State legislative sessions are underway across the country. Already, seven states will consider legislation that would criminalize climate activists protesting oil and gas pipelines. The bills closely follow model legislation promoted by the corporate-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The Greenpeace PolluterWatch project, which closely tracks the measures and cites analysis by the International Center …

Continue reading “Bills Targeting Anti-Pipeline Activists in Seven States in 2020, so Far”

State senators in Ohio voted unanimously on Tuesday Jan. 28, 2020 to approve legislation entitled the Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act. The text of the bill contains significant overlap in the language that appears in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) model legislation, which is also entitled the FORUM Act.  While ALEC …

Continue reading “Ohio Senate Unanimously Passes ALEC Model Legislation Allowing Hate Speech on College Campuses”

The names of dozens of American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) members, including both Florida state legislators and lobbyists representing corporations and special interest groups, are listed in three different ALEC membership and registration lists obtained by Documented. ALEC does not publicly disclose any lists of its membership other than its board members. The three new …

Continue reading “Dozens of ALEC Members Revealed in Emails obtained by Documented using the Florida Sunshine Law”

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and its donor-advised fund called the Bradley Impact Fund, together poured millions of dollars into a vast network of right-wing think tanks across the country, according to 2018 tax filings obtained and reviewed by Documented.  The Milwaukee-based conservative foundation has long been a major funder on the right and …

Continue reading “Bradley Foundations Pour Millions into Network of Climate Denial and Anti-Labor Organizations, Tax Filings Show”

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has invited Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to its annual States and Nation Policy Summit that will take place next month in Scottsdale, Arizona from December 4 – 6, 2019, according to an event invitation obtained by Documented via a state open records …

Continue reading “ALEC invites Trump Cabinet Officials to Winter Meeting”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced the legislative appointment of Wisconsin State Rep. Mike Kuglistch to the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change. The task force will be charged with developing a strategy to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and will be comprised of more than 30 members, including other state lawmakers, …

Continue reading “Wisconsin Governor Appoints Climate Denier and ALEC Energy Chair to Task Force on Climate Change”

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), a trade association and lobbying group representing the coal industry, hosted top officials in the Trump Administration and politicians during its 2018 board meeting, according to an agenda obtained by Documented. The event featured Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Neil Chatterjee, then-EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator in …

Continue reading “Trump Officials and Lawmakers Participated in Coal Association Board Meeting”

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and its Energy, Environment and Agriculture (EEA) task force has been the source of a number of “model” bills and resolutions introduced in state legislatures across the country that benefit the fossil fuel industry and weaken environmental protections. A registration list obtained by Documented from a FOIA provides a …

Continue reading “ALEC Energy Task Force Members Uncovered”

In May 2017, petroleum refiner and pipeline operator Valero Energy placed a phone call to then-Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, asking for support on HB 1123. The measure increased criminal penalties for those who trespass on a “critical infrastructure facility,” including pipelines, refineries, storage facilities and electrical power generating facilities.  “They think it will help deter …

Continue reading “Fossil Fuel Industry Pushed Legislation Criminalizing Pipeline Protestors, Emails Show”