Dell Becomes the Latest Corporation to Leave ALEC
The computer company Dell has become the latest corporation to end their affiliation with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the shadowy organization that creates “model bills” to further corporate agendas.
Dell, the world’s largest direct sale computer company, joined as a corporate member of ALEC in 2011. They were on ALEC’s Education Task Force, which has produced hundreds of model bills aiming to weaken teachers’ collective bargaining rights, privatize schools, and defund higher education.
After nearly 40 years of operation, the true nature of ALEC has become exposed to the public more recently due in part to its involvement in controversial legislation like Wisconsin’s union-busting Act 10, Arizona’s anti-immigrant SB 1070, and Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” la.. Groups including Common Cause, Progress Now, Color of Change, the Center for Media and Democracy, and various unions have been increasingly vocal in their calls for corporations and legislators alike to disaffiliate with ALEC.
Dell is the 21st corporation to end its affiliation, following Johnson & Johnson last week. Four non-profit groups like the Gates Foundation and 55 elected officials have left the group in the last year.
Some major corporations like AT&T and State Farm have not budged from ALEC despite pressure. NewsCorp, the parent company of Fox News, also remains a member.
To learn more about the American Legislative Exchange Council, check out ALECExposed.org, or follow #alecexposed on Twitter. Our good friend, Alec Dubro, “the Real Alec,” will be doing coverage of ALEC for the Main Street Blog.
Tags: ALEC, Corporate Accountability
