Reposted from PR Watch/ Center for Media and Democracy

A lobbyist and a legislator got caught on tape explaining how corporations subsidize lawmakers’ resort trips through the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the controversial corporate bill mill.

In a new report aired on Atlanta’s NBC TV Channel WXIA 11, Georgia investigative reporter Brendan Keefe went behind the scenes at ALEC’s spring meeting in Savannah, Georgia, where he chatted with lobbyists and lawmakers–and was summarily ejected by uniformed off-duty deputies for trying to film public officials at the task force meetings where future state laws are written.

A video recorded by a hidden camera caught this revealing exchange at the hotel bar:

“Do you have to pay your own way?” Keefe asked a state legislator.

“Well, on a trip like this…” he replied, then pointed to the self-identified lobbyist sitting next to him. “And that’s where you would come in, ma’am.”

The legislator explained that as State Chair of ALEC in his home state, he looks for “financial supporters, lobbyists and the like, to send us a couple thousand bucks every so often. That gives me money to help those folks with…”

“And we pay more to be here, so it helps support them.” the lobbyist added.

“I see, so the lobbyist fees to come to the event actually help subsidize the legislator coming here?” Keefe asked.

“That’s right. That’s right.” the lobbyist confirmed.

Despite ALEC’s recent claims of increased transparency and this clear video evidence, Bill Meierling, ALEC’s Vice President of Communications and Public Relations, denied to Keefe that ALEC legislators are being subsidized by corporate lobbyists.

“This is a private meeting,” Meierling told Keefe after being asked why reporters are not being allowed to observe legislators making laws.

“A private meeting paid for by whom?” Keefe asked.

“By our members and donors,” Meierling said.

“..are lobbyists, correct?” Keefe asked.

“No,” Meierling said.

“They’re not lobbyists, the ones that we recorded in the bar last night aren’t lobbyists that are here as members?” Keefe asked.

Meierling then signaled to the four uniformed sheriff’s deputies standing by, who proceeded to escort Keefe, who was a paying guest, out of the hotel. (CMD’s reporters at the 2012 and 2013 ALEC meetings, who were also paying guests at those hotels, were similarly kicked out by uniformed off-duty police serving as ALEC security.)

104 major American corporations have cut ties with ALEC in recent years, due to its controversial policies including voter suppression laws, extreme gun laws and climate change denial.

Read the full story from WXIA 11 here, and watch the full report here.

Brendan Fischer and Nick Surgey contributed to this report.  (Originally posted May 21, 2015)

Eds Note: Here’s the follow up report with reaction from ALEC via WXIA 11