A Republican freshman congressman from Florida picked a fight with a Democratic leader in the Senate on Monday over the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and Stand Your Ground laws.
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., slammed U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., for writing 300 business leaders demanding to know if they supported ALEC and Stand Your Ground. Floridas Stand Your Ground law garnered national attention after George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin. Earlier this summer, a jury found Zimmerman not guilty in Martins death, prompting Democrats across the state and nation to demand Florida repeal its Stand Your Ground law.
Last month, Durbin announced he would investigate Stand Your Ground laws through the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights which he chairs. Durbin sent letters to business leaders earlier this month, demanding to know if they backed ALEC or Stand Your Ground.
I write to seek information regarding your companys position on Stand Your Ground legislation that was adopted as a national model by an organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Durbin wrote in the letter. In 2005, ALEC approved the adoption of model Stand Your Ground legislation entitled the Castle Doctrine Act. This model legislation was based on Floridas Stand Your Ground law, and it changes the criminal law regarding self-defense and provides immunity for certain uses of deadly force.
Although ALEC does not maintain a public list of corporate members or donors, other public documents indicate that your company funded ALEC at some point during the period between ALECs adoption of model Stand Your Ground legislation in 2005 and the present day, Durbin continued. I acknowledge your companys right to actively participate in the debate of important political issues, regardless of your position, and I recognize that a companys involvement with ALEC does not necessarily mean that the company endorses all positions taken by the organization. Therefore I am seeking clarification whether companies that have funded ALECs operations in the past currently support ALEC and the model Stand Your Ground legislation.
DeSantis fired away at Durbin, accusing the senator of trying to use his perch to intimidate business leaders. First elected to Congress in 2012, DeSantis serves on the House Judiciary Committee as part of the Republican majority.
"Senator Durbins inquiry on Stand Your Ground laws constitutes a thinly-veiled threat masquerading as fact finding, DeSantis said Monday. Self-defense laws are a matter of state, not federal, law; there is little reason for Senator Durbin to involve his federal subcommittee in this issue, much less to be using the power of his office to extract political positions from companies which he has the power to regulate.
"Senator Durbin has no right to force an individual or company to announce support or opposition to a political issue, DeSantis added. This is a Chicago-style tactic, as these harassing letters represent Senator Durbins attempt to intimidate individuals and businesses from supporting causes that run counter to liberal policies.
DeSantis ripped into another Chicago Democrat Monday -- President Barack Obama.
"This is but the latest in a growing series of cases of the Obama administration, and Democratic leadership, using the levers of power to bully those that disagree with liberal orthodoxy, DeSantis said in conclusion. These companies, their employees, and all American citizens, have the right to express their views without fear of harassment and intimidation. Senator Durbin should apologize for this clear abuse of power, and I hope recipients of these letters will decline to respond."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
