Conservative group’s clout is seen in legislation

Corporations writing the laws, then buying legislators to pass them.  Find out more at http://alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed.
 
By RUDI KELLER
Columbia Tribune
Tuesday, April 17, 2012

JEFFERSON CITY — For more than an hour yesterday, the subject of which is supreme — the United States government or Missouri — was debated on the state House floor.

When it was over, the House had decided it was more powerful and gave first-round approval to a bill that makes it a crime for any federal employee to attempt to enforce the Affordable Care Act — the federal health care overhaul named "Obamacare" by Republicans.

The 109-41 vote was an example of a growing view among conservatives that states have the right to nullify federal laws that are viewed as violations of the division of power between states and the government in Washington, D.C.

"It is our duty as state legislators, as the sovereign state of Missouri, to uphold our end of the Constitution," said Rep. Kurt Bahr, R-St. Charles. "When the federal government oversteps its bounds, it is our duty to stand up and say that is not something you are allowed to do, to enforce that act on our citizens."

The issue of state versus federal sovereignty, and a host of other issues on the conservative agenda, is a major part of the legislative agenda pushed by the American Legislative Exchange Council. The group, funded by corporate donations and dues from lawmakers across the country, is coming under increasing fire for its role in promoting the "stand your ground" law cited as a defense for George Zimmerman in the Florida slaying of Trayvon Martin.

ALEC also is deeply involved in efforts to roll back hard-won rights, said Sean Nicholson of Progress Missouri, which held a news conference yesterday calling on lawmakers to reject ALEC-inspired bills. The bills cited include "right to work" and voter ID measures.

"Missourians do not elect corporations and their lawyers to write laws for their benefit," Nicholson said.

The report issued by Progress Missouri named 40 current or former lawmakers who have pushed bills modeled on ALEC legislation. Nicholson noted that several major corporations, including Coca-Cola and McDonald's, have recently withdrawn funding from ALEC.

ALEC did not return a call seeking comment. But in an article last week in USA Today, ALEC spokeswoman Kaitlyn Buss said the attacks on the organization are about more than concerns over the "stand your ground" law.

"This is an attempt to silence our organization," she said. "We are a target because our opponents believe they have the opportunity to attack an effective, successful organization that promotes free-market, limited-government policies that they disagree with."

Of the legislation cited by Nicholson, only one measure listed as ALEC-inspired — the "castle doctrine," which is similar to Florida's "stand your ground" law — has become law in Missouri.

Claiming the state has the right to nullify or ignore federal law under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a major ALEC goal. That political theory almost led to civil war in 1832 when South Carolina refused to collect federal import taxes. That history didn't stop the Missouri House from approving Bahr's bill.

Bahr's bill would make it a misdemeanor for an "official, agent or employee" of the federal government to attempt to enforce the Affordable Care Act. Those who are subject to enforcement attempts could sue.

"Where can you show me in law where a state can arrest or interfere with a federal officer in the business of enforcing a federal statute?" Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, asked Bahr on the floor.

"I say yes," Bahr replied.

"We all know that is not true," Kelly said.