alec scholarships in az
TRANSCRIPT
ALEC “Scholarships” in Arizona Since 2011, Arizona legislators have disclosed 82 accounts of taking “scholarships” from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), worth $500 or more. On Section 6 of Arizona personal financial disclosure forms, Arizona legislators are required disclose any “gifts” they have received valued of $500 or more. AZ public officials are not required to disclose the actual amount of the gift. The following are disclosed gifts/”scholarships” given by ALEC to Arizona legislators from 2011 and 2014.
Chamber Legislator Year Legislator
Disclosed ALEC Gift
House Debbie Lesko 2014
House Debbie Lesko 2013
House Debbie Lesko 2012
House Debbie Lesko 2011
House John Allen 2013
House Brenda Barton
2014
House Brenda Barton
2013
House Brenda Barton
2012
House Brenda Barton
2011
House Sonny Borrelli 2013
House Paul Boyer 2014
House Kate Brophy
McGee 2011
House Doug
Coleman 2013
House Jeff Dial 2014
House Jeff Dial 2013
House Jeff Dial 2012
House Jeff Dial 2011
House Karen Fann 2011
House Eddie 2013
Farnsworth
House Eddie
Farnsworth 2012
House Doris
Goodale 2012
House Doris
Goodale 2011
House David Gowan 2014
House David Gowan 2013
House David Gowan 2012
House Rick Gray 2014
House Rick Gray 2013
House John
Kavanagh 2014
House John
Kavanagh 2013
House John
Kavanagh 2012
House John
Kavanagh 2011
House Phil Lovas 2014
House Phil Lovas 2013
House JD Mesnard 2014
House JD Mesnard 2013
House JD Mesnard 2012
House Justin Olson 2012
House Frank Pratt 2013
House Frank Pratt 2012 (3 accounts)
House Bob Robson 2012
House Bob Robson 2011
House TJ Shope 2014
House TJ Shope 2013
House Bob Thorpe 2014
House Bob Thorpe 2013
House Andy Tobin 2013 (2 accounts)
House Andy Tobin 2012 (2 accounts)
House Andy Tobin 2011 (2 accounts)
House Kelly 2014
Townsend
House Kelly
Townsend 2013
House Michelle Ugenti
2014
House Michelle Ugenti
2013
House Michelle Ugenti
2012 (2 accounts)
Senate Nancy Kay
Barto 2014
Senate Nancy Kay
Barto 2013
Senate Nancy Kay
Barto 2012
Senate Nancy Kay
Barto 2011
Senate Andy Biggs 2014
Senate Judy Burges 2012
Senate Rich Crandall 2012
Senate Chester Crandell
2013
Senate Adam Driggs 2014
Senate Adam Driggs 2013
Senate Gail Griffin 2012
Senate John
McComish 2011
Senate Al Melvin 2014
Senate Al Melvin 2013
Senate Al Melvin 2012 (3 accounts)
Senate Al Melvin 2011
Senate Don Shooter 2014
Senate Steve
Yarbrough 2012
Senate Steve
Yarbrough 2011
Senate Kimberly Yee 2013
Senate Kimberly Yee 2011
The state of Arizona only requires legislators to disclose the source of the $500+ gift, and not the actual amount of the gift. Therefore, at a very minimum, these 82
“scholarships” add up to at least $41,000. However, a few legislators have itemized the actual gifts from ALEC, showing that each individual “scholarship” was likely valued at more than $500. In his 2011 disclosure form (meant for 2010 gifts), House Speaker Andy Tobin disclosed two gifts from ALEC: a $2,000 scholarship to attend ALEC’s 2010 DC fall conference and an $1,800 for “Hotel/Registration” at ALEC’s 2010 San Diego conference.
In this 2014 disclosure form, Senator Al Melvin disclosed receiving $2,300 to attend ALEC’s three-day Washington, DC conference in December 2013.
Melvin also disclosed a $1,800 scholarship to attend ALEC’s 2012 Salt Lake City conference on his 2013 disclosure form.
The amount legislators are receiving show potentially lavish wining and dining taking place: Given the cost of ALEC registration for conferences (raging for $150 to $500 for legislators) and the cost of airfare, it appears the funding ALEC is providing to legislators for hotels and/or meals is extraordinary lavish. ALEC registration fees for their 2014 conference in Kansas City:
Records show ALEC is paying for multiple trips in a single year: In 2012, Rep Justin Olson reported receiving “scholarships” from ALEC to attend four different meetings in one year:
