Why so skeered-a ALEC?
I mean — look at their incoming chairman. Jason Saine was on unemployment when he got appointed to the state House in 2011. He’s got a clear record of not being able to manage his personal finances — much less his campaign finances. Yet, he’s head of the House’s Finance Committee.
It’s hard to find anyone who can tell you what he does for a living outside of the legislative building. No one can take care of a family on that $13K per year legislative salary.
He’s been using his campaign fund, well-stocked with lobbyist cash, as a personal piggie bank — spending five and six figures a year on meals, flights, rent, clothes, hotels, electronic toys, software and the like. What makes his campaign spending even more interesting / appalling? He’s been unopposed in the primary and general while all this was going on. And not a peep from the toothless “watchdogs” at the NC State Board of Elections.
*Can you think of a better candidate to lead the fight for free market reforms?*
ALEC is blowing up right now over the issue of climate change:
A business-backed group that rose to prominence by prodding state legislatures to cut taxes, environmental regulations and gun restrictions, now finds itself at a crossroads amid declining membership and a bitter dispute over climate change.
The battle at the American Legislative Exchange Council erupted at the group’s winter meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, this week as members scrapped a measure declaring that climate change is not a risk after opposition from Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp.
“It was corporate blackmail,” said Steve Milloy, a policy adviser for the Heartland Institute, a group critical of climate science. “They basically said, ‘We’re going to leave.’ “
The dispute over the climate provisions highlights the internal discord for the Arlington, Virginia-based group, which gained fame fighting President Barack Obama’s regulatory agenda. Over the past five years, more than 100 businesses left the organization, illustrating corporate concerns that the group may be going too far.
ALEC, which has been funded by companies like Koch Industries Inc. and coal giant Peabody Energy Corp., has 2,000 mostly Republican state legislator members, which it pairs with representatives from corporations and free-market interest groups. In recent years it debated model measures for state legislatures that take aim at state renewable energy requirements, set stricter voter identification requirements and would have U.S. senators appointed by state legislatures, not elected.
But those debates have been contentious, and turned the group into a bogeyman for consumer and environmental groups concerned about how corporate priorities can be pushed into the agenda of states nationwide. And that pressure has led to some internal woes.[…]
The climate change “debate” is all about capitalism vs. socialism. And what does their fearless incoming chairman have to say about all this?
[…] “Companies will come and go, and we’ve added companies too,” Jason Saine, a North Carolina House member who is ALEC’s incoming chairman, said in an interview. “We’re healthy and the organization is growing. ALEC has matured over the years and learned how to have these discussions in a mature way, so we can talk about them.” [..]
*Way to take a stand.* (And keep those solar lobby checks coming. Tom James ain’t cheap.)
Putting Bob’s Big Boy in charge is guaranteeing ALEC’s continued slide into that sinkhole called irelevancy.
Another great example of how the left/special interest groups can easily hijack what was a powerful conservative organization. This was very, very sad. Charlatans like Saine need to be challenged, but I am afraid he really is only relevant by the “grace” of the leadership in the house.
A truly reprehensible human being. Among “Tiny Tim” Moore’s little inner circle of bribe-grabbing scoundrels, Saine is among the most scoundrelly…
ALEC is a sad case; a once good conservative group that allowed itself to be bought by the special interests, who are now trying to steer them toward Obama policy. Putting a special interest Republican, who is also specifically a Solyndra Republican into its leadership role like that slug Jason Saine, probably means there is no hope of righting the ship.
If you look at the NC Republicans who have been involved in ALEC the last few years, they have all been establishment special interest types, not conservatives.
Jason Saine badly needs a conservative opponent next year. This could come one of two ways:
1) a Republican primary challenge – with the upcoming off off election year, this 2018 electorate will be smaller and more dominated by issue-oriented voters, and Saine’s voting record is a target rich environment.
2) an Unaffiliated conservative challenge, which would be particularly potent if the Democrats do not file a candidate. The Una would probably get most of the Democrat leaning vote just by not being on the ballot as a Republican, and could then use targeted direct mail to split the GOP vote by taking the conservatives away from Saine with a direct mail campaign. The Una could then join the GOP caucus after getting sworn in.
The ideal would be to tee up both to make sure this slug is taken down. I can image the fun a consultant can have with the clothes issue!
Having a primary would require Lincoln county Republicans to suddenly develop a conservative conscience and realize this creature is a living disservice to the values of his Party’s rank-and-file. It’s also good to remember that this is one of the handful of legislators who showed up to help oust the Party’s last lawfully elected Chairman.
How about someone from outside the local excom? For example, this creature was one of those who betrayed Christian conservatives on HB2. Maybe some of the Christian conservatives can find a challenger.