Politics often leads to unexpected alliances, but few relationships are as peculiar as the recent coalition that’s linked the American Civil Liberties Union with a host of corporate groups. Since last year the ACLU — an organization not usually perceived as particularly interested in the business world — has been part of an alliance with the Association of Corporate Counsel, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, among others. Their common cause? A shared belief that the government is overstepping its bounds on legal issues affecting corporate America.
First, the coalition petitioned the U.S. Sentencing Commission to relax its guidelines for companies and other organizations. Then the alliance regrouped to oppose several features of the USA Patriot Act, which was just recently renewed. Members of the coalition are now looking at other potential targets, including new immigration legislation pending in Congress.
