When Russell Pearce brought his Senate Bill 1070 to an ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) meeting it was made into model legislation, and now this model legislation has turned up in Tennessee–the home state of Corrections Corporation of America.

According to an article in The Tennessean, the bill, sponsored by Senator Bill Ketron, would make it a state crime to be in the country illegally, as well as give police the power to question and detain ‘suspicious’ people. While CCA denies taking a stance on any immigration bills it is clear that they stand to benefit, and the company has certainly taken an interest in Tennessean politics:

Campaign finance records shows that CCA, its officers and their families contributed more than $95,000 to campaigns in the state this past election cycle. The company also had five lobbyists on its payroll working at the Tennessee legislature this year. CCA earns as much as 12 percent of its revenue from contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ALEC provides a direct link to these legislators with an interest in ‘public-private partnerships’.  Six members from the Tennessee House of Representatives attended ALEC’s conference in San Diego this year at a cost of $15,000.

Read more about Tennessee, CCA, and ALEC, at The Tennessean website.

Where will 1070 end up next?