ALEC in Oregon: The Corporate Pipeline to State Power

It seemed a prudent time to peruse our current Oregon District #12 Representative’s state website, now that a break is in place. What’s he been up to?

There was not much there, in fact, and some of the End of Session Newsletter’s authorship might be suspect, until the last paragraph, which contains some incorrect grammar.

However, I did see the press release dated May 14, 2025 entitled, “State Predicts Record Revenue Despite Reckless Spending” with Ed Diehl’s name at the top of the list of three Republican Representatives, including our own. Each one is quoted making what could be considered almost malicious accusations with no evidence. You know, similar to how Trump is blaming Biden for everything, even though Trump inherited the most healthy economy our country had seen in years, now currently teetering on the verge of Stagflation and socially ripped to shreds. As I read this, it occurred to me that the quotes sounded so similar to a playbook I’ve known about for a long time; the playbook of the American Legislative Exchange Council, and this is of far more import to Oregonians than a paltry, misdirected and probably inaccurate press release that is confusing at best.

Here’s something a lot of Oregonians don’t know, and should.

Oregon State Representative Republican Ed Diehl is the State Chair for the American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC. (Note: all ALEC State Chairs are Republicans). He tells his constituents over and over how he’s ‘working for you’, but this isn’t true. When you are a member of ALEC you tow the line for corporate America. If ALEC hands Mr. Diehl legislation they want passed (to benefit corporate America, of course), never mind corruption of the democratic process, never mind the health, safety and well-being of Oregonians, never mind potential hidden costs to everyday Oregonians, no, no, no. Guess what? Mr. Diehl does what ALEC tells him.

Mr. Diehl and ALEC don’t tell Oregon voters how the bills get written (ALEC writes them, and even has options for legislators if there is push-back). If Mr. Diehl’s constituents had full knowledge of his corrupt and anti-democratic collusion with ALEC, do you think they would still vote for him? No way. Do you think they would still believe his claim of being “a Christian family man” (his own website, 2nd sentence under the caption “Meet Ed”) after they learn he’s been lying to them constantly throughout his entire political career about who, exactly, he’s been representing?

Unlikely (read the 10 Commandments, #9, and in fact, there is no organized religion that encourages lying- go figure).

Another ALEC example: Oregon Republican State Senator Kim Thatcher exhibits a press release on her state government website, dated March 25th, 2025, entitled “Senator Kim Thatcher Defends Separation of Powers in Lawmaking”. It is right out of the ALEC playbook — don’t let anyone, any agency or non-profit…any entity, bring forward legislation. Only allow state legislators to write and submit legislation. Of course, ALEC decided when it was founded in 1973 that the way for big corporations to enact the laws that benefitted their profit margins was through state legislatures. I’ll bet ALEC wrote the Press Release for her, as they often do. They want complete control of who writes legislation.

During Gov. John Kitzhaber’s term, Ms. Thatcher was also called out for pushing ALEC-devised model legislation to pressure him from participating in the Western Climate Initiative. Corporations like Exxon-Mobil and Koch Industries (typical of ALEC’s membership) were threatened by Oregon’s and other (mostly Democratic) states to further enhance their clean-tech industry and reduce pollution, an arena that Oregon has been a leader in for many years. But Ms. Thatcher was not representing Oregonians, her legislation directly aimed at benefitting these types of big corporations at the expense of the well-being of everyday Oregonians. Was she transparent about this? Never. She is a lap dog for ALEC, and probably proud of it.

This is just a tiny drop in the bucket of ALEC’s long attempt to compromise the democratic process through state government that belongs to us, the American people; one man (and woman), one vote be damned. Rule of Law. It’s a miracle Oregon has been able to survive most of ALEC’s assaults, but their lap dog Republican legislators aren’t giving up.

Even though the ALEC website will refer to its membership as non-partisan (“For just $200 for a two-year membership, you can be part of America’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state policymakers.”). It is accepted knowledge that ALEC was created for the stated purpose of countering the newly-formed Environmental Protection Agency, wage and price controls, and to respond to the defeat of Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election. At that time it was rather non-partisan, with Delores Mertz, Democratic State Representative of Iowa serving on its Board of Directors. But over the years it became more and more partisan, Republican-leaning, and now its legislative membership is completely Republican.

Why do we think that is? If you are paying attention, reading credible, accurate data driven articles and listening to individuals who are absolutely against communicating something untrue (that means ruling out Fox News or any affiliates, including newspapers owned by Right-wing conglomerates: think Sinclair Broadcast Group, for example) you will quickly learn that there is rarely a single Republican in any elected office today that isn’t lying, with the Republican-in-Chief known to be lying daily, often hourly.

Google ALEC and read through the few paragraphs that immediately come up under the heading “About”, and, considering what has transpired in our three branches of government since January 6, 2020, do you find any lies in the sentences you read?

Perhaps just bright trinkets to distract the reader from critical thinking and away from the reality being lived, like the first sentence of the 2nd paragraph: “All Americans deserve an efficient, effective and accountable government that puts the people in control”. The people. Do you think the word “people” might be a little inaccurate?

They are lying.

The About statement will tell you that ALEC wants to limit government (unless it provides decreases in taxes and, especially, environmental regulation). It tells you that it wants to protect your freedom (to carry guns and all the killing paraphernalia that makes it faster and easier to kill), to lower the cost of everyday living (we’re still paying the bills for billions of harm big corporations have incurred on citizens and then claimed innocence, and thanks to the Big, Ugly Bill, prices are soaring).

Have you heard that before? Why yes, as a matter of fact! When you pull up our Republican state legislators’ election campaign websites, that’s exactly what they say too! That goes for our current U.S. Congressman, Cliff Bentz. During his tenure as an Oregon Representative and Senator, he’s was ALEC all the way.

Oh, and don’t forget the “Christian family” part. We need that to con all the Evangelicals out there. Especially those big money evangelical ministers who preach Right-wing politics over the social contract of “loving your neighbor as yourself”. We simply can’t win, can’t dominate in a state with an educated populace of critical thinkers. We’re going to have to think up one lie after another to keep them in the dark.

Those Blue states, they’re really a problem; all their Democratic candidates have far too much education, professional experience, volunteer experience, coherent articulation of the real issues Americans are facing. Like inequality, the great destroyer of the middle class and creator of poverty. No, no, no! And big money funding elections. ALEC is adamant; so don’t forget. We don’t want people voting to get big corporate and PAC money out of our elections….why, the people might decide they like democracy!

Please remember, we have one of the best government systems in the world to serve people. It’s not the system that’s a problem (although it can always be, and has many times been, improved), it’s the people we’re electing to serve us while they are representing us, and that goes for all three branches. Demand the truth!

Francesca Anton lives in Rainbow, Oregon.