The Guardian newspaper recently reported on numerous internal documents of the American Legislative Exchange Council, which helps shape legislation in Kansas and other states.

One document showed that the corporate-backed ALEC, which has numerous Republican legislative members in Kansas, had proposed that the ALEC state chairs take a loyalty oath that said, “I will act with care and loyalty and put the interests of the organization first.”

House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, is the ALEC state chair in Kansas. Asked whether Merrick would sign such an oath, his spokeswoman Rachel Whitten said, “This is a non-issue. The oath was not adopted.”