The Koch network has set its sights on opposing any extension of renewable energy tax credits in the FAA re-authorization bill. It’s not surprising to anyone, given affordable clean energy competes with Koch Industries’ key holdings in oil, shale development, and hydraulic fracturing technologies. But what is surprising is how the Kochs have called in the cavalry to stop this amendment.
Americans For Prosperity has been especially active in their opposition, “strongly leaning” toward issuing a “Key Vote Alert” in an attempt to coerce subservient House Republicans into voting against the must-pass FAA legislation. AFP has also taken to social media to flippantly dismiss incentives for clean energy.
In addition to AFP, other Koch groups with no discernible interest in energy policy, such as Concerned Veterans for America, 60 Plus Association, and The LIBRE Initiative, all signed onto the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s letter calling on the Senate Finance Committee to kill tax relief encouraging the development of renewable energy.
The following groups, while providing a prima facie impression of diversity, all have a significant commonality: they’ve received substantial financial contributions from the Koch network.
- Brent Gardner, Americans For Prosperity
- Amy Noone Frederick, 60 Plus Association
- Dan Caldwell, Concerned Veterans for America
- Daniel Garza, The LIBRE Initiative
- Phil Kerpen, American Commitment
- Dan Schneider, American Conservative Union
- George D. Banks, American Council for Capital Formation
- Sean Noble, American Encore
- Tom Pyle, American Energy Alliance
- Coley Jackson, Americans for Competitive Enterpirse (CEI)
- Richard Manning, Americans for Limited Government
- Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform
- Myron Ebell, Competitive Enterprise Institute
- Tom Schatz, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
- Dick Ribbentrop, Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce
- Andrew Clark, Generation Opportunity
- Michael A. Needham, Heritage Action for America
- Andrew Langer, Institute for Liberty
- Harry C. Alford, National Black Chamber of Commerce
- Amy Ridenour, National Center for Public Policy Research
- Pete Sepp, National Taxpayers Union
- David Williams, Taxpayers Protection Alliance
- Brooke Rollins, Texas Public Policy Foundation
NOTE: Last week, Koch Industries’ Director of Environmental, Health and Safety Sheryl Corrigan acknowledged that global warming is man-made. But it hasn’t changed their business practices because that would halt the Kochs’ insatiable drive for profit.