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| − | {{#badges: Koch Exposed | AEX | Corporate rights | CoalSwarm | GlobalCorpWiki | Climate change}}
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| − | '''Koch Industries''' (pronounced "coke") is the second-largest privately held company in the United States.<ref name="forbes profile"/> Koch Industries engages in a range of extraction, manufacturing, and financial operations, including "refining and chemicals; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; minerals; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; commodity trading and services; forest and consumer products; and ranching."<ref>Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/factsSheets/AsiaFacts.aspx "Koch Companies in Asia Pacific"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref>
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| − | The company is led by [[Charles Koch]] and [[David Koch]], two of the wealthiest men in the world and major funders of an anti-regulatory right-wing infrastructure in the U.S., which includes think tanks such as the [[Heritage Foundation]], non-profits such as the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]], politicians and dark money electoral groups such as [[Americans for Prosperity]], universities and more. Koch Industries' involvement in lobbying and political activities is detailed below. See [[Kochexposed.org]] for a list of Sourcewatch articles and resources on the Koch brothers, the Koch network of funders, and the Koch web of nonprofit and political operations.
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| − | Koch Industries was reported to have revenue of $115 billion in 2013.<ref name="forbes profile">Forbes, [http://www.forbes.com/companies/koch-industries/ Koch Industries], company profile, accessed July 3, 2014.</ref> As of 2012, the Koch "conglomerate boast[ed] 60,000 employees, 4,000 miles of pipeline and enough refinery capacity to supply 5% of U.S. daily fuel demand," according to Forbes.<ref name="Fisher">Daniel Fisher, "[http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2012/12/05/inside-the-koch-empire-how-the-brothers-plan-to-reshape-america/5/ Inside The Koch Empire: How The Brothers Plan To Reshape America]," Forbes, December 24, 2012.</ref> [[Charles G. Koch|Charles Koch]] has vowed that the company will become publicly traded "only over my dead body."<ref name="Fisher"/>
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| − | In 2010, Koch Industries was named one of the United States' top 10 air polluters in a study released by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute.<ref name="mayer">Jane Mayer "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all Covert Operations: The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama]," ''The New Yorker'', August 20, 2010. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>.
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| − | The company was started in 1927 by [[Fred Koch]], a founding member of the [[John Birch Society]].<ref> [http://www.democracynow.org/2014/5/21/behind_the_koch_brothers_new_book 'Behind the Koch Brothers: New Book Spills the Secrets of Nation’s Most Powerful & Private Dynasty'], ''Democracy Now'', May 21, 2014. Accessed July, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
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| − | Koch Industries is a long-time member and funder of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC), and a long-time member of the ALEC corporate [[ALEC Boards and Task Forces#"Private Enterprise" Board of Directors|Private Enterprise]] board. <ref name="private enterprise board"> [http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Private_Enterprise_Board&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=15992 Private Enterprise Board], ALEC website, accessed July 8, 2011. </ref>
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| − | A list of [[ALEC Corporations|ALEC corporations can be found here]].
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| − | {{about_ALEC}}
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| − | [[Mike Morgan]], Director of Public and Government Affairs, represents Koch Industries on ALEC's corporate Private Enterprise Advisory Council, as of 2014; he was previously Chairman.<ref name="private enterprise board"/>
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| − | Koch Industries was a "Chairman" level sponsor of the 2013 [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] Spring Task Force Summit in Oklahoma City. <ref>[American Legislative Exchange Council, 2013 Spring Task Force Summit Sponsors, conference brochure on file with CMD, May 2, 2013]</ref> It was earlier a "Vice-Chairman" level sponsor of the 2011 [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] Annual Conference, which in 2010, equated to $25,000.<ref>[American Legislative Exchange Council, 2011 Conference Sponsors, conference brochure on file with CMD, August 11, 2011]</ref>
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| − | The [[Charles Koch Institute]] was a "Trustee" level sponsor of the 2013 [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] States & Nation Policy Summit in Washington, DC. <ref>[American Legislative Exchange Council, 2013 States & Nation Policy Summit Sponsors, conference brochure on file with CMD, December 4, 2013]</ref>
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| − | The [[Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation]] gave ALEC donations of $75,858 in 2009 and $71,100 in 2012 to ALEC.<ref>Charles G Koch Charitable Foundation [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/480/918/2009-480918408-06a8ebb7-F.pdf 2009 IRS Form 990], accessed at Guidestar.org. </ref><ref>Guidestar: [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2012/480/918/2012-480918408-09eaa056-F.pdf Charles Koch Foundation: 2012]</ref> Additionally, In 1996, the Charles G. Koch Foundation gave ALEC a $500,000 loan.<ref>American Legislative Exchange Council, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/1998/520/140/1998-520140979-1-9.pdf 1998 Form 990], form filed with the IRS and available via Guidestar.org, May 14, 1999</ref>
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| − | The Kochs' [[Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]] gave donations totaling $600,000 to ALEC between 2007 and 2012.
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| − | Koch Industries financially supported the publication of ALEC's 1995 ''Sourcebook'', the annual publication in which it released its "model" legislation until it moved to online publication.<ref>Samuel Brunelli, Ed., American Legislative Exchange Council, ''Sourcebook of American State Legislation'', Volume II, January 1995</ref>
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| − | [[File:Koch Sponsorship of 1995 Sourcebook.png]]
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| − | ==Affiliations and Funding of Interest Groups==
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| − | [[Image: Koch_Funding_to_Opposition_Groups.jpg|frame|right|"Koch's Web of Dirty Money and Influence" graphic from Greenpeace, originally published in "[http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/Global/usa/report/2010/3/koch-industries-secretly-fund.pdf Koch Industries Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine]," 2010.]]
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| − | ===Koch Money Funds Right-Wing Infrastructure===
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| − | ''See also [[Koch family foundations]], [[Koch brothers]]''.
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| − | [[Charles G. Koch]] and [[David H. Koch]] run Koch Industries as well as the [[Koch Family Foundations]], which together are one of the largest single sources of funding for right-wing organizations in the United States. The Center for Public Integrity wrote in 2009 that "[w]hile Koch has a long history of pushing libertarianism through its grant-making, more recently, the company has established itself as an aggressive opponent of climate legislation and a major funder of climate skeptics."<ref name="chen climate"/>
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| − | Organizations and [[think tanks]] that have been supported by Koch funding include: [[Americans for Prosperity]], the [[Heritage Foundation]], the [[Cato Institute]], the [[Institute for Humane Studies]], [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]], the [[Mercatus Center]], the [[Reason Foundation]], and the [[Manhattan Institute]], among others.
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| − | David Koch is the chairman of the [[Americans for Prosperity Foundation]], a director of the [[Cato Institute]] and a trustee of the [[Reason Foundation]].
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| − | In addition to providing funding to co-found the [[Cato Institute]] and the [[Mercatus Center]], Charles Koch serves on the boards of both Mercatus and the [[Institute for Humane Studies]].<ref>Matthew Continetti, [http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/paranoid-style-liberal-politics_555525.html?nopager=1 ''The Paranoid Style in Liberal Politics: The Left's Obsession with the Koch brothers''], the Weekly Standard, April 4, 2011, Vol. 16, No. 28, Accessed May, 2011.</ref><ref name="koch greenpeace">Greenpeace USA, [http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/Global/usa/report/2010/3/koch-industries-secretly-fund.pdf ''Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine (PDF)''], March, 2010, Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>
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| − | [[Richard Fink]], an executive vice president and director of Koch Industries, is on the boards of several [[Koch Family Foundations]] as well as founder, president or director of numerous front groups the Koch foundations support.
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| − | ===Cato Institute===
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| − | ''See also [[Cato Institute]]''.
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| − | Charles G. Koch co-founded the [[Cato Institute]], a [[think tank]] based in Washington DC, with [[Edward H. Crane]] in 1977. <ref>[http://www.cato.org/25th/ Cato Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary], [[Cato Institute]], May 2002</ref> [[David Koch]] presently serves on its Board of Directors. Koch Industries is an aggressive opponent of climate legislation and a major funder of climate skeptics, including the Cato Institute.<ref name="chen climate"/>Te-Ping Chen, "[http://www.publicintegrity.org/blog/entry/1246/ Behind the Climate Skeptisim Curtain: The Koch Family and the Cato Institute]," Center for Public Integrity, April 2009. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ===Americans for Prosperity===
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| − | ''See also [[Americans for Prosperity]]''.
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| − | [[Americans for Prosperity]] (AFP) was founded by [[David Koch]] and [[Richard Fink]], a member of the board of directors of [[Koch Industries]]. AFP helps fund activities related to the "Tea Party" efforts. AFP's message is in sync with that of other groups funded by the [[Koch Family Foundations|Koch family’s]] other special interest groups working against progressive or Democratic initiatives and protections for workers and the environment. AFP has opposed health care reform, stimulus spending, and [[cap-and-trade]] legislation, which is aimed at making industries pay for the air pollution that they create. AFP was also involved in the attacks on Obama’s "green jobs" czar, [[Van Jones]], and has crusaded against international climate talks. According to an article in the August 30, 2010 issue of ''The New Yorker'', the Kochs are known for "creating slippery organizations with generic-sounding names," that "make it difficult to ascertain the extent of their influence in Washington."<ref name="mayer"/>
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| − | David Koch launched AFP in late 2003 as a successor to the [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]] Foundation (which David Koch had founded in 1987).
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| − | ===Tea Party Movement and Funding===
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| − | ''See also [[Americans for Prosperity]], [[Citizens for a Sound Economy]], [[Tea Party movement funding]].''
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| − | In 2011, the [[Center for American Progress]] reported that "[t]he Koch brothers use their considerable wealth to bankroll the right wing, including the [[Tea Party]]. This serves the purpose of furthering not only their right-wing ideology but also their bottom line. Koch Industries has a lot to gain from gutting government oversight and electing candidates who oppose government regulation, especially in the oil-and-gas industry."<ref>Tony Carrk, "[http://cdn.americanprogressaction.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2011/04/pdf/koch_brothers.pdf The Koch Brothers: What You Need to Know About the Financiers of the Radical Right (pdf)]", Center for American Progress Action Fund, April 4, 2011. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>
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| − | The ''New Yorker'' noted in 2010 that the Kochs' "Americans for Prosperity has worked closely with the Tea Party since the movement’s inception," and quoted conservative economist Bruce Bartlett, formerly of the Koch-funded [[National Center for Policy Analysis]], saying that with the Tea Party, the Kochs are "trying to shape and control and channel the populist uprising into their own policies.”<ref name="mayer"/>
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| − | A Republican consultant who spoke to the ''New Yorker'' said, "The Koch brothers gave the money that founded it. It’s like they put the seeds in the ground. Then the rainstorm comes, and the frogs come out of the mud—and they’re our candidates!"<ref name="mayer"/>
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| − | ==Leading Opponents of Climate Change Policy==
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| − | Koch Industries has come to play a major role in funding the climate change denial movement. In 2009, Greenpeace describe Koch Industries as "a partner to ExxonMobil, the American Petroleum Institute and other donors that support organizations and front-groups opposing progressive clean energy and climate policy."<ref name="koch greenpeace"/>
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| − | A 2012 report by the [[International Forum on Globalization]] (IFG) describes the role of David and Charles Koch as leaders in the opposition to climate change policy in the U.S. The report, titled [http://kochcash.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/ifg_report.pdfFaces Behind a Global Crisis: U.S. Carbon Billionaires and the U.N, Climate Deadlock], explains how the Kochs are using their immense wealth to kill U.S. climate legislation and convince America that "energy independence" is more important than addressing adverse climate change. Contained in the report are details of how the Kochs' activity in campaign contributions, lobbying legislators, funding climate denialists, attacking clean air laws, and stopping the shift in subsidies from fossil fuels has helped to halt any serious progress on climate policy in the United States. The result is a deadlock in addressing the global climate crisis.<ref>Mary Bottari, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/12/11894/koch-carbon-kings-driving-force-behind-un-deadlock-doha Koch Carbon Kings a Driving Force Behind the U.N. Deadlock in Doha], Center for Media and Democracy, December 5, 2012.</ref>
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| − | Meena Raman of the Third World Network and an IFG Board Member noted that, "The world cannot expect U.S. negotiators to do anything but lead a race to the bottom toward a total climate crisis as long as they speak for their oil billionaires and not for the American people. How many more must die from climate disruptions before U.S. negotiators align their position with the scientific reality that says the world needs ambitious actions to cut carbon now?"<ref>International Forum on Globalization, [http://www.ifg.org/ IFG's New Report Reveals the Role of World's Wealthiest Individuals at Global Climate Talk], organizational website, accessed May 16, 2013.</ref>
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| − | ===Fighting Greenhouse Gas Regulations===
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| − | ====EPA Standards on Carbon Pollution, 2014====
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| − | On June 2, 2014, the EPA published draft rules to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants under the authority in the [[Clean Air Act]].<ref> Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-will-propose-a-rule-to-cut-emissions-from-existing-coal-plants-by-up-to-30-percent/2014/06/02/f37f0a10-e81d-11e3-afc6-a1dd9407abcf_story.html] Everything you need to know about the EPA’s proposed rule on coal plants, Washington Post, June 2, 2014. </ref> At a December 2013 ALEC conference in Washington DC, participants were reportedly told to engage in "Guerrilla Warfare" against the EPA.<ref> Aliya Haq, [http://www.livescience.com/41928-warfare-against-pollution-standards.html?cmpid=514645] Secretive Group Calls for 'Guerrilla Warfare' on EPA, Washington Post, December 13, 2013. </ref> At the same conference, the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] adopted two new model bills opposing EPA regulation of power plants.<ref> Aliya Haq, [http://www.livescience.com/41928-warfare-against-pollution-standards.html?cmpid=514645] Secretive Group Calls for 'Guerrilla Warfare' on EPA, Washington Post, December 13, 2013. </ref> The [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] held a secret roundtable discussion in December 2013, with members of industry and state legislators, to plan its opposition to the expected draft EPA standards.<ref> Suzanne Goldenberg, [http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/02/barack-obamas-emissions-plan-comes-under-new-line-of-attack]
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| − | Barack Obama's emissions plan comes under new line of attack, Guardian, May 2, 2014. </ref> According to documents obtained by the [[Center for Media and Democracy]], legislators were told that they should budget for possible litigation over the standards.<ref> Suzanne Goldenberg, [http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/02/barack-obamas-emissions-plan-comes-under-new-line-of-attack]
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| − | Barack Obama's emissions plan comes under new line of attack, Guardian, May 2, 2014. </ref> A January 2014 [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] conference call with legislators, included guest speaker Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, during which ALEC legislators were instructed to encourage their state Attorneys General to litigate the proposed standards.<ref> Suzanne Goldenberg, [http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/may/02/barack-obamas-emissions-plan-comes-under-new-line-of-attack]
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| − | Barack Obama's emissions plan comes under new line of attack, Guardian, May 2, 2014. </ref>
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| − | In 2011, the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] submitted comments to the EPA in which it stated: “Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring, non-toxic and beneficial gas, and it poses no direct threat to public health."<ref> Kert Davies, [http://www.climateinvestigations.org/alec_hates_the_climate]
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| − | ALEC Hates the Climate, Climate Investigations Center, February 20, 2014. </ref>
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| − | ====Attempt to Roll Back Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in New Hampshire, 2011====
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| − | With the collapse of federal cap-and-trade legislation, a total of 32 states became active participants or observing members in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the Northeast, the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, or the Western Climate Initiative.
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| − | On Feb. 23, 2011, New Hampshire's overwhelmingly Republican House of Representatives voted to support HB 519, a bill that would repeal participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which has cut [[greenhouse gas]] emissions and other pollution and made improvements in [[energy efficiency]]. The bill passed by a nearly party-line vote of 246 to 104 (13 Republicans voted against, two Democrats for). The bill has to pass through the finance committee before a final house vote and consideration by the senate. Gov. John Lynch (D-NH), who has touted the success of RGGI in making the air healthier while increasing economic prosperity, is expected to veto the bill, but Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers of the New Hampshire legislature. The bill was aided by robocalls from the Koch-funded [[Americans for Prosperity]] group, which flooded the state with calls in support the bill. Rep. [[Sandra Keans]] (D-Rochester), told the ''Nashua Telegraph'' that AFP’s calls were “sleazy” and deliberately false: “I have never seen such a cowardly perpetration pulled on the citizens of New Hampshire."<ref>[http://climateprogress.org/2011/02/28/koch-tea-party-climate-denial-bill-new-hampshire-man-cow-global-warming/#more-43550 "New Hampshire: “Neither man nor cow is responsible for global warming”] Climate Progress, Feb. 28, 2011.</ref>
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| − | In July 2011, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch vetoed the effort, stating ""I am vetoing this legislation because it will cost our citizens jobs, both now and into the future, hinder our economic recovery, and damage our state's long-term economic competitiveness." <ref> Jason McLure, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/us-greenhouse-new-hampshire-idUSTRE76567020110706 NH Gov. Lynch Vetoes Plan to Opt Out of Greenhouse Initiative], Reuters, July 6, 2011. </ref>
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| − | ====Working to Prevent EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases, 2011====
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| − | The [[Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011]] is proposed by Sen. [[Jim Inhofe]] (R-OK), Rep. [[Ed Whitfield]] (R-KY), and [[House Energy and Commerce Committee]] Chairman Rep. [[Fred Upton]] (R-MI), who [http://energycommerce.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=8189 describe] the bill as "a sensible, narrowly crafted 'fix' to clarify that the [[Clean Air Act]] was never intended to be used to impose [[cap-and-trade]] by regulation." The bill seeks to prevent the [[EPA]] from regulating [[greenhouse gas]] emissions that contribute to [[climate change]].<ref name=bj>Brad Johnson, [http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/?cat=4 "The Koch Committee’s Big Oil Witnesses For Upton-Inhofe Pollution Act"] Wonk Room, Feb. 9, 2011.</ref>
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| − | The [[House Energy and Commerce Committee]], under Republican control, held a hearing on Feb. 9, 2011 to discuss the bill, chaired by Whitfield, who has received $9,000 from [[Koch Industries]] since 2008. Koch operatives reportedly met with Rep. Upton on the first day of the 112th Congress to discuss such a bill. Upton received $20,000 from Koch employees in 2010, making them among his top 10 donors. Nine of the 12 new Republicans on the panel signed the Koch-funded [[Americans for Prosperity]] “No Climate Tax” pledge that opposed any government action to reduce carbon dioxide pollution.<ref name=bj/>
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| − | ====Koch Subsidiary Donates $1 Million to Stop Calif. GHG Law, 2010====
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| − | In September 2010, a company controlled by the Koch brothers donated $1 million to the campaign to pass Proposition 23, the [[Suspend AB 32]] California ballot initiative that would halt the state's [[global warming]] law. The contribution came from [[Flint Hills Resources]], a Kansas petrochemical company that is a subsidiary of Koch Industries. The Koch donation came a day after [[Tesoro]], a Texas oil company that has been bankrolling the pro-Prop 23 campaign, put $1 million into the campaign coffers. According to the No Prop 23 campaign, 97 percent of the $8.2 million raised by the Yes forces has been given by oil-related interests and 89 percent of that money has come from out of state. Three companies, Koch Industries, [[Tesoro]], and [[Valero]] -- another Texas-based oil company -- have provided 80 percent of those funds.<ref>Todd Woody, [http://www.grist.org/article/koch-brothers-jump-into-prop-23-fight/ "Koch brothers jump into Prop 23 fight"] Grist, September 3, 2010.</ref>
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| − | ===Largest Foreign Lease Holder in Canadian Tar Sands===
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| − | Koch Industries is the largest foreign lease holder in Canada's [[oil sands]] with "leases on 1.1 million acres -- an area nearly the size of Delaware -- in the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada," according to a study of Alberta provincial records by the [[International Forum on Globalization]] and confirmed by the Washington Post.<ref name="biggest foreign">Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/03/20/the-biggest-land-owner-in-canadas-oil-sands-isnt-exxon-mobil-or-conoco-phillips-its-the-koch-brothers/ The biggest foreign lease holder in Canada’s oil sands isn’t Exxon Mobil or Chevron. It’s the Koch brothers.]," ''The Washington Post'', March 20, 2014. Accessed June 9, 2014.</ref> Koch Industries may "narrowly trail" the top two Canadian companies, Cenovus Energy and Athabasca Oil Company, which each lease just shy of 1.6 million acres.<ref name="complicated">Steven Mufson, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/does-koch-industries-hold-most-canadian-oil-sands-leases-its-complicated/2014/04/07/2470e5e4-be70-11e3-b574-f8748871856a_story.html Does Koch Industries hold most Canadian oil sands leases? It’s complicated.]," April 7, 2014. Accessed June 9, 2014.</ref> The Post further reported that "[a]n oil industry official with direct knowledge of Koch’s lease holdings, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his relationship with the firm, has said that Koch’s leases in the oil-sands region are 'closer to 2 million,'" in which case Koch Industries would be the largest leaseholder in [[Alberta's tar sands]].<ref name="complicated"/> Koch Industries is responsible for close to 25 percent of the oil [[tar sands]] crude that is imported into the United States, and is one of the biggest refiners of Alberta oil sands crude oil. <ref> [http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22112 Koch Industries Handles 25 Percent of Canada Tar Sand Oil], Sustainablebusiness.com, May 23, 2011. </ref>
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| − | In 2011, [[TransCanada]] requested permission to build a 1,661 mile pipeline from Canada's [[tar sands]] oil fields to U.S. refiners in Texas. The so-called Keystone XL pipeline would import as much as 510,000 barrels per day. Koch Industries is responsible for close to 25 percent of the oil [[tar sands]] crude that is imported into the United States, and are one of the biggest refiners of Alberta oil sands crude oil. <ref> [http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22112 Koch Industries Handles 25 Percent of Canada Tar Sand Oil], Sustainablebusiness.com, May 23, 2011. </ref> Some speculated that Koch Industries would benefit significantly from the project. <ref> David Sassoon, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/10/idUS292515702420110210 Koch Brothers Positioned to Win Big if Keystone XL Pipeline is Approved], Reuters / SolveClimate, Feb 10, 2011, accessed July 11, 2011. </ref>
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| − | In May, 2011, Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) formally requested more information from Republican leadership on the House Energy and Commerce Committee about how the project might benefit Koch Industries. They wrote:
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| − | <blockquote> Publicly available information indicates that the company is involved in several aspects of Canadian tar sands development. Koch’s Pine Bend Refinery in Minnesota currently processes roughly 25% of the tar sands fuel imports to the United States. Koch owns Flint Hills Resources, LLP, in Calgary, Canada, which is “among Canada’s largest crude oil purchasers, shippers and exporters.” Flint Hills Resources also operates a crude oil terminal in Hardisty, Alberta, where the Keystone XL pipeline will begin. According to the Government of Alberta, Koch Industries has both proposed and producing tar sands projects in the province. The Oil Sands Developers Group also indicates that Koch is a tar sands project developer. Koch’s Corpus Christi refinery is positioned near the end of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and would be a potential buyer for the tar sands crude shipped through the pipeline.<ref> Democrats on House Energy Committee, [http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=news/reps-waxman-and-rush-urge-committee-to-request-documents-from-koch-industries-regarding-keyston Reps. Waxman and Rush Urge Committee to Request Documents from Koch Industries Regarding Keystone XL Pipeline], Committee on Energy and Commerce website, May 20, 2011, accessed July 11, 2011. </ref></blockquote>
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| − | ===Report: "Secretly Funding Climate Denial Machine," 2010===
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| − | According to the 2010 report by [[Greenpeace]], [http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/media-center/reports/koch-industries-secretly-fund/ '''Koch Industries: Secretly Funding the Climate Denial Machine'''], Koch has out-spent [[ExxonMobil]] in funding [[climate change]] denial. From 2005 to 2008, ExxonMobil spent $8.9 million, while the Koch Industries-controlled foundations contributed $24.9 million in funding to organizations of [[climate change skeptics]]. Efforts include:
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| − | *More than $5 million to [[Americans for Prosperity Foundation]] (AFP) for its nationwide “Hot Air Tour” campaign opposing clean energy and climate legislation.
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| − | *More than $1 million to the [[Heritage Foundation]], which writes about climate and environmental policy issues.
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| − | *Over $1 million to the [[Cato Institute]], which disputes the scientific evidence behind global warming, questions the rationale for taking climate action, and has been heavily involved in spinning the recent [[ClimateGate]] story.
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| − | *$800,000 to the [[Manhattan Institute]], which has hosted [[Bjorn Lomborg]] twice in the last two years, a prominent media spokesperson who challenges and attacks policy measures to address climate change.
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| − | *$365,000 to [[Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment]] (FREE), which advocates against taking action on climate change because warming is “inevitable” and expensive to address.
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| − | *$360,000 to [[Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy]] (PRIPP) which supported and funded [[An Inconvenient Truth...or Convenient Fiction]], a film attacking the science of global warming and intended as a rebuttal to former Vice-President [[Al Gore]]’s documentary [[An Inconvenient Truth]] (PRIPP also threatened to sue the U.S. Government for listing the polar bear as an endangered species.)
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| − | *$325,000 to the [[Tax Foundation]], which issued a misleading study on the costs of proposed climate legislation.
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| − | The reports says such contributions are only part of the picture, because the full scope of direct contributions to organizations is not disclosed by individual Koch family members, executives, or from the company itself.
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| − | ==== Koch-Funded Groups Echo Messaging on "ClimateGate," 2009 ====
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| − | *[[ClimateGate]] Echo Chamber—At least twenty Koch-funded organizations have repeatedly rebroadcast, referenced and appeared as media spokespeople in the story, dubbed “ClimateGate,” regarding stolen emails from the University of East Anglia in November 2009. These organizations claim the emails prove a “conspiracy” of scientists and "proves" climate change is a hoax.
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| − | ==Direct Lobbying and Campaign Contributions==
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| − | ===Lobbying===
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| − | Koch wields significant influence on climate change and other issues by direct federal lobbying, spending millions of dollars each year. Koch Industries reported $10 million per year on lobbying in 2012 and 2013, and in 2014 had reported spending $2.7 million on lobbying by April.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000186 Koch Industries], lobbying report, accessed July 7, 2014.</ref> The firm has actively lobbied against environmental protection regulations and Wall Street reforms, as detailed in a report by the Center for Public Integrity.<ref>John Aloysius Farrell, "[http://www.publicintegrity.org/2011/04/06/3936/kochs-web-influence Koch's web of influence]," Center for Public Integrity, April 6, 2011. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref> It also has a seat on the board of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]], which "has played a key role in urging state elected officials to help thwart efforts to address climate change, from opposing international agreements to attacking the Environmental Protection Agency’s power, to urging the repeal of renewable energy standards and greenhouse gas agreements."<ref name="koch cartel">Lisa Graves, ''The Progressive'', July/August 2014.</ref>
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| − | The Koch brothers have spent several decades building a network of politically active nonprofits, think tanks, and political funding networks that support a range of pro-business, anti-regulation, anti-environmental protection, and anti-union causes. Learn more at [[Koch Brothers]].
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| − | | |
| − | Charles Lewis, founder of the [[Center for Public Integrity]], said in a 2010 interview with the ''New Yorker'',
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| − | :"The Kochs are on a whole different level. There’s no one else who has spent this much money. The sheer dimension of it is what sets them apart. They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation. I’ve been in Washington since Watergate, and I’ve never seen anything like it. They are the Standard Oil of our times."<ref name="mayer">Jane Mayer, "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer?currentPage=all Covert Operations]," ''New Yorker'', August 30, 2010. Accessed June 30, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ====Koch Industries Lobbying Spending, 2005-2014====
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| − | Based on data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000186 Koch Industries], lobbying report, accessed July 7, 2014.</ref>
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| − | *2005: $2,700,000
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| − | *2006: $3,968,750
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| − | *2007: $5,068,750
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| − | *2008: $20,023,000
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| − | *2009: $12,450,000
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| − | *2010: $8,070,000
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| − | *2011: $8,360,000
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| − | *2012: $10,550,000
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| − | *2013: $10,430,000
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| − | *2014 (Jan-April): $2,700,000
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| − | <br>
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| − | According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Koch spent $37.9 million from 2006 to 2009 for direct lobbying on oil and energy issues, outspent only by ExxonMobil ($87.8 million) and Chevron Corporation ($50 million).<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000186&year=2009 Lobbying Information - Koch Industries],"Open Secrets.org"</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | The April 2011 [[Center for American Progress]] report presented the following chart of the Koch brothers' issue agenda:
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| − | | |
| − | [[File:Issue_Agenda.jpg|center]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===2014 Campaign Contributions===
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| − | As of July 3, 2014, Koch Industries PAC and Koch employees had made a total of $3,811,365 in political donations for the 2014 election, including $1,775,000 to the [[Republican Governor's Association]].<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, "[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2014 Profile for 2014 Election Cycle]," OpenSecrets.org, accessed July 3, 2014</ref> They had donated $919,200 directly to congressional candidates, with 98% of the money going to Republicans.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, "[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2014 Koch Industries]," OpenSecrets.org, accessed April 1, 2014</ref> Top recipients include [[Mike Pompeo]] (R-KS), Speaker [[John Boehner]] (R-OH), [[John Cornyn]] (R-TX), and [[Lynn Jenkins]] (R-KS).<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, "[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2014 Money to Congress: 2014 Cycle]," OpenSecrets.org, accessed July 3, 2014</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ===2012 Campaign Contributions===
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| − | | |
| − | [[File:Koch_2012_state_spending.png|500px|thumb|right|2012 Election Spending by State, from [http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/11/charts-map-koch-brothers-2012-spending Mother Jones].]]
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| − | | |
| − | During the 2012 election cycle, Koch Industries PAC made $4.9 million in federal campaign contributions.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, "[http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2012 Profile for 2012 Election Cycle]," OpenSecrets.org, accessed April 1, 2014.</ref> This included $2.1 million to the [[Republican Governor's Association]], $250,705 to the [[Republican State Leadership Committee]], and $161,250 to the [[Republican National Committee]].
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| − | | |
| − | House candidates receiving at least $12,000 from Koch Industries in 2012:<ref name="2012 contributions">Center for Responsive Politics, [https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00236489&cycle=2012 Koch Industries], PAC recipients list, 2012 cycle. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>
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| − | *[[Robert Pittenger]] (R-NC): $12,500
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| − | *[[Joe Walsh]] (R-IL): $12,500
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| − | *[[Tom Graves]] (R-GA): $12,000
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| − | *[[Mick Mulvaney]] (R-SC): $12,000
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| − | | |
| − | Senate candidates receiving at least $10,000 from Koch Industries in 2012:<ref name="2012 contributions"/>
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| − | *[[Ted Cruz]] (R-TX): $15,000
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| − | *[[Orrin Hatch]] (R-UT): $15,000
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| − | *[[George Allen]] (R-VA): $10,000
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| − | *[[John A. Barrasso]] (R-WY): $10,000
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| − | *[[Rick Berg]] (R-ND): $10,000
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| − | *[[Scott Brown]] (R-MA): $10,000
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| − | *[[Dean Heller]] (R-NV): $10,000
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| − | *[[Josh Mandel]] (R-OH): $10,000
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| − | *[[Mitch McConnell]] (R-KY): $10,000
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| − | *[[Richard E. Mourdock]] (R-IN): $10,000
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| − | *[[Mark Pryor]] (R-AR): $10,000
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| − | *[[Denny Rehberg]] (R-MT): $10,000
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| − | *[[Pat Robers]] (R-KS): $10,000
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| − | *[[Roger Wicker]] (R-MS): $10,000
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| − | | |
| − | ===2010 Campaign Contributions===
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| − | | |
| − | The Kochs or the Koch PAC "donated directly to 62 of the 87 members of the House GOP freshman class" during the 2010 election campaign cycle.<ref>Tony Carrk [http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2011/04/pdf/koch_brothers_exec_summ.pdf The Koch Brothers: What You Need to Know About the Financiers of the Radical Right (pdf)], Center for American Progress Action Fund online report, April 4, 2011</ref> At the state level, they spent "$5.2 million on candidates and ballot measures in 34 states since 2003. They donated directly to 13 governors that won election" in 2010.<ref>[http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2011/04/pdf/koch_brothers_exec_summ.pdf Ibid. (pdf)]</ref> They have "pledged to raise $88 million for the 2012 election and have started scheduling events for potential Republican presidential candidates."<ref>[http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2011/04/pdf/koch_brothers_exec_summ.pdf Ibid. (pdf)]</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | Koch Industries is the single largest oil company contributor to both Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress. These contributions total $1,065,750 to the 110th US Congress (as of the third quarter), the largest of which has been to Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) for $42,950. Rep. Tiahrt, for his part, has consistently voted with the oil industry on energy, war and climate bills. [http://www.followtheoilmoney.org]
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| − | | |
| − | Additionally, Koch:
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| − | | |
| − | *Spent $5.74 million in PAC money for candidates, committees, and campaign expenditures since the 2006 election cycle.
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| − | *Contributed at least $270,800 to federal political party committees since the 2006 election cycle.
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| − | *Gave $10,000 to Senator [[Lisa Murkowski]] in 2010,<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00026050&cycle=2010&type=I&newMem=N&recs=100 "Lisa Murkowsji: Top 100 Contributors"] opensecrets.org, accessed August 2010.</ref> who, in January, proposed stripping the [[EPA]] of its ability to regulate greenhouse gases under the [[Clean Air Act]], and lamented that [[BP]]'s [[Deepwater Horizon]] oil disaster has temporarily halted exploratory offshore drilling in the arctic planned by [[Shell Oil]] for summer 2010, a topic that even many conservative opponents of climate action have remained silent on in the face of the unfolding historic despoiling of the gulf.<ref>[http://www.greenrightnow.com/kabc/2010/06/03/senator-lisa-murkowski-drilling-away-at-environmental-protections/ "Senator Lisa Murkowski, drilling away at environmental protections"] ABC7.com, June 3, 2010.</ref><ref name="mayer"/>
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| − | | |
| − | Contributions like this from fossil fuel companies to members of Congress are often seen as a political barrier to pursuing clean energy. More information on oil industry contributions to Congress can be found at [http://www.followtheoilmoney.org FollowtheOilMoney.org], a project created by the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization [http://www.priceofoil.org Oil Change International].
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| − | | |
| − | ==Other Political Activities==
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| − | | |
| − | ===Links to Union-Busting Efforts in Wisconsin and Nationally (2011-present)===
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| − | In 2011, ''Reuters'' tied the Koch brothers directly to the union-busting effort, reporting that "Charles and David Koch [...] are behind campaign donations of tens of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to Republicans leading the anti-union effort." Writing about the rise of the Tea Party and anti-union efforts in the 2010 election cycle, Brian Doherty, editor of [[Reason Magazine]] (published by a Koch-funded think tank), wrote that "this is all a wave of political belief that the Kochs unquestionably have funded in various ways for years and years."<ref>Andrew Stern, "[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-usa-wisconsin-koch-idUSTRE71P28W20110226 Analysis: Koch brothers a force in anti-union effort]," ''Reuters'', February 26, 2011. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | According to NPR, between 1997 and 2008, [[David Koch|David]] and [[Charles Koch]] collectively gave more than $17 million to groups lobbying against unions.<ref>Peter Overby, "[http://www.npr.org/2011/02/25/134040226/in-wis-union-battle-focus-on-billionaire-brothers Billionaire Brothers In Spotlight In Wis. Union Battle]," NPR, February 25, 2011. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref> The ''New York Times'' has reported that the Kochs have been one of Wisconsin Governor [[Scott Walker|Scott Walker's]] largest corporate supporters.<ref>Eric Lipton, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/us/22koch.html?_r=1 Billionaire Brothers’ Money Plays Role in Wisconsin Dispute]," ''New York Times'', February 21, 2011. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ===Post-''Citizens United'', Telling Employees How to Vote (2010)===
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| − | According to ''The Nation'', "on the eve of the November [2010] midterm elections, Koch Industries sent an urgent letter to most of its 50,000 employees advising them on whom to vote for and warning them about the dire consequences to their families, their jobs and their country should they choose to vote otherwise." <ref name= "Nation April 2011">Mark Ames and Mike Elk [http://www.thenation.com/article/160062/big-brothers-thought-control-koch Big Brothers: Thought Control at Koch], ''The Nation'', April 20, 2011</ref> ''The Nation'' reported that it had obtained a copy of the election packet for Washington State, "which included a cover letter from its president and COO, David Robertson; a list of Koch-endorsed state and federal candidates; and an issue of the company newsletter, Discovery, full of alarmist right-wing propaganda."<ref name="Nation April 2011"/>
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| − | | |
| − | Marquette University law professor Paul M. Secunda, who has written on political coercion in the workplace, said that after the Supreme Court's [[Citizens United]] decision, "companies like Koch Industries are free to send out newsletters persuading their employees how to vote. They can even intimidate their employees into voting for their candidates."<ref name="Nation April 2011"/>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Koch Network Strategy Retreats (2006-present)===
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| − | ''See also [[Koch network]].''
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| − | | |
| − | The Kochs organize "the funding of the conservative infrastructure of front groups, political campaigns, think tanks, media outlets and other anti-government efforts through a twice annual meeting of wealthy right-wing donors" which is supported by Koch Industries.<ref>Lee Fang, "[http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/10/20/124642/beck-koch-chamber-meeting/ MEMO: Health Insurance, Banking, Oil Industries Met With Koch, Chamber, Glenn Beck To Plot 2010 Election]," ''ThinkProgress'', October 20, 2010. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref> Charles Koch described the goal of the meetings in a 2010 invitation as to "develop strategies to counter the most severe threats facing our free society and outline a vision of how we can foster a renewal of American free enterprise and prosperity."<ref name=kz>Kate Zernike, [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/us/politics/20koch.html?_r=2&ref=politics&pagewanted=all "Secretive Republican Donors Are Planning Ahead"], ''New York Times'', Oct. 19, 2010. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref> A full list of known attendees, donors, participating organizations, and retreat dates is available on the [[Koch network]] page.
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| − | ===Lobbying and Ties to Bush Administration (2000-2008)===
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| − | | |
| − | Koch Industries had multiple personnel ties to the [[George W. Bush]] administration.
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| − | [[Alex Beehler]], assistant deputy under secretary of defense for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, was previously Koch Industries' director of environmental and regulatory affairs and concurrently served at the [[Charles G. Koch Foundation]] as vice president for environmental projects. <ref>Bob Williams, Kevin Bogardus [http://www.public-i.org/oil/report.aspx?aid=347 Koch's Low Profile Belies Political Power: Private oil company does both business and politics with the shades drawn], [[Center for Public Integrity]], reposted March 31, 2006</ref> Beehler was later nominated and re-nominated by the Bush White House, to become the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]]'s Inspector General. <ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-enviro1apr01,1,1826157.story Environment News], [[Los Angeles Times]] </ref>
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| − | | |
| − | In February 2005, the ''Hill'' reported, "Top White House official [[Matt Schlapp]] is joining the Washington office of oil-and-gas conglomerate Koch Industries, the latest example of high-level administration and congressional staffers making post-election leaps to the lobbying world." Schlapp had headed the White House’s Office of Political Affairs. At Koch, Schlapp will be the executive director of federal affairs, directing Washington lobbying. [http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/020105_bushaide.html]
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| − | | |
| − | [[Elizabeth Stolpe]], previously in-house lobbyist for Koch Industries, became Associate Director For Toxics & Environmental Protection at the White House [[Council on Environmental Quality]].
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| − | ==2011 Whistleblower Allegations of Lawbreaking==
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| − | | |
| − | On September 22, 2011, business media outlet ''Bloomberg'' released an extensive report detailing the results of an investigation it had conducted into allegations by several former Koch employees turned whistle-blower. One whistle-blower detailed her termination after her compliance check had discovered a number of bribery payments made in order to secure contracts in six countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Reporters also discovered that Koch companies had traded with Iran through foreign-held subsidiaries, possibly violating US law. Other sources within the article detailed a culture of poor ethics and allegations of outright theft.<ref name="flout law">Asjylyn Loder and David Evans, "[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-02/koch-brothers-flout-law-getting-richer-with-secret-iran-sales.html Koch Brothers Flout Law Getting Richer With Secret Iran Sales]," ''Bloomberg'', October 3 2011. Accessed July 3, 2014.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Bribery of Foreign Officials===
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| − | | |
| − | In 2008, an internal investigation found numerous instances of bribery to foreign officials to secure contracts by Koch Industries subsidiary Koch-Glitsch. One incident which came under investigation was the payment of an unusually high premium to a sales agent who admitted in a French court that the payment had been passed on to someone representing a partially state-owned Egyptian company in order to secure a contract there.
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| − | | |
| − | The company attempted to blame the sales agent and terminated him with a six page letter detailing the company's illicit payments to interests in Algeria, Egypt, India, Morocco, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia and placing blame for them on the sales agent. However, the court found that "[the sales agent] was not giving authorizations" for the payments, instead indicating that Charles Ender, a major Koch executive and president of Koch-Glitsch for Europe and Asian operations at the time, was responsible.<ref name="flout law"/>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Firing of Compliance Officer===
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| − | Meanwhile, the compliance offer initially assigned to the investigation was removed from the inquiry almost immediately and fired a short time later. After a seven week hospitalization in 2009, saying that she failed to share documents within the company and didn't have the skills she'd claimed on her resume, she was terminated.
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| − | | |
| − | The compliance officer argued that she her termination was retaliation for uncovering the illegal payments.<ref name="flout law"/>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Trading with Iran===
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| − | Bloomberg also found that Koch companies had traded and worked extensively with Iran over a ten year period. Notable Koch-Iranian collaborations include the construction of the world's largest methanol plant for the National Iranian Petrochemical Company at the city of Bandar Assaluyeh. The plant is being used to tap into Iran's extensive natural gas resources.
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| − | | |
| − | A purchase order for refining equipment at the plant was sent the day after President George W. Bush outlined the concept of an "axis of evil" in his 2003 State of the Union address, where he articulated his view that Iran was a direct threat to the United States and specifically advocated for economic sanctions that Koch companies may have been violating. “Every single chance they had to do business with Iran, or anyone else, they did,” said one whistle blower of Koch Chemicals' dealings with Iran.<ref name="flout law"/>
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| − | ==Legal Complaints Against Koch Industries==
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| − | | |
| − | ===Violating Federal Price Controls During Oil Crisis (1973-1981)===
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| − | The ''Wichita Eagle'' reported in 1998 that during the 1970s oil crisis, "from 1973 until 1981, the Department of Energy was continually auditing Koch—as well as many other oil companies—to check for violations of federal price controls. At one point a Koch accountant prepared a document suggesting that, in a worst-case scenario, the company could be liable for up to $1 billion in refunds and penalties. But just before the price controls were abolished in 1981, Koch was required to pay $14 million in refunds, one of the smallest payments ordered by the government."<ref name="cox testimony">Bob Cox, "Testimony Recounts Events Leading to Bill Koch's Firing, Charles Koch Testifies that His Brother's Actions Threatened the Company," ''Wichita Eagle'', p. 11A, May 30, 1998.</ref>
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| − | ===Fine for Overcharging on Propane (1975)===
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| − | The ''New York Times'' reported that "[i]n 1975, a Koch subsidiary was cited for $10 million in overcharges on propane gas."<ref>Nicholas Confessore, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/us/politics/quixotic-80-campaign-gave-birth-to-kochs-powerful-network.html?hp Quixotic ’80 Campaign Gave Birth to Kochs’ Powerful Network], ''New York Times'', May 17, 2014. Accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ===Indictment for Conspiring to Rig Oil and Gas Lease Lottery (1980)===
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| − | According to the ''Wichita Eagle'', the Justice Department under the Carter Administration indicted a Koch subsidiary in June 1980, charging Koch's oil exploration subsidiary for conspiring to rig a lottery for leases to drill for oil and gas on public lands. In the end, three employees were fined and the company "pleaded guilty to a criminal indictment."<ref name="cox testimony"/>
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| − | ===EPA Suit for Dumping Waste into Mississippi River===
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| − | In 1988, the EPA filed a suit against a Koch refinery in Minnesota with the US District Court in Minneapolis. The suit, which sought up to $25 million in penalties, "accused the refinery of dumping excessive quantities of toxic wastes into the Mississippi River," according to ''The Inquirer'' (Philadelphia).<ref>Donald L. Bartlett and James B. Steele, "[ http://articles.philly.com/1988-09-25/news/26231786_1_excise-tax-refund-ltv The Tax Break Sweepstakes: Who Wins Round 2?]," ''The Inquirer'' (Philadelphia), September 25, 1988. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ===Underpaying Indian Lease-Holders for Oil (1989-1999)===
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| − | A suit filed by William Koch and William Presley in 1989 "alleged that Koch Industries intentionally misrepresented how much oil it was taking from sites in 16 states on more than 25,000 occasions," according to the ''New York Post''.<ref name="post">Jesse Angelo, "[http://nypost.com/1999/12/27/oh-brother-feud-could-cost-250m/ Oh, Brother! Feud Could Cost $250M]," ''New York Post'', December 27, 1999. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref> In 1989, the Senate began an "investigation into allegations that the company had been stealing oil from Indians in Oklahoma," according to the ''New York Times''.<ref name="wraps off">Leslie Wayne, "[ http://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/20/business/pulling-the-wraps-off-koch-industries.html?pagewanted=all Pulling the Wraps Off Koch Industries]," ''New York Times'', November 20, 1994. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref> ''Bloomberg'' wrote that the Senate subcommittee sent investigators to observe oil sales in Oklahoma, where they "caught Koch Oil’s employees falsifying records so that the company would get more crude than it paid for, shortchanging Indian families, [FBI agent Richard] Elroy said. Koch’s records showed that the company took 1.95 million barrels of oil it didn’t pay for from 1986 to 1988, according to data compiled by the Senate." Court testimony details one Koch employee who testified under oath that he was taught to steal and cheat in business dealings, using techniques he was taught by superiors, who referred to them as the "Koch Method."<ref name="flout law"/>
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| − | | |
| − | In the run-up to the trial in May 1999, "federal Judge Sam Joyner fined Koch Industries $200,000 for destroying computer records related to the case," the ''New York Post'' reported. In December 1999, a federal jury in Oklahoma reached a guilty verdict, finding that Koch Industries had "ripped off the federal government and Indian lease-holders to the tune of $600,000," according to the ''Post''. The company faced potential fines of up to $250 million,</ref name="post"/> but settled the case for $25 million in 2001.<ref>Ed Duggan, "[http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2001/06/04/story6.html?page=all Koch whistle-blower case settled for $25 million]," ''South Florida Business Journal'', June 4, 2001. Accessed July 2, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ===Guilty of Negligence in Waste Dumping (1996-1997)===
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| − | | |
| − | According to ''Newsmax'',
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| − | :"Koch Petroleum Group took full responsibility for mistakes and pled guilty to two negligence misdemeanors relating to problems at its Rosemount refinery in 1996 and 1997. These charges involve delays in the cleanup of a tank leak, part of which later appeared in a wetland adjacent to the Mississippi River, and the manner in which refinery waste water was discharged. Koch agreed to pay $6.9 million in 1998 to settle related issues under a stipulated agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency."<ref>"[ http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/koch-industries-new-yorker/2010/08/26/id/368519/ Koch Industries Responds to New Yorker Claims]," ''Newsmax.com'', August 26, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ===Record Penalties for Oil Spills (1995-2000)===
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| − | | |
| − | The Clinton Administration brought a suit against Koch Industries in 1995 for violations of the Clean Water Act. The Department of Justice and the EPA "went to court to collect $54 million in fines from Koch. The lawsuit accused the company of causing more than 300 oil spills," as reported by the ''Kansas City Star'', and according to the EPA charged "that Koch illegally discharged crude oil and petroleum products in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Alabama."<ref name="epa">US Environmental Protection Agency, "[http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/016bcfb1deb9fecd85256aca005d74df/981d17e5ab07246f8525686500621079 Koch Industries to Pay Record Fine for Oil Spills in Six States]," press release, January 13, 2000. Accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> <ref>Jim Cross, "Koch Employees Put Money on Tiahrt Incumbent's Free-Market Stance Appeals to a Cadre of Company's Managers, Executives," ''Wichita Eagle'', p. 1A, July 28, 1996.</ref> The suit resulted in a settlement, announced January 2000, in which Koch Industries agreed to "pay the largest civil fine ever imposed on a company under any federal environmental law to resolve claims related to more than 300 oil spills from its pipelines and oil facilities in six states," according to a press release by the EPA.<ref name="epa"/>
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| − | ====Other Spills Not Prosecuted====
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| − | | |
| − | Koch has been involved in numerous other spills that have not resulted in fines or litigation, including a 2,100 saltwater spill in North Dakota in 1995<ref>Peter Salter, news brief, ''The Bismark Tribune'', May 5, 1995. Accessed via LexisNexis, July 1, 2014.</ref> and fuel spills from storage tanks near Lake Waubesa in Wisconsin.<ref>''Saint Paul Pioneer Press'', "Diesel Fuel Spills," Metro Section, p. 3B, May 12, 1998. Accessed via LexisNexis, July 1, 2014.</ref>
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| − | ===Leak From Corroded Pipe Kills Two Teens (1996)===
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| − | In 1996, a leak from a corroded butane pipeline led to the death of two teenagers in Texas. According to the ''Topeka Capital-Journal'', "Danielle Smalley and her friend Jason Stone, both 17, were on their way to report a gas leak in the butane pipeline when their truck apparently ignited the fumes, killing them both."<ref name="violations">Associated Press, "[http://cjonline.com/stories/072401/bus_kochviolations.shtml Court records point to violations]," ''Topeka Capital-Journal'', July 24, 2001. Accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> The pipe was managed by Koch Industries subsidiary Koch Pipeline Company. The ''Capital-Journal'' reported that court records showed that "Koch knew about problems with the pipeline that ran through the area but continued to operate it."<ref name="violations"/> According to the ''New Yorker'', "a jury found Koch Industries guilty of negligence and malice in the deaths" in 1999, and Koch "paid an undisclosed settlement" in 2001.<ref name="mayer"/>
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| − | ===Investigation for Unpaid Offshore Drilling Royalties (1998)===
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| − | | |
| − | In 1998, the US Department of Interior came under investigation related to "whether the agency properly collect[ed] the money for oil and gas pumped from public land," as reported by the ''New York Times''.<ref name="big oil">Edmund L. Andrews, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/business/yourmoney/03whistle.html?pagewanted=print Blowing the Whistle on Big Oil]," ''New York Times'', December 3, 2006. Accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> Several oil companies agreed to settlements as a result of the investigation. According to the ''Times'', "Mobil was the first to settle and paid more than $40 million in 1998. Chevron paid $95 million. Shell paid $110 million. By 2002, 15 oil companies had paid a total of almost $440 million."<ref name="big oil"/>
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| − | | |
| − | In February 2006, the Department "admitted that energy companies might escape more than $7 billion in royalty payments over the next five years because of errors in leases signed in the 1990s."<ref name="big oil"/>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Indictment for Benzene Pollution Violating Clean Air Act (2000)===
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| − | | |
| − | The ''New Yorker'' reported that "in the final months of the Clinton Presidency the Justice Department levelled a ninety-seven-count indictment against the company, for covering up the discharge of ninety-one tons of benzene, a carcinogen, from its refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas."<ref name="mayer"/> According to the Department of Justice, Koch Industries, Koch Petroleum Group, and four employees were "charged with violating federal air and hazardous waste laws at Koch Petroleum Group's West Plant refinery near Corpus Christi. The indictment also charges the defendants with conspiracy and making false statements to Texas environmental officials."<ref>US Department of Justice, "[http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2000/September/573enrd.htm Koch Industries Indicted for Environmental Crimes at Refinery], September 28, 2000. Accessed July 2, 2014.</ref> Koch was liable for up to $350 million in fines, with four of its employees facing up to 35 years in prison.
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| − | | |
| − | In 2001, after George W. Bush became President, a plea agreement with a smaller penalty was reached.<ref>Dan Parker and Jeremy Schwartz, "[ http://www.caller2.com/2001/april/10/today/localnew/22769.html Koch agrees to plea, penalty]," ''Corpus Christi Caller-Times'', April 10, 2001. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref> Koch "eventually pleaded guilty to one criminal charge of covering up environmental violations, including the falsification of documents, and paid a twenty-million-dollar fine."<ref name="mayer"/>
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| − | | |
| − | ===$1.7 Million Fine for DuPont Plant Violations (2009)===
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| − | | |
| − | In 2009, Invista (a Koch subsidiary) reached an agreement with the EPA to "pay a $1.7 million civil penalty and spend up to an estimated $500 million to correct self-reported environmental violations discovered at facilities in seven states."<ref name="epa audit"> US Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, "[ http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2009/April/09-enrd-339.html United States Announces Largest Settlement Under Environmental Protection Agency’s Audit Policy]," Press Release, April 13, 2009. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref> At the time, this was the largest ever settlement under the EPA's audit policy, which allows the agency to waive penalties for voluntarily disclosed violations. After Invista acquired 12 facilities from DuPont in 2004, it had "disclosed more than 680 violations of water, air, hazardous waste, emergency planning and preparedness, and pesticide regulations" to the EPA.<ref name="epa audit"/>
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| − | | |
| − | ==Company Background==
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| − | | |
| − | On its website, Koch Industries states that the company is named after [[Fred Koch|Fred C. Koch]], "who developed an improved method of converting heavy oil into gasoline in 1927."<ref>Koch Industries, [http://www.kochminerals.com/about/history.aspx "History Timeline"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref> According to the John Birch Society's ''New American'' publication, Koch "was an early member of the The John Birch Society’s National Council, an advisory group to JBS founder Robert Welch." <ref>Charles Scaliger, "[http://www.thenewamerican.com/history/american/7771-fred-koch-oil-man-against-communism Fred Koch: Oil Man Against Communism]," New American, June 10, 2011.</ref> In one profile on the evolution of the company, published by Koch Industries, he "spent most of 1924 and 1925 in England as an employee of the Medway Oil and Storage Company." Subsequently he became the third partner in Keith-Winkler, a Wichita Kansas engineering firm which had been founded by Lewis Winkler and Dobie Keith. Keith left the firm in approximately 1926 and Winkler and Koch's firm struggled by on "small, low-margin projects." The pair's fortunes changed when Koch developed a thermal cracking process which was sold to "several independent refineries in 1928 and 1929." By 1931 the company was known as the Winkler-Koch Engineering Company. When Winkler and Koch "ended their partnership in 1945," Koch established Koch Engineering Company.<ref>[http://www.kochind.com/files/07-2001Discovery.pdf "Restructure Inc."], Discovery magazine, Koch Industries, July 2001.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | In 1940, Koch co-founded the Wood River Oil & Refining Company, which six years later bought the Rock Island Oil & Refining Company's refinery in southwestern Oklahoma. In 1959 Wood River Oil & Refining Company's name was changed to Rock Island Oil & Refining Company.<ref name="Timeline">Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/timeline.asp "Timeline"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref> In 1967, Charles Koch took over his father's Rock Island Oil and Refinery Company, becoming president and chairman and renaming the company Koch Industries.<ref name="koch cartel"/> Since then, the company's revenues grew from just over $100 million to over $115 billion in 2014. The Koch brothers' fortunes have also grown dramatically in that time, increasing from $375 million each in 1984 to some $17 billion each in 2008--and a staggering $41 billion each in 2014, just a few years after the 2008 economic crisis.
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| − | | |
| − | In 2013, Koch Industries had about 60,000 employees globally and had annual sales of $115 billion in 2013.<ref name="forbes profile"/>
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| − | | |
| − | From its foundation in the 1940's up until the late 1980's Koch Industries business interests were dominated by oil and gas industry operations, along with some ranching and engineering subsidiaries.<ref name="Timeline"/>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Expansion into Commodity Speculation and Derivatives===
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| − | | |
| − | In addition to successful investments and expansion of its resource extraction operations over the years, Koch Industries has engaged in commodity speculation and created new types of derivatives.<ref name="speculation">Lee Fang, "[http://thinkprogress.org/report/koch-oil-speculation/ How Koch Became An Oil Speculation Powerhouse]," ThinkProgress, June 19, 2011. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref> ''The Nation'' has reported that Koch Industries was "among the largest traders (including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley) speculating on the price of oil in the summer of 2008,"<ref>Lee Fang, "[http://www.thenation.com/blog/175387/not-just-goldman-sachs-koch-industries-hoards-commodities-trading-strategy# Not Just Goldman Sachs: Koch Industries Hoards Commodities as a Trading Strategy]," ''The Nation'', July 22, 2013. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref> afterwards also playing a prominent role in lobbying against regulation of the derivatives market, according to ''Bloomberg Businessweek''.<ref name="wall street lobbying">Asjylyn Loder, "[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-04-15/koch-cargill-fight-dodd-derivative-bill-reversing-30-years-of-cftc-policy.html Not Just Wall Street Opposes CFTC Derivatives Overhaul]," ''Bloomberg Businessweek'', April 15, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2014.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Subsidiaries===
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| − | *[[Invista]] polymer company which was acquired from [[DuPont]] and manufactures Lycra fiber and Stainmaster carpet
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| − | *[[Koch Minerals]] which handles bulk commodities
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| − | *[[Koch Carbon]] which trades and transports petroleum coke, coal, cement, pulp and paper, sulfur and other commodities
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| − | *[[Koch Exploration Company]] which acquires, develops and trades petroleum and natural gas properties in the United States, Canada and Brazil<ref>Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/IndustryAreas/minerals.aspx "Minerals"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref>
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| − | *[[Flint Hills Resources]] which operates crude oil refineries in Alaska, Minnesota, and Texas, ethanol plants in Iowa and petrochemical plants in Illinois, Michigan and Texas.<ref name="Refine">Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/IndustryAreas/refining.aspx "Refining and Chemicals"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref><ref>John Aloysius Farrell [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-center-for-public-integrity/newt-gingrich-faces-quest_b_853133.html Newt Gingrich faces questions about consulting job and support for biofuels], ''Huffington Post'', April 25, 2011</ref>
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| − | *[[Koch Pipeline Company]] owns and operates approximately 4,000 miles of pipelines used to transport crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas liquids and chemicals
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| − | *[[Koch Alaska Pipeline Company]] owns an approximate 3 percent interest in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System
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| − | *28% interest in the [[Colonial Pipeline Company]] which it describes as the "owner and operator of the world’s largest-volume refined products pipeline."<ref name="Refine"/>
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| − | *[[Koch Supply & Trading]] companies "provide risk management services in crude oil; refined petroleum products; natural gas and gas liquids; gas, power and emissions; industrial metals; and other commodities and financial instruments. It also "operates an 80,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands."<ref>Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/IndustryAreas/commodity.aspx "Commodity Trading and Services"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref>
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| − | *[[Koch Fertilizer]] is, according to Koch's website, the world's "third-largest maker of nitrogen fertilizer," and Koch owns or has interests in fertilizer plants in the United States, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago.<ref>Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/IndustryAreas/fertilizers.aspx "Fertilizers"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref>
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| − | *[[Georgia-Pacific]], which has approximately 300 manufacturing facilities across North America, South America and Europe. Georgia-Pacific facilities include pulp, paper and tissue operations, as well as gypsum plants, box plants and building products operations.<ref>Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/IndustryAreas/forestry.aspx "Forest and Consumer Products"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref> Well-known products include Brawny paper towels and AngelSoft toilet paper.<ref name="Fisher"/>
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| − | *Subsidiaries of [[Koch Agriculture Company]] have cattle ranching businesses in Montana, Kansas, Texas, and South America.<ref>Koch Industries, [http://www.kochind.com/IndustryAreas/ranching.aspx "Ranching"], Koch Industries website, accessed April 2011.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ====Mergers & Acquisitions====
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| − | | |
| − | =====Entergy (2001)=====
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| − | In 2001, power company [[Entergy]] formed a partnership with Koch Industries to form Entergy- Koch, LP.<ref>[http://www.entergy.com/about_entergy/history10.aspx "Company History"] Entergy website, accessed July 2011.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | =====Invista (Lycra, Teflon), 2003=====
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| − | In 2003, Koch announced a $4.4 billion cash purchase of [[Invista]], the world's largest fibers company and owner of brand names such as Lycra and Teflon; from [[DuPont]]. <ref>Steve Gelsi [http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dupont-sells-textiles-unit-for-44-billion DuPont sells textiles unit for $4.4 bln: Inventor of polyester sheds business for 'science' focus], Market Watch, November 2003</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | =====Georgia-Pacific (Mills, Paper Products), 2005=====
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| − | In 2005 Koch Industries acquired the American pulp and paper products giant [[Georgia-Pacific]], which now operates as a subsidiary.<ref>[http://www.gp.com/aboutus/companyOverview/index.html Company Overview], Georgia-Pacific Corporation, accessed September, 2009.</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ======Product Brands======
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| − | [[Georgia-Pacific]]'s brands include Quilted Northern, Angel Soft, Brawny, Sparkle, Vanity Fair, and Dixie cups.
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| − | Internationally, its brands include Lotus, Colhogar, Delica, Tenderly, and the Vania brand of personal care products.
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| − | | |
| − | ======Lumber Mills======
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| − | | |
| − | [[Georgia-Pacific]] owns and operates the following mills:
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| − | | |
| − | * Naheola mill in Pennington, Alabama, which began operations in 1958. Currently, the principle products from the Naheola mill include both plate stock and cup stock for use in the food service market.
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| − | * The Crossett mill, located in Crossett, Arkansas, produces bleached paperboard grades, including folding carton, plate stock, bleached linerboard, and various cup stock grades.
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| − | * The recently acquired Brewton mill, located in Brewton, Alabama, produces folding carton, blister packaging, and skin packaging grades.
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| − | * [[Fort James Muskogee Mill Power Plant]] is a coal-fired power station in Muskogee, Oklahoma that provides power to Georgia-Pacific's Muskogee paper mill. <ref>[http://www.gp.com/bleachedboard/facilities.html "Mill Facilities"] Georgia-Pacific, September 2009</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ==Koch Brothers' Fortune Grows as Koch Employment Declines==
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| − | | |
| − | [[File:Koch Net Worth vs Unemployment.jpeg|350px|left]] On Thursday, September 22nd, ''MSNBC'''s Rachel Maddow commented on the publication of the 2011 ''Forbes'' 400 and the growth of the [[Koch brothers]]' fortune, noting that, rather than being "job creators," as their fortune has risen since 2007, the number of people employed by Koch Industries has fallen. She showed the following chart:
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| − | | |
| − | The "Rachel Maddow Show" associate Will Fernia summarized the source of this information as follows:
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| − | | |
| − | :The net worth of the Koch "job creators" comes from the [http://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-koch/ individual profiles] of the Forbes 400 list, with the worth of each brother added together. We took just the October number for each year.
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| − | | |
| − | :The employee number comes for different souces depending on the year but basically the source is Koch Industries itself. In their [http://www.kochind.com/factsSheets/KochFacts.aspx current company description] they say, "With a presence in nearly 60 countries and about 67,000 employees..." So that's where the 67,000 number comes from for 2011 on the chart. But the 2007 number comes from [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/21/biz_privates07_Koch-Industries_VMZQ.html this 2007 Forbes profile of Koch Industries] in which they are ascribed 80,000 employees.<ref>Will Fernia, [http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/23/7927178-the-koch-brothers-graph The Koch brothers graph], ''The Maddow Blog'', ''MSNBC" show blog, September 23, 2011</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ==Contact==
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| − | | |
| − | ===Wichita, KS===
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| − | 4111 E. 37th St. North<br>
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| − | Wichita, KS 67220-3203<br>
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| − | Phone: 316-828-5500<br>
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| − | Fax: 316-828-5739<br>
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| − | Web address: http://www.kochind.com
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| − | | |
| − | ===Washington, DC===
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| − | 600 14th St. NW<br>
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| − | Washington, DC<ref>{{cite web
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| − | |publisher=CoStar Group
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| − | |title=Koch Industries Leases 23,000 SF in East End
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| − | |url=http://www.costar.com/News/Article/Koch-Industries-Leases-23000-SF-in-East-End/108630?ref=1&src=rss
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| − | |accessdate=2011-04-06
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| − | |quote=Koch Industries Inc., the energy and commodities conglomerate, leased 22,972 square feet of office space at 600 14th St. NW in Washington, DC. It signed a 10-year deal on the eighth floor, with occupancy scheduled for June 2009.
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| − | }}</ref>
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| − | | |
| − | ==Articles and resources==
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| − | | |
| − | ===Related SourceWatch articles===
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| − | * [[Americans for Responsible Leadership]]
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| − | * [[Cato Institute]]
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| − | * [[Center to Protect Patient Rights]]
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| − | * [[Charles G. Koch]]
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| − | * [[Climate change skeptics]]
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| − | * [[Corbin Robertson]]
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| − | * [[David H. Koch]]
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| − | * [[Invista]]
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| − | * [[Invista Seaford Power Plant]]
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| − | * [[Invista Waynesboro Power Plant]]
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| − | * [[Koch Family Foundations]]
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| − | * [[Koch Network]]
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| − | * [[Koch Event 2010-06 Attendees]]
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| − | * [[Meat & Dairy industry]]
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| − | * [[Oil industry]]
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| − | * [[Natural Resource Partners]]
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| − | * [[Plants Need CO2]]
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| − | * [[Tea Party movement funding]]
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| − | * [[Vernon L. Smith]]
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| − | * [[Kyle Vann]]
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| − | * [[Sean Noble]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===External resources===
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000186 "Koch Industries"], Open Secrets, accessed April 2011.
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2010 "Koch Industries: Totals"], Open Secrets, accessed April 2011.
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2010 "Koch Industries: Recipients"], Open Secrets, accessed April 2011.
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/congcmtes.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2010 "Koch Industries: Congressional Committees: 2010"], Open Secrets, accessed April 2011.
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/lobby.php?id=D000000186 "Koch Industries: Lobbying"], Open Secrets, accessed April 2011.
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/topindivs.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2010 "Koch Industries: Individual Contributors"], Open Secrets, accessed April 2011.
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/otherdata.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2010 "Koch Industries: Other Data"], Open Secrets, accessed April 2011.
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| − | * Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/usearch/index.php?q=Koch+Industries&searchButt.x=0&searchButt.y=0&searchButt=Submit&cx=010677907462955562473%3Anlldkv0jvam&cof=FORID%3A11#713 "Koch Industries"], accessed April 2011. (This is a listing of the search results of the Open Secreets database for the company).
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| − | * [http://inspirationgreen.com/koch-brothers-products.html "Koch Brothers' Products,"] List of Koch Industries Products.
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| − | | |
| − | === External articles ===
| |
| − | * Robert Parry, [http://www.mediatransparency.org/reprints/bobdolekoch.htm D(OIL)E: What Wouldn't Bob Do For Koch Oil?], [[The Nation]], August 26, 1996.
| |
| − | * Robert Parry, [http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=33A6AF61.7CF0%40worldnet.att.net Petrodollar Scholars] (sidebar to the above), ''The Nation'', August 26, 1996.
| |
| − | * Curtis Moore, [http://notes.sej.org/sej/sejourna.nsf/0/b8a9ce93885e63b586256d1f00037264/$FILE/sej_fa00.pdf Money talks, but often hides its sources] ''Journal of the Society of Environmental Journalists,'' Vol. 10 No. 3, Fall 2000.
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| − | * Chris Graham, [http://augustafreepress.weblogger.com/stories/storyReader$15961 Invista, Koch announce leadership changes], ''Augusta Free Press'', 24 November, 2003.
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| − | * Jeremy Grant, [http://www.kochind.com/upload/documents/FT1-30Empire.pdf The private empire of Koch Industries] (interview), ''Financial Times'', January 30, 2004.
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| − | * [http://www.mediawhoresonline.com/koch.htm Koch Industries and the Pollution of the Bush White House], ''Media Whores Online'', accessed April 2004.
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| − | * Curtis Moore, [http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200207/thinktank.asp Rethinking the Think Tanks], [[Sierra Club]], accessed April 2004.
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| − | * Bob Williams and Kevin Bogardus, [http://www.public-i.org/oil/report.aspx?aid=347 Koch's Low Profile Belies Political Power], [[The Center for Public Integrity]], July 15, 2004.
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| − | * Josephine Hearn, "[http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/020105_bushaide.html Bush aide leaving to join Koch Industries]," The Hill, February 1, 2005.
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| − | * Loren Steffy, "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/4096334.html Another BP question surfaces]", ''Houston Chronicle'', August 5, 2006. (This story reports on a lawsuit by Koch Industries over damaged underground pipes at a plant it bought from BP.)
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| − | * Judy Pasternak, "[http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-enviro1apr01,1,1826157.story Bush again pushes 3 nominees seen as pro-industry]: The president could skirt the Senate by using recess appointments," [[Los Angeles Times]], April 1, 2007.
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| − | * Michael Ash and James K. Boyce, "[http://www.truthout.org/meet-toxic-100-corporate-air-polluters58223 Meet the Toxic 100 Corporate Air Polluters]," [[Political Economy Research Institute]], ''Truthout'', March 31, 2010.
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| − | * [http://earth2tech.com/2010/08/23/how-koch-industries-has-supported-climate-change-denial/ How Koch Industries Has Supported Climate Change Denial] By Katie Fehrenbacher, Aug. 23, 2010.
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| − | * Steven Rosenfeld, [http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/public-interest-activists-wins-million-dollar-fine-against-koch-brothers?paging=off "How One Guy Stood Up to the Koch Brothers and Won!"], ''Alternet'', October 25, 2013.
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| − | * Andy Kroll, [http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/10/california-koch-brothers-network-settlement-15-million-dark-money "California Watchdog: 'Koch Brothers Network' Behind $15 Million Dark-Money Donations"], ''Mother Jones'', October 25, 2013.
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| − | | |
| − | ===References===
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| − | {{reflist|2}}
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| − | | |
| − | [[Category:Koch Connection]][[Category: Corporations]][[Category:Oil industry]][[Category:United States]][[Category: Environment]] [[Category: Animal commerce]] [[Category: Miscellaneous coal plant operators in the United States]] [[Category: Tea Party Movement]][[Category:ALEC Exposed]][[Category:ALEC Corporations]]
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