"In Washington last week, Alec, a group that links lobbyists with state lawmakers, approved measures to boost Donald Trump’s pro-fossil fuel agenda

Inside a little-known bulwark of conservative state policy, in a hotel conference room in Washington DC, state lawmakers and corporate lobbyists last week voted for a slate of anti-environment measures.

They approved resolutions supporting stripping tax benefits from electric vehicles and endorsing Donald Trump’s pro-fossil fuel energy agenda. And they voted down a proposal to limit monopoly control of the power industry, which backers said would give consumers more choice and help grow renewable electricity faster and more cheaply.

The group, a taskforce of the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), did so behind closed doors. They barred press from the rooms where they called roll. When voice votes were close and a tally was required, the business representatives weighing in on what kinds of policies state legislatures should pursue voted in secret. They cast ballots on paper, in a change that four sources said organizers announced was meant to keep the process confidential from reporters."

Emily Holden reports for the Guardian December 4, 2018. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"ALEC Lost Membership Worth Over $7 Trillion in Market Cap" (Climate Investigations Center) [3]

"Diehards Stick With Koch-Backed Lobby Amid Corporate Exodus" (Bloomberg) [4]

"AT&T Drops ALEC for Hosting Hate Speech" (PR Watch) [5]

"ALEC Embraces Trumpism, Climate Catastrophe, and School Privatization at Policy Summit" (PR Watch) [6]