state + local

A.L.E.C. isn't just business "friendly".. it is an organization started by Corporate CEO's and is funded 90% by Corporations. They invite State Legislators to join and pay a small "membership" fee. They then pay for the resort or hotel rooms for State Legislators who come to their "seminars". The State Legislators can then choose and pick templates of model Legislation put together by the Corporations. So basically MN GOP Legislators who belong to A.L.E.C, serve Corporate interests and bottom line, than the people of MN who they are suppose to represent. That is why one bill is similar in many other states. I find it very disturbing that MN Legislators actually belong to A.L.E.C. but I guess if their constituents don't object they will push as many bills that are for Corporate interest that they can. * " I hope citizens call their ALEC Legislative members and tell the MN GOP legislators in ALEC to quit their membership in ALEC, to condemn ALEC, and to declare publically they will not copy or vote for any ALEC Legislation."

Here are the A.L.E.C. members who are co-authors on this bill. Sen. Mike Parry (R-26), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member *Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-37), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force and House Members Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-36B), ALEC Education Task Force Member Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-28B)[16], ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member

This bill is not just about Crown, Cork & Seal – it would limit liability for any corporation that has asbestos liabilities as the result of or in connection with a merger or consolidation. § Crown, Cork & Seal is doing extremely well on Main Street and Wall Street. Fitch, Moody’s and other investment analysts upgraded Crown’s bond rating in April, 2011. § Crown Cork has annual sales of $8 billion and 22,000 employees worldwide. § In a hearing on this bill in Senate Judiciary Crown, Cork and Seal’s Minnesota defense counsel testified that the average annual cost of ALL asbestos claim payments to injured

Who is responsible if these companies are not? Whether the injury occurred unintentionally doesn't seem to me to be the point; the injury did occur and the cost will be borne by somebody. What Conservatives are saying is that they want to make sure the cost falls anywhere except on the company because. Why? The company is more innocent than the victims or the taxpayers? Well, I think most Minnesotans can see clearly where they stand in the priorities of the Conservatives and it isn't very high.

I really, really, really hope that our state Senators take a moment to think if they are casting votes for the citizens of MN or Corporations. Do a search on A.L.E.C. The American Legislative Exchange Council and see if that is who you want to write our bills.

ALEC is not a lobby; it is not a front group. It is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, behind closed doors, corporations hand state legislators the changes to the law they desire that directly benefit their bottom line. Along with legislators, corporations have membership in ALEC. Corporations sit on all nine ALEC task forces and vote with legislators to approve “model” bill. this is not GOP vs DFL.. It is who are these bills for ? The Corporations have the money and power. The politician are suppose to represent the people.

Elected legislators can join ALEC by paying a token fee of $50 a year. While the membership fee for legislators is nominal, some legislators have used taxpayer dollars to pay it. For example, in Wisconsin, open records requests revealed that 12 senators, all Republicans, had their ALEC membership dues paid by taxpayer funds.

This CMD Special Report cuts through the PR spin and exposes the funding and spending of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Almost 98% of ALEC's funding comes from corporations like Exxon Mobil, corporate "foundations" like the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, or trade associations like the pharmaceutical industry's PhRMA and sources other than "legislative dues." Those funds help subsidize legislators' trips to ALEC meetings, where they are wined, dined, and handed "model" legislation to make law in their state. Through ALEC, corporations vote on "model" legislation with politicians behind closed doors. The special report focuses on ALEC's funding.

We have to put a stop to the endless lawsuits constantly being filed by predatory trial attorneys. How is if fair that a company the NEVER MANUFACTURED or MADE ASBESTOS, did not know about it, and was not in the asbestos business, had to pay over 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS as a result?? Not to mention this deal happened almost 50 years ago. Any clear-thinking person can see why the trial lawyers don't want this law. But it is absolutely needed.

I have no problem giving money to plaintiffs that were harmed by toxic material. I dont like the lawyers using it as a cash cow for years. Just keep suing someone will pay their legal bills. That most of the time the bills are more then what the victim gets.