DES MOINES – To date, 3 major corporate sponsors of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) have indicated they will not renew their memberships to the controversial conservative organization. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Kraft Foods, Inc. made the announcements in recent days amid mounting criticism over ALEC’s backing of “Stand Your Ground” gun laws, which have been implicated in the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.
Progress Iowa is now urging several prominent Iowa Legislators to terminate their ALEC memberships as well. These known ALEC members include:
- Sen. Sandra H. Greiner (R-45)
- Sen. Tim L. Kapucian (R-20)
- Sen. James A. Seymour (R-28)
- Rep. Richard T. Anderson (R-97)
- Rep. Richard Arnold (R-72)
- Rep. Betty De Boef (R-76)
- Rep. Dave Deyoe (R-10)
- Rep. Greg Forristall (R-98)
- Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa (R-99)
- Rep. David Heaton (R-91)
- Rep. Stewart E. Iverson, Jr. (R-9)
- Rep. Mark S. Lofgren (R-80)
- Rep. Linda Miller (R-82)
- Rep. Steven Olson (R-83)
- Rep. Kim Pearson (R-42)
- Rep. Dawn E. Pettengill (R-39)
- Rep. Brian J. Quirk (D-15)
- Rep. Thomas R. Sands (R-87)
- Rep. Charles Soderberg (R-3)
- Rep. Linda Upmeyer (R-12)
- Rep. Ralph Watts (R-47)
“Given what we now know about ALEC and its detrimental effect on public policy, there’s no excuse for Iowa legislators to continue their involvement in the organization,” said Matt Sinovic, Executive Director of Progress Iowa. “The fact that Coke, Pepsi and Kraft have left ALEC speaks volumes to how toxic the group has become. It’s time for Iowa’s ALEC members to follow suit.”
For more information:
- Source Watch: Iowa Legislators with ALEC ties – http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians#Iowa_Legislators_with_ALEC_Ties
- The American Prospect: Some Actual Corporate Accountability – http://prospect.org/article/some-actual-corporate-accountability