MADISON (WKOW) -- One day after State Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) announced he was asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate a conservative non-profit organization, he has admitted to accepting campaign donations from corporate members of that same organization.
On Thursday, Rep. Pocan told 27 News he was asking the IRS to investigate the American Legislative Exchange Council, more commonly known as ALEC, for tax fraud.
ALEC is a non-profit group that brings corporate America and conservative state legislators together to work on model legislation, that can then be introduced in different states.
Photo ID is an example of such legislation.
Rep. Pocan said ALEC is clearly a lobbying organization and, because of that, is in violation of its non-profit tax status.
But, on Friday, the campaign of one of Rep. Pocan's congressional opponents released information showing he has accepted money from ALEC corporate members.
Rep. Pocan is running for Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional seat, currently held by Rep. Tammy Baldwin who is running for U.S. Senate.
One of Rep. Pocan's opponent, State Rep. Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison) announced that Rep. Pocan has accepted money for his campaign from MillerCoors, UPS, Eli Lilly and General Electric, all of whom are members of ALEC.
Rep. Pocan's campaign confirmed he has accepted contributions from those corporations, but his spokesperson called out Helen Roys for making a "misleading attack that is an attempt to divide Democrats."
Kelda Helen Roys said Rep. Pocan is alone among the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District in taking money from corporate PAC members.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Many Democrats credit the American Legislative Exchange Council, more commonly known as ALEC, with getting number of conservative laws on the books in Wisconsin.
Now, one of those state Democrats wants ALEC investigated for tax fraud.
ALEC essentially brings corporate America and conservative state lawmakers together to design model legislation which can then be passed by state legislatures.
Rep. Mark Pocan believes that makes ALEC a lobbying group, and he is sending a letter to the Internal Revenue Service asking them to investigate its non-profit status.
Rep. Pocan told 27 News ALEC has influenced a lot of recent legislation here in Wisconsin.
"All the stuff that we saw that were anti-consumer laws this year that passed, came from ALEC, all the collective bargaining changes and the pension changes, came from ALEC, the Photo ID law came from ALEC," said Rep. Pocan.
State Senator Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) is on ALEC's National Board of Directors.
Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) and Joint Finance Co-Chair Robin Vos (R-Burlington) are ALEC's state chairmen.
Rep. Pocan became a member of ALEC simply to see how it operates so effectively.
"They bring people to these conferences, the corporations wine and dine them, have lavish parties and that's where a lot of the negotiations happen for model legislation and I think a lot of people need to know exactly what's moving the bills that pass in their states," said Rep. Pocan.
"Obviously the organization comes at things from a free market, somewhat conservative point of view, but, that's perfectly permissible under Internal Revenue regulations as well," countered Alan Dye, a Washington, D.C. based attorney representing ALEC.
Dye told 27 News that under the letter of the law, ALEC is not a lobbying organization.
"Direct lobbying is a communication with a legislator, which reflects a view on specific legislation," said Dye.
Dye claims that's something ALEC never does.
Dye said ALEC only develops legislation through an independent, non-partisan process.
Rep. Pocan sees it much differently.
"You're working for an out-of-state corporation and they're giving you advice on how to pass a bill in your state," explained Rep. Pocan. "There's a world of difference in how that organization operates."
But, Alan Dye believes Rep. Pocan's allegations are nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to incite outrage on the left.
"This is clearly an orchestrated campaign to destroy an organization, with which a bunch of people disagree," said Dye.
One of the measures developed by ALEC was the "Stand Your Ground" law, which has come under intense scrutiny as a result of the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida.
Since that incident, at least ten corporate members have dropped out of ALEC, including Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Wendy's.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) is going to send a letter to the Internal Revenue Service encouraging them to investigate a potentially fraudulent tax filing by the American Legislative Exchange Council, more commonly known as ALEC.
Previously, the political action group Common Cause announced they'd requested an investigation from the IRS into ALEC filing as a charity.
ALEC is a national non-profit organization comprised of several corporate members, which works with Republican legislators in all 50 states to develop conservative bills.
Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) is one of 17 legislators from across the country to serve on ALEC's Board of Directors and was named the organization's Legislator of the Year in 2009.
Rep. Robin Vos (R-Burlington) and Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) are the state chairmen for ALEC in Wisconsin.
Rep. Pocan alleges that ALEC is in violation of its IRS tax status as a non-profit organization, because they also act as a lobbying group.
Capitol Bureau Chief Greg Neumann is following this story and will have reports on 27 News at 5 and 6.
