The Center for Public Integrity has an in-depth look today at Koch Industries' "Web of Influence" in Washington, revealing the immense growth in Koch's spending on lobbyists and influence peddling over the last few years. As the CPI investigation notes, the Kochtopus's lobbying army has its tentacles wrapped around all kinds of issues, not just its core oil business, but its wide-ranging stakes in everything from Canadian tar sands to ethanol to toxic chemicals to financial regulation (or preserving the lack thereof).
The CPI report lifts the veil on a few individual Koch lobbyists, notably Gregory Zerzan, a name that nobody outside Washington would recognize, yet who has had tremendous impact on the Hill as a Koch toady.
As the report notes:
"The money that Koch (pronounced “coke”) has spent on lobbying in Washington has soared in recent years, from $857,000 in 2004 to $20 million in 2008. The Kochs then spent another $20.5 million over the next two years to influence federal policy, as the company’s lobbyists and officials sought to mold, gut or kill more than 100 prospective bills or regulations."
Check out the rest of the report over at the CPI website. It's a great display of the kind of transparency needed in Washington, which remains overrun with lobbyists despite President Obama's campaign pledge to limit their influence over federal policymaking.
With the huge influx of Koch money into lobbying and campaign contributions - thanks to the democracy-destroying Citizens United decision - it will be hard to have an honest debate about much of anything in Congress. Polluter money prevails, for the time being, so it's important to know which dirty money purveyors to pin the blame on for the deterioration of our democracy, public health and the environment. These days, the Koch brothers are Exhibit A.
