Real Koch Facts

Kochs Engaged In “Coercive Employer Political Motivation”

May 5, 2016

The Koch Brothers’ attempts to influence the political process through freewheeling spending on elections at all levels is well documented, but another tactic employed by the brothers has been largely overlooked. The UCLA Law Review has published an article “Citizens Coerced: A Legislative Fix for Workplace Political Intimidation Post-Citizens United” detailing the political coercion of employees by businesses. Unsurprisingly, Koch-owned Georgia Pacific is prominently featured in the piece.

The article references a letter sent to all 45,000 Georgia-Pacific employees ahead of the 2012 presidential election. The cover letter, authored by Koch Industries President and COO Dave Robertson, carried a clear message–vote for Koch-candidates, or economic ills will befall you:

While we are typically told before each Presidential election that it is important and historic, I believe the upcoming election will determine what kind of America future generations will inherit. . . . If we elect candidates who want to spend hundreds […]

Will Koch Industries Apologize for Its Role in Fueling the Third Reich?

May 5, 2016

Will either Charles or David Koch light a candle today to honor those who perished in the Holocaust as millions around the world commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day?

Unlikely. They’ll ignore the memorial day as they have tried to conceal their father’s role in providing oil and gas to Nazi Germany.

In the lead up to World War II, Fred Koch was doing anything to break into the “Big Oil” game with his start-up, what would later become Koch Industries. It’s been reported that Fred Koch built an oil refinery in Hamburg, Germany for Hitler.

But it’s never been revealed that after American companies began pulling back exports to Nazi Germany, Fred Koch continued to supply Nazi Germany by working with and providing the refining equipment and technology to a Mexican refinery.

This deal that Fred Koch’s business partner, W.R. Davis, cut with Mexico was contingent on Koch’s involvement. Without Koch on board, Hitler would […]

Koch Veterans Group Targets Koch-Hated Earned Benefits As “National Security Threat”

May 2, 2016

Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), the Koch brothers’ veterans advocacy front group, just launched a new campaign to “Target the Debt,” which breathlessly frames the national debt as a “very real national security threat.” CVA has always put the Kochs’ interests first, but this time its transparent shilling of the Koch agenda is palpable because the alleged pro-veterans group that works against veterans’ interests’ plan to “target the debt” centers around the longtime Koch obsession of slashing Medicare and Social Security.

The Kochs have for years — specifically since 1980, when David Koch was the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate — sought to cut the programs that millions of American seniors count on. Just last month, Koch “seniors” group 60 Plus Association endorsed a Republican Senate budget that would cut $430 billion from Medicare. And the Kochs’ Americans for Prosperity has for years been a leading advocate of Paul Ryan’s budgets […]

Koch Money To Arizona Universities Comes Without Conditions, Except For All The Conditions

May 2, 2016

The Koch brothers’ ongoing mission to transform public universities into propaganda centers for their “free enterprise” ideology is getting a boost from Arizona GOP lawmakers. Arizona Republicans are proposing spending $5 million of taxpayer money to supplement the millions the Kochs have spent to establish programs which reflect their views at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona.

The Kochs have a long history of using their fortune to influence higher education programs. While claiming that their grants come without conditions, John Hardin, director of university relations for the Charles Koch Foundation, clarified that the programs receiving funding are expected to, “pursue questions about freedom and prosperity.”

The Kochs’ spending at state universities is not altruistic. As pointed out by David N. Gibbs, professor of history at University of Arizona, “The question would be, ‘Why would they be funding it unless they want some sort of ideological payoff?‘” The […]

Kochs Put $2 Million in For Ron Johnson Today

May 2, 2016

It’s not any real surprise that the Kochs’ Freedom Partners announce today they’re spending roughly $2 million in attack ads to help out their “model legislator,” Ron Johnson. Johnson has been a faithful foot soldier for the Koch agenda, with a lifetime score of 90% from Americans for Prosperity.

Climate Change: “The science is far from settled.” [Read: Climate Change Denier]
Veterans’ Health: “Give vets more choice to access private health care.” [Read: Privatize the VA]
Women’s Reproductive Health: 100% with National Right to Life [Read: Zero % with Planned Parenthood]
Minimum Wage: Voted two times to oppose. “It’s more like Russian roulette for the working poor” [Read: no, not ever, never]

It’s only the beginning of Kochs’ money in this Wisconsin race. But how much will they spend to protect and hold on to their “model legislator”?

Sen. Ron Johnson, “Kochs’ Model Legislator”

RON JOHNSON CREDITED AFP WITH HIS DECISION TO RUN FOR SENATE

New York Times Political Correspondent Nicholas Confessore: Sen. […]

New Report: “¿Cómo se Dice ‘Koch Brothers Front Group’? ANSWER: LIBRE Initiative” by LVP & Bridge Project

April 29, 2016

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2016

Pili Tobar | pili.tobar@latinovictory.us
Dawn Le | dle@americanbridge.org

Latino Victory Project and Bridge Project
Release Report
“¿Cómo se Dice ‘Koch Brothers Front Group’?
ANSWER: LIBRE Initiative”
New Report Reveals How The Kochs Mislead Latinos to Pad Their Bottom LineWashington, DC – Today, Latino Victory Project and Bridge Project released the report “¿Cómo se Dice Koch Brothers Front Group? ANSWER:LIBRE Initiative.” The report gives an overview of the billionaires’ “Latino” organization, and their deceiving tactics to rally Latinos to advance the Koch brothers’ financial interests–at the expense of Latino families and communities.

“We know the Koch brothers are no friends of the Latino community. Our families won’t be fooled by LIBRE Initiative’s tactics,” said Pili Tobar, Communications Director of Latino Victory Project. “They’re giving away free turkeys and offering English classes–and that’s nice–but it’s not going to convince any Latino voters to change their votes for politicians who want to line the […]

Kochs Called Out Over $$ Behind GMU’s Antonin Scalia Law School Renaming

April 29, 2016

It’s no secret that the Kochs have sought to use “philanthropic donations” to influence curriculae and advance their self-enriching agenda at institutions of higher learning. More than anywhere else, the Kochs have sought to impose their will on George Mason University, where the two brothers’ money was behind the university’s decision to rename its law school the Antonin Scalia Law School.

Over the years, the Kochs have bought $134 million worth of influence at George Mason. And the Charles Koch Foundation just recently donated $10 million as part of the $30 million gift that influenced the school to rename the law school.

George Mason University faculty members are less than pleased about the influence that the Kochs wield at the institution. Just yesterday, BuzzFeed News reports, the faculty senate voted to re-open the naming process, as its members — as well as dozens of students — are reportedly unhappy with the law school […]

Charles Koch Doubles Down As Climate Denier in Pt 2 of ABC News Interview w/ Jon Karl

April 29, 2016

Charles Koch calls himself a “man of science” during Part 2 of his interview with Jon Karl on the ABC News Powerhouse podcast. When pressed if he believes in climate change, his response:

“Is the climate changing due to CO2 in a way that is catastrophic and unmanageable, or is it changing in a mild and manageable way? I believe the evidence is overwhelming that it’s changing in a mild and manageable way.”

Not too surprising since the Kochs have long opposed anything that helps to fight back the effects of climate change. The Kochs are staunch opponents of solar power and are deeply involved in the fossil fuel industry’s war on efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Being the hypocrites they are, Charles and David Koch are all for “letting the free market pick the winners and losers,” but more than happy to lobby for stricter regulations on their competitors. They

To Protect Profits, Kochs Push Cuts To Environmental Infrastructure Funding

April 28, 2016

A number of Koch groups just rallied behind a now-failed amendment from Arizona Senator Jeff Flake that would have “cut almost $69 million in funding from Corps of Engineers projects, such as building environmental restoration projects and dredging rivers and harbors.”

Flake touted that the amendment had the backing of a number of (unsurprisingly, right-wing) groups, including the Koch-linked or backed 60 Plus Association, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Competitive Enterprise Institute, FreedomWorks, National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

Here’s why the Kochs are so interested in stifling environmental infrastructure spending: they’re opposed to just about anything that will help to combat the effects of climate change. The Kochs have been staunch opponents of solar power and they’ve also been deeply involved in the fossil fuel industry’s war on efforts to limit greenhouse […]

Paul Ryan Sides With Kochs Over 3.5 Million Puerto Ricans

April 28, 2016

Puerto Ricans thought they could count on Speaker Paul Ryan to help restructure the island’s debt crisis since he committed to a self-imposed March 31, 2016 deadline to produce a plan. But it looks like Ryan was deterred from his mark.

Could it be the recent influx of $600,000 from Charles and Elizabeth Koch to the Speaker’s “Team Ryan” leadership PAC that swayed Ryan’s resolve to help Puerto Ricans avoid an economic collapse, choosing instead to protect the pocketbooks of billionaire bondholders?

As the clock ticks down to the next payment deadline on Monday, May 2, Puerto Rico is likely to default on its $422 million debt payment installment. Paul Ryan appears to be fine letting that happen, which would lead to more school closures and public services cut.

Check out Bridge Project’s recent report, “The Kochs’ Wealth vs The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico” that gives an overview of the Koch network’s role in the […]