance with the NSA's illegal spying program would be illegal in Missouri if this is passed, and that is no small feat," said Trejo in a blog post Friday. OffNow.org, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union in partnership with the American Legislative Exchange Council, have been working with state lawmakers across the country to strengthen citizens' electronic privacy protections against government agents. Newsmo Independent. Americait. Electronic Privacy Battles Taking Place in 20 States Sunday, 25 May 2014 By Josh Peterson http://www. newsm ax.com/US/e Iectroni c-priva cy-su rve iIla nce-states/2014/05/25/id /5 73319/ State lawmakers are pushing back against the surveillance alliance between the executive branch and· law enforcement agencies at all levels of society. According to data.published by the privacy advocacy group OffNow.org, lawmakers in 20 states battled over electronic privacy and the Fourth Amendment this past legislative session. The privacy debate, while not new, gained further momentum after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden fled the U.S. nearly a year ago and leaked thousands of agency documents detailing the federal government's electronic spying apparatus. OffNow.org, for example, created model legislation taken up for debate by seven states, banning states from providing material support and resources to federal agents engaged in warrantless electronic surveillance. While the organization's efforts first focused on starving a new National Security Agency facility in Utah 'ts water supply, lawmakers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina and 32 Vermont chose to tackle the issue at a legislative level. Lawmakers in Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Utah, in addition to the seven aforementioned states, looked at banning the use of warrantless data in court. Missouri voters also now have a chance to choose in the fall whether to codify electronic privacy protections into their state's constitutions. Lawmakers in those three states - in addition to Illinois, Maine, Montan·a, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin - also debated legislation banning law enforcement agencies from tracking the location of cell phones without a warrant. In Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert s!gned into law such a bill at the end of March; Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed a similar bill May 16. The American Civil Liberties Union has worked with the American Legislative Exchange Council to promote· model legislation at the state level designed to prevent law enforcement from searching the contents of a mobile phone or accessing its geolocation data without a warrant. "All 50 states have different rules - and some basically have no rules, it's up to the police to decide how they want to do it - as far as tracking people, their location, using their cell phones," ALEC Director of Special Projects Michael Hough told Watchdog.org. . . While Hough conceded that addressing the protection of the Internet and regulating drones made more sense at the federal level, there was a clear role for the states to address privacy and law enforcement concerns. "You really need a balance in the states for law enforcement and for civil liberties," said Hough, "and right now, quite frankly, some of the states are out of balance." The Supreme Court is also weighing in on whether law enforcement should seek a warrant to q:>Jl~ct ~he data on a cellphone. Nongovernmental organizations such as the Digital 4th Coalition, TechFreedom and the Electronic Frontier Fouhdation are working with tech corporations to persuade Washington to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986. ECPA allows government investigators the ability to demand, without a warrant, from a private company a suspect's private emails and text messages older than 180 days. Consumers' use of email technology has changed since the law was originally passed, storing more data on line. Privacy advocates want Congress to change the law to reflect this change in people's behavior. nt White House privacy report, authored by President Obama adviser John Podesta, 33 recommended Congress amend ECPA "to ensure the standard of protection for online, digital content is consistent with that afforded in the physical world- including by removing archaic distinctions between email left unread or over a certain age." .The White House report was published nine days after a Watchdog.erg report highlighted the Obama administration's choice to respond to a petition calling for the deportation of Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, but still had yet to respond to a petition calling for ECPA reform. Katie McAuliffe, federal affairs manager and executive director for Digital Liberty at Americans for Tax Reform, is skeptical state level privacy reform would be sufficient to protect citizens' privacy. "When states choose their laws, federal laws don't always follow suit," McAuliffe told Watchdog.erg, citing how the Drug Enforcement Administration shut down medicinal marijuana dispensaries in California, despite the dispensaries being legal under state law. "I think it's great that states are working to protect their citizens' privacy, and I think that's a really good thing, and it demonstrates that more and more people are aware of the issues with privacy and what's going on," said McAuliffe. "But I think that there needs to be a federal law because federal agencies, I don't think, this is my personal opinion, will necessarily abide by state laws." aZtentral .4,. Hamer: By any measure, Arizona significantly outperforms the Empire State NY economy better than Arizona's? Not a chance Glenn Hamer May 25, 2014 http:ljwww.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2014/05/25/ny-economy-better-a rizo na/2340260/ If you watch the Sunday morning talk shows or cable news, you might have seen ads by New York's economic development agency, the Empire State Development Corp. The ads are slick and well produced. Part of the marketing campaign even includes an Arizona company that moved its operations to New York. Could it be that New York offers a better business climate than Arizona? Before you load up the U-Haul and_take your business east, a closer look reveals that Arizona wins hands down in a head-to-head matchup with New York. 34 Chief Executive magazine just released its latest rankings of business environments, and for the third year in a row Arizona was in the top 10. New York clocked in at a dismal 49th, earning a one-star rating for its tax and regulatory climate. Only California was worse. Other rankings are just as depressing for New Yorkers. The Tax Foundation's 2014 rankings of best business tax climates put New York dead last. After Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to bring the corporate income tax rate down to 6.5 percent from 7.1 percent, the Foundation says that it would have slotted New York in at 48. For those keeping score, Arizona's landmark 2011 competitiveness package is phasing Arizona's corporate income tax down to 4.9 percent. The Rich States, Poor States report issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council last month rankect New York dead last for economic outlook and number 35 for economic performance. Again, Arizona was in the top 10 in both categories. Sensing a pattern? I'm a native New Yorker. While I am officially a Diamondbacks fan, I admit I sometimes cheer for the Yankees, enjoy the offerings of Little Italy and am a great admirer of Rudy Giuliani. But Arizona wins over New York on quality of life alone. Not only is there no polar vortex here,. but the entire culture of Arizona is one premised on the ability to make your own way on merit. Add in a state government here that is a model of efficiency compared to Albany and tax, regulatory, labor and legal climates that encourage growth and investment, and one almost feels bad for New York. Thanks to Gov. Jan Brewer and the Legislature, the state has instituted reforms over the years that have firms from around the globe looking at Arizona. The opposite is true in New York: Lots of money for marketing, but very little in meaningful reform. But what about that Arizona firm that New York reeled in? Didn't New York's supposedly great business environment steal one of our own? Not exaC:tly. Valutek was in New York in 2011, so it's hardly a new recruit. And the number of jobs in question is 25. Any job in an emerging high-tech field should be celebrated, but this isn't on par with Apple and other headlining-grabbing jobs announcements in Arizona quarterbacked by the Arizona Commerce Authority. Governor Cuomo can buy up all the air time he wants and it still won't change the poor fundamentals of his state's business environment. Arizona's policy climate is the one to be emulated, not New York's. amer is president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 35 NATIONAL.. REVIM' ONJ..JNJ; The New War Between the States As businesses and residents vote with their feet, low-tax states like Texas are winning. By John Fund May 30, 2014 http://www.nationa Ireview .com/ article/3 79117 /new-wa r-betwee n-states-john-fu nd Wealth and people are moving in America, from places where local policies inhibit economic growth to places where the tax and regulatory climate is sunnier. The numbers are clear. Between 1995 and 2010 over $2 trillion in adjusted gross income moved between the states. That's the equivalent of the GDP of California, the ninth largest GDP in the world. Some of the movement might be due to weather - that helps to explain some of Florida's $86.4 billion _gain and New York's $58.6 billion loss. But we can attribute a great deal to the fact that capital flows to where it is best treated. Travis Brown, author of the new book How Money Walks, reports that the nine states without a personal income tax gained $146 billion in new wealth while the nine states with the highest income tax rates lost $107 billion. States are now competing for wealth transfers like never before. In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie used a recent Wall Street Journal forum to slam neighboring New York as going in the "wrong direction" and to urge residents of the ~mpire State to move to his home turf. "You see taxes being increased there," Christie told the audience of CEOs. "You have a new mayor in New York who is aggressively talking about increasing taxes in New York City. While I feel badly for New Yorkers, come to New Jersey.'' Nor is Christie alone. Tom Foley, a GOP candidate for governor in Connecticut, used the November 2013 election of the ardent "progressive" Bill de Blasio as New York mayor to run TV ads urging people to relocate. "Hey, New York City, with your new mayor, I know many of you are thinking about leaving," Foley says in one commercial. "Connecticut next year will probably elect a new governor. When it does, Connecticut once again will be the place people want to be in the Northeast." Of course, most New Yorkers who will move homes or businesses will leapfrog their neighboring states, which are still much more highly taxed and anti-busil'!ess than those in the South and West. The Census Bureau reports that Raleigh, Austin, Las Vegas, Orlando, Charlotte, Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas were among the ten fastest-growing metro areas last year. Metro areas that lost the most population included Cleveland, Detroit; Buffalo, Providence, and Rochester, all firmly under the control of liberal politicians. Indeed, America's major cities are turning more Democratic than ever. Take Texas, where every statewide officeholder is Republican but all the cities from Dallas to Houston to San Antonio have Democratic mayors. 36 But even cities with liberal leadership benefit from statewide policies that increase incentives for job creation. Many states have right-to-work laws that make it illegal to require workers to join a union and pay dues - dues that overwhelmingly fuel the election of liberal politicians. Right-to-work laws are a powerful business-recruiting tool - so much so that even traditionally pro-union Midwestern states such as Michigan and Indiana have recently adopted them. By contrast, many states where unions hold sway are passing super-minimum-wage laws that price low-income workers out of the job market. Union-dominated states are sinking further into economic stagnation as Democratic politicians increasingly dominate the local political climate. In 2012, California Democrats won a supermajority in both houses of the legislature and proceeded to accelerate a tax and spending spree that has been ongoing for two decades. For example, California now has the nation's top state income-tax rate, at 13.3 percent. Thos~ kind of policies have conseq!Jences. The Manhattan Institute released a report in 2012 that found that since 1990, California had lost nearly 3.4 million residents to other states with lower tax rates. Over the last decade, an average of 225,000 residents left the state each year. The Manhattan Institute concluded: States tha't have gained the most at California's expense are rated as having better business climates. The data suggest that many cost drivers - taxes, regulations, the high price of housing and commercial real estate, costly electricity, union power and high labor costs - are prompting businesses to locate outside California, thus helping to drive the exodus. The gulf separating growth-friendly states and "progressive" states is likely only to widen in the future. In a new report, the American Legislative Exchange Council notes that 18 states cut taxes within the last year and a half, but at the same time, slow-growth Illinois, Maryland, Connecticut, and Minnesota all raised their income taxes. Economists Steve Moore and Art Laffer predict that within the next ten years, a half dozen Southern states will completely eliminate their income taxes. "This would mean that the region stretching from Florida through Texas and Louisiana could become a vast state income-tax-free zone," they write. Florida, Texas, and Tennessee already have no income tax; and, spurred by their example, Republican governors in North Carolina and Louisiana are publicly proclaiming their goal is to join them. Other states are catching the fever. Kansas governor Sam Brownback vows to end his state's income tax, and neighboring GOP Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma says she wants to do the same. The U.S. is swiftly becoming a tale of two nations. States that are following the Reagan model of low taxes and incentives are booming while· states that are opting for the Obama model of wealth redistribution and European welfare-state economics are stagnating. Some say the competition between them is unfair. "The blue states now have aging infrastructures, large pensions to pay, and entrenched trade unions," Chicago businessman Kevin Gallagher told me. "The competitive advantage that most of the red states have is that they are a blank page and they on't have the obligations the blue states have." 37 True enough. But even states in a collectivist ditch have shown the ability to dig out of it. "They said we couldn't reform a state that pioneered the Progressive Era's policies and saw the nation's largest publicemployee union founded in Madison," Wisconsin governor Scott Walker told me last month. "But we dared to try, and we succeeded. Now you can tell our reforms are working because our opponents refuse to pledge to roll them back. Any state can reform itself if the people decide·they've had enough." GOVERNING THE STATES AND LOCALITIES ALEC Goes Local BY ALAN GREENBLATI JUNE 2014 http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-alec-goes-local.html The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is expanding its reach beyond the states to local governments. ALEC is expanding. The group that's long been known for promoting conservative legislation in states is now moving into local government. It's a smart step for ALEC. (Its formal name is the American Legislative Exchange Council.) There's been an explosion of conservative think-tankery in states over the past decade, with many capitals and big cities now hosting groups that float ideas, which are then promoted heavily by corporate interests. But, perhaps because there are so many thousands of localities, there's nothing equivalent at the city or county level. "As a conservative, as somebody who believes in more of a limited government and free-market solutions to some of the problems that exist in government, I found myself frustrated in my council experience because there weren't resources available to me," says Jon Russell, a former local official in Washington state who is leading the initiative, known as the American City County Exchange. The organizations that do represent local governments don't typically get into those sorts of ideological policy issues. The National League of Cities (NLC), for instance, tends to focus more on federal issues or to act as a clearinghouse for good ideas and practices among its members. "We don't necessarily look at policy, or getting cities to do things differently," says Gregory Minchak, an NLC spokesman. Stepping into that breach, the American City County Exchange will run very much on the ALEC model, pairing up lawmakers with busin.ess groups to craft model legislation and other proposals. The effort is in its infancy -- Russell only started working full time on the project in March -- but ALEC is claiming 38 hundreds of members have already signed up. The group will kick things off in a big way in July, at ALEC's annual meeting. "It's nice to have a group like this that can provide information to me as to how other people in other areas have done positive things in terms of reducing the size of government and the scope of government," says Todd Grayson, a member of the Perrysburg, Ohio, City Council. Grayson says in this way the group can act like "an ideal lobbyist," filling the void left by the lack of staff - and the ideas they might generate -- at the local level. "There's nobody feeding you legislation," he says. "There's nobody feeding your ideas for legislation." Not everyone thinks that ALEC or its new subsidiary will be anything like an ideal lobbyist. Already, outside interest groups are affecting elections, spending big money not just on lobbying but on local races, says Mary Bottari, deputy director of the Center for Media and Democracy, which runs a watchdog project called ALEC Exposed. ALEC's moving into the local level will only exacerbate that issue. The group has never been a stranger to controversy. But it has drawn scrutiny-- and lost some major corporate members -- due to its role in promoting "stand your ground" laws, such as the one in Florida that became notorious after the Trayvon Martin killing. ALEC now says it's getting back to basics by avoiding social issues, giving its exclusive attention to financial and regulatory matters. There's certainly plenty of that kind of work at the local level. Cities and counties have problems as various as their enormous numbers, but they tend to have in common concerns such as zoning, land use, placement of cell towers and, of course, taxes. "While there may not be a model policy that works for Midland, Texas, as well as for Terre Haute, Ind., there may be bits and pieces they're able to use," says Russell. "We are aware that when our members start developing model policy, some of it will not be applicable for some jurisdictions. But at least the resources are there." POLITICO Some states already lashing at climate rule By: Andrew Restuccia June 4, 2014 http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/obama-climate-rule-states-lash-out-107450.html Long before President Barack Obama's Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its major climate rule for power plants this week, legislators around the country were working to undercut it with a big money 39 conservative group nudging them along. In at least eight states, lawmakers have approved symbolic anti-EPA resolutions based on a model approved by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group that has shaped controversial state measures on issues like Stand Your Ground gun laws and opposition to Obamacare exchanges. Kentucky has gone even further, enacting a law this spring that could block the state from complying with EPA's rule. West Virginia and Kansas have new laws taking aim at the regulation one way or another, and states like Ohio, Louisiana and Missouri are considering similar measures. The resistance in state capitals is a pre-emptive strike for conservatives - and yet another sign that Obama's opponents are plotting a long-term strategy to try to deny him and his liberal allies a long-sought victory.on climate change. If the anti-EPA trend catches fire, it would force the agency to write a greenhouse gas reduction plan for every state that refuses to submit its own. That would bring renewed accusations of federal overreach, mirroring what happened when HealthCare.gov wound up becoming the health care exchange for 36 states, and it would thwart EPA's hopes of letting each state choose its own strategy for reducing power plants' carbon pollution. "It's a political stunt," said Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, who doubts the legislative attacks will succeed. "It appears to be a form of 'ready, fire, aim.' They are shopping this provision without knowing what the proposed rule was, much less the final rule." But some environmentalists say more states could join the trend. "What we've seen since January is just the beginning of the states' legislative attacks," said Aliya Haq, a Natural Resources Defense Council official who has been tracking the state legislation and resolutions. John Eick, director of the ALEC Task Force on Energy, Environment and Agriculture, also sees a "good chance" that his group will issue model legislation on EPA's power plant rule after its annual meeting this summer. "I think it's very possible that we'll probably put together even more language specifically targeting this regulation," he said. EPA leaders haven't made clear that they have much of a backup plan if states balk, but they said they don't expect many to resist. "States will want to be in the driver seat," a senior EPA official told reporters Monday. The agency has also tried to head off opposition by holding an extensive series of meetings to hear concerns from state regulators and other affected parties during the past year while working on the rule. And unlike the health care exchanges, states have decades of experience managing air pollution regulations, which could ease potential queasiness. So far, the stiffest sign of legislative resistance has come from Kentucky, which gets almost all its electricity from coal, the fuel with the most to lose from the EPA rule. Both chambers of the Legislature unanimously 40 passed a law restricting the kinds of carbon cuts the state could adopt and explicitly telling the state to consider adopting carbon standards less stringent than the federal rule demands. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear signed it in April. The Kentucky law calls for emissions reductions at individual plants instead of the broad statewide cuts EPA's rule envisions, and it discourages using a shift from coal to natural gas as part of a compliance strategy, among other provisions. Environmentalists warn that the Kentucky law could backfire by preventing the governor from submitting a plan that meets EPA's requirements. That, in turn, could lead to what EPA's opponents claim they don't want - a plan imposed by Washington. "The bills tend to paint utilities and state agencies into a corner," Haq said, adding that the Kentucky legislation "forces the state agency to write a plan that EPA could not approve." Kentucky state Sen. Brandon Smith, a Republican who sponsored the Kentucky bill, acknowledged that the legislation could set up a clash with the EPA - and he said he's ready for the fight. "I think you're going to see everybody entrench," he said. "We're going to fight very, very hard to make sure this. thing doesn't go into compliance." Kentucky officials tasked with implementing EPA's rule are "still doing the legal analysis" on the bill, said John Lyons, the st~te's assistant secretary for climate policy. "We've got that state legis·lation in place that may very well limit our options," he said. The laws enacted in West Virginia and Kansas take a less blunt approach. Lawmakers altered those bills after some debate to ensure that the states could comply with EPA's standards. The final version of West Virginia's bill, for example, instructs the state Department of Environmental Protection to submit a plan to EPA that is designed to meet the agency's requirements. Virginia also considered legislation to undercut the EPA rule, but the version that Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed in April merely requires the state to conduct an analysis of the effects of the regulation. "Most of these bills won't legally impede states from implementing these standards," Haq said . Still, states will have until as late as 2018 to submit their compliance plans to EPA, giving opponents in state capitals plenty of time to work. States like Ohio and Louisiana are considering legislation in response to EPA's climate rules, and a bill in Missouri is awaiting Gov. Jay Nixon's signature. The nonbinding resolutions that other states have passed amount to little more than political statements. But ALEC's involvement in crafting models for the resolutions has raised red flags among environmentalists. In January, ALEC published two model resolutions opposing EPA's climate regulations, and since then ma kers have introduced similar resolutions in more than a dozen states. At least eight states have 41 approved them. ALEC has long been a target of liberals because of its financial support from billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, and it has proudly worked before to undermine other Obama administration milestones. For example, it cooperated with other conservative groups in swaying Republican state lawmakers against setting up state-run health care exchanges to implement the Affordable Care Act. One of ALEC's allies in the anti-Obamacare effort, the Cato lnstitute's Michael Cannon, told POLITICO in 2012 that they had to counter state-level Republicans who thought it would be better for a state to create its own exchange rather than have the Department of Health and Human Services step in. "It's fun going in there and telling them, 'No actually, if you want to protect your state, tell the federal government: ... It's your stupid law; you implement it,"' he said at the time. A similar calculus is at play in the plans outlining how the states will comply with the EPA regulation, which the agency estimates would cut power plants' carbon pollution an average of 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. EPA is allowing states a wide array of possible options, including increasing their reliance on natural gas instead of coal, promoting energy efficiency or joining regional cap-and-trade networks. If EPA has to impose a plan, it may not be to the legislators' liking, and such a plan might not be as effective as something the states could have crafted. Environmentalists allege that ALEC is behind the binding anti-EPA legislation that was introduced in Kentucky and other states, noting that the original versions of the bills have similar language. ALEC rejects the accusation, although it readily acknowledges its role in approving models for the nonbinding resolutions. "All our model legislation is on our website," Eick said when asked whether his group was pushing the antiEPA bills. ALEC's website does not list model legislation similar to the Kentucky bill or those enacted in West Virginia and Kansas. Smith, the Kentucky lawmaker who sponsored his state's bill, said he's not a member of ALEC and that the group didn't influence the legislation. He said the bill stemmed in part from discussions with members of the Southern States Energy Board, a coalition of 16 states that works on energy issues. Some tracking the EPA rule say they don't expect state compliance to turn into an Obamacare-like mess, partly because utilities would revolt if a slew of states turned the keys over to the feds. "The fact of the matter is that regulated entities would rather deal with the states than EPA," said Adam Kushner, who served as the director of EPA's Office of Civil Enforcement during the Obama administration until joining the law firm Hogan Lovells in 2012. "There's going to be a lot of pressure on state legislat'ors to leave well enough alone." Kushner pointed to several factors that make the implementation of the EPA rule different from 42 Obamacare. First, he said, EPA has diligently reached out to states in the run-up to the proposed regulation's release, and the deadline for states to submit their initial compliance plans is June 2016. (Some states will have until June 2018 to submit final plans.) "The Obamacare deadline was much more immediate," he said . POLITICO Big Brother: Meet the Parents By: Stephanie Simon June 5, 2014 http://www.politico.com/ story/ 2014/ 06/internet-data-m ining-ch ildre n-107461.htm l You've heard of Big Oil and Big Tobacco. Now get ready for Big Parent. Moms and dads from across the political spectrum have mobilized into an unexpected political force in recent months to fight the data mining of their children. In a frenzy of activity, they've catapulted student privacy - an issue that was barely on anyone's radar last spring - to prominence in statehouses from New York to Florida to Wyoming. A months-long review by POLITICO of student privacy issues, including dozens of interviews, found the parent privacy lobby gaining momentum - and catching big-data advocates off guard. Initially dismissed as a fringe campaign, the privacy movement has attracted powerful allies on both the left and right. The American Civil Liberties Union is pushing for more student privacy protection. So is the Am.erican Legislative Exchange Council, the organization of conservative legislators. (Full coverage of Beyond the NSA) The amateur activists have already claimed one trophy, torpedoing a privately run, $100 million database set up to make it easier for schools to share confidential student records with private companies. The project, known as in Bloom, folded this spring under tremendous parent pressure, just 15 months after its triumphal public launch. Now, parents are rallying against another perceived threat: huge state databases being built to track children for more than.two decades, from as early as infancy through the start of their careers. Promoted by the Obama administration, the databases are being built in nearly every state at a total cost of well over $1 billion. They are intended to store intimate details on tens of millions of children and young adults - identified by name, birth date, address and even, in some cases, Social Security number - to help 43 officials pinpoint the education system's strengths and weaknesses and craft public policy accordingly. (Also on POLITICO: The big biz of spying on little kids) The Education Department lists hundreds of questions that it urges states to answer about each child in the public school system: Did she make friends easily as a toddler? Was he disciplined for fighting as a teen? Did he take geometry? Does she suffer from mental illness? Did he go to college? Did he graduate? How much does he earn? "Every parent I've talked to has been horrified," said Leonie Haimson, a New York mother who is organizing a national Parent Coalition for Student Privacy. "We just don't want our kids tracked from cradle to grave." Eager to support technological innovation and wary of new regulations, Congress has taken little notice of parent concerns. But state legislators have raced to respond. (Also on POLITICO : Big Data watches you, unchecked) In the past five months, 14 states have enacted stricter student privacy protections, often with overwhelming bipartisan support, and more are likely on the way. None of the bills address all the concerns parents have raised, but the latest iterations - in Louisiana and New Hampshire - take strong steps to limit the scope of state databases and restrict the use of information collected on students. All told, at least 105 student privacy bills were introduced this year in 35 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. "Our voices are getting stronger," said Rachael Stickland, an energy-efficiency analyst who had never worked on anything more political than a community garden until she began organizing a student privacy campaign in Colorado.""We are being heard." The POLITICO review found ed tech entrepreneurs and school reformers both bewildered by and anxious about the backlash - and struggling to craft a response. (Also on POLITICO: For sale: Student 'hopes and dreams') Many said they had always assumed parents would support their vision: to mine vast quantities of data for insights into what's working, and what's not, for individual students and for the education system as a whole. · "People took for granted that parents would understand [the benefits], that it was self-evident," said Michael Horn, a co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, an education think tank. Instead, legitimate questions about data security have mixed with alarmist rhetoric in a combustible brew that's "spreading like wildfire" on social media, said Aimee Rogstad Guidera, executive director of the Data Quality Campaign, a·nonprofit advocacy group for data-driven education. That fear, Guidera said, "leads to people saying, 'Shut it down. No more."' Guidera hopes to counter the protests by circulating videos and graphics emphasizing the value of data. But she acknowledges the outrage will be hard to rein in. Could the parent lobby scuttle a data revolution that's been championed by the White House, pushed by billionaire philanthropists and embraced by reformers of both parties as the best hope to improve public · education? "I do have that concern," Guidera said. "Absolutely." {PHOTOS: Schools making adequate yearly progress) WHISPERS OF 'BIG BROTHER' When he heard about the state databases, retired math teacher John Eppolito got curious. He wanted to know what information his home state of Nevada had collected on his four children. So he requested their records. The state's response: No such records exist. At least, no records as the law defines the term, said Judy Osgood, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Education. While the database stores "literally millions of pieces of data" about Nevada students, it's not kept in a format that allows officials to easily extract the complete file on any one child, Osgood said. The department estimated it would cost $10,000 in staff time to respond to Eppolito's request. The state attorney general issued a formal opinion that it did not have to go to those lengths. Nevada is not alone. Just 14 states make student-level data easily accessible to parents, according to the Data Quality Campaign. That opacity infuriates parents and spurs dark whispers about Big Brother. {Sign up for POLITICO's Morning Education tip sheet) "We don't know what they're tracking and we don't know what the implications are going to be for these children in the future," Eppolito told TheBlaze TV. "Going for jobs in the future, trying to get into college we're in uncharted territory and we just don't know the implication it's going to have for the children. We need to slow down." Database advocates say there's nothing sinister about the projects. On the contrary, they see them as a prosaic - if powerful - tool for improving public policy. Do kids who struggle with mastering emotions as toddlers get suspended more often than their peers as teens? Are they more likely to drop out of high school? End up in low-wage jobs? And which interventions, at age 3 or 4, might improve their trajectory? The hope is that databases will answer those questions. Advocates also talk with excitement about using the data to identify an individual student's precise needs 45 --'-and the best way to meet them. "The vision is, this changes outcomes," Guidera said. Kathleen Styles, chief privacy officer for the Education Department, said she has reviewed many states' security and privacy plans and is confident they're strong. Outside experts, however, see a great deal of worrisome ambiguity in states' plans. "It's like when Homeland Security gave out grants for video surveillance cameras after 9/11 - you said, 'Great, we'll take it,' even if you had no idea what you were going to do with it," said Fred Cate, director of the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research at Indiana University. "When the Department of Education says, 'We're going to give you money to build a longitudinal database,' you say, 'Terrific!' without having thought through all the security and privacy implications." The POLITICO review found some states still working through basic questions about their databases. In Delaware, for instance, project manager Reese Robinson said his team hasn't yet determined how long the database should hold student records - a crucial point for parents who don't want every bad test score and disciplinary infraction to become part of their child's permanent digital record. The Delaware team is also still working through key privacy issues, such as whether researchers should be given access to individual files or only to aggregated data. DENTAL PLANS AND DOG DANDER The Education Department's list of recommended data points, developed with state officials, is exhaustive. It includes what type of dental insurance a student carries, whether she's allergic to dog dander and whether she belongs to a sorority in college. Each disciplinary incident is broken down into more than a dozen data points, including the type offirearm involved, if applicable. Other suggested data points relate to early childhood and K-12 teachers, who are included - and linked to their students - in many state databases. The department recommends, for instance, tracking their salaries, retirement benefits and union membership. The department promotes the list as a "shared vocabulary" that will "streamline the exchange, comparison and understanding of data" if adopted widely. It makes clear states don't need to embrace every element. But to be eligible· for more than $500 million in federal grants doled out in recent years, states had to commit to comprehensive "P-20" data systems, meaning they start tracking children in preschool and continue for more than two decades. At least 19 states now link school records to workforce data, tracking which students end up collecting disability or unemployment benefits or enrolling in adult literacy classes. Some states plan to build an even richer data set by linking school records to public health, social service or criminal justice databases. Others 46 aim to start even before pre-K, inputting data on infants enrolled in state-funded programs. Parents have also raised concerns that more intrusive data collection could be on the way. The Education Department circulated a draft report last year that explored using biosensors, eye tracking and facial recognition software to log data about students' noncognitive skills, such as persistence and selfcontrol. Some school districts have experimented with using iris scans or palm prints as a form of identification. Dorie Nolt, a spokeswoman, said the department has "no plans to encourage" that type of data collection. But parent activist Evan Queitsch, a computer systems administrator who lives in Delaware, was spooked enough to pull his three school-age children out of public schools this academic year. He doesn't want the state to track them for the next two decades, he said. "We're wondering what is going on," Queitsch said. "What are they using this for? How safe are we?" Advocates of the longitudinal databases emphasize that most a.nalysis is conducted ~n files that have been stripped of student names, birth dates and addresses. In Georgia, for instance, researchers have no direct access to the longitudinal database. They put in a request for data; the legal department reviews it; and if it's approved, officials hand over files that identify students by demographics such as race and gender, but not by name. Personal identity "is obfuscated," said Bob Swiggum, who runs technology services forthe state education department. In New York, student names will be replaced with a numerical ID before K-12 files are matched up with other state records to track individuals into adulthood, said Kathleen Moorhead, executive director of data systems and educational technology. "When we're talking about the P-20 database and researcher access, Johnny Smith isn't really Joh_nny Smith," Moorhead said. "Johnny Smith is #27850, which is meaningless." Privacy advocates are not reassured. For one thing, even .if researchers don't see student names, that information is still generally held by the state - either in the P-20 database itself or in a "crosswalk file" that links record #27850 back to Johnny Smith. A careless mistake, or a determined hacker, could spill such information over the Internet. And even when a file is scrubbed of personal identifications, it isn't necessarily anonymous. A recent White House report on big data described a flurry of investment in software designed to reattach identities to such records. "One~. data is collected, it can be very difficult to keep anonymous," the report cautioned . FLAGGING FUTURE DROPOUTS 47 Another warning from the White House report: "Once information about citizens is compiled for a defined purpose, the temptation to use it for other purposes can be considerable ... If unchecked, big data could be a fool that substantially expands government power over citizens." That's what worries Barmak Nassirian, an education policy analyst and father of two who works on privacy issues in his free time. "Once that rich of a longitudinal database is populated, the urge to tap into it for other reasons will be almost irresistible," Nassirian said. "Corrections types might want to get into it to understand crime better. I can see Homeland Security looking for terrorists, or the military looking for recruits." Even if the database is tapped only by education officials, privacy advocates fear students will be profiled and steered into academic or career paths accordingly. "The horror story would be what they have in communist China, where they identify kids at age 4 and say, 'Now you're going to be a gymnast'," said Michael Zimmer, director of the Center for Information Policy Research at the University ·at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "We don't want to have it happen that because as an 8-year-old you test a certain way, we're going to tailor the next eight years of your education a certain way," Zimmer said. Already, Indiana officials are talking about using their database, plus information from empl?yers, to.begin counseling children in elementary and secondary school about career options. They also plan to adjust the academic curriculum every few years to focus on building the skills employers say they will need from upand-coming workers. "We want to begin counseling kids in K-12 so they can set their aspirational career goals at a fairly early stage, as it relates to what jobs will be available," said state Rep. Steve Braun, who supports the state database, known as INK for Indiana Network of Knowledge. Braun, a Republican, said the data in INK will be aggregated, so individual kids are not identified or pushed into specific careers. But the database will be used to hold schools accountable for producing graduates with useful, in-demand skills, he said. Other states and districts are mining data to identify children who could be at risk for failure. In Montgomery County, Maryland, for instance, a data analytics program flags children as young as 6 as having an elevated risk of dropping out of high school. Geoff Sanderson, an associate superintendent in the district, is acutely sensitive to parent fears about this type of data mining. The risk profiles are not included in a student's official record, he said. They're simply shared with teachers, who can then work with parents to get the child on track. "The design of the model is not meant to put kids on a pre-determined path," Sanderson said. "The intent is to figure out who needs more support." 48 THE PARENT LOBBY GOES TO WORK The mom and pop privacy lobby built its muscle over the past year with the prolonged fight to dismantle inBloom, a privately run student database funded primarily by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. lnBloom staff stressed that states and districts would have complete control over student records stored in the database - but they also emphasized the value of opening up those records to private entrepreneurs developing educational software. Outraged parents circulated petitions, swarmed school board meetings, demanded statehouse hearings and filed lawsuits and freedom-of-information requests. They launched biogs and websites, created Face book groups and endlessly tweeted their alarm. Many said they were at first treated like kooks by fellow parents, not to mention school and state officials. "They looked at us like we had two heads. Like we were conspiracy theorists or crazy mommas," said Karen Sprowal, a former social worker and mother of three in New York. "We were parents with no resources, other than 'We the people' power." But they kept pounding away and winning converts. In many places, the fight against inBloom became entwined with the growing opposition to the Common Core academic standards. That only amped up the volume. "It was a surreal experience," said Greg Mortimer, the information technology manager of a Colorado district that worked with in Bloom. Speaking at the SXSWedu conference this spring, Mortimer said he and his colleagues were taken aback by the intensity of the opposition and soon "lost control of the message." One by one, all nine states and districts that had agreed to partner with in Bloom dropped out. The last to quit was New York. Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell said he had barely even heard of in Bloom when parent activists first began pressing him on the issue. "They were a little, 'The sky is falling,"' he said . "I thought it was kind of odd." The parents kept pushing. O'Donnell listened. He wrote a bill to block the state's participation in inBloom, only to find his colleagues indifferent. "It wasn't like I got a whole lot of p~ople slapping me on the back," said O'Donnell, a Democrat. But as parents continued to bombard the statehouse with calls and emails, legislator after legislator took notice. Nearly four dozen, from both parties, asked O'Donnell if they could co-sponsor his bill. (It passed the Assembly unanimously but was set aside in the Senate in favor of an alternative that accomplished much the same.) Parents "did a very good job of educating legislators," O'Donnell said. 49 lnBloom representatives declined to comment. In addition to withdrawing the state from in Bloom, New York's law created the position of chief state privacy officer and mandated a "parents' bill of rights for data privacy." PQLITICO examined a dozen other state bills and found that while none is comprehensive, each tackles different elements of the parent agenda. Kentucky's new law bars ed-tech companies that work with schools from mining student data for commercial purposes. West Virginia prohibits the state from gathering medical, biometric or criminal records. Florida forbids collection of student fingerprints, iris scans, facial structure or voice prints. New Hampshire has passed some of the most stringent restrictions: The state cannot collect or maintain even basic information like the student's address, email address or phone number, parents' names - or any workforce information. A Louisiana bill, which has passed both Houses unanimously but has not yet been signed into law, goes even further. It bars schools from sharing any personally identifiable student information with the state, unless parents consent in writing. The bill also prohibits mining personal information "to make generalizations about a student or to predict outcomes and behaviors of a student." Uneasy, data advocates are warning lawmakers to slow down. "There's always risk when you're holding data of any sort, and we need to recognize that," said Richard Culatta, director of the federal Office of Education Technology. But we also need to realize that there are huge, huge, huge benefits when data is used appropriately. We have to keep that balance." Newsmo Independent American. Issa Probes Federal 1Bullying 1 in Tree-Trimming Bird Accident Friday, 06 Jun 2014 By Andrea Billups http:ljwww.newsmax.com/US/ Da rre II-Issa-herons-tree-trim mer / 2014/ 06/ 06/id/57 5663/ The federal prosecution of a tree-trimmer who accidentally felled a nest of herons has caught the eye of Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California, who calls the action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "bureaucratic bullying." Ernesto Pulido was trimming a ficus tree in May when he accidentally cut down a nest of five baby crowned erons who were living above an Oakland, Calif., civic center parking lot. so The tree-trimmer, hired by the U.S. Postal Service to stop birds from defecating on its vehicles, did not turn a blind eye to their plight. He contacted volunteers who transferred the baby birds to a rescue group, where they are expected to survive after treatment. But now Pulido is facing federal misdemeanor charges after the wildlife service recommended to federal authorities that he be punished for violating the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The herons are one of 1,026 species protected under the act. The prosecution caught the attention of Issa, chairman ofthe House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, who wrote to wildlife service officials questioning the merits and prosecution of such a small infraction. The congressman argued that Pulido may be under prosecution because of a public outcry resulting from inaccurate media accounts that suggested the birds were fed through a wood-chipping machine. "All accounts indicate the activity which disturbed the birds was unintentional," Issa wrote in a May 28 letter to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel M. Ashe, noting that Pulido has voluntarily stepped up to pay for the care of the herons, which suffered scrapes and bruises and one fractured beak, but are expected to be returned to the wild. "Prosecutions under the MBTA for incidental activity have previously been rebuk~d by federal courts," Issa noted in his letter, citing a North Dakota case where a court dismissed a complaint against three oil companies after six mallard ducks waded into their oil pits. "In this case, unlike the one [the wildlife service] announced it is bringing against Mr. Pulido, the birds died." Issa reminded Ashe in his letter that the federal district judge in the duck case, Daniel Hovland, noted to the wildlife service that government-sponsored wind turbines kill 33,000 birds each year, even as the federal agency has continued to issue 30-year permits to developers "to allow for the unintentional killing of bald eagles and golden eagles, birds protected by the MBTA, but also the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act." Issa noted that those calling for the punishment of Pulido, including bird protection groups, have also sought rebuke for the Postal Service. But the wildlife service has not directed its ire at another federal agency. "The committee is concerned that Mr. Pulido is being subjected to an unfair and unnecessary prosecution because [the Fish and Wildlife Service] is responding to public pressure to act but does not want to seek redress from a fellow federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service," Issa said. Issa outlined what he described as the Justice Department's failures to look into cases he deemed far more 51 serious than baby birds. "During my time as chairman of the House Oversight Committee, many agencies have failed to take action and the Justice Department has declined or failed ":o prosecute federal employees for offenses including: receiving thousands of dollars in impermissible gifts from lobbyists, watching pornography on government computers while on the job, operating private businesses from their offices, lying on official time cards for years, and spending outrageous sums of taxpayer dollars at Las Vegas conventions," Issa noted. "When so many government workers are offered a pass, referring and prioritizing charges against a private citizen for incidental and relatively minor injuries to a nonendangered species - commissioned by a federal agency, no less - appears nothing short o-= bureaucratic bullying," Issa said. Issa has set a June 11 date for a wildlife service re!;ponse to his committee, including all documents and emails related to the matter. Pulido is facing a $15,000 maximum fine and six months in jail if convicted. Wildlife service investigators, noting his remorse, have recommended a lesser fine of $1,500. The use of federal charges to prosecute unintentional crimes was noted recently by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which said in a study that "every year, federal, state, and local lawmakers needlessly spend millions of taxpayer dollars incarcerating hard-working Americans who had innocent intentions." The group decried the growth of sentencing laws and criminal statutes along with the increasing expansion of federal regulations that often ensnare unsuspecting citizens. ALEC's Cara Sullivan, in an interv'iew with Newsmax, said: "American business owners and individuals are increasingly susceptible to finding themselves on the wrong side of the law. I think there is also a mentality of policymakers to legislate away problems. If there's a problem, let's make a law." The Fish and Wildlife Service has also made freq Jent use of the Lacey Act, a 1900 law that makes violating state wildlife statutes a federal felony, often impacting fishermen and hunters who are caught up in federal cases over minor offenses. "Even if someone receives probation rather than a prison sentence, or a misdemeanor as opposed to a felony, having a conviction on their record makes it more likely they will be ineligible for hundreds of state occupational licenses," said Marc Levin of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. "It might also mean they have trouble obtaining employment, approvals for housing, and loans." -News·a·. ··a y_ · ·1· Ohio bill revisits Kasich's 2012 clean-energy plan June 7, 2014 JULIE CARR SMYTH FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Republican Gov. John Kasich championed a major rewrite of Ohio energy policies two years ago. By Kasich's own description, the 2012 law accounted for newly accessible shale gas and embraced Ohio's renewable energy and efficiency targets as vital to the state's economy. The legislation was drawn from a heavily attended ilst Century Energy Summit. Now, the governor is ready to sign a bill freezing the very same renewables targets. Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said signing a bill that suspends Ohio's phase-in of clean-energy targets won't be a reversal by the governor. He said the targets were set six years ago, as part of a 2008 law passed under then-Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat. "I can think of nothing more arrogant than to sa'{ that this law written six years ago shouldn't be reevaluated in light 'of the energy realities around us," Nichols said. The bill would suspend the targets for two years and, if lawmakers don't act within that period, the targets would resume in 2017. Nichols said groups from across the political spectrum oppose the compromise that call for suspending the standards, with those on one side wanting them repealed and those on the other wanting them retained. "That tells us we're right where we need to be on this," Nichols said. "We're right in the sensible center." Jack Shaner, of the Ohio Environmental Council, said any governor who supported -alternative energy just two years ago should logically veto a proposal to freeze those standards when it hits his desk in 2014. The council joins advanced energy interests - t1ose companies that incorporate new technologies with traditional energy sources to reduce environmental harm - in pushing Kasich to veto the bill. Faith leaders, civil-rights activists and others also want a veto. "This is anything but the sensible center," Shaner said. "It's going to put Ohio on the radical, anti-clean energy fringe." 53 Ohio is among more than half of the states that have set renewable energy targets for utilities. The state's 2008 law required utilities to generate 25 percent of their power from alternative sources by 2025, half of that from advanced sources, such as cleaner coal plants, and half from renewable sources, such as solar and wind. . The American Legislative Exchange Council, a policy advisory group dominated by Republicans, is a leading force behind the push against such targets. Ohio is among states to which the council provided model legislation eliminating renewables targets, which it dubbed the Electricity Freedom Act. Opponents of the targets include Senate Public Utilities Chairman Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican active in the legislative exchange council, who has sometimes cited Ohio's shale gas boom for changing the state's energy landscape and prompting the latest bill. Shaner calls that claim "bogus," noting that shale drilling was prominently featured at Kasich's summit. It was also mentioned during the rollout of the 2012 law. Kasich worked with lawmakers to strike a compromise to full repeal of Ohio's renewables standard that was backed by Seitz and others. With legislative leaders, he negotiated the two-year suspension in place of a permanent moratorium. The 2014 bill he plans to sign suspends only the renewables standards, however. It eliminates the advanced energy standard that Kasich's 2012 energy law embraced and expanded to add co-generation and w:aste heat recovery. The earlier law also invested $30 million in taxpayer dollars to develop advanced energy technologies in clean coal. Nichols said Kasich believes in "re-evaluating everything" and that includ~s renewables mandates that appear to be creating jobs in the wind and solar fields only through heavy subsidies. "At the end of the day, the governor's for renew3bles," Nichols said. "But it's got to be done in a commonsense manner." INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES : r- ~ _, _ ._ _ .:· :.. ::: .: -',: .~ : • : .:. , j:: , : ~: 7 Ohio Gov. Kasich to Sign "Freeze" On State Clean Energy Mandate By Saturday By Maria Gallucci June 11, 2014 http://www. ibtim es.com/oh io-gov-kasich-sign-f-ee ze-state-clea n-ene rgy-ma nd ate-s·a tu rda y-1598602 Ohio is poised to become the first state to freeze its utility requirements for renewable energy and energy efficiency, marking an important win in the Republican-led effort to dismantle state clean-energy mandates. Gov. John Kasich (R) is planning to sign the rollback legislation by the Saturday deadline, a spokesperson told the Cleveland Plain -Dealer. The move comes after more than two years of fierce debate by Ohio's industries, businesses and lawmakers over whether the requirements harm or benefit the state economy. The bill is the first measure to succeed out of more than four-dozen attempts by various states to eliminate or water down their Renewable Portfolio (RPS) targets. Roughly 30 states have such standards, which are largely credited with growing the nation's renewable energy portfolio and stoking interest from private developers. Opponents of RPS targets, however, argue that requiring utilities to source a portion of their supplies from renewables, like wind and solar power, dis.torts the free market and picks energy "winners and losers." The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative policy group, has led the push by creating "model bills" that call for voluntary state renewables markets. Ohio's RPS law, which passed in 2008, requires the state's utilities to get 25 percent of their electricity from renewables and alternative sources, including combined heat and power and fledgling carbon capture technologies, by 2025. Utilities also have to adopt energy-efficiency measures that lead to cumulative electricity savings of 22 percent by the same year. Critics blame the RPS target for Ohio's rising electricity rates and say the higher costs are causing businesses to cut jobs. Supporters-including large manufacturers like Honda of America and Whirlpool-argue that eliminating the RPS wou Id only increase rates further while hamstringing the state's burgeoning clean energy sector. The new legislation will freeze the RPS requirements for two years, during which time a commission will study the targets, which will likely lead to a permanent reduction of both. Rob Nichols, the Kasich spokesman, said the bill offers a compromise to both sides of the debate. 55 "Given the fact that there were those who wanted to end renewables entirely, and those who think we should never question or reassess an energy polky that was written before we even knew Ohio was rich in natural gas, we're pretty confident that we've hit the sweet spot and are firmly in the sensible center," Nichols said last week, Dayton Daily News reported. Whether the Ohio decision can tip the balance in favor of RPS opponents in other states remains to be seen. Ohio is "a unique circumstance," Jim Kennerly, a senior policy analyst at the North Carolina Solar Center, which tracks state renewable policies, told International Business Times. Kennerly said he doesn't think freeze or repeal efforts will succeed in many oth:!r states "because a lot of the key ingredients aren't there." Kennerly noted that both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly and the governor's office are all Republican, boosting the political will for measures that weaken government regulation. The state's influential utility and industrial bases also have cause to oppose the mandates amid declining electricity d~mand and a shrinking manufacturing base. "It takes several things being in place for there to be political support for removing those standards," Kennerly said. "A lot of it is very state-specific." The debate over Ohio's clean energy Jaw is far from over, however. Proponents of Ohio's clean energy law have vowed to fight the freeze. And, if legislators ultimately do decide to weaken t.he mandates in two years, they'll have to send separate measures to the governor's desk. "In the short term, the future of clean energy in Ohio is very murky. In the longer term, the future of clean energy in Ohio is still very bright," Mark Shanahan, who was the energy adviser to _former Gov. Ted Strickland {D), said Tuesday, the Plain Dealer rei:;orted. AP Minimum Wage Debate Pits Cities Against States By David Klepper and Blake Davis June 19, 2014 http://bigstorv.ap.org/article/minirnum-wage-debate-pits-cities-against-states ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Dominique Mayfield makes $8.25 an hour washing dishes and busing tables at a Syracuse brewpub. Shantel Walker m(lkes $8.50 an hour at her pizzeria in New York City, where the rent is more than double what it is in Syracuse. Two very different cities, but nearly the same wage. The economic differences between America's big cities and elsewhere have prompted leaders in Seattle, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Oklahoma City and other cities to push to raise the minimum wage within their borders. The efforts are running into opposition from state lawmakers from both parties and business groups who say a patchwork of minimum wages could lead to a confusing and unequal business climate in which labor costs would vary dramatically from city to city. The minimum wage has emerged as perhaps the top issue of a newly emboldened, urban liberal movement that in many places is led not by governors or state lawmakers, but by local leaders backed by organized fast-food workers. After years of g~appling with state and federal budget cuts, mayors and city councils are pushing back against state and federal officials who they say don't understand the income inequality of 21st-century American cities. "So many people have been pushed out ofthis city," said Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata, who successfully pushed to raise the city's wage to $15, more than $5 higher than the state wage. "Local politicians don't have the luxury of not doing so:nething. The state and federal governments, they've been AWOL. They haven't been engaged." The fight to raise minimum wages has lawmake-s in many states on the defensive, arguing that higher wages will lead to reductions in hours and jobs for low-income workers - and retail price increases that are likely to hit them hardest. The business-backed American Legislative Exchange Council argues that local minimum wages could lead to a race to the bottom, where businesses locate in whatever city within a region has the lowest starting wage. "This is a debate that's happening around the country, and although it's well intended, it's misguided," said Cara Sullivan, a minimum wage policy expert at ALEC. "In Seattle they raised it to $15, and right 57 across the city line its $5 less. It increases the cost of doing business for businesses in that city. You're creating chaos from one business to the next." Members of the city council in Providence, Rhode Island, considered raising the minimum wage from $8 to $15, but only for workers in the city's large hotels. In response, the Democratic leaders of the Rhode Island General Assembly have moved to block the proposal by taking away cities' authority to set local minimums. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, a Republican, signed legislation in April that prohibits cities from setting their ~wn wage after organized labor groups suggested that Oklahoma City raise its wage from $7.25 an hour - the federal minimum - to $10.10. B.J. Marsh, a single mother in a suburb of Oklahoma City, says the $7.25 she makes requires her to choose between eating or getting to work. Marsh said her 7-year-old son began living with her father to save on expenses and allow her to work. "I don't eat because I have to have gas in my car," she said. But supporters of Oklahoma's new law said higher local minimum wages were likely to hurt the very low-income workers they were proposed to help by raising food prices and reducing employment. "We have seen businesses flee from cities that have tried this in other states," said Republican House Speaker Jeff Hickman. "Artificially inflating the minimum wage raises the price of everything from housing and rental costs to a' loaf of bread, and causes the loss of jobs which means fewer opportunities for those working to feed their families." In 2011 and 2012, four states passed laws keeping state minimum wages from being higher than the federal wage. This year, 14 such bills have been introduced, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio and memt:ers of the City Council are seeking authority to raise the local minimum wage to $15 - nearly double the state's $8 minimum. State law doesn't currently permit cities ~o set their own minimums, and while Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo f!rst warned the idea would lead to a "chaotic" business environment, he now supports a proposal to raise the wage to $10.10 and let cities impose a minimum up to 30 percent higher. Restaurant owners and business groups have opposed the plan, and on Thursday it appeared state lawmakers would adjourn without voting on the measure. The state's minimum wage is already set to increase to $8.75 at the end of this year and to $9 at the end of 2015. F.or Shantel Walker, the pizzeria worker in Brooklyn, the proposal would mean nearly $5 more per hour. Walker went to Albany last month to rally for a higher minimum wage outside a McDonald's at the Capitol. She said it makes no sense that fast food workers in New York City are held to the same minimum wage as those upstate. 58 "If we have to do this every week, that's what we're going to do," she said. "We have to fightthe powers that be." POLITiCO. Unions fighting back - ALEC's academic agenda - What's up with the Common Core in North Carolina? By Caitlin Emma With help from Maggie Severns, Stephanie Simon and Seth Zweifler June 27, 2014 http:Uwww.politico.com/ morn ingeducation/ 0614/ mo rninged ucation14447.htm l ALEC'S ACADEMIC AGENDA: The conservative American Legislative Exchange Council is out with the agenda for its July meeting in Dallas and it looks like the education committee will be weighing some provocative proposals. Members will consider endorsing a model bill called the "Affordable Baccalaureate Degree Act," which would require all public universities to offer degree programs that cost less than $10,000 total for all four years of tuition, fees and books. What's more, the bill would mandate that at least 10 percent of all four-year degrees awarded at state schools meet that price point within four years of the act's passage. Universities would be encouraged to use online education and shift to competency-based models rather than the traditional credit-hour model to keep costs down. If members. endorse the bill, they will begin circulating and promoting it in state legislatures. - ALEC will also consider two model bills that could vastly expand funding for charter schools, including faciliti.es funds. One would require states or districts to pay charters for their entire first ye!'lr of operation based on the enrollment figures administrators projected before they opened their doors not how many students actually show up. (Any discrepancies would be addressed with adjustments to funding in the second year.) Read the agenda and model bills: http://bit.ly/TAFxCC. July 7, 2014 Tony Conley Radio Show http:lj1320wils.com/pages/tony-conley-morning-show Monday, July 7th, 2014 Sports Report Kyle Mel inn - 1320 WILS Capital Correspondent and the Editor and Co-owner of MIRSNews.com talks about local government.news Linda Lynch - President of Kl Technology Group and WILS Computer Technology Expert talks about protecting yourself against privileged user abuse Scott Goodwin -Attorney and the 62nd President of the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ) talks about law and lawsuit caps Rhonda Oberlin - Emergency Management Specialist for LFD talks about this morning's storm Jonathan Williams - Director of the ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force talks about Michigan's tax policies Mel Grieshaber - Executive Director and Legislative/Political Director for the Michigan Correction Organization seiu local 526 talks about inmates getting food sickness ALEC CEO Announcement Media Hits On July 8, 2014, ALEC announced Lisa B. Nelson as the new CEO. Below are the media hits earned from the announcement. ALEC, the free-market group liberals love to hate, gets a new boss Niraj Chokshi July 8, 2014 http://www. washingto n post.co m/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/07 /08/ alec-the-free-market-grou pl i be ra ls-I ove-to-h ate-gets-a-new-boss/ The American Legislative Exchange Council, which advocates for limited government, free-market state policies, has a new chief executive. Lisa B. Nelson, formerly of Ulysses Consulting,. is joining the group as its new CEO, taking over for Ron Scheberle. ALEC connects member legislators with private-sector members, representatives from corporations and nonprofit groups, and makes available a library of model bills in line with its freemarket, limited government philosophy. "I'm enthusiastic to lead the American Legislative Exchange Council and build on its rich history of creating opportunity in states and communitl:!s through nonpartisan policy research and analysis," Nelson said in a statement. "At a time when the American people are calling for change, our unique public-private partnership is highly relevant and poised for growth." The group already claims more than 2,000 legislator members, or more than 1 in every 4 state lawmakers. It has also become a target of the left for the conservative-friendly policies its members promote and pass at the state level. Before working at Ulysses, Nelson served as head of government relations for the Americas for Visa Inc., from 2005 to 2013, She also worked in conservative politics in the 1990s, including a three-year stint as public affairs liaison to then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) after serving as executive director of GOPAC, the group dedicated to grooming and promoting Republican leaders. "Lisa Nelson was a key leader at GOPAC in developing the Contract with America," Gingrich said in the statement. "She is a great leader with a deep public policy interest and a real understanding of innovation. She will greatly enhance ALEC's ability to serve state legislators." ALEC has become a target of the left in recent years, in particular for its one-time promotion of so-called Stand Your Ground laws, the self-defense protections that gained national attention in the wake of the shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. 62 Sen. Dick Durbin (D-111.), in particular, has focused his attention on ALEC, making it a central part of his criticism of such laws. "In 2005, ALEC adopted model legislation that was nearly identical to Florida's law," Durbin· said in prepared remarks at a fall hearing on Stand Your Ground laws. "They then began shopping it in statehouses. Within a year, 13 more states h3d passed similar laws. Today 25 states, not counting Florida, have passed a law based in whole or in part on the ALEC model." The group has since abandoned its backing of such policies, focusing instead on economic measures. WASHINGTON , USINESS JOURNAL Lisa Nelson Recognition Plaque July 8, 2014 http://www.bizjournals. com/washington/pot msearch/reprint/submiss·ion/2894921?ana=e potm thx Lisa Nelson Date added: July 8, 2014 Submission Type: New Hire Current employer: The American Legislative Exchange Council Current title/position: CEO Industry: Legal Services Position level: C-Level Duties/responsibilities: Nelson succeeds Executive Director Ron Scheberle as the leader of the publicprivate partnership supporting limited government, free market and federalism research, study and analysis. Nelson's appointment is effective JLly 30, 2014. ~atchdog.org New leader, bolder direction for growing ALEC M.D. Kittle July 8, 2014 http://watchdog.org/158340/alec-lisa-b-nelson-legislative/ MADISON, Wis. - The limited government movement has a new leader. The American Legislative Exchange Council has tapped Lisa B. Nelson to serve as chief executive officer of the nation's largest nonpartisan organization of state legislators. Nelson, a former Visa Inc. executive and aide to Newt Gingrich, comes to ALEC from Mclean, Va.-based Ulysses Consulting, where she served as managing partner, providing counsel to nonprofits and associations.on coalition building and marketing development, a~cording to her biography. Nelson succeeds ALEC Executive Director Ron Scheberle, and is charged with driving the strategic direction of the model state-legislation organization, according to a statement released to Watchdog.org. She will be working with "public and private sector leaders throughout the United States to increase the impact of the organization's limited government, free market and federalism priorities." Liberals and big-government advocates will take little comfort in the new chief executive for ALEC, the conservative lightning rod for the left in recent years. Iowa state Rep. Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, who serves as the state House's majority leader and as national chairwoman of ALEC, said Nelson's work in state and national policy, as well as her experience building organizational infrastructure, is a "perfect fit" for ALEC as the organization "strengthens its focus" on limited government, free markets and federalism. "I am excited that as ALEC members work to return decision making to the states, Lisa will provide leadership and direction to the organization c.nd a renewed commitment to finding solutions to challenges facing our states," Upmeyer said in a statement issued Monday. Nelson boasts an impressive resume. During her eight years as the director of global government relations for Visa, Nelson transformed the small domestic division into an "integrated, multinational 64 She also served as senior vice president for external relations at AOL Time Warner, public affairs liaison to former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and executive director of GOPAC, the GOP's state and local political training organization. Gingrich, in a statement, said Nelson was a "key leader'' at GOPAC in developing the Contract with America, the Republican's sweeping reforms of the mid-1990s. "She is a great leader with a deep public policy interest and a real understanding of innovation," Gingrich said. "She will greatly enhance ALEC's ability to serve state legislators." Nelson said she is enthusiastic about leading 40-year-old ALEC, and building on its "rich history of creating opportunity in states and communities through nonpartisan policy research and analysis." "At a time when the American people are calling for change, our unique pub~ic-private partnership is highly relevant and poised for growth," Nelsen said in the statement. THE FOUR STATES~ Most-Watched Hews Lisa B. Nelson Joins The American Legislative Exchange Council As Chief Executive Officer Nelson to advance public-private partnership's limited government, free market and federalism priorities July 8, 2014 http://www. koa mtv.com/ story/ 25967017/I i5 a-b-ne lson-jo ins-t he-am e rica n-legislative-excha ngeco u ncil-as-ch ief-executive-officer ARLINGTON, Va., July 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Legislative Exchange Council today announced the appointment of Lisa B. Nelson of Ulysses Consulting as the Chief Executive Officer of the nation's largest nonpartisan, voluntary· membership organization of state legislators. Nelson succeeds Executive Director Ron Scheberle as the leader of the public-private partnership supporting limited government, free market and federalism research, study and analysis. Nelson's appointment is effective July 30, 2014. Nelson will drive the strategic direction for the American Legislative Exchange Council, working with public and private sector leaders throughout the United States to increase the impact of the organization's limited government, free market and federalism priorities. "Lisa's work in state and national policy, as well as her experience building organizational infrastructure, is a perfect fit for ALEC as the organization strengthens its focus on limited government, free markets and federalism," said Iowa Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, ALEC National Chair. "I am excited that as ALEC members work to return decision making to the states, Lisa will provide leadership and direction to the organization and a renewed commitment to finding solutions to challenges facing our states." Prior to this appointment, Nelson served as Managing Partner of Ulysses Consulting where she provided counsel to nonprofits and associations on coalition building and marketing development. Previously, Nelson served as the Head of Government Relations, Americas for Visa, Inc.; Senior Vice President for External Relations, AOL Time Warner; Public Affairs Liaison to House Speaker Newt Gingrich; and as Executive Director of GOPAC. • View full biography here "I'm enthusiastic to lead the American Legislative Exchange Council and build on its rich history of creating opportunity in states and communities through nonpartisan policy research and analysis," said Nelson. "At a time when the American people are calling for change, our unique public-private partnership is highly relevant and poised for growth.'' Throughout its 40-year history, the American Legislative Exchange Council has been a leading voice in restoring the appropriate balance of power between the states and the federal government. "Lisa Nelson was a key leader at GOPAC in developing the Contract with America. She is a great leader with a deep public policy interest and a real understanding of innovation. She will greatly enhance ALEC's ability to serve state legislators," said Former Speaker Newt Gingrich. The American Legislative Exchange Council is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. ALEC facilitates discussion between public and private sector leaders, think tanks and citizen groups and provides nonpartisan policy research, study and analysis. Nelson is a political science and international relations graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. She and husband David live in Mclean, Virginia. To learn more about the American Legislative Exchange Council, visit www.alec.org. The American Legislative Exchange Council is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States. The Council is governed by state legislators who · e the Board of Directors and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of 66 private, foundation and think tank members. For more information about the American Legislative Exchange Council, please visit: www.alec.org. Lisa B. Nelson Joins The American Legislative Exchange Council As Chief Executive Officer Nelson to advance public-private partnership's limited government, free market and federalism priorities July 8, 2014 http://www. ksl a.com/ sto ry/25967017 /lisa-b-ne Ison-joins-the-ame rica n-legislative-excha nge-cou ncil-asch ief-executive-office r ARLINGTON, Va., July 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Legislative Exchange Council today announced the appointment of Lisa B. Nelson of Ulysses Consulting as the Chief Executive Officer of the nation's largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators. Nelson succeeds Executive Director Ron Scheberle as the leader of the public-private partnership supporting limited government, free market and federalism research, study and analysis. Nelson's appointment is effective July 30, 2014. Nelson will drive the strategic direction for the American Legislative Exchange Council, working with public and private sector leaders throughout the United States to increase the impact of the organization's limited government, free market and federalism priorities. "Lisa's work in state and national policy, as well as her experience building organizational infrastructure, is a perfect fit for ALEC as the organization strengthens its focus on limited government, free markets and federalism," said Iowa Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, ALEC National Chair. "I am excited that as ALEC members work to return decision making to the states, Lisa will provide leadership and direction to th.e organization and a renewed commitment to finding solutions to challenges facing our states." Prior to this appointment, Nelson served as Managing Partner of Ulysses Consulting where she provided counsel to nonprofits and associations on coalition building and marketing development. Previously, Nelson served as the Head of Government Relations, Americas for Visa, Inc.; Senior Vice President for . 67 External Relations, AOL Time Warner; Public Affairs Liaison to House Speaker Newt Gingrich; and as Executive Director of GOPAC. • View full biography here "I'm enthusiastic to lead the American Legislative Exchange Council and build on its rich history of creating opportunity in states and communities through nonpartisan policy research and analysis," said Nelson. "At a time when the American people are calling for change, our unique public-private partnership is highly relevant and poised for growth." Throughout its 40-year history, the American Legislative Exchange Cou_ncil has been a leading voice in restoring the appropriate balance of power between the states and the federal government. "Lisa Nelson was a key leader at GO PAC in developing the Contract with America. She is a great leader with a deep public policy interest and a real understanding of innovation. She will greatly enhance ALEC's ability to serve state legislators," said Former Speaker Newt Gingrich. The American Legislative Exchange Council is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. ALEC facilitates discussion between public and private sector leaders, think tanks and citizen groups and provides nonpartisan policy research, study and analysis. Nelson is a political science and international relations graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. She and husband David live in Mclean, Virginia. To learn more about the American Legislative Exchange Council, visit www.alec.org. The American Legislative Exchange Council is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the Board of Directors and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of private, foundation and think tank members. For more information about the American Legislative Exchange Council, please visit: www.alec.org. Lisa B. Nelson Joins The American Legislative Exchange Council As Chief Executive Officer Nelson to advance public-private partnership's limited government, free market and federalism priorities July 8, 2014 http://www. kte n .com/sto rv/25967017 /I isa-b-ne Isa n-jo ins-the-am e rica n-legislative-excha nge-co unci las-chief-executive-officer ARLINGTON, Va., July 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Legislative Exchange Council today announced the appointment of Lisa B. Nelson of Ulysses Consulting as the Chief Executive Officer of the nation's largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators. Nelson succeeds Executive Director Ron Scheberle as the leader of the public-private partnership supporting limited government, free market and federalism research, study and analysis. Nelson's appointment is effective July 30, 2014. Nelson will drive the strategic direction for the American Legislative Exchange Council, working with public and private sector leaders throughout the United States to increase the impact of the organization's limited government, free market and federalism priorities. "Lisa's work in state and national policy, as well as her experience building organizational infrastructure, is a perfect fit for ALEC as the organization strengthens its focus on limited government, free markets and federalism," said Iowa Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, ALEC National Chair. "I am excited that as ALEC members work to return decision making to the states, Lisa will provide leadership and direction to the organization and a renewed commitment to finding solutions to challenges facing our states." Prior to this appointment, Nelson served as Managing Partner of Ulysses Consulting where she provided counsel to nonprofits and associations on coalition building and marketing development. Previously, Nelson served as the Head of Government Relations, Americas for Visa, Inc.; Senior Vice President for External Relations, AOL Time Warner; Public Affairs Liaison to House Speaker Newt Gingrich; and as Executive Director of GOPAC. • View full biography here 69 "I'm enthusiastic to lead the American Legislative Exchange Council and build on its rich history of creating opportunity in states and communities through nonpartisan policy research and analysis," said Nelson. "At a time when the American people are calling for change, our unique public-private partnership is highly relevant and poised for growth." Throughout its 40-year history, the American Legislative Exchange Council has been a leading voice in restoring the appropriate balance of power between the states and the federal government. "Lisa Nelson was a key leader at GOPAC in developing the Contract with America. She is a great leader with a deep public policy interest and a real understanding of innovation. She will greatly enhance ALEC's ability to serve state legislators," said Former Speaker Newt Gingrich. The American Legislative Exchange Council is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. ALEC facilitates discussion between public and private sector leaders, think tanks and citizen groups and provides nonpartisan policy research, study and analysis. Nelson is a political science and international relations graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. She and husband David live in Mclean, Virginia. To learn more about the American Legislative Exchange Council, visit www.alec.org. The American Legislative Exchange Council is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States. The Council is governed by state.legislators who comprise the Board of Directors and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of private, foundation and think tank members. For more information about the American Legislative Exchange Council, please visit: www.alec.org. A.M. Links: EPA Can Garnish Wages, Dems Push Birth Control Bill, More Parents Choose Cohabiting Over Marriage Elizabeth Nolan Brown July 9, 2014 http://reason.com/blog/2014/07 /09/morning-news-links-july-9-2014 • Not much for separation of powers t~is season, Congressional Democrats have developed legislation to override the Supreme Court decision on contraceptives. The bill~ put together in consultation with President Obama, would require for-profit corporations like Hobby Lobby to include coverage for contraception ,in em:>loyee health plans. #C~ntStopWontStop • The Environmental Protection Agency quietly slipped a note into last week's Federal Register asse_rting its right to "garnish non-Federal wages to collect delinquent non-tax debts owed the United States without first obtaining a court order." Oh, is that all? • Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah told supporters Tuesday that he needs more time to decide whether to declare his ow:i government after the Afghan Independent Election Commission released preliminary results showing him more than a million votes behind his rival. • Married women have dropped to just 45 percent of all first-time U.S. mothers (and 25 percent of those under 23). Researchers say it's less a matter of single moms and more about parents shacking up without tying the knot. • Sexual orientation isn't a basis for anti-discrimination lawsuits in America, but a gay Georgia music teacher is challenging his job dismissal on grounds of gender discrimination. "When you fire somebody because they are engaging in a same-sex marriage, I think that pretty clearly fits," said his lawyer. • The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is bringing in Lisa B. Nelson, a former Visa executive who worked in Newt Gingrich's office when he was speaker, as its chief executive. Meet the new head of ALEC, the free-market group of state legislators Niraj Chokshi July 9, 2014 http:ljwww.w ash i ngto n post .co m/ bIogs/ govbeat/wp/ 2014/07 /09/ meet-th e-new-head-of-a lec-the-freem arket-grou p-of-state-legislato rs/ The free-market group that has become a boogeyman of the left is getting a leadership change. As we reported yesterday, former Visa executive Lisa B. Nelson is joining the American Legislative Exchange Council as its incoming chief executive, replacing Ron Scheberle, who has been heading the organization since January 2012 and been involve::1 in other capacities for more than two decades. Nelson joins ALEC ahead of its annual meeting in Dallas at the end of the month and after a stint in the spotlight over its support of "Stand Your Ground" self-defense laws - which gained notoriety after the shooting death ofTrayvon Martin in Florida - and other conservative policies, too. The organization seeks to connect the public and :Jrivate sector by providing lawmakers and corporate and nonprofit representatives with a forum in wh;ch to discuss and craft policy. It claims nearly 300 ' . corporate and foundation members and more than 2,000 state legislator members, which would mean more than 1 in 4 state lawmakers. Since the controversy over its promotion of stand-your-ground policies, the group has refocused on economic iSS'Jes. Liberals continue to criticize the organization for what they argue is a too-cozy relationship between its corporate and lawmaker members. But ALEC and its lawmaker members argue that the organization is structured to insulate the process of creating model policies from corporate influence, and lawmakers argue that having private-sector representatives is useful in crafting policy to promote business growth. The group promotes free-market, limited-government policies. We had a chance to talk to Nelson, who has just begun thinking about her role with the organization, for a few minutes Tuesday afternoon. What follows is an abridged, edited version of that conversation. Q: Have you had any experience with ALEC in the past? 72 Lisa Nelson: Yeah, I'm well aware of the organization. When I was working in Newt Gingrich's office when he was speaker - I was the public liaison for him one of the big areas of responsibility was to make sure that we had an open-door policy to all the governors, Republican and Democrat, as well as legislators. Newt always thought that the best ideas came from states and thought about them as th2 incubators for good ideas. I'm very familiar with the organization through that process, and I personally have been involved with ALEC as a government relations executive worki1g for AOL and Time-Warner and Visa, working with their task forces and working with their committe2s on trying to develop model policies that would be good for business and good for the Internet. Q: When you were at each of those companies, where you a member of ALEC? LN: The people on my staff were. I wasn't directly engaged on a day-to-day basis. But my folks at the state-relations level were absolutely involved. Q: What are your goals going into this? LN: ALEC is a fantastic organization that has done great work over the years, working toward limited government, working toward creating opportunities for folks around the country and working toward driving model policies that would foster growth for small businesses, foster growth for any tax-paying entities. So, as far as my goals, I want to continue to grow the organization. I think there's room for growth kind of on both sides of the coin: the legislative side, in :erms of building our base of legislators, as well as on the business side, making sure that new businesses, small businesses, entrepreneurs and, of course, the active businesses now all have at least a voice in developing that model policy and thinking through · what are the ~ight ways to foster competition and growth in the country. Q: Have you already begun in your role? What do you hope to achieve? LN: You know, I really haven't. I've got a business that I will be unwinding for the next kind of 30 days and making sure that clients that I've been working with and the people that I've been providing counsel to have a soft landing, so to speak, and make sure i have a little bit of a soft takeoff to make sure that I'm well brought up to speed. I'm going to be using the next 30 days to do both of those things - to kind of unwind my current business, but also to get more acquainted with the staff, many of whom I haven't met yet. And then working to develop a plan for the coming year. lllatchdog.org New ALEC chief sees Scott Walker as model limited government reformer . M.D. Kittle July 9, 2014 http://watchdog.org/158492/alec-scott-walker-government/ MADISON, Wis. -The new head of the nation's largest nonpartisan model legislation organization says Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is a model for limited government reformers nationally. Lisa B. Nelson, a former Visa Inc. executive and one-time aide to Newt Gingrich, on Monday was named chief executive officer of the American Legislative Exchange Council. In an interview with Wisconsin Reporter, Nelson said she is "proud of' the Republican governor's achievements during his first term in office. Walker, considered by many pundits to be a formidable presidential candidate in 2016 should he run, is nationally known for his signature Act 10 - the law that reformed public sector collective bargaining in the Badger State. Debate over the bill in 2011 brought out tens of thousands of protesters to the state Capitol and sparked a union-driven recall campaign against the governor, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and several Republican state senators. ' "I think a lot of states should be looking at Governor Walker and the Assembly in Madison in terms of looking at how you can make that change and how you can curtail the growth of whether it's the unions or any other faction that is stemming growth and competition," Nelson said. As Walker is viewed as political public enemy No. 1 by Wisconsin liberals, ALEC is the free-market and limited government-espousing organization of state legislators that gives the left everywhere nightmares. The liberal Center for Media and Democracy, based in Madison, has devoted a lot of time, money and an entire website -ALEC Exposed - to loathing all that CM D believes ALEC stands for. "ALEC bills, which largely benefit the organization's corporate members, have been introduced in legislatures in every state- but without disclosing to the public that corporations previously drafted or voted on them through ALEC," proclaims the website. 74 Critics, such as CMD, really don't understand what ALEC is and what it strives to do, Nelson said. "I think the model of the private-public partnership has been misunderstood, and I think once you get involved in ALEC, once you start participating, you Jnderstand how the process works and what a giveand-take it is with respect to creating model legislation that promotes small businesses and-promotes successful companies around the nation," Nelson said. Of course, the left isn't too proud to replicate ALECs successful model an model legislation. Enter ALICE, the American Legislative and Issue Carnpaig1 Exchange, the brainchild of Badger State liberal Joel Rogers, of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, Dr COWS. ALICE, as its website asserts, is "the one-stop web-based public library of progressive state and local laws" - laws that look do what ALEC opposes, expand the reach of government in the lives of American citizens. "This is a great opportunity to connect people working 01 the ground in our communities - legislators, activists, labor unions and community-based orgaruzatio1s - to push together for policies that make our cities and towns more just and equitable places," New York City Councilman Brad Lander, co-chair of the council's Progressive Caucus, told The Nation in 2012. Nelson leads the 40-year-old ALEC in an era marked by a1 epic battle between proponents of bigger government and advocates of smaller government. She calls it a "crucial time." "There has been this swelling of the size of government across the board and you need strong leadership at the state levels to keep fighting against that," Nelson said. She sees as her main task the drive up to ALEC's soth anniversary, making sure over the next decade that the free-market organiz.ation lives up to its creed of stopping the growth of government. And that task includes the growth of ALEC, which, Nelson and other organization officials say, the legislative exchange council is poised to do. "My background is uniquely suited to bring both growth at the legislative level, bring more Democrats and Republican legislators into the mix, but also to really seek out those new businesses ... small business and large businesses, who have got issues at the state level, and bring them into the process so we can have a fulsome debate on the issues," the new CEO said. New Leader, Bolder Direction for American Legislative Exchange Council M.D. Kittle July 10, 2014 http://dailysigna l.com/2014/07 / 10/new-leader-bolder-direction-american-legislative-exchange-council/ The American Legislative Exchange Council has tapped Lisa B. Nelson to serve as chief executive officer of the nation's largest nonpartisan organization c·f state legislators. Nelson, a former Visa Inc. executive and aide to Newt Gingrich, comes to ALEC from Mclean, Va.-based Ulysses Consulting, where she served as managing partner, providing counsel to nonprofits and associations on coalition building and marketing development, according to her biography. Nelson succeeds ALEC Executive Director Ron Scheberle and is charged with driving the strategic direction of the model state-legislation organization, according to a statement. She will be working with "public and private sector leaders throughout the United States to increase the impact of the organization's limited government, free market and federalism priorities." Liberals and big-government advocates will take little comfort in the new chief executive for ALEC, the conservative lightning rod for the left in recent years. Iowa state Rep. Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, who serves as the state House's majority leader and as national chairwoman of ALEC, said Nelson's work in state and national policy, as well as her experience building organizational infrastructure, is a "perfe.:t fit" for ALEC as the organization "strengthens its focus" on limited government, free markets and federalism. "I am excited that as ALEC members work to return decision making to the states, Lisa will provide leadership and direction to the organization and a renewed commitment to finding solutions to challenges facing our states," Upmeyer said in a statement issued Monday. During her eight years as the director of global government relations for Visa, Nelson transformed the small domestic division into an "integrated, multinatiqnal function," according to her biography. She also served as senior vice president for external relations at AOL Time Warner, public affairs liaison to former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and executive director of GO PAC, the GO P's state and local political training organization. . 76 I WELL-BEING INITIATIVE A Project of the Charles Koch Institute Exploring well-being through dialogue, research, and education • J I. T he Charles Koch lnstitute's Well-Being Initiative is a new, research-based project, aimed at fostering the conversation about Over the past year, the Institute has fostered dialogue on topics including: well-being and how people can enhance • Criminal justice reform quality of life for themselves, their families, • Economic opportunity and their communities. Through dialogue, •Education research, and education, the Initiative aims to • Foreign policy advance our understanding of the me~ing, foundations, and drivers of human flourishbg. • Immigration •Privacy Learn more at wellbeinginitiative.org 'tl@CKinstitute • #explorewellbeing Ward, Jessica From: Brian Hawkins < bhawkins@alec.org > Tuesday, December 08, 2015 9:01 AM Jordan Taylor; BRYANKSHUFELT@SBCGLOBAL.NET; Christie Kriegshauser; Malone, Carrie [LEGISJ; Clark Riemer; Dustin Russell; emilyekirchner@gmail.com; catherine.gunsalus@house.ks.gov; Jordan Russell; Ward, Jessica; katherine.munal@house.state.tx.us; Josh Foster; NBuggia@senate.michigan.gov; McAleer, Mary; Wurm, Larissa [LEGIS]; Laura Puryear; Nick Gmail; Rachel Whitten; Ragland, Roy; Russell Humphrey; Stacy Johnson; davidson@oksenate.gov; Michael Bowman; Kyle Meade; Shannon Spada; Shakotko, Veronica ALEC Legislative Staff Training Staff Travel Reimbursement Form.xlsx; Post Legislative Staff Training Survey.docx; Staff Training.JPG Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: All: I hope you had uneventful travels back home. Thank you all for your participation in the event, it was wonderful meeting you all and I hope we can maintain relations going forward. Some business items: 1) Attached is the travel reimbursement form. We will reimburse you for checked bags, parking, and any other travel related fees . Attach all receipts and have the reimbu.rsement form signed by your legislative member. We're going to be very busy with reimbursement forms in the coming weeks so it's going to take about eight weeks to receive your reimbursement check. 2) Also attached is the post-survey for those who were unable to fill it out on Friday. 3) In regards to the group photo, the photo from our professional photographer won't be published for another month, I will get that to you as soon as I get it. In the meantime, also attached is a low quality photo that someone was able to get from their cell phone. 4) To follow up on Jordan's email, my Twitter handle is @brianhawkins25 and my Face book is facebook.com/brian.1.hawkins7. Add me!!! As always, let me know if you have any comments, questions, or concerns. Thanks. Brian Hawkins Policy Coordinator Office: 571-482-5004 Cell: 202-997-4855 2900 Crystal Dr. Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22202 ~LEC Ama~n l.IM)l!iUJh>'O Elld1ange Cou11c1 1 Laurent, Danielle From: Sent: To: Subject: Alex Walker Wednesday, December 09, 2015 12:28 PM Sen.Vukmir Re: ALEC Report Card on American Education Perfect, thank you! I am able to stop by Friday morning. On Wed, Dec 9, 2015 at 12:20 PM, Sen.Vukmir wrote: 1 HiAlex, We have a copy! Would you like to stop by our office to pick it up? Merry Christmas, Danielle M. Laurent, MPH Office of Senator Leah Vukmir Direct: 608-266-2512 I District: 414-453-0024 I Danielle.Laurent@legis.wisconsin.gov I From: Alex Walker [mailto:alexwalker117@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2015 12:17 PM To: Sen.Vukmir Subject: ALEC Report Card on Arnerican Education Hi Senator Vukmir, Hope all is going well with you. I know things are very busy with you a:t the Capitol and just having your ALEC conference in Scottsdale. Hope you got a chance to enjoy some of the warm weather! 1 I am emailing you about the ALEC Report Card on American Education. I'm looking to do some research on education and was wondering if there was a way to get ahold of a hard copy. Reading 120 pages off my computer screen is not ideal! If there's any way I could get a copy that would be awesome! I completely understand if there's no way to do so. I I I Thanks you very much! I I Sincerely, Alex Walker 2 Laurent, Danielle From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Laurent, Danielle Friday, December 04, 2015 8:51 AM 'leah.vukmir@legis.wi.gov' Ward, Jessica FW: Carson Meet & Greet From: Courtney Cook [mailto:ccook@alec.org] Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2015 10:48 PM To: Carmichael, William ; Montana Hyde ; Jeff Lambert ; Lisa Nelson ; hjbrubaker@yahoo.com; Michael Bowman ; Wilhelm Meierling ; Lisa Bowen ; Joel Sorrell ; Genneya Briscoe ; mmeckler@cosaction.com; replO@ohiohouse.gov; voteivory@gmail.com; Debbie Lesko (DLesko@azleg.gov) ; edemerySO@gmail.com Cc: Joel Anderson ; Gary Banz ; Mike Blank ; James Buck ; Alan Clemmons ; Jennifer Colman ; Andre Cushing ; Marrianne Eterno ; David Frizzell ; Joe Harrison ; Judson Hill ; Norine Kasperik ; Phil King ; Kenneth Lane ; Bill Leahy ; Don Lee ; Kelly Mader ; Ray Merrick ; Stephen Moore ; Michael Morgan ; Wayne Niederhauser ; Dawn Pettengill ; John Piscopo ; Jason Saine ; William Seitz ; Roland Spies ; Patrick Thomas ; Blair Thoreson ; Curry Todd ; Linda Upmeyer ; Sen.Vukmir ; Bob Williams Subject: Carson Meet & Greet Hi Everyone, As most of you know, Ben Carson will be the keynote speaker tomorrow during the plenary lunch. Before the plenary lunch begins, there will be a meet & greet for a small number of people. You all are invited to join and meet Dr. Carson as well as have some photo opportunities. If you would like to attend the meet & greet please be at 'Trailblazer A' NO LATER than 11:30. Please note, you will have to go through a metal detector to enter the meet & greet and the lunch. To speed up the process, please leave all bags in your room and do not bring them with you to the meet and greet or lunch. If you attend the meet & greet you will not have to go through the detector again for the lunch as we will move into the plenary session room as a group. ( If you leave, you will have to be rescanned) Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you! 1 Courtney Cook, CMP Event Manager 571-482-5003 ccook@alec.org 2900 Crystal Drive, Sixth Floor Arlington, VA 22202 ·1· E· .·.'c··· ...... . . . . Amerk an J.fi1)iS!l)1rJ(\ ~r.t--11nge Co1,111<;l1 Upcoming Meetings: 2015 States and Nation Policy Summit - December 2-4, 2015 - Scottsdale, Arizona 2016 Spring Task Force Summit - May 6, 2016 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2016 Annual Meeting - July 27-29, 2016 - Indianapolis, Indiana The American Legislative Exchange Council is a 501 (cj3 nonprofit organization and is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States dedicated to the prillciples of limited government, free markets and federalism. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the National Board of Legislators and L1' advised by the Private Ente1prise Advis01y Council, a group ofprivate, foi111datio11 and think tank members. Website I Facebook ITwitter I Blog 2 Laurent, Danielle From: Sent: To: Subject: Sen.Vukmir Wednesday, December 09, 2015 12:20 PM Alex Walker RE: ALEC Report Card on American Education Hi Alex, We have a copy! Would you like to stop by our office to pick it up? Merry Christmas, Danielle M. Laurent, MPH Office of Senator Leah Vukmir Direct: 608-266-2512 District: 414-453-0024 Danielle.Laurent@legis.wisconsin.gov From: Alex Walker [mailto:alexwalker117@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2015 12:17 PM To: Sen.Vukmir Subject: ALEC Report Card on American Education Hi Senator Vukmir, Hope all is going well with you. I know things are very busy with you at the Capitol and just having your ALEC conference in Scottsdale. Hope you got a chance to enjoy some of the warm weather! I am emailing you about the ALEC Report Card on American Education. I'm looking to do some research on education and was wondering if there was a way to get ahold of a hard copy. Reading 120 pages off my computer screen is not ideal! If there's any way I could get a copy that would be awesome! I completely understand if there's no way to do so. Thanks you very much! Sincerely, Alex Walker 2 Laurent, Danielle From: Sent: To: Subject: Jamie Corey Wednesday, December 09, 2015 2:20 PM Sen.Vukmir Public Records Request 12/7/15 Dear Senator, Pursuant to the Wisconsin open records law, I request access to and a copy of all records that pertain to the following entities: -American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) -American City County Exchange (ACCE) -Jeffersonian Project The scope of this request includes yourself, as well as any staff that report directly to you. The request should also include but is not limited to emails, attachments, both sent and received, all draft records, notes, minutes, scheduling records, text messages, ' other correspondence (internal and external) and all other records. The search for records may be limited to those sent and received between 11 /15/15 and the date of your final response. Please exclude all press clips. Please note that this request includes all emails sent and received on official state email accounts, as well as any other email accounts that have been used for official business. I request that these records be provided in electronic form. The Center for Media & Democracy is a non-profit public-interest organization, and the disclosure of the materials requested here would be in the public interest, greatly benefiting public understanding of the workings of government. As such a waiver of any fees is requested. If the waiver is not granted, we agree to pay any reasonable copying and postage fees of not more than $20. If the cost would be greater than this amount, please notify us asking for permission to go beyond that amount. Please provide a receipt indicating the charges for each document. If you choose to deny this request in whole or part, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s). As allowed by Wisconsin state law, please provide all portions of releasable material, even if there is redacted material on the page or record. Sincerely, Jamie Corey Center for Media and Democracy 1 Laurent, Danielle From: Sent: To: Subject: Alex Walker Wednesday, December 09, 2015 12:17 PM Sen.Vukmir ALEC Report Card on American Education Hi Senator Vukmir, Hope all is going well with you. I know things are very busy with you at the Capitol and just having your ALEC conference in Scottsdale. Hope you got a chance to enjoy some of the warm weather! I am emailing you about the ALEC Report Card on American Education. I'm looking to do some research on education and was wondering if there was a way to get ahold of a hard copy. Reading 120 pages off my computer screen is not ideal! If there's any way I could get a copy that would be awesome! I completely understand if there's no way to do so. Thanks you very much! Sincerely, Alex Walker 1 LEAHVUKMIR STATE SENATOR Jamie Corey Center for Media and Democracy Ms. Corey, In response to your emails requesting public records from our office dated August 3 and August 23, please be advised that the Senate Chief Clerk now has the records available for you. In making these disclosures, we have made several redactions pursuant to the public records law. Portions of the documents that are nonresponsive because they pertain to unrelated matters have been redacted. For example, we redacted the names of staff members at the top of emails. See Wis. Stat. § 19.36(6). To reiterate, the information you request in now available to the Office of the Senate Chief Clerk, located in the South Wing Basement of the Capitol at your earliest convenience. The Senate Chief Clerk can be reached by phone at (608) 266-2517. Sincerely, Office of State Senator Leah Vukmir STATE CAPITOL P.O. Box 7882 •MADISON, WISCONSIN 53707-7882 (608) 266- 2512 •FAX (608) 267-0367