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Novolex, Out-of-State Firm Pushing California Plastic Bag Ban Referendum, Tied to ALEC

by by Steven Maviglio
Bloomberg investigation shows links between Novolex/HilexPoly and right-wing "dark money" group
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In addition to bankrolling high-dollar battles against plastic bag bans in California and nationwide, Big Plastic also is unabashedly financing a right-wing policy shop that is infamous for its secretive efforts on behalf of polluters, gun makers and others, according to an investigative report from Bloomberg Newshttp://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-05/the-corporations-and-dentists-that-still-love-alec).

The American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC, is known for siphoning “dark money” into lobbying efforts to avoid transparency laws. But Novolex, the plastic bag maker that is leading the charge against California’s landmark statewide plastic bag ban, isn’t hiding its association with the group.

Novolex cozied up with Big Tobacco, Big Coal and Big Pharma recently at ALEC’s policy summit in Washington, according to the story.

"ALEC doesn't disclose its private sector members, who pay dues of up to $25,000. But the group's policy summits, which are open to reporters, provide a partial answer vis-a-vis the ribbon-coded name badges that must be worn at all times," writes Bloomberg.

ALEC saw a mass exodus of its funders in recent years after coming under scrutiny for its support of controversial so-called “stand your ground” laws and efforts to roll-back environmental protections.

No surprise that Novolex is at the table with this group.

The South Carolina-based plastic bag corporation formerly called Hilex Poly that is leading the effort against bag bans nationwide, is owned by a Chicago equity fund. Novolex and others already have poured more than $3 million into the effort. Some 98 percent of the funds raised have come from plastic bag manufacturers from outside of California, including South Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, and China. Most recently, Superbag and Advanced Polybag, both of Texas, each have poured in another $166,667 into the signature gathering effort. The companies have until December 30, 2014, to turn in 504,760 signatures to put the measure on the November 2016 ballot. If successful, the law will be suspended until the election, but local jurisdictions can continue enacting their own bans.
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