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| Published: | 2017-Jan-14 |
| Last Updated: | 2017-Jan-20 |
| Principal Writer: | Rob Dennis |
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Trump ran as the anti-ALEC Republican
The nominations of ALEC alumni could as easily have come from some of Trump's Republican primary opponents, such as former ALEC members Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, or John Kasich. Trump, though, was not at the top of ALEC members' wish lists.
When Republican pollster Frank Luntz asked attendees at ALEC's annual meeting last year how many were supporting Trump, the crowd responded with - silence. One booth at the conference even included a Trump pinata.
Trump was, after all, the candidate who had vowed to "drain the swamp" of Washington lobbyists, many of whom are fixtures at ALEC events. He proclaimed himself the only Republican candidate to refuse to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. ALEC has proposed privatizing all three of those.
ALEC supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Trump labeled it a disaster. He lashed out at banks (notably Goldman Sachs) and multinational corporations on the campaign trail.
In reality, though, Trump's administration will be packed with billionaires, former Goldman Sachs bankers, and those tied to ALEC's corporate and legislative wings.
We first wrote about ALEC in 2013
We first wrote about ALEC in 2013 - explaining who they are and how they work. Click here to read our report.