Check out this lovely exchange between a state representative and his constituent:
The point of contention here is over ProgressVA’s report that Virginia spent $230,000 in taxpayer money (over the last decade) to send lawmakers to ALEC events. Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell argued that that report was inaccurate… because the state also sent state lawmakers to other conferences on the taxpayer’s dime. Got that? Perhaps, instead of using bigger words, Howell should have taken a Logic 101 course. At least then he would have understood what is a red herring.
Anywho. Most important here, if I had to wager a guess, is the discomfort Howell is showing. As the former leader of the very company that is now ghostwriting bills in his state, he doesn’t want to be discussing ALEC at all–but ALEC is unfortunately suddenly in the spotlight. If you’d like to know more about his relationship with ALEC, you should call Howell’s office at 804-698-1028. They’d probably love to hear from you.
