Did @RepVos Go on an Interesting “Field Trip” to Scottsdale, AZ?

State legislators from all 50 states who received “scholarships” from the American Legislative Exchange Council (A.L.E.C.), traveled to the swanky Westin Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, AZ to confer November 29 – December 3, 2011 with lobbyists from some of the nation’s largest corporations. As you know, the public is not allowed to view these meetings, which occur behind closed doors. Lots of hush-hush discussions. Top secret agendas. So much for transparency in the GOP legislative arena. We do know, that like previous meetings, our Wisconsin’s GOP legislators will most likely come back to Wisconsin with an armful of new bills that favor corporations over the working middle-class and poor families.


Of course, Rep. Vos has denied that he has delivered textbook bills to the legislative floor, claiming: “This is a made up issue.” (see Robin's denial here) Ah, but dear reader, the facts prove otherwise. The website http://demaa.org/smartALEC/legislators/robin-vos lists a total of 13 A.L.E.C. template bills that Vos either sponsored, co-sponsored or voted for in 2011. So, it isn’t that he “might have missed one”, but, rather, that there were thirteen, count ‘em…THIRTEEN A.L.E.C. bills Vos was involved with (so far) in 2011. Kind of hard to “miss” THIRTEEN bills, Robin, unless you are incompetent or asleep at the wheel.

Which brings us to the protest today, outside the Westin Resort & Spa in sunny, warm Scottsdale, AZ. Several hundred people marched a mile from a local park to the Westin. The media showed up in force. So did police fully clothed in riot gear, helmuts, batons, shields and pepper-spray. Several protesters were pepper-sprayed and/or arrested as helicopters hovered overhead. The police response was certainly overboard from what I could see from my vantage point, considering the peacefulness of the protesters with their rag-tag band of horns and drums, water-pitchers and home-made PBJ sandwiches.

And what of our legislators? Well, certainly, no Motel 6, 7 or even 8 for these folks. Nosireebob. Nothing but the very, VERY best for these fat cats. With temps in the mid-70s, under a cloudless sky, you can’t help but wonder if the Wisconsin legislators made good use of the onsite spa facilities. Nothing like a good massage and pedi in the Agave Spa. Or, perhaps 27 holes of golf. Maybe a little shopping at the nearby Biltmore Shopping Center. Topped off with a $$$$-rated dinner at the Westin, followed by the trademarked Westin "unwind" service. After all, it’s HARD WORK to take a pledge to introduce these bills, later claiming corporatized bills are a figment of the voters imagination, or, if not a mirage in the desert, then heat-stress causing legislators to conveniently “forget” the baker’s dozen “corporate” bills they voted for.

Not all was in vain, though, #WIunion readers! Protesters were introduced to Rep. Robin Vos (despite his ignoring the crowd outside the Westin). A copy of the #democracyaddicts "SmartALEC" project bills and corporate donations associated with Vos was shared with an East Coast magazine covering the #OccupyALEC protest. And, we briefed the state AFLCIO on resources to be found in the four-part series “All About A.L.E.C.”. The word on A.L.E.C. is finally getting out.

POPCORN, POPCORN MAN

Bills...wanna feel my bills babe?
Bills...such a thrill my bills babe?
Bills...wanna touch my bills babe?
Bills...it's too much my bills babe?
Check it out my bills babe, bills babe.
Don't you doubt my bills babe, bills babe.
talkin' bout my bills babe, bills babe,
check it out my bills babe, bills babe

Every man wants to be a popcorn man
to have the kind of A.L.E.C. bills, lobbyists demand
Plotting in the mornings, go man go
calling all my contacts, anyone I know
You can best believe that, I’m a popcorn man
ready to get down with, any lobbyist I can

Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Popcorn, popcorn man
With Suder by my side, I’m an A.L.E.C. man
Popcorn, popcorn man
I've got to be an A.L.E.C. man!

Popcorn, popcorn man
Scholarships are hot, for a popcorn man
Popcorn, popcorn man
I’ve got to raise more money!

A.L.E.C., its so hot, my A.L.E.C.,
A.L.E.C., love to stop those voters,
A.L.E.C., love to please my A.L.E.C.,
A.L.E.C., don't you tease my A.L.E.C.,
A.L.E.C., you'll adore my A.L.E.C.,
A.L.E.C., come explore my lawsuits,
A.L.E.C., made by God, or the Koch boys,
A.L.E.C., it's my cash refresher.

You can tell an A.L.E.C. man, he has a corporate mind
forgets about the workers, he kicks ‘em in the ass
Thinks everyone’s on welfare, no one is his “kind”
call him Mister A.L.E.C., dig his bogus claims
You can best believe that, he's an A.L.E.C. man
likes to be the leader, he always dresses grand

Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Popcorn, popcorn man
Dissing all the teachers, whenever he can
Popcorn, popcorn man
Padre, your teachers will be nuns!

Popcorn, popcorn man
Scholarships are hot, for a popcorn man
Popcorn, popcorn man
He’s got to raise more money!

Ugh! Popcorn baby!
Bills, bills, bills wanna feel my bills babe,
Bills, bills, bills gonna thrill my bills babe,
Bills, bills, bills don'tcha stop my bills babe,
Bills, bills, bills it's so hot my bills babe,

Every legislator ought to be an A.L.E.C. whore,
To live a life of freedom, ‘cause real working is a bore,
Have my own life style and ideals,
Overtaxing the middle-class, life's a steal,
You can best believe that he's an A.L.E.C. man
He's a “special” person, in a fascist land.

Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Popcorn, popcorn man (watch me push this bill)
If you sign my popcorn contract, I’ll get such a thrill
Popcorn, popcorn man
I've got to be an A.L.E.C. man!

Popcorn, popcorn man
Catholic schools are hot, for a popcorn man
Popcorn, popcorn man
Got to get contraceptives banned

Popcorn, popcorn man (I listen but don’t hear)
Buying up cheap properties however I can
Popcorn, popcorn man
I've got to be THE A.L.E.C. man! (watch me roll my eyes)

Popcorn, popcorn man (dig my contacts!)
Why am I in it, if I’m just a middleman?
Popcorn, popcorn man
I create no value, but I take “my cut”

Popcorn, popcorn man
Don’t you try to stop me, it’s a great scam.
Popcorn, popcorn man
I’ve got to be THE A.L.E.C. man