Ford Motor Company has decided to leave the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a company spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.
“As part of our annual budget review in 2015, we adjusted our participation in several groups. We will not be participating in ALEC in 2016,” Ford spokeswoman Christin Baker said in a statement provided to TPM.
The news was first reported by PR Watch.
Ford follows a slew of major corporations that have decided to cut ties with ALEC over the past few years. The conservative organization drafts model legislation, and the group’s model bills were taken up by many state legislatures following the 2010 elections.
In recent years companies linked to the group taken issue with ALEC’s climate change denial and opposition to renewable energy projects. By the end of 2014, companies like Microsoft, Google, Visa and General Motors had cut ties with the group. In a statement, Google said that ALEC was “literally lying about climate change.”
Mediate reported that a tweet from Trump campaign social media director Dan Scavino quoted former Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) saying of ALEC, “ALEC is without a doubt, one of the most honest organizations in DC.” Trump then quoted Scavino’s tweet and added, “Very Real! Highly respected Senator Tom Coburn said this about ALEC.”
Fox: Obama continues to take advantage of Citizens United and loosen conservative’s grip on Corporations. We miss Scalia.
So, since this has taken so fucking long…
What group has replaced ALEC and signed all their old clients? There’s absolutely no chance that this hasn’t happened by now.
I’m surprised they haven’t virtually all of their corporate backers since Alec’s agenda have been widely exposed. Most corporations want to stay neutral on these issues by not pissing off the majority of their customers, even firms headed by or owned by right leaning executives or owners as its not wise to wear your political leanings on your sleeve. In one example, Papa John’s pizza paid the price and still is for dissing the President, hence the millions they pay Peyton Manning in a partially successful effort to regain lost, left-leaning patrons. The owner John Schnatter (sp?) did afterwards admit he was wrong and stupid for interjecting his political leanings as CEO into his corporation’s public dealings.