ACCESSING CLASSIFIED FILES
Decrypting documents...
Your connection is being monitored
Back to Individuals
high risk
Bill Meierling
ALEC Executive Vice President of Communications
Executive Vice President of Communications at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) who manages the organization public messaging and corporate-funded model legislation strategy
Overview
Bill Meierling serves as Executive Vice President of Communications at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the organization that brings together state legislators and corporate representatives to draft model legislation that is then introduced in state legislatures across the country. ALEC has drafted and promoted model bills across hundreds of policy areas including Stand Your Ground laws, voter ID requirements, private prison expansion, environmental deregulation, and the weakening of public unions. Meierling role involves managing the public communications strategy for an organization that has faced sustained criticism from advocacy groups, journalists, and former members for its lack of transparency about corporate funding and the degree to which its model legislation serves corporate interests over public welfare. Major corporations including Coca-Cola, Kraft, Google, and Amazon have left ALEC over public pressure, particularly after the organization role in promoting Stand Your Ground laws came under scrutiny following the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin. Despite the departures, ALEC continues to operate with significant corporate funding and has introduced model legislation in all 50 states.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Manages public communications for ALEC, which drafts corporate-funded model legislation introduced in state legislatures across all 50 states
ALEC model legislation has included Stand Your Ground laws, voter ID restrictions, private prison expansion, and environmental deregulation
Major corporations including Coca-Cola, Google, Amazon, and Kraft left ALEC over public backlash to its policy positions
ALEC has been criticized for lack of transparency about its corporate funding sources and the degree to which model bills serve corporate over public interests
The organization role in promoting Stand Your Ground laws came under scrutiny after the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin
Related Investigations (1)
Known Associates & Connections
Lisa Nelson
ALEC CEO who leads the organization alongside Meierling
Sources & Documentation
2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Center for Media and Democracy: ALEC Exposed(2011)
New York Times: Corporations Cut Ties With Conservative Group Over Voting and Gun Laws(2012)
Personal Information
Education
Key Timeline
2012
ALEC faces mass corporate exodus after the Trayvon Martin shooting brings scrutiny to its role in promoting Stand Your Ground laws
2013
Continues managing ALEC communications through ongoing corporate departures and public criticism campaigns