Exposed: ALEC’s Influence in Missouri and Kansas

Through the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), corporations hand Missouri legislators wish lists in the form of “model” legislation that often directly benefits their bottom lines at the expense of Missouri families. Behind closed doors, ALEC legislators vote as equals with corporate lobbyists to adopt ALEC model bills crafted by corporations, for corporations. The same corporations that benefit from ALEC model legislation funnel thousands of dollars of gifts and campaign contributions to ALEC legislators, which pushes the envelope on ethics and lobbying law. Elected officials who are members of ALEC then bring their model legislation back to Missouri, where they pass the bills off as their own ideas and important public policy innovations without disclosing their corporate origins.