NEW YORK (AP) — Drugstore operator CVS Caremark and tractor maker Deere & Co. are the latest companies to withdraw from conservative political group the American Legislative Exchange Council.
Many major corporations have had ties with the group, known as ALEC, for years. But the group became a lightning rod for political debate following the Trayvon Martin case.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Amazon.com, Coca-Cola Co., Kraft Foods Inc., McDonald’s Corp., PepsiCo Inc. and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have also withdrawn this year.
Liberal activists complain that ALEC improperly influences legislation around the country by allowing corporate leaders to develop model legislation alongside state lawmakers. Its previous support of so-called “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws drew fire after the Florida case in which teenager Martin was killed.
