Further evidence that America has turned into a kleptocracy in the hands of corporations.
Bloomberg reports that Koch Industries, a large oil and gas conglomerate, and Exxon Mobil are writing state energy legislation through a Washington-based policy institute funded by both corporations. The two oil giants are working with the American Legislative Exchange Council at the drafting table for state laws related to issues such as energy, taxes, and agriculture, by paying a fee between $3,000 and $10,000.
According to Bloomberg, Exxon Mobil donated $39,000 to ALEC last year and the Koch Charitable Foundation donated $75,858 in 2009, the final year in which tax documents were available. Both companies, along with BP, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy helped draft legislation that has been introduced in Oregon, New Hampshire, Washington State and New Mexico designed to take those states out of regional cap and trade programs.
So there you have it. Big oil companies are denying climate change and stop environmental legislation by donating money so they can rewrite state laws. Who would have guessed that?
no comment untill now