Two other big corporations—including Amazon—and several state lawmakers are the latest to sever their ties with American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), as the group’s influence and radical agenda—one that includes voter suppression, union-busting and immigrant bashing—is further exposed.

A new report reveals the “extraordinary influence” the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has had in the Wisconsin legislature during the past 16 months—the same 16 months since Gov. Scott Walker (R) took power. The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), which released the report, says ALEC's influence:

undermines the rights of Wisconsin families while advancing the agenda of huge corporations.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed her pet project of "personnel reform" into law Friday, claiming it will "modernize the state's personnel system" and make state employees "more accountable and efficient, more competitive and productive." In a nutshell: All new state workers in Arizona will have no civil service protections and those on the job now are being offered a small raise to give up their protection. Public-sector workers put up vigorous opposition to the move, saying it will lead to hiring and firing based on politics and favoritism. Even conservative Arizona Republic columnist Robert Robb expressed reservations about it, warning of "potentially dangerous consequences" to turning civil servants performing crucial public functions into at-will employees.

Thursday was sine die (adjournment) for the Arizona Legislature. It came relatively early this year after a budget deal was struck earlier this week between Gov. Jan Brewer and the Republican-led legislature. Brewer had warned GOP leadership that she would hold all bills until the budget was ready, which seemed to spur them into action. For public-sector Arizona workers, it was a mixed ending.

Over the past few years, dozens of states have passed restrictive voter ID and other voter suppression laws that could disenfranchise an estimated 21 million eligible voters, mostly people of color, young voters and senior citizens. The United Steelworkers (USW) just posted three videos of people—including a former congressman—who have recently been denied the right to vote because of new state laws.

Donna Gratehouse, who blogs at Democratic Diva and elsewhere on all things Arizona, sends us this.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is refusing to appear at a Senate hearing to defend S.B. 1070, the controversial state immigration law she signed in 2010. Brewer is scheduled to be in Washington, D.C., on April 24, the day the hearing is scheduled, but will be sending former state Sen. Russell Pearce to testify in her place.

The reason Brewer won’t be at that hearing is obvious to anyone familiar with Arizona politics. Despite her national image as a tough-as-nails politician, bolstered by her recent memoir, Scorpions for Breakfast, the last thing Brewer ever wants to face is hard questions.

The extremist American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has announced it is disbanding its task force that developed and pushed the rash of voter suppression and “stand your ground ” laws passed in recent  years by Republican-controlled state legislatures. But don't believe that ALEC is backing off its attacks on workers, their wages and their unions. Meanwhile, the group continues to lose key members, with two more major companies severing ties with the right-wing group

The past few weeks have not been kind to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and it couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch.

The exodus from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) continues as the glare of a hot spotlight exposes the group’s radical agenda that ranges from voter suppression to union busting and immigrant bashing. Candy maker Mars Inc. and Arizona's largest energy company are the latest corporations to sever ties.

Missouri State Rep. Mike Colona (D) is a former member of American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). He calls the group’s agenda “radical and extreme.” With a hotter spotlight on ALEC’s extremist agenda, some major corporations are severing their ties.