Hauling the Koch Brothers Into Congress

Imagine Charles and David Koch testifying, under oath, in Congress.

Even though the billionaire oil industry brothers continue trying to dodge accountability, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) invited the Koch brothers to testify and answer a few simple questions about how the Kochs are positioned to gain financially by the Keystone XL oil pipeline, a 1,700-mile long boondoggle that would make the Koch brothers even richer.

There's ample evidence linking the Kochs' business to the Canadian tar sands, which is the dirtiest energy in North America. Indeed, the Koch brothers' stand to be among the pipeline's biggest beneficiaries. Even the Koch brothers' website confesses to being a party to tar sands oil.

The Koch brothers are doing whatever they can to avoid testifying in Congress, despite the fact that the Kochs informed the Canadian government of their "direct and substantial" interest in the pipeline. Waxman has been trying to get answers from the Koch brothers since last spring, but the Kochs have not cooperated.

At the same time, the Kochs' allies in Congress are doing their best to stonewall oversight. This outcome doesn't surprise me one bit given the Koch brothers' near-monopoly on the influential and powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee. According to the Los Angeles Times, Koch Industries and its employees are the single largest oil and gas donors to the committee. They've contributed $279,500 to 22 of the committee's 31 Republicans and $32,000 to five Democrats. Talk about the best democracy money can buy!

In the 2010 elections that gave the Republicans the majority in the house, many of these committee members were ones who owed their electoral fortunes to the Kochs or groups affiliated with the Kochs. One representative hired a Koch Industries lawyer after election day. Another needed a lift from the Koch brothers' Tea Party group, Americans for Prosperity, to unseat an incumbent. No matter how you slice it, the Koch brothers have their fingerprints, not only the oversight of the Keystone XL pipeline, but on the pipeline's profits.

Since last year, the Koch brothers have attacked those in and out of Congress who're merely trying to find the truth. And sorry Charles and David, your word alone is no substitute for the truth.

So what are the Koch brothers hiding? It's time to stop whispering and start shouting. Insist the Koch brothers testify before Congress.

The Keystone XL pipeline is but another example of the Koch brothers use their wealth to advance policy that makes them richer. Their wealth enables them to write the script for politicians and others to follow.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. If you're like me and are demanding truth, I invite you to help us shine a light on the Koch brothers position on the Keystone XL oil pipeline but signing our petition to leading members of Congress.

 

 

 

Follow Robert Greenwald on Twitter: www.twitter.com/robertgreenwald

Comments

[glock19]

04:19 PM on 02/13/2012

Here is Koch's explanation of how they have no finanical stake in the pipeline.
http://www.kochfacts.com/kf/waxmanwrongaboutkeystone/
Decide for yourself...

[Rob Whittet]

04:32 PM on 02/06/2012

Koch Industries is a non-player at this point. Instead, how about hauling Warren Buffett into Congress to testify about the mega-millions Berkshire Hathaway will earn by bribing Obama with election contributions to HALT the pipeline? Without a pipeline, it will be necessary to ship oil via Burlington Northern (BNSF), conveniently wholly owned by Berkshire. Obama doesn't give a damn about environmental issues of the Keystone XL pipeline, it's all about the money in his re-election pocket. On the other side, Koch Industries is the second largest private company in the US, employing over 50,000 people. I ask you: how many companies out there have the capability to even BID on the multi-billion dollar project, assuming Obama allows it go forward? Name one, please. Yes, it would be a huge benefit to Koch, but more importantly to the employment of thousands and a boost to the US economy. It's business; Koch has done nothing wrong. (And, because there's no contract, how can you throw accusations at a company for NOT doing something?) It's nasty politics on both sides of this issue, and how you feel about it depends on your own political leaning.

[glock19]

04:19 PM on 02/01/2012

The reason the Koch's are worth so much (on paper, I might add) is because they reinvest 90% of their profits back into the business. This continued reinvestment over the decades has allowed them to acquire a very signficant number of diverse and quality assets. The Koch's don't do this to make money for themselves, but for the benefit of society. You see, the more Koch reinvests and expands and creates new businesses, the more people they hire...expanding the economic pie. The Koch's has stated many, many times that they have NO FINANCIAL INTEREST in the Keystone pipeine...translation...they HAVE NOT invested in it in any way. That does not mean, however, they are a disinterest party. They are generally interested in economic freedom, therefore, they have a substantial interest in letting companies invest and proper. That is what economic freedom is all about.

[extra ranch]

04:23 PM on 02/06/2012

@glock19: would you like me to proofread and edit your replies before posting? For a small fee, I can do that for you, and you can appear to be intelligenter than your comment here. By hiring me as your editor, you will not only help yourself, but you will also benefit society by creating a job for me, just like the Koch brothers...

[bluedog24]

10:02 AM on 01/31/2012

Everybody who believes that they would tell the truth before congress, I have a bridge for sale...

[shrn]

09:16 AM on 01/31/2012

There you have it folks. Spread the word.

[wespenn56]

08:27 AM on 01/31/2012

Of course they won't show up...Koch-roaches hate the light

[Kaylynseth]

04:26 PM on 02/01/2012

It is typical to this kind of conduct that has divided the nation. Because people that have conservative views that are different than yours “in your words are cons”. Only reflect your narrow minded views.

[wespenn56]

09:27 PM on 02/01/2012

Wow. And if you think a pair of uber-rich buying politicians in districts they don't live in are doing so for altruistic reasons and won't be calling due their markers you are both closed minded and almost criminally naive, so you opinion of me isn't too intimidating

[artleads]

02:21 AM on 01/31/2012

I signed the petition, and I hope that others do, as well.

[Ravi Abunijad]

01:37 AM on 01/31/2012

Why would it matter if they were under oath or not?

Here you have guys who inherited wealth and positions of power in a company, and then they turn around and write books about the keys to success... does that show integrity? They literally pay off colleges to hire and fire professors who agree with them... is that ethical?

Why the push to have them testify? Neither will the action add truth nor insight to the situation. Republicans will continue to love them because they're powerful. Democrats will continue to hate them because they're corrupt.

[-swift]

09:57 AM on 01/31/2012

Well, there's only so much you can get away with when you are testifying under oath. If they outright lie, they could be prosecuted. If they sit there and weasel around actually saying anything, it will shine some light on just how shady this Keystone thing is.

[MTS52]

01:07 AM on 01/31/2012

I love the way people are all up in arms about the rich controlling the government as if it just started recently. Citizens have been complaining about this from the day this country began its not going to change until all private funds are out of the system corporate and union. For every rich man contributing to one party there is one giving to the other party. Weather your a dem. or a repub. if your not rich you lose. Sorry folks its just the price of admission.

[greytunes]

12:44 AM on 01/31/2012

The Canadians have all but said they will sell the oil to China. Let the Koch Bros. and Canada figure out a way to build across Canada and let them deal with the enviromental risks. If we really need a pipeline, North Dakota has an oil deposit that is bigger than Saudi Arabia. Why are we wasting our time on Canadian tar sand when we have oil in our country?

[Ravi Abunijad]

01:26 AM on 01/31/2012

The XL pipeline was going to be taking oil to our port cities for shipping abroad, anyway. TransCanada said it themselves - the oil wasn't for US markets. The only thing they claimed is that it would create some jobs here - and somehow that prospective employment figure went higher and higher as the debate went on. In the telephone game, people turned the whole thing into a discussion about whether or not we need the oil, even though we never were getting it.

[Kurfco]

11:31 PM on 01/30/2012

So what?! If the KochBrothers own a stake in the Tar Sands, so what? If they own a stake in the pipeline, so what? If they benefit in some way from the oil the pipeline brings, so what? Last time I checked this was still a free country and all of these actions are completely legal and none of Congress' business. And I doubt that they have a direct interest anyway. Some have mentioned some connection to the refiner, Valero, but Valero is a New York stock exchange listed public company that does not include the Koch Brothers among its major stockholders.

So what?! What is the point of nonsense artcles like this?!

[MtaGA]

12:43 AM on 01/31/2012

The point of this article is that the Koch brothers heavily influence our politicians. Supreme Court members attend their conferences. They are "Americans for Prosperity" and they dump millions of dollars into the political process. The Governor of Wisconsin thought he was talking to David Koch, and showed just how much influence a Koch brother has.... Transparency is a good thing. They are still free to invest, but Congress should have all the facts as to whom is behind what and to what extent before approving a project of this nature. It's potential impact to a major aquifer is undeniable -- and if there is corruption in the process, the American people deserve to know!

[Bridgette Angelos]

05:14 AM on 01/31/2012

Kurfco, One word...Privatization.

[knott wrench]

10:21 PM on 01/30/2012

I'd like to see the two reclusive Spiders appear before Mr. Waxman's Committee.

[Lonewolf2347]

10:13 PM on 01/30/2012

Hey.... lets get the felon George Soros in front of congress also so we can see just what he and Obama have been cooking up plus you liberals should also know that Obama won't sign on to the Keystone pipeline because Warren Buffet would lose $ because his trains would not be needed anymore and he cannot have that happen so Obama screws Americans so Buffet can keep making the $! NO2O:2012!

[Ravi Abunijad]

01:34 AM on 01/31/2012

That doesn't even make sense. Punctuation might help. Logic would help more.

[Barbara DeZan]

02:57 AM on 01/31/2012

Question:

How many tinhat wearing, Glenn Beck fans does it take to tie Obama, Soros, Buffet, Keystone, trains into one HUGE list of conspriacies.

Answer:

Just one.

[Me atlast]

09:32 PM on 01/30/2012

Here's hoping that the time of blatantly doing whatever you want just because you have money is coming to an end. Our "democracy" is a joke. Anyone who claims America's democracy is a role model is either stupid, lying, or just plain mean. We do need to take our country back... back from the lobbyists and corporations... and give it back to the people. That's what the tea party should have been about, they missed their chance. Now it's ours. But they are more than welcome to be a part of it since I for one do not exclude people for choices they make.

[DeanWormer]

09:31 PM on 01/30/2012

Henry Waxman. The Kochs have to be laughing about that guy.

[jmdziuban1]

04:33 AM on 01/31/2012

Why are they afraid to testify? Why are the GOP afraid to allow them to testify? The Koch's have made contradictory statements concerning their level of involvement in the XL project, why will they not provide clarification under oath? Yes, it needs to be under oath, as an assurance that their testimony represents the truth, since their previous contradictions in evidence exhibit that they are not averse to dishonesty.