“This is Extortion”: Koch Industries Gets Another Tax Break
The Toledo, Oregon City Council voted on November 6 to give Georgia-Pacific a 15-year property tax exemption in return for investment in an existing plant there.
The Toledo, Oregon City Council voted on November 6 to give Georgia-Pacific a 15-year property tax exemption in return for investment in an existing plant there.
By Don Wiener and Arn Pearson
Newly released figures show that Koch Industries has spent almost 20 percent more on federal lobbying expenses so far this year than it had at the same time last year. With the U.S. House in Democratic hands, Koch, like other fossil fuel companies, is forced to play defense on energy issues, along with pushing back against Trump trade policies.
By Don Wiener and Arn Pearson
What a difference a few months makes in politics.
In May, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) reported on the enormous influence over the Alaska budget process exerted by the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
On September 19, the Massachusetts legislature overrode Republican Governor Charlie Baker's veto of a bill that would help public employee unions maintain dues-paying members.
Koch Industries' paper subsidiary cuts more than 2,100 jobs in the past two years, with taxpayers left holding the bill.
555 workers will lose their jobs.
New post-Janus law helps level the playing field in Oregon in the face of right-wing campaigns to weaken public sector unions.
The American Legislative Exchange Council has gone on the record as supporting the right of workers to bargain collectively, and even strike, for better working conditions -- as long as they do it without a union.
Right-wing groups sue union in Illinois to collect millions in retroactive "fair share" fees.
Koch Industries has lobbied against every major measure to reduce reliance on fossil fuels so far this year.
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