Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) responded to a Wall Street Journal editorial that criticized his call for private companies to disclose if they financed a conservative non-profit that supported stand-your-ground legislation.
Durbin wrote:
Regarding your editorial ‘Durbin Wants a List’ (Aug. 8): The American Legislative Exchange Council is an organization supported by corporate interests that lobbies state legislatures on a variety of issues from voting rights to fiscal policy. The organization refuses to disclose its donors, but they reportedly include a number of major corporations.
There is clearly nothing wrong with corporations expressing their positions on political issues. That is consistent with our freedoms protected in the Constitution.
The letter in question was sent to "corporate and nonprofit supporters" of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and asked them to "disclose their positions on stand-your-ground legislation that ALEC supported in Florida in 2005."
The Wall Street Journal said the letter was an effort to derail an organization that is influential in promoting and spreading "center-right reform ideas."
The column further argued that Durbin knew "if he can drive a wedge between ALEC and its corporate donors, it will help cripple the group's influence on issues like tax policy and education and remove a significant voice for conservative reform in the states, including Illinois."
Durbin’s sharp-tongued response was interesting, since he has ties to a progressive organization that also does not disclose its donors.
Durbin spoke at the progressive Center for American Progress (CAP) on multiple occasions.
The group, which describes itself as being "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action," does not disclose their donors and has spent time and money lobbying legislators.
A recent report by the Nation outlined some of CAP's donors.
Throughout Durbin’s political career many of his campaign contributions came from trial lawyers and unions. Both are groups that are affected by, and adamantly oppose, the reforms ALEC supports.
Durbin’s response to the Wall Street Journal went on to say:
Why does your newspaper think that transparency will be fatal to the ALEC agenda?
To date, Durbin has not sent a letter to CAP supporters requesting that they also disclose their donations to the progressive group.