Was the Sick tag busy?

Moody Bible Institute, eh?

This should be the cornerstone of every House rep challenging an incumbent in Florida this year.

The finest democracy money can buy.

FTA:
it is thee main force behind the deterioration

Surely thou jests!

We have a Florida lawmaker with the integrity to admit that they're just another shill for ALEC. In Florida, that's practically an action worthy of a medal - usually, the ALEC shills just file off ALEC's serial numbers from "their" legislation and lie their little conservative asses off when questioned.

Shades of cdesign proponentists.

draypresct: FTA:
it is thee main force behind the deterioration

Surely thou jests!

I jest not, and verily thou must refrain from addressing one such as myself by the moniker, Shirley.

Huh. I've never heard of ALEC, but just a skim of the article indicates I should remember it, because it WILL come up again, and NOT in positive circumstances.

ALEC has pretty much carte blanche among Florida's GOP. They work behind the scenes with sympathetic Florida state and local governments to change city and county charters that were designed to prevent private shenanigans. They 'recommend' law firms that are 'helpful' in privatizing government services, adding private corporations (Like Waste Management) onto non ad valorem tax rolls. They call themselves non-partisan, but their mission statement 'favors federalism and conservative public policy solutions'. They want to ensure that all future tax revenues will go into the pockets of private corporations that have bought and paid for these politicians.

Fun in the Big Easy with Arthur Laffer and former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey

Hey GOP we'll tell you what laws you need to pass in your state

We all knew Florida GOP was in the closet, don't believe me? Go ask ALEC

These guys have been in league with Jeb Bush and Florida GOP for years! Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is on board, so who's going to do a motherfarkin' thing? Koch Brothers in charge and funding this BS. Florida gets what it deserves. The people here are too gawdamned stupid to do anything. And when the lobbying and back room deals are pointed out to them, they ignore the truth and resort to the 'government can't do anything right so why not let private business take EVERYTHING over' talking points. Really, Daily Kos, you just now rapping your head around this shiat???

These dirty bastards are working to privatize 30 South Florida prisons even as we speak. Why the fark do you think the GOP wants to end public education, state-run jail systems, government controlled water,garbage and sewage systems? Let the free hand of business reach in and steal your farkin' souls. I feel like one of the last remaining human beings living in Zombie Florida. Hey it's probably too late for us, but for God's sake save yourselves!

If the laws are voted on and passed by a majority what is the big deal who writes them? Vote out your representatives if you do not approve the job they are doing, but these ad hominem attacks on people who do the heavy lifting on crafting the legislation is petty and quite frankly only something ivory tower elites would fret over.

This is my representative. In 2008, her predecessor, Traviesa, was in danger of being brought up on ethics charges (just rumors at this point). The guy steps down with about a month remaining before the primary election, past the filing deadline. So only his name was on the primary ballot. The Hillsborough County Republican Party holds an emergency meeting that only three people show up to (isn't lack of notification a hell of a thing?), and those three people decide that one of their sisters, who was not done with college yet and had just started as an assistant, would inherit Traviesa's spot as the nominee.

In the gerrymandered district, she easily beats her Dem opponent in 2008. His only previous experience in public service was as President of a Homeowners' Association.

Rachel had a primary opponent in 2010, a lawyer this time, and even though the guy barely had enough money to send out mailers, while she had signs and everything, she barely squeaked by.

We couldn't be more proud of you, Rachel!

Codenamechaz: this is literally the best resource for everything about ALEC (new window)

Bookmarked, Thank you.

She looks like Rosie O'Donnell.

http://reprachelburgin.com/

Unfortunately, not a single major news organization is going to cover this, and in the end, nobody will give a fark. People will continue to be outraged at things that don't really affect them like gay marriage and other people's abortions, while the things like this that they should be up in arms about continue unnoticed.

Thanks, mainstream liberal corporate media!

improvius: Unfortunately, not a single major news organization is going to cover this, and in the end, nobody will give a fark. People will continue to be outraged at things that don't really affect them like gay marriage and other people's abortions, while the things like this that they should be up in arms about continue unnoticed.

Thanks, mainstream liberal corporate media!

You're welcome.

Honestly, that catch-phrase is too trite. *draws on white glove* There's so much dirt around that there's always some that will remain in the cracks.

/maybe my sarcasm meter is broken

RandomExcess: If the laws are voted on and passed by a majority what is the big deal who writes them? Vote out your representatives if you do not approve the job they are doing, but these ad hominem attacks on people who do the heavy lifting on crafting the legislation is petty and quite frankly only something ivory tower elites would fret over.

You are either complete idiot, a paid shill, a troll or part of the problem. Would you please show me ANY constitution that says private business should write the laws by which we are governed. An 'ad hominem' is claim or argument rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact or claim. This shiat speaks for itself. Is 'heavy lifting on crafting the legislation' some double-speak about poor tired GOP working so hard that they need to be bribed and greased to allow self-serving corporations into legislature and onto tax rolls? BTW, did you not get the farkin' memo? "Ivory tower elite" shiat went out the window as soon as you guys decided you wanted tax-avoiding, vulture capitalist millionaire as your commander-in-cheat. I'm not fretting, I'm just calling them and you out on your shiat.

improvius: Unfortunately, not a single major news organization is going to cover this, and in the end, nobody will give a fark. People will continue to be outraged at things that don't really affect them like gay marriage and other people's abortions, while the things like this that they should be up in arms about continue unnoticed.

Thanks, mainstream liberal corporate media!


Give that man a cigar. This shiat is too 'boring'. Even the most politically-minded Farkers are too busy commenting about Santorum's I-pad comment or the GOP coont that wanted Fartbongo to dance like a minstrel and help her husband find a job. Meanwhile, corporate Super PACS are buying elections and then telling their bought-and-paid for biatches where to send your tax dollars.

RobertBruce: Costs go down, productivity goes up.

Only the costs do not go down. Look at the studies showing that private prisons are not as cost effective. They do nothing during escapes and their rehabilitation programs are non-existent. Look at the states using cheap prison labor to do construction and clean-up instead of hiring unemployed workers with families to support. No-bid contracts to favored ALEC members has NOTHING to do with competition, but EVERTHING to do with collusion. The few publicly owned assets like parks, state owned lands, waste and sewage plants are given to these same companies. Where is the "productivity" in laying off teachers, prison guards, health care workers, and law enforcement officers. Where is the "productivity" in removing pensions, and safety nets for our poorest and oldest. What cost are going down? Are our taxes lower? No! They are instead being funneled into the hands of those who pretend that publicly built roads do not carry their goods and services. They want all revenues from government fees and services, but are unwilling to admit that government has an obligation to ALL its citizenry and not just those that bribe our politicians and their families. But point this shiat out and it's all 'soshulizm' and double-secret time traveling Muslims.

Oh I wondered what this weeks "liberals whine about things they themselves do" topic was going to be.

Submitting bills creating by a lobbying group is fairly common practice but it's the usual crap... It's fine when WE do it because the lobby groups that write OUR bills are "good" but it's NOT when YOU do it because the lobby groups that write your bills are "bad".

This is what happens when you have to raise about $40,000 every two years to run for an office that pays less than $30,000 per year, has a 5-hour commute, and no housing allowance.

zenobia: improvius: Unfortunately, not a single major news organization is going to cover this, and in the end, nobody will give a fark. People will continue to be outraged at things that don't really affect them like gay marriage and other people's abortions, while the things like this that they should be up in arms about continue unnoticed.

Thanks, mainstream liberal corporate media!

You're welcome.

Honestly, that catch-phrase is too trite. *draws on white glove* There's so much dirt around that there's always some that will remain in the cracks.

/maybe my sarcasm meter is broken

An article from last August? I think your calendar is broken.

RandomExcess: If the laws are voted on and passed by a majority what is the big deal who writes them? Vote out your representatives if you do not approve the job they are doing, but these ad hominem attacks on people who do the heavy lifting on crafting the legislation is petty and quite frankly only something ivory tower elites would fret over.

Right.

I'm going to write a bill and send it to my congressman. I'm sure he'll pass it on and it will get an up or down vote.

And you don't know what an ad hominem attack is. I'll give you one as an example:

YOU ARE A FARKTARD.

randomjsa: Oh I wondered what this weeks "liberals whine about things they themselves do" topic was going to be.

Submitting bills creating by a lobbying group is fairly common practice but it's the usual crap... It's fine when WE do it because the lobby groups that write OUR bills are "good" but it's NOT when YOU do it because the lobby groups that write your bills are "bad".

Okay...so show us some examples of liberals passing on a special-interest bill unaltered from its source.
Hell, just show us one.

randomjsa: Oh I wondered what this weeks "liberals whine about things they themselves do" topic was going to be.

Submitting bills creating by a lobbying group is fairly common practice but it's the usual crap... It's fine when WE do it because the lobby groups that write OUR bills are "good" but it's NOT when YOU do it because the lobby groups that write your bills are "bad".

Oh I wondered when partisan GOP monkeys would show up a fling their talking points without addressing the real issues of Koch Brothers-funded and corporate-owned ALEC. Sooner or later some knuckle dragger is sure to make his way into this thread and miss the entire point of the news story and begin to compare K Street and lobbying with ALEC's history of buying legislation. Hey, but no big deal, right? So what if bought-and-paid-for GOP coont forgets to take ALEC's name off a piece of legislature that calls for "anti-corporate tax bill" in a broke-ass state that has one of the largest losses of property tax income and and thousands of displaced homeowners. Who cares if Florida actually saw thousands of it's residents leaving the state and experiencing negative population gain for the first time in its history? Florida doesn't need corporations to shoulder the burden of taxes with every other resident does it?
Why Hell NO! Those greedy tax-avoiding 'job creators' are happy to gut education and privatize prisons. Remember Florida does not have a revenue problem, they have a spending problem, am i right? Only thing is multi-millionaire Medicare-Medicaid cheating Governor "I plead the fifth" Voldermort (Rick Scott) was able to ride into Florida, buy his office and pretty much ass-fark every single person in this state. (with the exception of his cronies and corporate privateers)

We can discuss bi-partisan lobbying reform as soon as some of these bastards either get out of office or get out of jail.

If you consider this "liberal whining", I consider your posting to be idiotic ramblings that have nothing to do with the subject matter at hand. But that's just me.

Stop whining stupid hippies, this is just part of the process, the process. So go with it already, and get a job and take a bath. You don't even know why you're mad.

I didn't realize that ALEC was shady and secretive.

moefuggenbrew: Stop whining stupid hippies, this is just part of the process, the process. So go with it already, and get a job and take a bath. You don't even know why you're mad.

1/10

jigger: I didn't realize that ALEC was shady and secretive.

We have a provision of government in Florida known as the "The Sunshine Laws". That means no backroom hearings on public matters. No 'private' audiences with legislators. Period. No rounds of golf to discuss bills pending before our state house and senate. These Sunshine Laws were written in bi-partisan fashion and adhered to back when when each party served as a check against unilateral shenanigans. Sadly, with a complete loss of responsibility to voters, and with a "I-gots-mine-and-am-stealing-yours mentality" ; the GOP-controlled house, senate and governors seat are free to engage in what ever backroom dealings that ALEC deems are necessary. Our GOP attorney general, Pam Bondi, never met Republican she didn't like. So no one is minding the hen house. There is ZERO accountability coming from the AG's office in regards to either Sunshine Laws or ethics violations. I was successful in getting the Waste Management Corporation off our county tax rolls (but it took me weeks of obtaining petition signatures and cost me hundreds of dollars). The GOP controlled offices had not only allowed no-bid contracts awarded to WM; but had actually secretly revised the charter allowing them to place a private corporation onto non ad valorem tax rolls. A quick Google search will show you just how many times one of ALEC's best customers (Waste Management) has influenced legislation in order to be permanently placed onto county and municipal tax rolls. I searched through hours of public records and you cannot believe the crap I uncovered. There have been several law suits settled in Okaloosa and Walton counties in regards to GOP controlled government offices, that tried to prevent citizens from obtaining documents that clearly pointed to violation of said Sunshine Laws. Only in court was there ANY action taken against lawmakers and that usually resulted in a cash settlement going to plaintiffs (which of course is paid out by taxpayers or insurance firms). As I've said, there was no prosecution of lawmakers who had clearly broken the law.

Hint: The biggest group to call attention to this is called ALEC Exposed

Dahnkster: . As I've said, there was no prosecution of lawmakers who had clearly broken the law.

well ya see there are two sets of laws. those for them and those for us.

as Carlin put it. "It's a big club and you ain't in it."

Hobodeluxe: well ya see there are two sets of laws. those for them and those for us.as Carlin put it. "It's a big club and you ain't in it."

Man what is going on here is EXACTLY why there can be no 'free hand of the markets' or 'get out of the way and let capitalism dictate what's best for our country'. If we allow unfettered thievery of our taxes, the wholesale giveaway of public assets and backroom chicanery between corporations and government.... it can only lead to one thing

Don't Have A Grandson With A Dog Collar

The US Senate rules aren't relevant in this discussion. Even the US Code that defines and regulates lobbying activities doesn't apply to states. The laws apply to lobbying the US government only.

Each state has similar but not identical regulations concerning such activities. They vary by definitions of lobbying, ethics, conflicts, transparency, openness, etc.

ALEC blatently skirts the lobbying laws. That much is obvious. They do this by declaring that they provide educational services and deny that their work is lobbying activity. Most states (and the US) define lobbying as a paid activity. So if you "volunteer", you're not lobbying. If you provide "examples" of legislation, you are "educating".

The IRS has an exemption in the definition of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt "charitable" corporations that seems to have been written by ALEC for ALEC. This has been challenged several times to no avail.

So the big corporations are allowed to get together and "educate" state legislators and spend unlimited amounts of tax-exempt money to do so. They charge a very small membership fee for each legislator, thus restricting attendance to actual elected officials. They insist on non-disclosure of their propaganda because it's all about learning and discussion. There is no actual work product; just examples.

The examples have changed little since the 1980's, of course. It's all far right wing Heritage/Cato/AFP extreme legislation and the presentations are all about the same old crap we hear out of every right winger on the planet. One of the earliest themes was the "tax and spend liberal" idea. Everybody remembers that one. Now it's the "out of control government spending" and "destroying the Constitution" and the "total loss of family values". Private prisons, schools, development, commerce, etc.

A newbie state legislator who has no experience and no staff and little pay needs to learn how to be a legislator somehow. The fake concept that ALEC uses is that of a professional association of state legislators. A club where you can share and learn among your peers and so-called experts. The experts are guys like Laffer and other nutcases. And newbie legislators eat this shiat up.

We end up getting bills introduced that nobody needs or wants and ALEC pressure the fools to pass this eqregious shiat through their fear-mongering tactics.

Mitch McConnell, I'm sure, is an invited keynote speaker to groups like this. They all do their part.

But this has nothing to do with a 1995 US Senate committee opinion. It's much, much, larger than that.

This is a memorial resolution. The effects of it are ZERO. The effect of this House Memorial is "send this statement to other people." It really does nothing as far as actual legislation.

So many feathers ruffled about nothing.

//work in Tallahassee, know the Representative in question, yadda, yadda... I have much better stories than this drivel.