Formerly Koch-backed Heartland Institute says anti-pipeline activists ‘misunderstand markets’

A legislative specialist with the Chicago-based Heartland Institute says activists protesting the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf Coast of Texas may be sincere in their intentions but have “a clear misunderstanding of the functioning of markets.”

“If the Keystone XL Project is not completed, expedited More…

ALEC model legislation echoes TPPF, Perry-backed higher ed reforms in Texas

Recently released documents exposing the inner workings of an influential corporate and state lawmaker collaboration called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), show that model legislation pushed by the group mirrors some of the controversial priorities that are driving the higher education debate in Texas today. A leading figure pushing More…

St. Petersburg Times: obtained e-mails reveal a lot about Koch donations to state university

Though the paper came under fire by FSU’s President last week for allegedly “misconstruing the facts,” the St. Petersburg Times is continuing its investigation into a controversial relationship between billionaire Charles Koch and the public university. In an article published on Saturday, the Times‘ Kris Hundley says that some More…

New reports show billionaire Koch brothers have hand in Florida State University hiring

Recent reports by the St. Petersburg Times and the Tallahassee Democrat reveal that the billionaire Koch brothers have very close ties to Florida’s public university system. A foundation funded by Charles Koch, CEO of the regulation-fighting Koch Industries, is responsible for filling staff positions at Florida State University, which many More…

Environmental group decries report on Georgia-Pacific wastewater pipeline

The controversial pipeline that would reroute a Georgia-Pacific paper mill’s waste into the larger St. Johns River has long confounded environmentalists in the area. Now, a noted engineer says the pipeline wouldn’t just harm the river, but it may even potentially hurt Georgia-Pacific’s bottom line.

Moving pollution from one point More…

Tea party organizations rally for fight against Colorado unions

Tea Party and Koch-funded libertarian organizations took to the Capitol steps Friday in an attempt to call on Colorado legislators and politicians to fight against union rights in Wisconsin and voice their commitment to Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan.

Tea Party rally in Denver hosts anti-tax minded individuals.

More…

On verge of water-quality test, Georgia-Pacific refutes environmental groups’ pollution claims

Paper manufacturer Georgia-Pacific is pushing back against claims made by protectors of the Ouachita River along the Arkansas-Louisiana state line that have cried foul over what they contend are unlawful amounts of wastewater coming from the company’s plant into a tributary of the river. The back-and-forth comes on the verge More…

VIDEO: Arkansas riverkeeper alleges Koch Industries wastewater violations

Updated, Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. EST

As Georgia-Pacific continues to fight environmental groups and the state Department of Environmental Protection over the waste that it dumps into Florida’s rivers and streams, the paper company may be headed for similarly-heated battles elsewhere.

EPA administrator says federal nutrient criteria is a ‘myth’

In testimony given late last week, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said that false accusations about her agency’s numeric nutrient criteria to govern Florida waterways are proving to be a detriment to their implementation. #

Testifying before the House Agriculture Committee, Jackson said More…

Has Koch Industries’ investment in Marco Rubio paid off?

On Friday, The American Independent reported that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) received more Koch Industries money than any other candidate for U.S. Senate in the 2010 election, and many of his other major contributors have personal and professional ties to the Koch brothers as well. So how have Rubio’s More…