Newberry, Thompson trumpet that national corporate interests influence state legislation

Oklahoma City, OK - After two GOP lawmakers issued a statement proclaiming that the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a front for right-wing ideologues and corporate interests, wrote some of their health care legislation, the Oklahoma Democratic Party chided them for their pride over being influenced by well-funded special interests.

"Yet again, GOP officials are being brazen in the fact that they are bowing to national interests over doing what's best for Oklahoma," Goodman said.

"ALEC has been widely criticized for its direct ties to corporate special interests, and their policies certainly reflect where their money is coming from. ALEC is not interested in helping Oklahomans - they're interested in helping their corporate donors," he added.

Many of ALEC's board members have strong ties to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, including representatives from GlaxoSmithKline, PhRMA and Phizer.

"With Rep. Thompson trying to keep his Congressional campaign competitive, it's obvious he'd want to please these national interests in the hopes that they'll donate to his campaign," stated Goodman. "Sen. Newberry has a history of ties to special interests, and likely he holds similar ambitions for his political future."

Of the candidates for Oklahoma's 5th District, Thompson has raked in by far the most PAC money from national business interests, collecting over $50,000 from business-industry PACs. [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/pacs.php?cycle=2010&id=OK05]

In 2008, Newberry collected more donations from special-interest PACs than any other Senate candidate.

"These two legislators aren't wearing their hearts on their sleeves, they're wearing their dollar signs," Goodman noted. "They shouldn't be so proud that they're taking their cues from national interests, rather than from the people of their districts - but since they are, they need to be held accountable."