NH Rep Jordan Ulery - Truth About Alec

Recently there has been a spat of hate letters regarding the nation’s oldest and largest public-private discussion group, American Legislative Exchange Council.  This organization allows members of Legislatures from across the nation to gather to discuss common problems and developing issues.  Joining the legislators are various advocacy groups including Amnesty International and various prison ministry groups.  Yes, there are those “evil” business interests present.  You know them, they are the ones that employ you, pay your wages, provide access to group health insurance, pay your vacation, pay for workers’ compensation.  Businesses, the heartbeat of America without which this nation would fold.  As that rather taciturn New England President “Silent Cal” once said; “the business of America is business.”

It is interesting that separate authors in separate newspapers penned exactly the same letter to the editor.  It is almost as if the authors did not do any research, do any analysis and just sent in the letter they were told to send.  Interesting indeed that separate people could present the same mischaracterizations, “less than accurate” statements and plain old lies.  Yet, if you ask any of them they will likely say, ‘oh no, I did it all by myself.’

Let us be absolutely clear.  Bills for introduction in New Hampshire come from New Hampshire, but may be similar to those in other states.  That is the result of open and frank discussion between legislators without partisan bickering.  The ALEC “model” legislation is debated in committee (called a Task Force) and often takes several years to reach a resolution that is acceptable to the broad majority, not an elite select few.  A similar process is used by NCSL which former Speaker Terri Norelli will soon head.  (aside: I wonder if Granite State Progress will attack former Speaker Norelli for proposing model legislation?)

After the idea is vetted by a Task Force it is presented to the Board of Directors and presented as a reference for members.  It is not mandated, the model legislation is just that, a proposal vetted by legislators across the nation to address a common problem.  It is available for any member legislator to modify to her or his state’s needs.  Gee, efficiency, responsiveness and responsibility in the legislative branch to benefit each of us – what an idea!

As for not protecting individual taxpayer rights – that is a complete and total falsehood.  Consider CACR 6 introduced to the House, passed the House, modified by the Senate and awaiting a Committee of Conference.  That bill would modify the New Hampshire Constitution to require modification on spending (the exact wording varies by chamber).  That bill was based upon a distillation of ideas presented at various ALEC conferences.  Seems to me that protects taxpayers.  HCR40 is a US Constitutional Balanced Budget petition to Congress.  That ALEC inspired legislation had strong bi-partisan support in the House and is now before the Senate.  The number of pro-taxpayer ALEC inspired bills is too long for a letter-to-the-editor.  One need only go to www.alec.org and read the press releases on “Obamacare,” tax policy,  over-regulation, energy efficiency (including green jobs) to see the broad scope of ALEC initiatives.  Of course, that would presume the robot letter writers actually were interested in the truth, rather than the pre-fabricated political agenda of their commissars.  

In case the next attack is that I have a vested interest in ALEC, let it be known that all legislators pay a membership fee to join.  All legislators pay registration and room fees to attend conferences.  No legislator member of ALEC receives “pay” or benefits from ALEC or from a corporation as a result of their membership in ALEC or as a result of bills brought forward or supported.  These attacks are simply politically motivated ad hominem attacks designed to deflect attention from the real issues facing New Hampshire.  The business loss because of many factors, including among the highest business taxes in the country, the resolution of a massive budget deficits (NH: est $ 900,000,000.00 – US: est $777,000,000,000.00), the lack of adequate funding because of over taxation and increased fees, the looming transfer of Medicaid costs to the State because of ObamaCare and the continual erosion of personal liberties and freedoms as the result of regulations, rules and federal laws.

Jordan Ulery

Hillsborough-27

NH State Representative

162nd General Court

Jordan Ulery - Fringe Left on the War Path-again

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is the nation’s oldest and largest bipartisan public-private educational discussion group.  It was created to promote Jeffersonian principles of free markets, small and efficient government within representative government.  Recently some on the fringe left have criticized ALEC for legislative successes.  And what are the criticisms?  The fringe elements claim that ALEC secretly devises public policy in what can only be described as a Clintonesque “vast right-wing conspiracy” theory.  If there was such a cabal I would be interested in learning about it, perhaps I would join, perhaps not.  What are the successes of ALEC?  There are nothing less than a revitalized spirit of freedom in the market place and strengthening individual freedom.

The model legislation created by ALEC is based not upon some private interest group foisting its will upon unwitting legislators.  Instead, the model legislation is presented to a task force as a proposal, the members of that task force examine the proposed model in much the same fashion they would in their home state.  Having the input of legislators from across the nation is a great benefit in this process because the occasional parochial opinions of one state or nation are often attacked by those from other regions.  Once the proposal has met the approval of the task force, often a time consuming operation, it is reviewed by the Board of Directors of ALEC which is composed of senior legislators from across the country.  Even then this does not automatically become “law.”  No, the process goes back to the states for introduction, review, modification and, if appropriate for the state, passage.  Some of the model legislation proposed by ALEC includes Health Care reform, Re-examination of excessive environmental restrictions, Constitutionally approved fair elections legislation; government accountability to the tax payer; balanced budget Amendment; deficit reduction Amendment and similar commonsense proposals for the several sovereign states to consider for their own implementation.

In short the fringe left is opposed to open thinking and discussion of legislation apparently, as evidenced by recent proclamations by the Obama Regime, in favor of dictates by Czars, Tsars and the intellectual Ivory Towered Elite that know what is best for us all so we had better just do as we are told.  Model legislation is nothing more than the product of legislators from across the country meeting together to discuss common problem and seeking common solutions.

Other fringe elements object to ALEC as being the stooge of “Big Business.”  This attack is from the same people that idolize Steve Jobs and George Soros; who take in millions and billions of dollars in corporate and business contributions from Hollywood business executives.  Those who believe in open and free markets reject legislation that imposes onerous regulations upon business, that seeks justification for taxation based upon rationale rather than emotion and that seeks to employee more people and create better the standard of living for all.  The fringe left, on the other hand, wishes to limit business and reduce the opportunities of all in favor of a dull grey (think Mao suit) evenness that would have prevent Jobs from getting a start or Soros from opening up shop.

So what is it about ALEC that scares the fringe left?  Is it the freedom that ALEC encourages?  Is it the strengthening of the States in a revitalized federalist system of Constitutional government?  If the irrational fear resulting in outright lies is not a fear of freedom, perhaps there is something else that bothers the fringe left.  Perhaps it is the nature of the initiatives?  To answer that question we need to look at the initiatives of ALEC, they are publicly displayed in detail at www.ALEC.Org.  For convenience here is the subject matter:  Center for State Fiscal Reform; Cutting Crime and Budgets; Reducing EPA onerous Regulations; Tort Reform; Relations with the Federal Government; Health Care Reform; International Trade and the States; Prison Overcrowding; Sunshine Laws; Restoring the Constitutional Balance of power between the People, the States and the Federal government.  What is the model legislation offered for consideration by the several states?  That also is public knowledge  Really revolutionary these initiatives, working for the people in a Constitutional Republic.  It is when you desire control, you desire to direct, lead, form every aspect of a person’s life; limit individual growth and opportunity; fix a even outcome of every endeavor the spirit of Jefferson and Republicanism is a threat and an obstacle to be destroyed.  That folks is exactly why ALEC is being maliciously attacked!

Jordan Ulery

Hillsborough-27

NH State Representative

162nd General Court