September 24, 2014 Google, Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
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September 24, 2014 Google, Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043 To: Larry Page, CEO and Co-Founder Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman Sergey Brin, Co-Founder and Board Member David Drummond, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer Patrick Pichette, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Craig Barratt, Senior Vice President, Access and Energy Kent Walker, Senior Vice President and General Counsel Rachel Whetstone, Senior Vice President, Communications and Policy Susan Molinari, Global Head of Government Relations John Burchett, Director of Policy, Latin America, Canada and U.S. States Ron Barnes, Head of State Legislative Affairs We the undersigned state lawmakers are deeply concerned by Google Chairman Eric Schmidt’s recent comments in regard to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). On September 22, 2014, during an interview with Diane Rehm on NPR, Mr. Schmidt announced Google’s departure from ALEC. ALEC is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators. The organization advances limited government, free markets and federalism. Legislative members determine the course and policy priorities of the organization, and always engage in vigorous debate to ensure the best policies are advanced. Many of us have worked side-by-side with Google at ALEC and in our states to ensure the continued growth and innovation of the technology-sector and the American economy. It is a shame that you would harm this working relationship by falsely attacking ALEC, an organization of which we are proud. In the radio interview, Mr. Schmidt emphasized a need for an environment that provides vigorous debate and disagreement without negative consequences. ALEC is exactly the venue called for by your Chairman. Daily, ALEC members and staff are challenged to stick to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism while engaging in debate and finding common ground on cutting-edge issues. While we understand how hard it can be to stick to principles, we are disappointed that contrary to your chairman’s statement, there have been negative consequences for an organization that provides just such a forum for debate and exchange. American Legislative Exchange Council · 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 · Arlington, VA 22202 · Tel. (703) 373-0933 · Fax: (703) 373-0927· ww.alec.org Schmidt also stated Google has a very strong view that decisions in politics should be based on facts. However, your calculated departure from ALEC is based on misinformation from climate activists who intentionally confuse free market policy perspectives for climate change denial. The facts are: ALEC recognizes that climate change is an important issue and just hosted a roundtable conversation for a variety of companies—including Google—on this very issue. Indeed, no ALEC model policy denies climate change; however, the organization does maintain model policy designed to address the scientific and economic aspects of the issue of climate change. The organizations that pressured you consistently conflate climate change denial with having significant concerns over government mandates, subsidies and climate regulations. To ALEC, nothing is more anathema than the government picking winners and losers. ALEC is often the subject of attention because our unique public-private partnership is so effective at sharing and debating policy perspectives and educating legislators. We appreciate that Google has an important perspective on innovation in the public policy arena, and it will be missed in future discussions as a result of short-sighted decision making. Sincerely, Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer IA-54 ALEC National Chair Rep. Phil King TX-61 ALEC First-Vice Chair Sen Leah Vukmir WI-5 ALEC Second-Vice Chair Sen. Jim Buck IN-21 ALEC Treasurer Rep. Liston Barfield SC-58 ALEC Secretary Rep. Blair Thoreson ND-44 ALEC Chair, Communications and Technology Speaker William Howell VA-28 Speaker Ray Merrick KS-27 Senate President Susan Wagle KS-30 Rep. Rick Gray, Majority Whip AZ-21 Sen. Tim Moffitt NC-116 Rep. Linda Johnson NC-83 Rep. George Cleveland NC-14 Rep. Dennis Riddell NC-64 Rep. Alan Clemmons SC-107 Rep. Garry Smith SC-27 Sen. Danny Verdin SC-9 Rep. Ralph Kennedy SC-39 Rep. Michael Pitts SC-14 Sen. David Verdin SC-9 Sen. Mike Fair SC-6 Sen. Ray Cleary SC-34 American Legislative Exchange Council · 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 · Arlington, VA 22202 · Tel. (703) 373-0933 · Fax: (703) 373-0927· ww.alec.org Sen. Judson Hill GA-32 Rep. Ben Harbin GA-122 Rep. Bruce Williamson GA-115 Rep. John Carson GA-46 Rep. Wendell Willard GA-51 Sen. David Johnson IA-1 Rep. Greg Forristall IA-22 Rep. Ralph Watts IA-19 Rep. Mark Costello IA-23 Rep. Dawn Pettengill IA-75 Sen. Dan Zumbach IA-48 Rep. Dave Deyoe IA-49 Rep. John Enns OK-41 Sen. Kim David OK-18 Sen. Rob Johnson OK-22 Sen. Gary Stanislawski OK-35 Rep. Tom Newell OK-28 Rep. Mike Sanders OK-59 Rep. Jason Murphey OK-31 Rep. Harold Wright OK-57 Rep. Ann Coody OK-64 Sen. Cliff Adridge OK-42 Rep. Mike Jackson OK-40 Rep. David Derby OK-74 Sen. Bill Brown OK-36 Rep. John Huffman OR-59 Rep. Gene Whisnant OR-53 Rep. Dave Frizzell IN-93 Sen. Wayne Niederhauser UT-9 Sen. Joel Anderson CA-36 Rep. Gary Banz OK-101 Sen. Chris Shank MD-2 Rep. Nate Bell AR-20 Rep. John Wood FL-41 Rep. Michael Bileca FL-115 Sen. Nancy Barto AZ-15 Sen. Jim Smith NE-14 Rep. Curry Todd TN-95 Rep. Bob Thorpe AZ-6 Rep. Jeff Thompson ID-30a American Legislative Exchange Council · 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 · Arlington, VA 22202 · Tel. (703) 373-0933 · Fax: (703) 373-0927· ww.alec.org Rep. Woody Burton IN-58 Sen. William Seitz OH-8 Sen. Bill Cadman CO-12 Sen. Michael Lamoureux AR-16 Rep. David Reis IL-109 Sen. Dan Lederman SD-16 Rep. Lou Terhar OH-30 Rep. Libby Szabo CO-27 Rep. Norine Kasperik WY-32 Sen. Larry Powell KS-39 Rep. Gary Chism MS-37 Rep. Jason Isaac TX-45 Sen. Giles Ward MS-18 Rep. Pamela Tucker NH-Rock 23 Sen. Kelli Ward AZ-5 Rep. Dan Ruby ND-38 Rep. Lawrence Klemin ND-47 Rep. William O’Brien NH-Hillsborough 5 Rep. Dan Hawkins KS-100 Del. Susan Krebs MD- 9B Rep. David Moore MT-91 Rep Duane Quam MN-25A Rep. Dennis Roch NM-67 Del. Terry Kilgore VA-1 Rep. Allen Jaggi WY-19 Rep. Blaine Campbell SD-35 Rep. David Livingston AZ-22 Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt WI-52 Rep. Daniel McGuire NH-Merrimack 21 Del. Nicholaus Kipke MD-31 Rep. Warren Groen NH-Strafford 10 Rep. Steve Brunk KS-85 Sen. Frank Ruff VA-15 Rep. Robert Helm VT-Rutland 3 Rep. Brian Greene UT-57 Rep. Michael Beard MN-55A Rep. Yvette Herrell NM-51 Rep. Jimmy Eldridge TN-73 Rep. Kris Langer SD-25 Del. Kathy Szeliga MD-7 American Legislative Exchange Council · 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 · Arlington, VA 22202 · Tel. (703) 373-0933 · Fax: (703) 373-0927· ww.alec.org Rep. Tom Lockhart WY-57 Rep. David Wolkins IN-18 Rep. Jim Dotson AR-93 Sen. Bill Hightower AL-35 Sen. Eddie Williams AR-29 Rep. John Barker KS-70 Sen. Joseph Getty MD-5 Rep. Doug Kary MT-48 Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady KS-110 Sen. Andre Cushing ME-33 Rep. Pete DeGraaf KS-82 Rep. Lois Landgraf CO-21 Rep. Lee Qualm SD-21 Sen. Stuart Adams UT-22 Rep. Roscoe Streyle ND-3 Sen. Phil Jensen SD-33 Sen. Kent Lambert CO-9 Rep. Brenda Barton AZ-6 Rep. Hal Wick SD-12 Rep. Manny Steele SD-12 Rep. Wesley Belter ND-22 Del. Eric Householder WV-64 Rep. Greg Snowden MS-83 Rep. Molly White TX-55 Rep. Ron Simmons TX-65 Rep. Lenette Peterson NH-Hillsborough 21 Sen. Eugene Clarke MS-22 Sen. Eli Bebout WY-26 Sen. Gail Bates MD-26 Rep. Leslie Heinemann SD-8 Rep. Doug Isaacson AK-1 Rep. Vernon Laning ND-8 Rep. Terry Boose OH-57 Sen. Ed Emery MO-31 Rep. Jodie Laubenberg TX-89 Rep. Andy Thompson OH-95 Rep. Steve McDanile TN-72 Sen. Gary Daniels NH-Hillsborough 40 Rep. Jerry Lunn KS-28 Rep. Jordan Ulery NH-Hillsborough 37 American Legislative Exchange Council · 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 · Arlington, VA 22202 · Tel. (703) 373-0933 · Fax: (703) 373-0927· ww.alec.org Sen. Dolores Gresham TN-26 Rep. Ken Weyler NH-13 Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook KS-10 Rep. Tom Morrison IL-54 Rep. Bette Grande ND-41 Rep. Mike Nathe ND-30 Rep. Wes Keller AK-10 Sen. Stan Cooper WY-14 Rep. Vance Dennis TN-71 Rep. Dave Murphy WI-56 Sen. Kevin Grantham CO-2 Rep. Debbie Lesko AZ-21 Rep. Richard Carlson KS-61 Sen. Ed Walker MT-29 Rep. Nathan Winters WY-28 Rep. Joe Seiwert KS-101 Rep. Jack Williams AL-47 Sen. Jeff Monroe SD-24 Rep. Cindy Pugh MN-33B Rep. Karen Rohr ND-31 Sen. Bruce Anderson MC-29 Rep. Thomas Killion PA-168 Sen. Leslie Nutting WY-7 Sen. Wayne Wallingford MO-27 Sen. Roger Webb MT-23 Rep. Dan Flynn TX-2 Sen. Bill Ketron TN-13 Sen. William Sharer NM-1 Sen. Richard Alloway PA-33 Rep. Jerry Torr IN-39 Rep. Sean Eberhart IN-57 Sen. Jim Patrick ID-25 Rep. Tom Reeder WY-58 Rep. Tim Jones MO-110 Sen. Ron Griggs NM-34 Rep. Andrew Brenner OH-67 Rep. James Strickler NM-2 Rep. John Adams OH-85 Rep. Nathan Toman ND-34 Rep. Sue Allen MO-100 American Legislative Exchange Council · 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 600 · Arlington, VA 22202 · Tel.