Who Likes ALEC?

Check out Grisamore's Facebook page.  He likes ALEC.  I'm sure that he is a member, but it is impossible to get a complete list.  Why don't they post their members?

Missouri ALEC Politicians - SourceWatch

Missouri ALEC Politicians - SourceWatch

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

For a list of politicians with known ALEC ties, please see ALEC Politicians.

This is a partial list of Missouri politicians that are known to be involved in, or previously involved in, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). It is a partial list. (If you have additional names, please add them with a citation. The names in this original list were verified as of posting.)

Legislators who have cut ties with ALEC publicly are also listed here.

Missouri Legislators with ALEC Ties

House of Representatives

• Rep. Sue Allen (R-92), State Chairman, ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force^[1] and International Relations Task Force member,^[2] attended ALEC's 2013 annual meeting^[3]
• Rep. Kurt Bahr (R-102)^[4]
• Rep. Eric Burlison (R-136); Health and Human Services Task Force^[5]
• Rep. Mike Cierpiot (R-30)^[4]
• Rep. Mike Colona (D-St. Louis), has spent campaign money to attend ALEC events or on ALEC membership dues^[6] - former ALEC member, said in a statement to Progress Missouri that ALEC is "too extreme for me and the people of Missouri"^[7] See Legislators Who Have Cut Ties to ALEC for more.
• Rep. Stanley Cox (R-118)^[8]; Civil Justice Task Force^[9]
• Rep. Sandy Crawford (R-119); Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force^[10]
• Rep. Gary Cross (R-35)^[4]
• Rep. Paul R. Curtman (R-105); Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force^[11]
• Rep. John J. Diehl, Jr. (R-87); Communications and Technology Task Force^[12]
• Rep. Tony Dugger (R-144); Public Safety and Elections Task Force^[13]
• Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-139)^[4]
• Rep. Sue Entlicher (R-133); Public Safety and Elections Task Force^[13]
• Rep. Keith Frederick (R-149); Health and Human Services Task Force^[5]
• Rep. Doug Funderburk (R-103)^[4]
• Rep. Dave Hinson (R-98); Public Safety and Elections Task Force^[13]
• Rep. Caleb Jones (R-50)^[4]
• Speaker of the House Timothy Jones (R-89),^[8] Former State Chairman^[14], Education Task Force member^[15] and recipient of about $4,000 from ALEC in 2010 to attend meetings in San Diego and Washington^[6]
• Rep. Shelley Keeney (R-156); International Relations Task Force^[16]
• Rep. Mike Kelley (R-126); Education Task Force^[15]
• Rep. Andrew Koenig (R-88); Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force^[17]
• Rep. Bart Korman (R-42)^[4]
• Rep. Michele Kratky, has spent campaign money to attend ALEC events or on ALEC membership dues^[6]
• Rep. Bill Lant (R-131); Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force^[10]
• Rep. Donna Lichtenegger (R-157); Health and Human Services Task Force^[5]
• Rep. Lyle Rowland (R-155)^[4]
• Rep. Bryan Spencer (R-63)^[4]
• Rep. Chrissy Sommer (R-106)^[4]
• Rep. Noel Torpey (R-55); Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force^[11]
• Rep. Bill White (R-129); Health and Human Services Task Force^[5]

Senate

• Sen. Dan Brown (R-16)^[4]
• Sen. Bob Dixon (R-30)^[4]
• Sen. Ed Emery (R-126)^[1], State Chairman,^[8][18] attended 2013 ALEC Annual Meeting^[3]
• Sen. John Lamping (R-24)^[4]
• Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-18)^[4]
• Sen. Brian D. Nieves (R-98)^[1]; Civil Justice Task Force^[9]
• Sen. Mike L. Parson (R-28); Public Safety and Elections Task Force^[13]
• Sen. David Pearce (R-21)^[4]
• Sen. Ron Richard (R-129); Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force^[10]
• Sen. David Sater (R-29)^[4]
• Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-27) ^[19]
• Sen. Jay Wasson (R-20)^[4]

Former Representatives

• Former Rep. Carl Bearden (R-16),^[4] now the executive director of the conservative non-profit organizations United for Missouri (a 501(c)(4)) and United for Missouri's Future (a 501(c)(3)) and former state director of the Missouri chapter of Americans for Prosperity^[20]
• Former Rep. Walt Bivins (R-97)^[1][8]; Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force^[21]
• Former Rep. Ellen Brandon (R-160); Health and Human Services Task Force^[5]
• Former Rep. Gary Burton ^[22]
• Former Rep. Bonnie Sue Cooper ^[23]
• Former Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-19)^[1]
• Former Rep. Charlie Denison (R-135)^[4]
• Former Rep. Scott D. Dieckhaus (R-109); Education Task Force^[15] (did not seek reelection in 2012, but agreed to serve as interim executive director of the House Republican Campaign Committee)
• Former Rep. Doug Ervin (R-35)^[1]
• Former Rep. Barney Fisher (R-125); Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force^[21]
• Former Rep. and current U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-124)^[4]
• Former Rep. Ted Hoskins (D-Berkeley), ALEC "State Legislator of the Year" in 2009^[6]
• Former Rep. Rodney Hubbard (D-St. Louis), ALEC "State Legislator of the Year" in 2007^[6]
• Former Rep. Steve Hunter (R-127),^[4] later registered as a lobbyist^[24]
• Former Rep. Allen Icet (R-84),^[4] now an employee of BP and former chairman of Missouri Club for Growth^[25]
• Former Speaker of the House Rod Jetton (R-156), charged with second-degree assault in 2009,^[26] investigated by a federal grand jury about bribery claims in 2010, now president of The Missouri Times^[27]
• Former Rep. Kenny Jones (R-117)^[4]
• Former Rep. and current U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R)^[4]
• Former Rep. Cole McNary (R-86)^[1]; Communications and Technology Task Force^[12]
• Former Rep. Jerry Nolte (R-33); International Relations Task Force^[16]
• Former Rep. Darrell L. Pollock (R-146); Communications and Technology Task Force^[12]
• Former Rep. Rex Rector (R-124),^[4] owner of construction company
• Former Rep. Mark L. Richardson (R)^[23]
• Former Rep. Therese Sander (R-22)^[1]
• Former Rep. Rodney Schad (R-115)^[8]; Communications and Technology Task Force^[12]
• Former Rep. Vicki Schneider (R-17); Civil Justice Task Force^[9]
• Former Rep. Shane Schoeller (R-139); Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force ^[17]
• U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-150), Former State Chairman^[14] and Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force member^[17]
• Former Rep. Joe Smith (R-14)^[4]
• Former Sen. and later U.S. Rep. and U.S. Sen. Jim Talent (R),^[4] later co-chair of the PR firm Fleishman-Hillard's lobbying practice, senior advisor to Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and co-chairman at Washington, DC lobbying firm Mercury
• Former Rep. Steven Tilley (R-106); Public Safety and Elections Task Force ^[13] (resigned August 13, 2012)
• Former Rep. Charles Q. Troupe (D), currently St. Louis Alderman, Ward I ^[23]
• Former Rep. Zachary Wyatt (R-2); Communications and Technology Task Force^[12]
• Former Rep. Brian Yates (R-56), now director of public affairs at QC Holdings^[28]

Former Senators

• Former Sen. Jason Crowell (R-27)^[4]
• Former Sen. Jane D. Cunningham (R-7); Education Task Force^[15]
• Former State Sen. and later U.S. Rep. Pat Danner (R)^[4]
• Former Senate Majority Leader Ronnie DePasco ^[22]
• Former Sen. Steven E. Ehlman (R), currently County Executive, St. Charles County. ^[23]
• Former Sen. Jack Goodman (R-29) (Assistant Majority Floor Leader), spoke on "Saving Dollars and Protecting Communities: State Successes in Corrections Policy" at the 2011 ALEC Annual Meeting^[29] (ineligible to run for reelection in 2012; ran for presiding judge of the 39th judicial circuit and won)
• Former Sen., now U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-6)^[4]
• Former Sen. John Griesheimer (R-26); Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force^[21]
• Former Sen. Chuck Gross (R-23),^[4] now vice president at UMB Bank
• Lt. Governor Peter Kinder (R), attended 2013 ALEC annual meeting,^[3] former chair of ALEC Education Task Force (named in 1996)^[30]
• Former Sen. David Klindt (R),^[4] now vice president of and lobbyist for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives^[31]
• Former Sen. Jim Lembke (R-1); International Relations Task Force^[16]
• Former Sen. John Loudon (R-Chesterfield),^[4] briefly attempted lobbying, then worked briefly for homebuilding contractors group in California and, with his wife Gina Loudon, was on "Wife Swap" in March 2013^[32]
• Former Sen. Robert Mayer (R-25); Civil Justice Task Force^[9] (ineligible to run for reelection in 2012; ran for presiding judge of the 35th judicial circuit and won)
• Former Sen. Gary Nodler (R-32)^[4]
• Former Sen. Luann Ridgeway (R-17),^[4] now Clay County Eastern Commissioner

References

1. ↑ ^{Jump up to:1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} American Legislative Exchange Council, Letter to Robert C. Byrd and Nancy Pelosi RE: Federal health reform efforts, June 24, 2009
2. Jump up↑ American Legislative Exchange Council, International and Federal Relations Task Force meeting and Federal Relations Working Group, meeting agenda and materials, August 4, 2011, on file with CMD.
3. ↑ ^{Jump up to:3.0 3.1 3.2} Kinder: Right To Work Likely To Go To Missouri Ballot, Associated Press, August 9, 2013.
4. ↑ ^{Jump up to:4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34} Progress Missouri, Exposed: ALEC's Influence in Missouri, organizational report, April 2013.
5. ↑ ^{Jump up to:5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4} American Legislative Exchange Council, Directory – Full Name and Address, Health and Human Services Task Force Membership Directory, August 2011, obtained and released by Common Cause.
6. ↑ ^{Jump up to:6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} Jason Hancock, Free-market group draws criticism for potential role in bills, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 5, 2011
7. Jump up↑ Rep. Mike Colona (D-MO), ALEC IS "TOO EXTREME FOR ME AND THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI", statement to Progress Missouri, April 12, 2012, accessed April 2012.

Gary Cross was wined and dined by lobbyists who gave him their bills to bring back to Missouri and present as his own. | Progress Missouri

Gary Cross was wined and dined by lobbyists who gave him their bills to bring back to Missouri and present as his own. | Progress Missouri

Gary Cross is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC’s state legislators skirt ethics laws and trade away votes to corporate special interests. In exchange, legislators like Gary Cross enjoy lavish all-expense-paid trips and thousands in campaign cash. Right here in Missouri politicians like Gary Cross are bought and paid for by ALEC, a secretive organizations that uses special-interest money to wine and dine state legislators and get laws passed without input from the public. ALEC politicians like Gary Cross outsource their duties to corporate special interests to write then laws and then vote behind closed doors on which bills to pass.

• The ALEC States & Nation Policy Summit was held at the luxurious Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. Rooms at the resort average more than $300 a night.  But Cross didn’t personally pay for the conference. Instead, he used the funds given to him by corporate donors and special interests for his campaign.
• Cross has supported ALEC model legislation on multiple occasions, notably cosponsoring the “Parent Trigger Act” which would have allowed a single vote to create a charter school or send public tax dollars to private institutions through vouchers.  He’s also used his campaign funds to pay his ALEC dues and even received a likely illegal $1,000 campaign contribution from ALEC, who claim to be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

When you head to the polls this November, we urge you to take a stand against ALEC politicians like Gary Cross, who think getting elected to Missouri’s state government is a way to get paid vacations at the expense of the people who elected them to office. 

Lee's Summit R-7 School District: What The District Is Not Addressing

Lee's Summit R-7 School District: What The District Is Not Addressing

Real Life Statistics

According to a National Autistic Society survey of over 450 children and adults with autism, an astonishing 70% of adults with autism are unable to live independently. Of these individuals, 49% live with family members, creating a huge financial burden on aging parents, and 32% live in residential care facilities, which offer little or no privacy, autonomy, or stimulation.

Only 3% of adults with autism live fully independently. In terms of employment, only 6% of adults hold paid, full-time jobs. Regarding mental health, over half of adults with autism have been diagnosed with depression some time in their adult life while 11% say they have suffered a "nervous breakdown."

And even though the majority of adults surveyed had participated in at least two autism interventions in childhood, 65% continue having difficulty making friends. Of teens surveyed, 74% stated that they had difficulty making friends. Of children under 13 years old, 31% participated in no social activities at all.

Clearly this data shows the burden on quality of life for adults with autism, issues such as independence, self-determination, employment, mental health, social support, and meaningful relationships are virtually ignored when planning treatments, assessing treatment outcomes, or evaluating an overall program’s effectiveness.

Adults with autism are in need of treatment programs which focus on improving family life, self-perception, self-esteem, confidence, ability to compete in employment opportunities, the ability to live in the least restrictive environment, ability to decrease depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, for more successful outcomes.

Lee's Summit R-7 School District: Education Law Center | Bullying

Lee's Summit R-7 School District: Education Law Center | Bullying

BULLYING

According to national survey results, bullying affects approximately 30% of students in the United States, whether they are bullies, targets, or both. Bullying may be physical (hitting or punching), verbal (name-calling or teasing), emotional (intimidation through gestures or social exclusion), or, increasingly, cyberbullying (sending insults or threats through electronic communication). Research shows that by creating a climate of fear and disrespect in schools and adversely impacting student learning, bullying negatively impacts not only those directly involved, but also the bystanders to this behavior. Those who are bullied are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide, while those who bully are at risk of other antisocial or violent behavior.

New Jersey school districts have been officially required to take measures to prevent and respond to bullying since 2002, when the State's first anti-bullying statute, N.J.S.A. 18A:37-13, was enacted.  In 2007, in L.W. v. Toms River Regional Schools Board of Education, which ELC joined as an amicus, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that a school district can be sued for damages, under the Law Against Discrimination (LAD), for not responding reasonably to bias-based student-on-student bullying and harassment that creates a hostile educational environment. Relief under the LAD is limited to students who are targeted for bullying based on a characteristic protected by the law, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Following the L.W. decision, the State created the New Jersey Commission on Bullying in Schools to study and recommend ways to strengthen New Jersey's approach to the problem.  Through its active participation in the New Jersey Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention, a coalition of advocacy organizations, government agencies, and service providers whose goal is to eliminate bullying in New Jersey's schools, ELC was invited to serve on the law committee established to advise the Commission.

The Commission issued a comprehensive report in 2009, establishing a road map for the legal and policy reforms needed to combat bullying in New Jersey's schools.  That report heavily influenced the drafting of New Jersey's "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act," which was signed into law on January 5, 2011 and is considered to be the strongest anti-bullying legislation in the country.

Current Issues

Under the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, effective in the 2011-2012 school year, all New Jersey school districts must strengthen their standards and procedures for preventing, reporting, investigating and responding to incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) of students, both in school and off school premises.  In addition, school districts must comply with enhanced public reporting and training requirements, appoint an Anti-Bullying Specialist and Safety Team at every school, and appoint an Anti-Bullying Coordinator for every district.  The Department of Education also has increased responsibilities under the law, including requirements to investigate HIB complaints that have not been adequately addressed at the local level and to create and administer a Bullying Prevention Fund.

ELC priorities in this area include education about and enforcement of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, providing legal assistance in bullying and harassment cases, and expanding a pool of trained attorneys willing to handle cases pro bono on behalf of children who are bullied in school.

Lee's Summit R-7 School District: Erosion of Our Rights

Lee's Summit R-7 School District: Erosion of Our Rights



The District wants the Missouri Human Rights Act to be realigned with Federal Standards in their self-serving way as Legislative Priority 8 states but when it comes to everything else basically, they want the Feds to butt out.

I think we need to work together to get Legislative Priority Item 8 removed from the Legislative Platforms of the 30 school district members of the CSDGKC. 


I would like to see that patrons understand that LSR7 Legislative Platform PRIORITY POSITION #8 HAS NO EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE.  I do not want my tax dollars used to erode civil and human rights of the citizens of Missouri.  I believe the CSDGKC and LSR7 are getting too involved in politics considering the purpose of both is supposed to be EDUCATION.   

The Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City (CSDGKC Inc.) operates as a Missouri EDUCATIONAL Service Agency (ESA).  A CSDGKC sister  organization, the CSDGKC Foundation holds 501(c)(3) status.  In order to provide consistency and continuity, the board of directors for the CSDGKC Foundation is the same as the CSDGKC board.

CSDGKC Inc. is a  diverse, accomplished educational cooperative association.  CSDGKC represents 29 school districts and provides cutting-edge, state-of-the-art collaborative professional development services to another 19 school districts or schools.  CSDGKC serves rural, suburban, and urban communities from 13 Missouri Counties.  We represent over 188,000 students and 30,000 employees.  CSDGKC Inc. is governed by public  school districts in Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, and  Ray Counties.

Adrian R-III School
Archie R-V School District
Belton School District #124
Blue Springs School District
Center School District 
Excelsior Springs School District 
Fort Osage R-1 School District
Grain Valley School District
Grandview C-4 Schools
Harrisonville Schools
Hickman Mills C-1 School District 
Independence School District
Kansas City Public Schools
Kearney R-1 School District 
Lathrop R-II Schools
Lee’s Summit R-7 School District 
Liberty Public Schools
Lone Jack C6 Public Schools
North Kansas City Schools
Oak Grove R-VI School District
Park Hill School District
Platte County School District
Pleasant Hill R-III School District
Raymore-Peculiar School District 
Raytown School District 
Richmond R-XVI School District
St. Joseph School District 
Smithville R-II School District 
West Platte School District

Missouri Human Rights Act to federal standards.  It isn't to benefit education and students, it is to shield administrators from financial accountability for their acts of discrimination.  It is also to please the school district's business donors and please the local Chamber of Commerce.  This will make it hard to prove discrimination even when that is what has happened.  The erosion of the Missouri Human Rights Act is a big step back in civil rights progress made in this country.  This is why it is critical to spread the word in our communities that we as Patrons/Stakeholders want this removed from the Legislative Platform of our school district.  This impacts school populations and all people who experience discrimination in their jobs, housing and public accommodations in the state of Missouri.  This change in the MHRA will impact all who experience discrimination in Missouri.

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights will take your charge and investigate the alleged discrimination, harassment ... If they find discrimination, then they will either help the parties settle or if the MCHR feels they should have a hearing about the case, they do that.  The parents of the child or the school employee who experienced discrimination, does not have to file a lawsuit, they don't have to hire an attorney.  The MCHR helps with all of this, holding the person and entity involved responsible for the discrimination if they find that in the case.  The school district's officials will be shielded from financial liability if the MHRA is eroded.  Governor Nixon has vetoed Bills two times.  Schools are using their Legislative websites to promote their agenda, which includes #8.