lowman henry lincoln inst publ pol & opinion

=beware wthttps://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/30/conservative-conference-cancels-book-signings-afte/
no lnx
Conservative conference cancels book sales after bookseller balks at ‘Green Fraud’STEAMBOAT INSTITUTEBy Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times - Monday, August 30, 2021BEAVER CREEK, Colorado — The Steamboat Institute canceled its book sales at last weekend’s annual Freedom Conference after a bookseller refused to offer a title critical of the Green New Deal.At the center of the dispute was “Green Fraud: Why the Green New Deal is Even Worse Than You Think,” released in March and written by Marc Morano, publisher of the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow’s Climate Depot website.Steamboat Institute CEO and Chairwoman Jennifer Schubert-Akin said organizers concluded that “either you’re going to sell all of our books, or you’re going to sell none of our books.”“Steamboat Institute is traditionally proud to partner with local bookstores to sell the latest compelling books by Freedom Conference speakers at the event,” she said in a statement. “Yet we will never allow partner bookstores to censor by picking and choosing which speaker books they sell based on their political preferences. We look forward to working with local bookstores committed to robust and open debate at our future events.”Conference attendees who brought their own books were still able to have them signed by authors featured at the event.Off the Beaten Path, the Steamboat Springs bookstore, declined to comment on its refusal to offer “Green Fraud,” but Mr. Bruneau cited an email from the company saying it was unwilling to be “associated with a title that disputes the reality of climate change.”“They said, ‘Look, Colorado’s wildfires, we can’t sell this, we can’t give credence to this belief,’” Mr. Bruneau said. “So Jennifer said, ‘We don’t support censorship, we can’t accept your services.’ They still wanted to come but they wouldn’t sell that one book.”He added that it was “disappointing in the sense that it missed out on an opportunity to make some profit, and for the attendees.”Ironically, censorship was one of the topics at the 13th annual conference, which included panels and speakers discussing the battles over conservative content in social media, publishing and academia.Mr. Morano, who spoke at the conference, said the flap over his book was “no surprise.”“Climate activists have been gunning for me for years,” said Mr. Morano. “Any dissent is seen as an assault on their messaging. A one-party state view must be imposed!”He said that activists have pressured Amazon to remove the book from its website, so far without success, prompting an offer from conservative author and pundit Mark Steyn, who wrote the book’s introduction.“Mark Steyn has offered to sign any copy of ‘Green Fraud’ that you buy on steynonline.com,” Mr. Morano said. “This is literally about free speech.”Kicking off our morning session with @ClimateDepot talking about the hypocrisy of the #climatechange movement. #Freedomconference pic.twitter.com/mK20r0sV4Q— The Steamboat Institute (@Steamboat_Inst) August 28, 2021Mr. Morano is not the first to lock horns with progressive booksellers.Earlier this year, Powell’s Books in Portland drew headlines for refusing to stock “Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy” by local journalist Andy Ngo. Even so, the bookstore was beset by protesters upset with its decision to offer the title online.Mr. Bruneau said that other bookstores contacted by the institute were unable to staff the conference due to labor shortages.“There were a couple we contacted that wouldn’t make a staff member available to be here because of the expanded unemployment benefits,” he said. “Everyone’s going through staffing shortages right now. That was another hurdle we had. We hope next year we can get a bookseller back.”The Steamboat conference, held at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek, Colorado, drew 370 attendees, the largest in its history.The Steamboat Institute promotes “limited taxation and fiscal responsibility; limited government; free market capitalism; individual rights and responsibilities, and strong national defense.”=921http://redgreenandblue.org/2021/09/03/organized-climate-denial-machine-fighting-action-state-level/
kos
by  Climate Denier RoundupWhich perhaps is why they appear to be setting their sights a little closer to home, attempting to run the denial playbook at the state level.For example, Pennsylvania has been moving towards joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a carbon market that’s driving down emissions and power bills across the Northeast. In response, industry has <a href="https://www.energyandpolicy.org/in-pennsylvania-a-complex-network-of-climate-deniers-business-groups-is-working-to-kill-rggi/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">set up a web of front groups</a>, and over the summer, even brought in the <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/6/23/2036666/-Supposedly-Pro-Climate-Conservative-Group-ACC-Greenwashes-GOP-s-Climate-Denial" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">big guns of career deniers</a> like Steve Milloy and Marc Morano to speak at a House committee meeting.The state’s <a title="" href="https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2021/08/pennsylvania-gop-legislators-escalate-resistance-to-state-joining-rggi-3990645?" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Republican party has been working hard</a> on behalf of its fossil fuel benefactors to try and prevent the Democratic governor Tom Wolfe from joining RGGI, and even <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/7/1/2037883/-Heritage-Concerned-About-Big-Salary-For-Green-Group-CEO-Despite-Having-Paid-Its-Own-CEOs-Far-More" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">national-level</a> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/1/6/2006280/-Steve-Milloy-and-Chris-Horner-Leading-Deniers-On-Pointless-Pursuit-of-Paris-Agreement" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">professional</a> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/7/24/1874027/-Not-A-Lord-Monckton-and-That-s-Not-An-Exclusive-Mooney-Think-They-re-Very-Smart-They-re-Not" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">denial lackey</a> Kevin Mooney <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/08/29/climate-regulations-reach-critical-turning-point-in-pennsylvania/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">wrote up the situation</a> for the Daily Signal, the<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Heritage_Foundation#Funding" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"> Koch/Mercer/tobacco/polluters-funded</a> Heritage Foundation’s fake news website.While RGGI started as a Northeast and Mid-Atlantic initiative, in 2020 Virginia announced that it would be the first southern state to join. And like its northern counterparts, the state’s seen an influx of disinfo carpetbaggers. For example, the industry-funded CFACT’s Collister Johnson Jr. <a href="https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2021/08/31/virginias_coming_elections_to_present_showdown_over_renewable_energy_mandates_792461.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">recently bragged in</a> Koch-funded RealClearEnergy that Republicans in Virginia oppose the Virginia Clean Economy Act thanks to CFACT’s hard work and dedication of publishing “a series of articles” starting in 2021. VCEA passed with only Democratic support the year before, but thanks to CFACT’s lobbying on a bill that had already passed, Johnson wonders to what extent the 2021 Virginia state elections will be influenced by their “Repeal VCEA” message.(Given that the only other big thing Collister has to brag about in life besides being <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/6/3/2033433/-Who-s-Dumb-Enough-To-Fall-For-Big-Oil-s-Greenwashing-Old-Deniers-Struggling-With-Emissions" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">frequently</a> <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/4/27/1940726/-Carbon-Dioxide-Is-Small-Therefore-It-s-Unimportant-Global-Warming-Deniers-Argue-During-Pandemic" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">wrong</a> on <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/3/6/1924972/-Deniers-Think-They-Have-Something-With-Fact-That-US-Can-t-Fight-Global-Warming-Alone" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">purpose</a> is that he was given a seat on the board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation by his Yale roommate, George W. Bush, we’ll forgive his eagerness to brag about the amazing feat of turning Republicans in 2021 against climate action passed in 2020.)Across the country, but just a click away at the organized denial clearinghouse RealClear, Duggan Flanakin, also working for CFACT, <a title="" href="https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2021/08/31/spokane_residents_spark_fight_over_natural_gas_ban_proposal_792274.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">describes the effort in Washington state</a> to oppose a Spokane city council ban on new methane gas hookups.Now, what Flanakin definitely won’t tell you is that, like <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/02/23/climate-change-natural-gas/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">it is across the country</a>, the gas industry in Washington is <a title="" href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/natural-gas-industrys-1-million-pr-campaign-sets-up-fight-over-northwests-energy-future/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">pouring at least a million of dollars</a> into opposing these individually small but collectively mighty moves to kick the fossil fuel addiction, with Washington <a href="https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/1063731537" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">being home to at least one of the trade groups</a> working nationally to fight electrification.So if you’re looking at the reconciliation fight, and <a title="" href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/8/17/2046386/-LA-Times-Points-Floodlight-At-Shady-Fossil-Fuel-Front-Group-That-Tricked-People-Into-Supporting-Gas" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">wondering where the climate deniers vocal opposition is</a>, you might want to check a little closer to home!=ref
<a href="https://www.energyandpolicy.org/in-pennsylvania-a-complex-network-of-climate-deniers-business-groups-is-working-to-kill-rggi/">https://www.energyandpolicy.org/in-pennsylvania-a-complex-network-of-climate-deniers-business-groups-is-working-to-kill-rggi/</a>a tangled web of individuals and groups representing business interests and conservative think tanks lies at the forefront of opposition to Pennsylvania’s attempt to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a<a href="https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/climate/Pages/RGGI.aspx" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;"> cap-and-trade program</a> to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These entities, many of which receive funding from the fossil fuel industry and foundations that have long sponsored climate change denial, are generating an echo-chamber of messaging against Governor Tom Wolf’s <a href="https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/governor-wolf-takes-executive-action-to-combat-climate-change-carbon-emissions/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">executive order</a> adding the state to RGGI .Opponents and proponents are gearing up for an intensification of the fight over RGGI, a multi-state compact that sets a price on carbon emissions from the power generating sector. Last week, a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) board approved the regulations under which Pennsylvania will join the program, setting off a public comment period.   The Think Tank CircuitA prominent figure at the heart of the intertwined network undermining RGGI is Lowman Henry. Henry heads the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion & Research, a Harrisburg-based “free market” group that receives funding from <a href="https://www.lincolninstitute.org/about/about-us/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Sunoco</a>, the <a href="https://www.lincolninstitute.org/about/about-us/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association,</a> and the Allegheny Foundation of Pittsburgh of the <a href="http://www.scaife.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Scaife Family Foundations</a>, veteran <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/20/conservative-groups-1bn-against-climate-change" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">funders of climate change denial</a> in the United States. The Lincoln Institute has launched numerous attacks on RGGI in the past year, often laced with climate denialist talking points. Last October, Henry <a href="https://www.lincolninstitute.org/tom-wolf-turns-to-governing-by-pen-phone/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">called RGGI</a> an “ineffective solution to a non-existent problem,” which looks to “address what the Left perceives to be man-made climate change by reducing carbon emissions.” In a segment <a href="https://www.lincolninstitute.org/innovation-not-regulation-improving-environment-on-lincoln-radio-journal/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">attacking RGGI</a> on his radio show, Henry interviewed climate change denier Greg Wrightstone, a geologist <a href="https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2019/03/27/house-panel-hosts-climate-change-doubter-whose-beliefs-draw-a-rebuke-from-scientists/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">who works for the oil and gas industry</a> through the Pittsburgh-based Wrightstone Energy Consulting. Wrightstone, who authored a denialist book called Inconvenient Facts, is a <a href="https://www.heartland.org/about-us/who-we-are/gregory-wrightstone" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">frequent contributor</a> to the Heartland Institute’s blog.The Lincoln Institute’s ties also extend to the Pennsylvania legislature. Republican State Representative Frank Ryan, <a href="http://www.pahousegop.com/Display/SiteFiles/1/OtherDocuments/2020/stuzziFinalRGGILetter.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">who signed a recent letter</a> from several lawmakers to Governor Wolf demanding that he rescind his executive order on RGGI, <a href="https://www.lincolninstitute.org/about/board-of-directors/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">sits</a> on the Lincoln Institute’s Board of Directors. Henry is linked to a number of other anti-RGGI groups in Pennsylvania. <a href="https://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/us/board-members/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">He sits</a> on the Board of Directors of The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, a Pittsburgh-based conservative think tank that <a href="http://www.scaife.com/2018_Sarah%20Scaife%20Foundation_Annual%20Report.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">receives funding from the Sarah Scaife Foundation</a> of the Scaife Family Foundations. The Scaife family, whose money comes largely from the <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2016/01/21/beyond-koch-brothers-scaife-olin-bradley-jane-mayer-dark-money" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Gulf Oil fortunes</a>, has a long history of <a href="https://drexel.edu/now/archive/2013/December/Climate-Change/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">funding climate denial</a>. The Allegheny Institute <a href="https://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/here-comes-the-notorious-rggi/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">recently dubbed</a> RGGI the “Regional Kill the Economy & Raise Prices Initiative.” The Allegheny Institute’s Frank Gamrat and Eric Montarti <a href="https://www.lincolninstitute.org/innovation-not-regulation-improving-environment-on-lincoln-radio-journal/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">appeared on Lowman Henry’s Lincoln Institute radio show</a> and further attacked RGGI.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><figcaption style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 1em;">p<a href="https://littlesis.org/oligrapher/5644-pennsylvania-anti-rggi-climate-denier-echo-chamber" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">ower map produced at LittleSis.org</a></figcaption></figure>Dr. Jake Haulk, the Allegheny Institute’s former President, is a current Board member of both the Lincoln Institute and the Allegheny Institute.Additionally, IRS tax documents <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6936446-Citizens-Alliance-of-Pennsylvania-990-2018.html#document/p7/a582514" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">list Lowman Henry</a> as the treasurer of The Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania, a Lemoyne, Pennsylvania-based “limited government” group. The Citizens Alliance <a href="https://www.empowerpa.org/pa-among-least-tax-friendly-states-in-the-us-gov-wolf-wants-to-make-it-worse/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">warned</a> that RGGI will be a “nail in the coffin” for coal-fired electricity generation and “drastically reduce the number of new natural gas power plants built.” In 2015, the Citizens Alliance <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/state-policy-network" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">was listed as a member of the State Policy Network</a> (SPN), a major propagator of climate change denial.The Commonwealth Foundation for Policy Alternatives is another group <a href="https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/wolf-pollutes-the-discussion-on-rggi" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">frequently attacking RGGI</a>. The Commonwealth Foundation, a current SPN member, is <a href="http://www.scaife.com/2018_Sarah%20Scaife%20Foundation_Annual%20Report.pdf" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">funded by the Sarah Scaife Foundation</a> and <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/who-donors-trust" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">DonorsTrust</a>, an entity that <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2015/05/12/exclusive-major-climate-science-denial-funders-donors-trust-and-donors-capital-fund-handled-479-million-untraceable" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">distributes millions of dollars</a> in grants each year to groups, including climate deniers, from donors who wish to remain anonymous. <a href="https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/about/page/board-of-directors" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Two Board members</a> of the Commonwealth Foundation, Tom Beach and George Coates, <a href="https://www.donorstrust.org/who-we-are/directors-and-staff/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">also sit on the </a><a href="https://www.donorstrust.org/who-we-are/directors-and-staff/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">DonorsTrust Board</a>.As Dana Drugmand <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/09/17/fossil-fuel-americans-prosperity-koch-pennsylvania-rggi" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">revealed last week</a> in DeSmog, based on documents obtained by the Energy and Policy Institute, the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is also involved in anti-RGGI activities in Pennsylvania. AFP has crafted resolutions opposing RGGI and circulated them among several county commissioners, urging them to pass the resolutions as their own. Emails show that AFP operatives communicated with several state lawmakers, including sponsors of anti-RGGI bills, in a coordinated effort to undermine the compact. The Business Group ConnectionMuch of the right-wing think tanks’ activity against RGGI in Pennsylvania occurs through business entities, notably the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA). In addition to all the other hats he wears, Lowman Henry also chairs the PMA’s Board of Directors. Jake Haulk, a Director on both the Lincoln Institute’s and Allegheny Institute’s Boards, sits on PMA’s Board as well.On its website and through its newsletters, PMA <a href="https://www.pamanufacturers.org/pma-bulletin/governor-wolf-crushing-pa%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cjobs-pay%E2%80%9D" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">frequently rails against RGGI</a>, calling it a “job crushing” program. In the past year, PMA’s lobbyist in Harrisburg testified numerous times in the state legislature and before the DEP against the measure.While PMA does not make its members list public, it is part of a broader state business alliance that includes chambers of commerce and regional manufacturing associations. PMA is also a member of Grow America’s Infrastructure Now (GAIN), a <a href="https://www.desmogblog.com/2019/02/15/propaganda-pipeline-front-group-gain-grow-america-infrastructure-now" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">fossil fuel front group</a> promoting pipeline build outs. Meanwhile, there’s evidence that more extensive, out-of-state players have also joined the fray.PMA is the Pennsylvania state partner of the <a href="https://www.bipac.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC</a>), a DC-based pro-business group that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/03/21/u-s-companies-are-pressuring-er-educating-their-workers-on-how-to-lobby-and-vote/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">specializes</a> in helping employers mobilize their employees for lobbying and political campaigning. David Taylor, PMA’s President & CEO, sits on BIPAC’s Board of Directors. BIPAC has aided PMA’s fight against RGGI, as revealed by DeSmog. Internet domain registration records show that BIPAC hosts the website for the recently created Power PA Jobs Alliance (powerpajobs.com), an anti-RGGI coalition of coal-based power generators and coal producers, labor, and business associations, which includes PMA. A reference to Momentum Advocacy, a DC-based firm affiliated with BIPAC, appears on the coalition website’s URLs.BIPAC itself has a long-standing association with the fossil fuel industry. Barry Russell, the President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), sits on BIPAC’s Board. In recent years, BIPAC received funding from fossil fuel industry trade associations and corporations, including IPAA, Occidental Petroleum, Noble Energy, and Phillips 66. <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6936213-IPAA-990-2018-BIPAC-Collab.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">According to IPAA’s recent tax documents</a>, the trade association joined forces with BIPAC “to help its member companies and state cooperating associations achieve their election and public policy goals by linking the IPAA political website” to various independent oil and gas associations. In Pennsylvania, this has translated into a collaboration between <a href="https://pioga.org/news-resources/get-involved/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">BIPAC, PMA, and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA)</a> to provide the oil and gas industry and its workforce <a href="https://pioga.mmp2.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(196, 209, 224); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;">resources</a> for political campaigning and policy advocacy.<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</div>