 Schmidt, Google’s executive chairman and former CEO, told National Public
Radio’s Diane Rehm on Monday the company planned to leave the prominent free
market organization American Legislative Exchange Council, telling Rehm the
organization was “literally lying” about the facts surrounding climate change.
ALEC is a forum for state lawmakers and members of the private sector to discuss
model policies based on free market, limited government and federalist
principles.
Schmidt’s remarks were made a day after an estimated 310,000 protesters marched
through the streets of Manhattan demanding action on the reduction of carbon
emissions at the UN Climate Summit later in the week.
On Wednesday, 156 state lawmakers — all ALEC members — sent a strongly worded
letter to Google, stating they were “deeply concerned” by Schmidt’s comments,
calling Google’s decision to leave the organization a “calculated departure”
influenced by anti-ALEC progressive advocacy groups.
“Many of us have worked side-by-side with Google at ALEC and in our states to
ensure the continued growth and innovation of the technology-sector and the
American economy. It is a shame that you would harm this working relationship by
falsely attacking ALEC, an organization of which we are proud,” said the
lawmakers.
The lawmakers went on to say “no ALEC model policy denies climate change;
however, the organization does maintain model policy designed to address the
scientific and economic aspects of the issue of climate change.”
The organization’s opponents, critical of its conservative ties and opposition
to progressive policies for big corporations, view the forum as a threat to
democracy and the environment.
A coalition of 50 progressive organizations, which included the AFL-CIO and the
Sierra Club, reiterated that sentiment in their own letter to Google in early
September, reported National Journal, which called upon the search giant to cut
ties with ALEC.
Microsoft had already announced its decision to leave the group, and Yelp,
according to Bloomberg Businessweek, followed Google’s lead on Wednesday by
announcing its own decision to leave ALEC, but praised the organization for its
effectiveness in helping to pass laws against abusive and intimidating lawsuits.
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Google didn’t respond to Watchdog.org’s request for comment.
In an interview with Watchdog.org on Wednesday, ALEC CEO Lisa B.
Nelson said, “I think that ALEC and Google’s approach to climate
change is probably fairly similar.”
“We also are seeking free market solutions to anything that is going
to be better for the environment and the country,” said Nelson,
stating that while there’s debate and exchange at ALEC meetings,
that’s what the organization wants to provide “so that all parties
can talk about the issues and come up with a solution that works.”
“It’s just unfortunate that Google has allowed itself to be
influenced and coerced into leaving ALEC by some of the
organizations that are putting pressure on American companies
because of maybe our politics,” she said.
(Disclosure: North Dakota Republican State Rep. Blair Thoreson,
ALEC’s Communications and Technology Task Force public chair, sits
on the board of the Franklin Center for Government & Public
Integrity and was a signers of the letter. Watchdog.org is a project
of the Franklin Center.)
Contact Josh Peterson at jpeterson@watchdog.org. Follow Josh on
Twitter at @jdpeterson
Josh Peterson is a DC-based tech reporter for the Franklin Center's
Watchdog.org news site. Peterson previously spent two years at The
Daily Caller covering tech and telecom regulatory policy as the
publication's Tech Editor. During that time, he focused on
cybersecurity, privacy, civil liberties, and intellectual property
issues, and in addition to covering political protest movements.
Prior to joining The Daily Caller in October 2011, Peterson spent
time in DC researching and reporting on technology issues in
internship roles with Hillsdale College's Kirby Center, Broadband
Breakfast and The National Journalism Center, and The Heritage
Foundation. Peterson has a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from
Hillsdale College. He is also a musician and music enthusiast, and
an avid martial artist.
[This
article courtesy of
Watchdog.]
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