The 1 percent control SD's legislators

It turns out both of my Pierre-appointed legislators, Kristen Conzet and Brian Gosch (and most others from the area) are players for the "American Legislative Research Council" known to many of us simply as ALEC.

ALEC is an organization funded by large corporations (including the now famous Koch brothers) to write legislation for the states to serve their interests. Not South Dakota interests even -- the interests of their corporate funders. It's that simple.

ALEC provides give state legislators free travel, room and board to gather in swank accommodations while they develop legislation that is designed to keep Republicans in power and serve the needs of those who pay the bills. ALEC makes it very easy for citizen legislators like ours roll out template legislation carefully crafted by experts to control the debate, and efficiently ram through legislation that has nothing to do with local interests and everything to do with a national right-wing agenda.

Maybe we should ask some questions about ALEC at an upcoming cracker barrel?

The list of South Dakota ALEC "participants" is posted here.

It includes:

House of Representatives

* Rep. Valentine Rausch (R-4),[19] ALEC State Chairman[137] and International Relations Task Force member[27]
* Rep. Justin Davis (R-23), guest at December 2010 meeting of the ALEC International Relations Task Foce meeting[27]
* Rep. Lora Hubbel (R-11), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Betty Olson (R-28B)[16], ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Charles Hoffman (R-23), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Val B. Rausch (R-4), ALEC International Relations Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Mark K. Willadsen (R-11), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Charles M. Turbiville (R-31), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
* Rep. Kristin A. Conzet (R-32), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
* Rep. Jacqueline Sly (R-33), ALEC Education Task Force Member
* Rep. Tad Perry (R-24), ALEC Education Task Force Member
* Rep. Kim Vanneman (R-26B) , ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
* Former Rep. Kristi Noem (R-6; elected to U.S. House of Representatives in 2010), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
* Rep. Jamie Boomgarden (R-17), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Rep. Manny Steele (R-12), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Rep. Phil Jensen (R-33)[16], ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Rep. Fred W. Romkema (R-31), ALEC International Relations Task Force Member
* Rep. Bob Deelstra (R-9), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member
* Rep. David Novstrup (R-3), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member
* Rep. Hal Wick, (R-12) ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
* Rep. Justin Cronin (R-23), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
* Rep. Roger D. Solum (R-5), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
* Rep. Brian Gosch (R-32), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
* Rep. Jon Hansen (R-25), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
* Rep. Roger W. Hunt (R-10), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
* Rep. Stacey V. Nelson (R-25), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member

Senate

* Sen. Deb Peters (R-9), ALEC State Chairman[183] and International Relations Task Force member[27]
* Sen. Corey Brown (R-23), ALEC International Relations Task Force Alternate
* Sen. Jeffrey K. Haverly (R-35), ALEC International Relations Task Force Alternate[27]
* Sen. Al R. Novstrup (R-3), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
* Sen. Todd J. Schlekeway (R-11), ALEC Education Task Force Member
* Sen. Elizabeth Kraus (R-33), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Sen. Tim Rave (R-25), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Sen. Deb Peters (R-9), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
* Sen. Tom Hansen (R-22), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member