AP Story Shows Exactly Why PLAN Is Necessary

The Wyoming Associated Press has a story about how the state is experiencing increased political lobbying expenditures. In the process, it provides a crystal clear description of how conservatives are able to buy state governments and why the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN) is so desperately needed.

The story notes that, much like other states with part-time legislatures, "lawmakers in Wyoming do not get staff, so they often rely on lobbyists to do research." One staffer to Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) noted that "Legislators simply don't have the tools in terms of staffing to follow up every question they may have on particular pieces of legislation." An official with a nonprofit group said that lobbyists tell legislators "think of me as your staff."

This is exactly how the corporate-funded, archconservative American Legislative Exchange Council has been able to dominate state politics for so long. The right-wing has seized on this void and used it to push some of the most extreme economic policies possible, employing sophisticated corporate lobbyists with a financial stake in the legislation in question.

That is where PLAN will come in - we are going to provide progressive legislators with the policy support they need to fight for an agenda that represents the concerns of ordinary citizens - not just the fat cats. We are going to give lawmakers the necessary tools and staff resources our side has been lacking for far too long. And in the process, we are going to start taking state government back from the corrupt influences that have bought our public policy.

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