It is no cruel coincidence that Republican state legislatures have in the past few decades introduced the same conservative legislation at the same time. In fact, ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), a "non-profit" organization that brings corporations and state law makers together to draft model legislation, was a driving force radical bills covering everything from school reform to the environment to voting regulations. Recently, The Nation and the Center for Media and Democracy came into possession of some of ALEC’s legislative proposals, and the group’s behind-the-scenes work is now public for the first time as a result of the ALEC Exposed series. 

The Nation‘s John Nichols joined NPR’s Fresh Air this morning to explain how ALEC has driven conservative policy for years.

—Anna Lekas Miller