Durbin (D-IL) - Stands Up Against ALEC Privatization of Assets

First of all - I'm not a big fan of Durbin right now - he has a tendency to be too "blue-dog" for me on some issues.

But he recently introduced legislation that would stop or put a big hold on ALEC privatization of government assets and that's a good thing. 

Why do I refer to his bill as an ALEC stopper - cause who else is trying to take over this country through asset acquisitions and privatization  - it sure isn't the Eastern bloc communists - it's ALEC corporate members.

Durbin knows who that bill is aimed at - you and I know who that bill is aimed at -

but the media and our leaders refuse to say the name.

It's ALEC - ALEC - ALEC - destroying the democracy of the United States of America.

(Source) The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is one of the prime conduits between corporations seeking privatization and legislators. They build legislation that conservative lawmakers then replicate in states all over the country. Their Publicopoly fake board game is a road map to how to privatize seven different government sectors: government operations, education, transportation and infrastructure, public safety, environment, health and telecommunications.

Dick Durbin, who saw first-hand in Illinois the horror of privatizing Chicago parking meters, is trying one of the first push-backs to this mad rush to privatization. He has introduced legislation that would slow down the privatization of public assets in the states and municipalities. They would have to repay any federal funding used to build or maintain those assets before leasing them to private companies. I’ll let Durbin explain it:

Having billions of dollars immediately available to plug budget holes without raising taxes is very appealing. And to the delight of Wall Street investors, state and local governments often fail to ask the important questions or consider the long-term impact [...]

The Protecting Taxpayers in Transportation Asset Transfers Act would require full disclosure of the terms and conditions of any privatization of an asset that was built with federal tax dollars.

The bill would attach a lien to existing federally funded major transportation projects that have received more than $25 million in federal funding or have a value over $500 million. The lien would only be removed after state and local governments repay the depreciated value of federal funds used to build and maintain the asset.

Instead of incentivizing quick, short-term decisions, the federal government should be asking the tough questions when governments turn over publicly funded transportation assets to for-profit operators. This legislation will make sure those questions are answered before we sell our public assets.

Almost immediately, Durbin faced a counterpoint from his fellow Senator from Illinois, Mark Kirk, who put forward legislation encouraging MORE privatization. This is obviously going to be a bitterly protracted fight. But it’s an incredibly important one. Private sales of physical assets are changing the very nature of sovereignty in a 21st-century world

Think I just found my next target.

It would be interesting to know if KIRK is ALEC Alumni????? 

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UPDATE 2
Mark Kirk is liked by the Koch family - look at the personal contributions made to him in 2010

Contributor	Occupation	Date	Amount	Recipient
KOCH, ELIZABETH		10/29/2010	$2,400	Kirk, Mark (R)
KOCH, WILLIAM	OXBOW CORPORATION/CEO	10/7/2010	$2,400	Kirk, Mark (R)
KOCH, CHASE	KOCH NITROGEN CO./VICE PRESIDENT	9/9/2010	$2,400	Kirk, Mark (R)
KOCH, DAVID	KOCH INDUSTRIES/EXEC. VP	7/7/2010	$2,400	Kirk, Mark (R)
KOCH, JULIA	NONE/HOMEMAKER	7/7/2010	$2,400	Kirk, Mark (R)
KOCH, CHARLES	KOCH INDUSTRIES/EXECUTIVE	5/24/2010	$2,400	Kirk, Mark (R)
			$14,400

UPDATE #3
Well, Kirk has learned to suck at the teat of PAC money.
In one year - mind you one year - he collected $1,489,716 in PAC money,
Well Illinois - Kirk's not! representing you.

ALEC - destroying US democracy becausetheycan.

We must - over the course of the next two elections

Remove EVERY ALEC member from state and federal office.

Without legislators to pass ALEC corporate drafted legislation

ALEC will implode.