Research Cited

There are no rules outlined in the Constitution for how the process of a convention would unfold. We must consider the agenda of those who are lobbying so hard for this convention and how they would seek to gain influence. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been the driving force. Though ALEC does not disclose its funding sources, a study by the Center for Media and Democracy found that about 98% of its funding comes from corporations like ExxonMobil, corporate foundations like the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, and trade associations like the American Petroleum Institute. ALEC’s priorities include weakening air and water pollution standards, eviscerating the Endangered Species Act, expanding offshore drilling for oil and gas, giving states power to condemn federal lands containing fossil fuels, and opposing federal and state efforts to combat climate change and shift to cleaner sources of energy and transportation, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus that urgent action is needed to avoid the grave consequences for human health and safety that are on the horizon.

One of the gerrymandering workshop leaders was Heritage Foundation fellow Hans Von Spakovsky, who, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, urged legislators to use citizen voting age population data for redistricting, leaving non-citizens and young people out of the map-drawing process. Spakovsky said at the session that his plan “may give an advantage to Republican legislators.”