Expedia under fire over membership to rightwing lobby group Alec

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/26/expedia-membership-rightwing-lobby-group-alec

A range of tech firms including Google, Facebook and Yahoo have dumped Alec recently over its stance on climate change

Alec lashes out at Google climate change ‘lies’: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/25/alec-google-climate-change-lies-letter-rebuttal




Expedia, whose membership of Alec has not previously been disclosed, declined to comment. Photograph: Steven Byles/flickr


Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company, has declined to follow the lead of other big internet firms, instead choosing to remain a member of a controversial rightwing lobby group that works against climate change legislation.

The travel company pays dues to the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), a secretive lobby group that shapes and promotes legislation at state level across the US. Sources close to the organisation said it is part of Alec’s tax and fiscal policy taskforce, and has paid thousands in dues.

Expedia, whose membership of Alec has not previously been disclosed, declined to comment.

Alec has attracted criticism for its opposition to legislation that would curb carbon emissions, as well as anti-union policies and other extreme rightwing proposals at the state level. A range of tech firms have dumped Alec recently because of its stance on climate change.

FULL story at link.