Which Two Iowa Lawmakers Have Pledged Their Loyalty To ALEC First Before Iowans?

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ProgressIowa.org

In documents released about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) yesterday, it was revealed that Senator Bill Dix and Representative Linda Miller, as Iowa state chairs for ALEC, were asked to pledge,
“I will act with loyalty and put the interests of the organization first.”

“Newly revealed documents demonstrate that Representative Linda Upmeyer believes her first responsibility is to ALEC, above even her constituents. The loyalty oath for legislators proves ALEC’s true colors – corporate special interests first, citizens last. We call on Upmeyer and all ALEC members to publicly renounce the loyalty oath, retract their membership in this secretive corporate front group and instead work on behalf of their constituents.” – Matt Sinovic, Progress Iowa


“It’s undeniable that these documents show Senator Dix and Representative Miller have pledged to put corporate special interests ahead of serving their constituents and the state of Iowa. Dix and Miller must retract their loyalty oath to ALEC immediately and apologize to their constituents and all Iowans.” – Matt Sinovic, Progress Iowa

Here is a link to yesterday’s story in the Guardian.The state chair pledge is highlighted on page 20 of the embedded document: theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/03/alec-funding-crisis

And here is the ALEC website listing Dix and Miller as the Iowa chairs: alec.org/about-alec/state-chairmen/
ALEC – the American Legislative Exchange Council, is in D.C. this week for its “State and Nation Policy Summit” has been the moving force behind legislation including the Stand Your Ground laws that protect reckless killers, voter suppression schemes and laws to strip workers of their right to bargain collectively for fair wages, benefits and working conditions.

ALEC is funded by massive “donations,” from corporations who in return are given full voting rights in all decisions. Corporations draft legislation that directly benefits their bottom line, sit with legislators at ALEC conferences and vote on ALEC policy and legislation, then set the legislators loose to push these bills on their behalf in state governments around the country.

Early this week The Guardian newspaper published an expose and accompanying documents that detail secret ALEC’s concerns about lobbying while pretending to be a charitable organization as well as its plans to win back corporate members who left after the Trayvon Martin shooting and to require legislators to pledge allegiance to ALEC above all.

ALEC’s legislative agenda for 2014 includes plans to harass navigators who help uninsured Americans sign up for affordable health coverage and continue to push for a repeal of the minimum wage.

Matt Sinovic
Progress Iowa
515.423.0530