Representative Rachel Burgin (R-56) is one of the least competent, least intellectually proficient members of the Florida Legislature. Given that there are members of that august body who advocate throwing people convicted of crimes off of a bridge, I think that's really saying something.
Turns out that Representative Burgin is really, really bad at writing legislation. Which is what legislators do.
When Florida Rep. Rachel Burgin (R- 56) introduced a bill in November calling on the federal government to reduce taxes for corporations (HM 685), she made an embarrassing mistake. Rep. Burgin was introducing a bill she had received from the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council. A bill written by the Tax Foundation, corporate members of ALEC’s ‘Tax and Fiscal Policy task force” and a group founded and funded by major corporate interests, including the billionaire Koch brothers.
That's pretty bad, and this blog post over in Miami takes apart the Burgin mess pretty well.
So, yes, Burgin had introduced a bill that was written word-for-word by ALEC, but what exactly is ALEC? It describes itself as "a nonpartisan membership association for conservative state lawmakers," and boasts that about a third of state legislators across the country are members. However, state lawmakers aren't the only members. The group boasts several corporate members.
"Through the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, global corporations and state politicians vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights," claims the site ALEC Exposed. "These so-called 'model bills' reach into almost every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations."
Honestly, it's not that surprising that Burgin is cutting and pasting legislation written by corporate boogeymen. She hasn't had the best track record when she's written it herself. I refer you to her 2009 attempt to outlaw the word "love". You'll want to read what may be the sexiest bill language you've ever read, here.
I can't decide what's worse: censorship, or cutting and pasting big business legislation.
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