Blue Cross Blue Shield quits conservative legislative organization ALEC

By Julian Pecquet - 04/17/12 03:17 PM ET

The giant insurance firm Blue Cross Blue Shield isn't renewing its ties with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, the company said Tuesday.

Liberal groups say the decision comes in the wake of a massive campaign to link the group to controversial "stand your ground" legislation, but the company said the decision was made earlier.

"The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's decision not to renew our membership with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was made in February 2012 as part of our budgeting process, and was independent of any outreach or campaign by another organization," the company said in a statement Tuesday.

BCBSA's decision brings to 11 the number of companies that have quit ties with ALEC over the past few months. ALEC helps craft business-friendly legislation for state lawmakers across the country, such as legislation outlawing penalties for failing to obey the federal health law's individual mandate.

"We applaud BCBS for ending its relationship with this shadowy D.C. organization that would rather have our lawmakers work for corporations than the people," ColorOfChange Executive Director Rashad Robinson said in a statement.

ALEC has long been a target for liberal groups, and has come under intense scrutiny over the past few weeks over its support of NRA-backed "Stand Your Ground" legislation that enhances citizens' ability to claim self-defense to avoid prosecution for harming or killing someone.

The Sanford, Fla., police department originally said it couldn't legally arrest Martin's shooter, George Zimmerman, because of the state's "Stand Your Ground" law. However, the state of Florida arrested Zimmerman on Wednesday and charged him with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Update: This post was updated at 8:20 p.m. to reflect that Blue Cross Blue Shield says its decision not to renew its membership with ALEC was made independently of the Trayvon Martin case.