Subject: Kochs Target Higher Education
From: "Jessica Mackler, American Bridge" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Fri, 6 May 2016 21:30:10 +0000

This week, Bridge Project examined the 60 Plus Association's Q1 Lobbying Disclosure Report. Given their vocal support of Koch pet projects--including support of off-shore drilling legislation,support for Keystone Pipeline, opposition to extending expiring renewable energy provisions related to FAA re-authorization, and continual opposition to resurrecting the Export Import Bank--it was less than shocking to find millions of Koch dollars flowing to the organization. 60 Plus Association is fantastic at shilling for the Kochs: They're not so great at actually representing the interests of (non-billionaire) seniors. 

As Kansas continues to face a fiscal crisis, GOP members of the state legislature are turning their backs on Sam Brownback. While Brownback's policies have been devastating for Kansas, he shouldn't have to shoulder all the responsibility: Americans for Prosperity was instrumental in paving Kansas's path to financial ruin. 

In a laughably cynical PR move, the Kochs signed on as "Platinum Sponsors" for this week's Free Expression Awards Gala. The Koch's have a long history of intimidating journalists whom provide anything but glowing portraits of the industrialists. The Kochs' support was met with disbelief and indignation from those who've faced the Kochs' wrath. 

Finally this week, the libertarian-minded Kochs are pushing for more government regulation in Texas. Revealing that their only true motivation is self-enrichment, the Kochs are supporting a proposal under the consideration of the Texas Public Utilities Commission that would artificially increase the price of energy during times of peak-demand. While this measure would do nothing to secure the electrical grid, it would secure additional profits for energy companies. 

All that and more -- it's This Week In Real Koch Facts:

"Seniors" Front Group Blatantly Peddling the Koch Brothers' Agenda
According to 60 Plus Association's 2016 Q1 Lobbying Disclosure Report, there are a lot of strange things this "seniors" group is lobbying for...Seniors are worried about their health care, social security, and retirement-not whether oil and gas billionaires are getting a fair break. But that's not what 60 Plus Association is focused on. Could it have anything to do with the tens of million of dollars the Koch brothers have given to this front group to distort issues, run attack ads, and mislead senior voters? 

Read more here: http://realkochfacts.com/seniors-front-group-blatantly-peddling-the-koch-brothers-agenda/

Sam Brownback Facing Down A Red-State Revolt
Upon entering office in 2011, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback declared Kansas would host a "real live experiment" to demonstrate that the road to prosperity is paved with repealed regulations and never-ending tax cuts. Unfortunately for Brownback, his conservative dream-indistinguishable from that of the Koch brothers and their network of interest groups-has quickly evolved into a budgetary nightmare.

Read more here: http://realkochfacts.com/sam-brownback-facing-down-a-red-state-revolt/

IRONY: Kochs Don't Believe in Free Expression, But Will Underwrite It For Good PR
Charles Koch is hoping tonight reporters will forget how he and his brother have attempted to intimidate and censor reporters-especially those who disagree with them or call them out for their corporate and environmental misdeeds-by being a Platinum sponsor to the Newseum's Free Expression Awards Gala.

Read more here: http://realkochfacts.com/irony-kochs-dont-believe-in-free-expression-but-will-underwrite-it-for-good-pr/

Koch Business Practices Artificially Boost Energy Prices, Hurting Consumers
Last week, Koch Industries came out in support of a proposal under consideration by the Public Utility Commission of Texas that would artificially inflate the cost of electricity during times of greater demand. While claiming that the change is needed to increase grid reliability, the true motivation for the proposal is clear: power prices are at 14-year lows, keeping electricity generators from pocketing stronger profits. 

Read more here: http://realkochfacts.com/koch-business-practices-artificially-boost-energy-prices-hurting-consumers/