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More ALEC News

Koch Brothers' Fingerprints Can Be Found All Over GOP Convention

CLEVELAND -- Though the Kochs have indicated they are staying out of the presidential election and Charles Koch has even had kind words for the Clintons, their fingerprints are all over the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week in the form of candidates and the extreme RNC platform.

The Kochs have had their doubts about Donald Trump, early on refusing to share their voter data base with him and spending their money down-ballot after it appeared he would win the nomination. As CMD has reported, the Kochs have been busy investing millions in a faux "grassroots" ground game in key states. They are hoping to rival labor's mastery in turning out committed volunteer door knockers, by paying an army of teenagers to hit the doors. Read the rest of this item here.

Koch Criminal Justice Reform Trojan Horse: Special Report on Reentry and Following the Money

Charles Koch has taken a high-profile in pushing criminal justice reform. He recently likened his own devotion to that of Bernie Sanders.

In a 2015 interview with USA Today, Koch claimed that of the projected $889 million raised by his donor network, the "Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce," only $300 million would be spent on direct electoral politics, whereas, "A good part of the rest is education and research," Koch said, including an overhaul of the criminal justice system. Read the rest of this item here.

Peabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding

Peabody Energy, the world's largest private-sector coal company, has provided funds to a network of individuals, scientists, non-profits and political organizations espousing climate change denial and opposition to efforts to tackle climate change, according to newly available documents reviewed by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch). Read the rest of this item here.

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-<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/05/13108/voter-suppression-laws-go-to-trial Voter Suppression Measures on Trial in Walker's Wisconsin]</h3>
+<h3>[http://www.exposedbycmd.org/2016/07/21/koch-brothers-fingerprints-can-found-gop-convention/ Koch Brothers' Fingerprints Can Be Found All Over GOP Convention]</h3>
-A trial over a raft of measures implemented by Wisconsin's GOP to restrict voting rights in the state commenced in Madison in federal court with the testimony of Dr. Barry C. Burden, UW-Madison Professor of Political Science and Director of the Elections Research Center. The case is being heard by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson and is expected to last nine days.
+CLEVELAND -- Though the Kochs have indicated they are staying out of the presidential election and Charles Koch has even [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/charles-koch-hillary-clinton-republican-white-house-222349 had kind words for the Clintons], their fingerprints are all over the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week in the form of candidates and the extreme RNC platform.
-Prof. Burden, an expert on American electoral politics and representation, was asked many questions on a report he wrote on the impact of the multiple changes on voting in Wisconsin. The report was completed in December of 2015, so data of the recent 2016 primary was not included. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/05/13108/voter-suppression-laws-go-to-trial here].
+The Kochs have had their doubts about Donald Trump, early on refusing to share their voter data base with him and spending their money down-ballot after it appeared he would win the nomination. As CMD has reported, the Kochs have been busy investing millions in a [http://www.exposedbycmd.org/2016/05/16/kochs-grassroots-leadership-academy-training-astroturf-army/ faux "grassroots"] ground game in key states. They are hoping to rival labor's mastery in turning out committed volunteer door knockers, by paying an army of teenagers to hit the doors. Read the rest of this item [http://www.exposedbycmd.org/2016/07/21/koch-brothers-fingerprints-can-found-gop-convention/ here].
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-<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/05/13102/alec-appoints-new-chair-climate-denial-task-force ALEC Appoints New Chair To Climate Denial Task Force]</h3>
+<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/06/13115/koch-criminal-justice-reform-report-reentry-follow-money Koch Criminal Justice Reform Trojan Horse: Special Report on Reentry and Following the Money]</h3>
-The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has named a new corporate chair for its task force that works to oppose action to tackle climate change: Jennifer Jura of the [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Rural_Electric_Cooperative_Association National Rural Electric Cooperative Association] (NRECA).
+Charles Koch has taken a high-profile in pushing criminal justice reform. He [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-koch-this-is-the-one-issue-where-bernie-sanders-is-right/2016/02/18/cdd2c228-d5c1-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html recently likened] his own devotion to that of Bernie Sanders.
-NRECA is a powerful trade association that represents more than 900 independent electric utilities. Its annual spending [https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/lobby.php?id=D000000153 lobbying] Congress regularly exceeds $2 million each year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/05/13102/alec-appoints-new-chair-climate-denial-task-force here].
+In a 2015 interview with [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/21/charles-koch-republican-candidates-2016/26142001/ ''USA Today'',] Koch claimed that of the projected $889 million raised by his donor network, the "Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce," only $300 million would be spent on direct electoral politics, whereas, "A good part of the rest is education and research," Koch said, including an overhaul of the criminal justice system. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/06/13115/koch-criminal-justice-reform-report-reentry-follow-money here].
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-<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/05/13099/alec%27s-2016-agenda-snapshot ALEC's 2016 Agenda Moving in the States: A Snapshot]</h3>
+<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/06/13114/peabody-coal-bankruptcy-reveals-extensive-funding-climate-denial-network Peabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding]</h3>
-In states across the country, concerned citizens are asking state and local policymakers to raise the minimum wage, enact workplace reforms including earned sick days and the right to organize, stop the privatization of public schools, and help mitigate climate change. Opposition to these initiatives is fierce and growing and often nationally-driven and coordinated by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Working in tandem with deep-pocketed corporations, trade associations, conservative groups and mega-donors--including operatives of the Koch brothers--ALEC is driving an agenda you should know about. The Center for Media and Democracy has the lowdown on ALEC bills moving in states this year. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/05/13099/alec%27s-2016-agenda-snapshot here].
+[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Peabody_Energy Peabody Energy], the world's largest private-sector coal company, has provided funds to a network of individuals, scientists, non-profits and political organizations espousing climate change denial and opposition to efforts to tackle climate change, according to newly [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2859772 available documents] reviewed by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch). Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/06/13114/peabody-coal-bankruptcy-reveals-extensive-funding-climate-denial-network here].
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-<h3>[http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/04/13098/us-chamber-works-behind-scenes-gut-whistleblower-protections U.S. Chamber Works Behind the Scenes to Gut Whistleblower Protections]</h3>
-Efforts to gut the federal False Claims Act backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce got a hearing on Capitol Hill. The federal push builds on previous back-door Chamber efforts through the [http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed American Legislative Exchange Council] (ALEC) to discourage states from pursuing fraud claims. Read the rest of this item [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2016/04/13098/us-chamber-works-behind-scenes-gut-whistleblower-protections here].
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