The Kochs Fight Against Working Families in Missouri
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((FFRRcc?? THE KOC))HS FIGHFFT AGAI??NST WORKING FAMIRLRIES INPP MISS?O?URIee 1 "SHOW ME" THE MONEY! THE KOCHS FIGHT AGAINST WORKING FAMILIES IN MISSOURI In America’s “Show Me State,” the Koch brothers have once again shown us their transparent, self-interested agenda to serve their bottom line. With at least six companies and thirteen subsidiaries active in Missouri, including their longest pipeline, the Kochs have a personal financial interest in the state. To protect these interests, the Kochs have mobilized their flagship astroturf advocacy group, Americans for Prosperity, working in conjunction with the Koch-funded State Policy Network group, the Show-Me Institute, and ALEC to influence both electoral and policy outcomes for their financial gain. The Koch brothers’ Missouri meddling continuously prioritizes their corporate greed at the expense of the state’s workers, families, students, as well as the environment. Perhaps the best example of the Koch’s self-interested efforts is their campaign for right-to-work-for-less legislation. Americans for Prosperity proudly led a coalition of fifty-five organizations and organized a six figure media and ground effort to push Missouri legislators to weaken unions and collective bargaining. AFP attempted to deceive voters on the intentions of their efforts, as they promised this legislation was not “anti-union.” However, Missouri state representative and ALEC member Bill Lant, revealed the Kochs’ self-interest behind the campaign when he championed right-to-work “by projecting it would cut wages by 2 to 3 dollars an hour,” providing a boon to big businesses like Koch Industries. When the effort ended in a gubernatorial veto after a failed legislative override, AFP vowed the fight was not over and immediately went on the attack, targeting state representatives in misleading ad-buys. The Koch network has also pushed a broader assault on working families, fighting against prevailing wages, teachers’ job security and pensions. Beyond their anti-union campaigning, AFP and the Show-Me Institute have fought against Medicaid expansion, despite the fact that it would insure over three-hundred thousand Missourians while providing over twenty-thousand new jobs and healthcare savings for hard-working families. The Koch network has called for school privatization, while simultaneously dumping millions of dollars into Missouri universities, colleges, and high schools to preach their financially self-interested, conservative ideologies to students. Considering these university donations as part of their “fully integrated” political strategy, Koch-backed professor Howard Wall has recounted that he has used the threat of the Koch Foundation’s legal review at Lindenwood University to make sure their money was spent exactly according to their objectives. After settling a collection of lawsuits for a record $35 million in 2000 for massive oil spills in 6 states, including a 40,000 gallon asphalt spill in Missouri, the Kochs began to fight environmental regulation and progress in the state. The Kochs fought against carbon regulation, renewable energy efforts, and a gas tax all to protect their energy profits, conveniently ignoring that these policies portend significant health and economic benefits for Missouri. To ensure the success of their radical agenda, the Kochs cultivated relationships with high profile Missouri politicians who will act as their political puppets. In 2012, Koch backed groups, joined by Crossroads GPS, devoted $15 million to disgraced Missouri Senate hopeful Todd Akin. The Koch network relationship with Akin was so strong that 60 Plus went so far as to defend him when he received backlash for his odious comments on rape. After Akin’s comments cost him the election his former district director Patrick Werner went on to lead Americans for Prosperity’s Missouri efforts for five years. Topping the Kochs’ list of current puppet politicians is Senator Roy Blunt. Since 1999, the Kochs have given Senator Blunt more than $141,000 in career donations – making them one of Blunt’s top ten career contributors. Preparing for a competitive senate race, the Kochs have once again stepped up their support for Blunt. Americans for Prosperity has already spent six figures on a mail campaign attacking Blunt’s opponent, Jason Kander, for his support of the Affordable Care Act. The Koch network is also poised to put their finger on the scales of state level races. In addition to AFP vowing to resume their fight for right-to-work-for-less legislation with “a better governor” behind them, Koch Industries has already contributed at least $20,000 to conservative candidate Josh Hawley’s attorney general race, which is also being supported by the Koch-funded Aegis Strategic. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... 2 Koch InDustries In Missouri ..................................................................................................... 4 6 Koch Companies & Their 13 Affiliated Companies Operate 7 Facilities In Missouri .............................. 4 Koch Industries Missouri Footprint ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 C. Reiss Coal ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Georgia-Pacific ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Koch Carbon ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Koch Pipeline ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Koch Ag & Energy Solutions ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Flint Hills Resources................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Koch Industries Repeatedly Polluted Missouri’s Water, & Paid A Record Civil Settlement For Doing So 7 In 2000, Koch Industries Settled A Collection Of Lawsuits For A Record $35 Million For Massive Oil Spills In 6 States Including Missouri ................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Koch Companies Were Cited Multiple Times For Water Pollution In Missouri .......................................................................... 8 The Koch Network In Missouri ................................................................................................ 8 Americans for Prosperity .............................................................................................................................. 8 AFP-Missouri Launched Its Missouri Operations In 2007............................................................................................................... 8 AFP Fomented The Rise Of The Tea Party In Missouri .................................................................................................................. 9 AFP-Missouri Leadership & Operatives .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Field Operations..................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ...................................................................................... 11 The Koch Brothers Have Decades-Long Connections With ALEC ............................................................................................ 11 ALEC Brings Together State Legislators And Corporate Interests .............................................................................................. 12 ALEC Has “Exerted Extraordinary And Secretive Influence In The Missouri Legislature” ................................................... 12 State Policy Network ................................................................................................................................... 13 The State Policy Network Listed The Show-Me Institute As Its Missouri Member .................................................................. 13 The Show-Me Institute Was A Member Of ALEC ......................................................................................................................... 14 The Show-Me Institute Received At Least $898,442 From Koch Connected Groups ............................................................. 14 The Show-Me Institute Was Started By Rex Sinquefield To Operate As A Free Market Think Tank ................................... 14 LIBRE .........................................................................................................................................................