William Cronon is a professor professor of history, geography and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was the first one to expose the ALEC connection to GOP policy not only in Wisconsin, but in all of America. This piece is the best place to start in learning about how ALEC works & how they influence our Government & shape policies.
Who’s Really Behind Recent Republican Legislation in Wisconsin and Elsewhere? (Hint: It Didn’t Start Here)
His op-ed for the New York Times:
Wisconsin’s Radical Break
Shortly after he exposed the ALEC connection, the Republicans tried to destroy his reputation in a McCarthy-esque manner by using the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to his e-mails.
Academic Intimidation (NY Times)
Wisconsin Professor’s E-Mails Are Target of G.O.P. Records Request (NY Times)
Scott Walker’s Office Seeks Access to Critical Professor’s Email (Forbes)
NYT Editorial and Other Coverage of Cronon Open Records Case (William Cronon's Blog)
Cronon's response:
Abusing Open Records to Attack Academic Freedom
Support from Republicans & others:
An Open Letter to Governor Walker and Stephan Thompson from a Loyal Republican
And finally the UW's response:
University of Wisconsin-Madison Strives to Balance Public Records with Academic Freedom
And here's a bit more on ALEC:
ALEC: The Voice of Corporate Special Interests In State Legislatures (People For The American Way)
ALEC's role in setting legislative agenda deserves scrutiny (WisPolitics.com)
