Reply #3: ALEC really is a 501(c)3. See this page on their site:

[highplainsdem]

http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=About

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
EIN #52-0140979.

It seems odd to me that they can be considered a 501(c)3, too, when they exist entirely to influence legislation. But according to a press release from them last October, which a defensive March press release from them linked to -- you can find that via reply 169 in the compilation topic, and this is a link to the individual topic about the press release --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x777851

"Members can bring draft legislation before task forces to become ALEC policy. The policies are debated and voted on by all members. Public and private members vote separately on policy. It is important to note that laws are not passed, debated or adopted during this process and therefore no lobbying takes place. That process is done at the state legislatures."

Link to that page on the ALEC site:

http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Statement_from_ALEC_on_NPR_Story_dated_10_29_10


Reply 176 in the compilation topic links to this DU topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x775905

about a Daily Kos diary that said "ALEC Lied On its 2009 Tax Return" because it answered No to the question "Did the organization engage in lobbying activities?" even though two lobbyists had registered that year with the North Dakota Secretary of State as lobbyists for ALEC (in addition to everything else ALEC does to influence legislation).