I find one of the most egregious measures to be the 'instatement' of For-Profit Attorneys conducting state business. This takes the PRIVATIZATION of government to a level that is not democratic. While the people may vote for their Attorney General, that does not mean he is the one doing the work.
ALEC developed the Private Attorney Retention Sunshine Act (PARSA) (click here) to address the increasing prevalence of government officials hiring outside private attorneys on contingency fee to conduct litigation on behalf of the state. As these hired attorneys are paid only if their case is successful, a profit motive arises where a public-interest motive should take precedence. While there may be certain circumstances under which this practice is justified, its expanded use in recent years and the opportunity for abuse make the establishment of certain hiring guidelines prudent policy.
State legislators across the country have taken up the cause and called for accountability and openness in the state’s hiring of outside counsel. ALEC’s model act requires competitive bidding, oversight, and transparency to guide and limit the contract attorney hiring process for state entities.
It is simply outrageous to KNOW the Attorney Generals of Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska are using private attorneys working for profit, as they only get paid when they win a case, conducting the people's business. This is a direct assault on the government sector of the USA at the very basis of its existence. There is no one that should stand for litigation from a template fashioned to serve a plutocratic king.
"States Rights" is not about homogenizing the nation, it is about respecting the individual differences states have in respect to their federal government. If the States Rights of the USA Constitution were removed the federal government would dictate the 'tone' of the entire nation and be burdened with legislating 'bland' laws that apply to fifty states so they can be easily respected with the differences intact. The sheer geography of the nation dictates there be State's Rights.
Institutionalizing our laws destroys democracy and does not uphold it. ALEC institutionalizes the laws of our nation. The laws need to be the work of 'the people' not Wall Street.
Kindly note the reference to the article where this hideous template is elevated to worthwhile:
Click here to view a related Wall Street Journal article.
MURDOCH.
I don't think so.
"States Rights" is not about homogenizing the nation, it is about respecting the individual differences states have in respect to their federal government. If the States Rights of the USA Constitution were removed the federal government would dictate the 'tone' of the entire nation and be burdened with legislating 'bland' laws that apply to fifty states so they can be easily respected with the differences intact. The sheer geography of the nation dictates there be State's Rights.
Institutionalizing our laws destroys democracy and does not uphold it. ALEC institutionalizes the laws of our nation. The laws need to be the work of 'the people' not Wall Street.
Kindly note the reference to the article where this hideous template is elevated to worthwhile:
Click here to view a related Wall Street Journal article.
MURDOCH.
I don't think so.
