Upcoming Bangor area talks on corporate power in state policymaking

This week, we’ll be joined by guest Scholars Strategy Network member, Alex Hertel-Fernandez for number of talks in the greater Bangor area. Here is the press release for his upcoming appearances…

Alex Hertel-Fernandez to speak on “Corporate Power in America’s Statehouses,” with a response from Rep. Adam Goode and audience discussion

Bangor: Thursday, February 20, 7-8:30 PM, Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St.

ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, has received considerable attention in recent years for its involvement in promoting conservative policies in state legislatures. Bloomberg BusinessWeek called ALEC a “bill laundry” for corporate policy ideas. Still, there is little known about what groups are behind ALEC and when they support or back off from the lobbying organization.

Alex Hertel-Fernandez, a Research Fellow and doctoral candidate at Harvard University, will discuss his research on ALEC and its influence in state legislatures around the nation. In addition to his research on business interests in advanced democracies, Hertel- Fernandez also studies the politics of federal tax policy, the sustainability of programs such as unemployment insurance and Social Security, and the politics of organized labor and the Democratic Party.

This talk is co-sponsored by the Bangor area League of Women Voters and the Maine chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network.

Earlier that day, at 12:30 PM, Hertel-Fernandez will be speaking on “Who Passes Business’s Bills? Corporate Influence in State Legislatures,” in the Bangor Room at the Memorial Union of the University of Maine.

For more information, contact Amy Fried, 207-581-1797.

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