This is the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of ? ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council. A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a ?nonpartisan public-private partnership?. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense without public knowledge.

In state houses around the country, hundreds of pieces of boilerplate ALEC legislation are proposed or enacted that would, among other things, dilute collective bargaining rights, make it harder for some Americans to vote, and limit corporate liability for harm caused to consumers ? each accomplished without the public ever knowing who?s behind it. ALEC has been manipulating public policy for over 30 years