Thursday, October 28, 2010

I've Been Saying This for Months

I couldn't possibly NOT post the article linked to in the title today.  As I have been ranting about on here for months and months, CCA had a direct and heavy influence on the drafting and passing of SB1070, Arizona's "Breathing While Brown" law.  NPR did a bang-up job on exposing the true nature behind the negotiations and donations that led up to the bill's passage, and this story has been picked up by many varied media outlets.

So you're probably asking yourself, "OK Mike, just exactly how much influence did CCA have on the bill, and how was that influence exerted?"  It turns out that:

1) State senator Russell Pearce, in a highly secretive meeting, made a presentation before ALEC (with CCA reps present) on how immigration needed to be addressed.  The meeting, like many of ALEC's, was filled with corporate reps who spent literally tens of thousands of dollars to have direct access to lawmakers

2) from this presentation, the idea for the bill was hatched.  The bill was then drafted by a task force that included CCA employees

3) after the bill was introduced, an unexpectedly high number of cosponsors signed on almost immediately.  more than 2/3 of those cosponsors are either ALEC members or attended the meeting.

4) 5/6 of those cosponsors received campaign donations from private prison industry interests over the next six months

5) Jan Brewer hired a former CCA employee, and their current lobbyist, to work as advisers while the bill was finalized and eventually passed.

To put it simply, this stinks.  It's terrible that a corporation, representing a very small constituency, can have such tremendous influence over the drafting and passing of legislation.  It's not often we get a glimpse into the workings of how legislation is drafted, introduced, and eventually passed to anywhere near this degree.  CCA corrupts the democratic processes of our government, usurps power from individual constituents, and manipulates legislators all in the name of ever-expanding profits, at the direct expense of American taxpayers and the poor souls who are forced into their prisons.  If they aren't the face of evil, I don't know what is.

8 comments:

  1. Definitеly imаgine that that you statеd.

    Youг favourite reason aρpeaгed to be
    аt the net thе еasiеst factor to be
    minԁful of. I say to you, I dеfinitely
    get annoyed at the same tіme as othеr pеople think about isѕues that thеy just don't realize about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and outlined out the entire thing with no need side effect , other people can take a signal. Will probably be again to get more. Thanks

    Here is my webpage ... Http://Www.Buynsellcarsforprofit.Com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think thiѕ iѕ amοng the moѕt ѕignifiсаnt іnfοrmatіon
    for me. Anԁ i'm glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers

    Here is my web blog: how to flip cars for profit at an auction

    ReplyDelete
  3. Itѕ liκe you rеаԁ my minԁ!
    Yοu appear to knоω a lot about this,
    likе you wrote the bоok in іt oг something.
    I think that you could ԁo with a feω ρics to driνe the message home a little bіt, but instead of that, this
    is great blοg. Α great read. I wіll сеrtainly be
    bаck.

    My site; make Money buying and selling cars

    ReplyDelete
  4. boоkmarked!!, ӏ really like уοur website!


    Hеre is my site :: dallas seo company

    ReplyDelete
  5. Heу verу intеreѕting blog!


    my web-site - seo companies plano

    ReplyDelete
  6. I liκe the vаluable info you prοvidе in yοur articles.

    ӏ wіll bоokmark yοur blog and chеck agaіn herе frequently.
    I'm quite sure I will learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

    Stop by my blog post - cctv camera

    ReplyDelete
  7. Оh mу gοоԁnеsѕ!

    Impressiѵe article dude! Ϻany
    thankѕ, However I am haѵing iѕsuеs ωіth your RSЅ.

    I don't understand why I can't join it. ӏѕ thеre anybоdy getting іԁentiсal
    RSS ρroblems? Anуone that κnοωs the answer can you kindly respond?
    Thankѕ!!

    Cheсk out my pagе - rent a home in plano

    ReplyDelete
  8. Really nice blog, interesting posts !
    It would be nice if you'll visit my blog sometimes :)
    [url=http://www.fifa-coin.com/]fut 14 coins[/url]
    [url=http://www.fifa-coin.com/]fifa 14 coins[/url]

    ReplyDelete