More than a year ago, I was asked to do the impossible. Help build an algorithm that could tease out what statehouse bills were created from model legislation (ie copy-paste legislation). Along with a terrific team @USATODAY and @azcentral. We did it. Here’s how. (THREAD)
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@thelisagraves, who watches legislative influence, said “This work proves what many people have suspected, which is just how much of the democratic process has been outsourced to special interests.” This is our story: Copy, Paste, Legislate.https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-investigations/2019/04/04/abortion-gun-laws-stand-your-ground-model-bills-conservatives-liberal-corporate-influence-lobbyists/3361759002/ …Show this thread -
More than 2,100 of those model bills became law, which means corporations and other outside interests wrote laws that affect you and your life. These copycat laws have spread all over the U.S. Take a look at the spread of Sharia law bill:pic.twitter.com/sHg6bOowt4
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Thanks so much for the people that helped made this happen
@mgsquires@npenzenstadler@jkelly3rd@GannettDavis@gburton@shawnjsullivan@mattwynn@jsusong !Show this thread -
Please join my editor
@mgsquires and I for our Reddit AMA at 3 ET/12 PT where we will be answering questions about this thread and our@USATODAY/@azcentral/@Publici investigation ‘Copy, Paste, Legislate’https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/bc327b/im_rob_odell_and_investigative_and_data_reporter/ …Show this thread -
Also, please don't forget if you have model bills or potential model bills you would like us to investigate please submit them to us here to run through our system and we will let you know what we find! http://static.azcentral.com/model-legislation/ …
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Incredible honor to be named a Goldsmith Prize finalist for our 'Copy, Paste, Legislate' investigation on model legislation pushed by special interests. Congrats
@mgsquires@npenzenstadler and everyone@azcentral@USATODAY and@publicintegrityhttps://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona-republic/2020/02/05/arizona-republic-usa-today-goldsmith-prize-model-legislation/4658682002/ …Show this thread
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Nice work
@robodellaz! A graph I would lo e to see is the timing of substantially similar texts being brought up in various municipalities over time. Light up a map to see how these lobbying entities work. -
I spoke to soon...his second tweet illustrates that. I'd suggest one color per topic of bill and and then watch the dots grow over time. We could easily pin the epicenter of State legislatures most vulnerable to this chicanery.
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ALEC writes these with he help of SCOTUS Alito and Thomas (to name 2) and Thomas' wife Ginny who used to run the Heritage Foundation. Together they have brought us the internal Fascist Coup.
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I'd be fascinated to see the details and process! Math teachers everywhere want such a great example!
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