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ALEC News

Cashing in on Kids: 172 ALEC Education Bills Push Privatization in 2015

Despite widespread public opposition to the corporate-driven education privatization agenda, at least 172 measures reflecting American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) model bills were introduced in 42 states in 2015, according to an analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy, publishers of ALECexposed.org and PRWatch.org. (A PDF version of this report may be downloaded here.)

One of ALEC's biggest funders is Koch Industries and the Koch brothers' fortune. The Kochs have had a seat at the table—where the private sector votes as equals with legislators—on ALEC's education task force via their "grassroots" group Americans for Prosperity and their Freedom Partners group, which was described as the Kochs' "secret bank."

The Kochs also have a voice on ALEC's Education Task Force through multiple state-based think tanks of the State Policy Network, ALEC's sister organization, which is funded by many of the same corporations and foundations and donor entities. Read the rest of this item here.

Koch-ALEC Right to Work Power Play Exposed in a Small Illinois Village

Last month, four unions sued the Village of Lincolnshire in federal court in Chicago. The unions representing engineers, construction workers, and carpenters--including three affiliated with the AFL-CIO--filed suit on February 18, 2016, to have Lincolnshire's anti-union "right-to-work" ordinance declared invalid and prevent its enforcement.

Two days after the federal lawsuit was filed, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 filed a related lawsuit alleging that Lincolnshire Mayor Elizabeth Brandt wrongfully barred two men from speaking against the ordinance when it was originally being considered in December.

So how did a town with a population of 7,280 become a frontline in the national fight to destroy unions? Because Lincolnshire is in the vanguard of the latest, localized scheme to dismantle unions drawn directly from the Koch playbook. Read the rest of this item here.

Bankruptcy Filing Shows Arch Coal Funding for Climate Denial Legal Group

Chris Horner
E&E Legal Senior Legal Fellow

The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal), a group best known for filing lawsuits seeking climate scientists' personal emails, has secretly received funding from Arch Coal, one of the largest coal producers in the United States. The funding is revealed in documents recently filed as part of the Arch Coal bankruptcy proceedings which list the coal company's creditors.

The Arch funding is revealed just months after Alpha Natural Resources, another coal company facing bankruptcy, was identified by The Intercept as providing funding to a group closely connected to E&E Legal, the Free Market Law Clinic, as well as funding directly to E&E Legal's lawyer, Chris Horner. The two organizations share staff and fellows, often working together to bring lawsuits.

Although E&E Legal is listed as a creditor, the Arch court filing does not provide any other details that would indicate the size of the funding nor when any payment or payments were made. Read the rest of this item here.

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-<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13049/bankruptcy-documents-indicate-arch-coal-funding-climate-denial-legal-group Bankruptcy Filing Shows Arch Coal Funding for Climate Denial Legal Group]</h3>
+<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13054/cashing-kids-172-alec-education-bills-2015 Cashing in on Kids: 172 ALEC Education Bills Push Privatization in 2015]</h3>
-[[Image:Chris_Horner-Arch_Coal270px.jpg|270 px|center|frame|<center>Chris Horner<br>E&E Legal Senior Legal Fellow</center>]]The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal), a group best known for filing lawsuits seeking climate scientists' personal emails, has secretly received funding from Arch Coal, one of the largest coal producers in the United States. The funding is revealed in [https://cases.primeclerk.com/archcoal/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=Mjc3NzE5&id2=0 documents] recently filed as part of the Arch Coal bankruptcy proceedings which list the coal company's creditors.
+[[Image:Cash_4_Kids270px.jpg|270px|center]]Despite widespread public opposition to the corporate-driven education privatization agenda, at least 172 measures reflecting American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) model bills were introduced in 42 states in 2015, according to an analysis by the Center for Media and Democracy, publishers of ALECexposed.org and PRWatch.org. (A PDF version of this report may be downloaded [http://www.prwatch.org/files/03-08-15am_alec_education_report_by_cmd.pdf here].)
-The Arch funding is revealed just months after Alpha Natural Resources, another coal company facing bankruptcy, was identified by [https://theintercept.com/2015/08/25/chris-horner-coal/ ''The Intercept''] as providing funding to a group closely connected to E&E Legal, the Free Market Law Clinic, as well as funding directly to E&E Legal's lawyer, Chris Horner. The two organizations share staff and fellows, often working together to bring lawsuits.
+One of ALEC's biggest funders is Koch Industries and the Koch brothers' fortune. The Kochs have had a seat at the table—where the private sector votes as equals with legislators—on ALEC's education task force via their "grassroots" group Americans for Prosperity and their Freedom Partners group, which was described as the Kochs' "secret bank."
-Although E&E Legal is listed as a creditor, the Arch court filing does not provide any other details that would indicate the size of the funding nor when any payment or payments were made. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13049/bankruptcy-documents-indicate-arch-coal-funding-climate-denial-legal-group here].
+The Kochs also have a voice on ALEC's Education Task Force through multiple state-based think tanks of the State Policy Network, ALEC's sister organization, which is funded by many of the same corporations and foundations and donor entities. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13054/cashing-kids-172-alec-education-bills-2015 here].
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-<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13048/kochs-go-after-electric-car-subsidies The Kochs Go After Electric Car Subsidies]</h3>
+<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13055/koch-alec-right-work-power-play-exposed-illinois Koch-ALEC Right to Work Power Play Exposed in a Small Illinois Village]</h3>
-[[Image:Electric_car_plugged-in270px.jpg|270 px|center]]Hold onto your Prius!
+[[Image:RTW-Right_to_lose270px.jpg|270 px|center]]Last month, [http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160222/business/160229677/ four unions sued] the Village of Lincolnshire in federal court in Chicago. The unions representing engineers, construction workers, and carpenters--including three affiliated with the AFL-CIO--filed suit on February 18, 2016, to have Lincolnshire's anti-union "right-to-work" ordinance declared invalid and prevent its enforcement.
-The Kochs and their fossil-fuel-fed political network are reportedly gunning for the electric car.
+Two days after the federal lawsuit was filed, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 [http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lincolnshire/news/ct-lsr-right-to-work-tl-0303-20160223-story.html filed a related lawsuit] alleging that Lincolnshire Mayor Elizabeth Brandt wrongfully barred two men from speaking against the ordinance when it was originally being considered in December.
-According to an anonymous industry source who spoke to [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/koch-electric-vehicles_us_56c4d63ce4b0b40245c8cbf6 journalist Peter Stone], a new advocacy group will "make the public aware of all the benefits of petroleum-based transportation fuels."
+So how did a town with a population of 7,280 become a frontline in the national fight to destroy unions? Because Lincolnshire [http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160222/business/160229677 is in the vanguard] of the latest, localized scheme to dismantle unions drawn directly from the Koch playbook. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/03/13055/koch-alec-right-work-power-play-exposed-illinois here].
-If you think this sounds a bit nutty, you have to remember Koch front groups have also fought the implementation of street cars in [http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2015/01/20/murphys-law-who-is-funding-the-anti-streetcar-effort/ city after city]. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13048/kochs-go-after-electric-car-subsidies here].
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-<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13044/adelante-day-without-latinos-wisconsin Adelante! El Dia Sin Latinos en Wisconsin]</h3>
+<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13049/bankruptcy-documents-indicate-arch-coal-funding-climate-denial-legal-group Bankruptcy Filing Shows Arch Coal Funding for Climate Denial Legal Group]</h3>
-[[Image:DWNL_We_Are_Not_Problem270px.jpg|center|270 px]]Latino families, friends, supporters and business owners took to the streets surrounding Madison’s Capitol Thursday to protest a pair of anti-immigration bills being fast-tracked in the GOP-controlled legislature.
+[[Image:Chris_Horner-Arch_Coal270px.jpg|270 px|center|frame|<center>Chris Horner<br>E&E Legal Senior Legal Fellow</center>]]The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal), a group best known for filing lawsuits seeking climate scientists' personal emails, has secretly received funding from Arch Coal, one of the largest coal producers in the United States. The funding is revealed in [https://cases.primeclerk.com/archcoal/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=Mjc3NzE5&id2=0 documents] recently filed as part of the Arch Coal bankruptcy proceedings which list the coal company's creditors.
-The crowd was so large, organizer Christine Neumann-Ortiz could barely contain her joy, declaring from the stage "This is a great day!"
+The Arch funding is revealed just months after Alpha Natural Resources, another coal company facing bankruptcy, was identified by [https://theintercept.com/2015/08/25/chris-horner-coal/ ''The Intercept''] as providing funding to a group closely connected to E&E Legal, the Free Market Law Clinic, as well as funding directly to E&E Legal's lawyer, Chris Horner. The two organizations share staff and fellows, often working together to bring lawsuits.
-Protesters came in from all over the state: Marshall, Waukesha, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Green Bay, and Milwaukee to declare that Wisconsin is NOT Arizona.
+Although E&E Legal is listed as a creditor, the Arch court filing does not provide any other details that would indicate the size of the funding nor when any payment or payments were made. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13049/bankruptcy-documents-indicate-arch-coal-funding-climate-denial-legal-group here].
-Wisconsin is the latest state to try crushing local protections for immigrant rights.
-Across the country, with help from groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), right-wing state lawmakers have [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13029/2016-ALEC-local-control increasingly been turning to state "preemption" measures] to override an array of progressive policy gains at the city or county level. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/02/13044/adelante-day-without-latinos-wisconsin here].
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