The industry-funded group is celebrating 50 years with a gala in D.C.

by Donald Shaw, Sludge

The controversial conservative group behind “stand your ground” gun laws and “right-to-work” labor policies is celebrating 50 years on Wednesday night with a gala in D.C.

The American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) 50th anniversary gala, to be held at the National Portrait Gallery, will feature speakers including former corporate lobbyist and current ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson, as well as talk show host and political commentator Hugh Hewitt, among others. Tickets for the event are $750.

a speaker at ALEC stands at the podium

ALEC is an industry-funded membership organization for state legislators, lobbyists, and corporate executives. Though the group bills itself as nonpartisan, the vast majority of its legislative members are Republicans. Its industry partners include the pharmaceutical company trade association Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), corporate lobbying giant the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and industrial conglomerate Koch Industries, the company chaired by billionaire political financier Charles Koch.

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