Vitter, David SEN 5%

lost gov?  will quit?
lcv 15/5%

promoted to evil 9/14 b/c profits from coal and wrote rept that sez green billioniares do reg capture of EPAtook inhofe chair: January 9, 2013 The new top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, but not 6/15; he's gotten worse since/ cf attack am lung assoc he worked with a year ago?

helps issa of jud witch hunts: --> fail thus blowback?

=pension?
Former Sen. David Vitter, now a lobbyist, forced to drop Russian bank as client after sanctionsBY TYLER BRIDGES | STAFF WRITER MAR 3, 2022 - 3:05 PM CommentsU.S. Sen. David Vitter reflects on his time serving in the Senate during his last speech from the floor on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. C-SPAN image. ]Tyler BridgesSTAFF WRITERAuthor twitterAuthor emailThe Biden administration’s decision to impose sanctions on Russia has hit former U.S. Sen. David Vitter directly in the pocketbook.The sanctions last week cost Vitter the Russian bank Sovcombank as one of his clients at Mercury Public Affairs, a lobbying outfit in Washington, D.C. that has employed him since he left the Senate in 2017.“Mercury terminated our engagement with Sovcombank in compliance with U.S. sanctions,” John Gallagher, a company spokesman, said in an email.He declined to make Vitter available for an interview.Vitter had begun working for Sovcombank only the month before to provide “government relations consulting and strategy, including outreach to U.S. government officials,” according to a form he filed with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.Sovcombank was paying Mercury $90,000 per month under a contract filed with the Justice Department. Vitter’s share of that was not disclosed.The U.S. Treasury Department included Sovcombank on its list of financial institutions subject to the sanctions imposed on Feb. 24. In all, the department’s actions targeted “nearly 80% of all banking assets in Russia and will have a deep and long-lasting effect on the Russian economy and financial system.”Sovcombank “is the third largest privately owned financial institution in Russia by total assets, and Russia’s ninth largest bank overall,” according to Treasury.On Feb. 8, Vitter cited Sovcombank’s “deep ties to US and western institutions” in arguing against including the bank on a U.S. sanctions list, according to a filing with the Justice Department. “Many leading US and EU financial institutions that have decided to leave the Russian market in the last several years have entrusted their clients and employees to Sovcombank,” he said.Stephanie Grace: Once a reformer, David Vitter's now lobbying for Russian oligarchAfter losing Sovcombank, Vitter still represents the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe; Hikvision USA, which bills itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of video surveillance products and is a subsidiary of a Chinese company; and the Government of National Unity of Libya, which has the backing of the United Nations.Vitter previously represented a company owned by Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch.Vitter didn't run for a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2016, a year after losing the governor's race to John Bel Edwards.=http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/11/vitter-defeat<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">EVEN If all the polls predicted it, this election result was a stunner by any measure. On November 21st, Louisiana, among the reddest of all American states, became the first in the deep South to elect a Democratic governor in more than a decade. The last time the Pelican state elected a Democrat to statewide office was in 2008.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">And yet here was John Bel Edwards—a little-known state representative from a rural area best known for bequeathing Britney Spears to the world—positively thumping his GOP opponent, Senator David Vitter. His margin of victory was 56-44, a landslide by most definitions. But the major story line of this election was not the ascent of Mr Edwards, who, even after his surprising win remains something of a mystery to most Louisianians. It was the epic crash-and-burn of Mr Vitter, once the state’s dominant Republican, now on his way to Palookaville.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Mere months ago, Mr Vitter appeared a potent political force. He had raised more money than his three major opponents combined. He was considered a master strategist: he had never lost a race over more than two decades in office. And he had helped elect other conservatives—most recently his fellow senator, Bill Cassidy, in 2014—who then owed him a debt. The presumption was that he would win the governorship, appoint his replacement to the Senate, and rule as Louisiana’s unquestioned boss for the next eight years.<div id="inarticle_wrapper_div" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 595px; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><div id="zd_newid_26817" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">But Mr Vitter was exposed as something of a paper juggernaut in Louisiana’s “jungle primary” last month, when he took just 23% of the vote, barely enough to hold off two other GOP candidates and far behind Mr Edwards, who got 40%. And to achieve even that modest victory, Mr Vitter had to run a scorched-earth campaign against his Republican rivals, one of whom went on to endorse Mr Edwards and one of whom simply sat out the run-off, seething.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">On the night of November 21, after conceding to Mr Edwards, Mr Vitter announced he wouldn’t even seek re-election to the Senate next year—effectively ending his political career. The announcement may have been unnecessary: Mr Vitter’s spectacular loss would have guaranteed him a brace of Republican challengers next year had he decided to try and hang on.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">So what happened? The clearest answer is that the election was a referendum on Mr Vitter, and he lost. His obvious Achilles heel was the prostitution scandal that emerged in 2007, when his telephone number came up repeatedly in the records of the infamous “D.C. Madam.”<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">That episode, old as it is, had some staying power, and his opponents used it like a cudgel in this election cycle. None did so in such devastating fashion as Mr Edwards, who crafted a brutal ad that showed Mr Vitter missed a vote to honor fallen soldiers on a day he took a call from the madam, thus choosing “prostitutes over patriotism,” in the catchy parlance of the commercial.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">But Mr Vitter’s dalliance with prostitution doesn’t alone explain why voters rejected him. After all, in 2010, when the scandal was much fresher, Louisianians voted overwhelmingly to send him back to Washington for another term, and that time, his opponent was a better-known and well-liked congressman, Charlie Melancon.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">So what was so different in 2015? A few key things: Five years ago, Mr Vitter had no strong Republican rival in the race, meaning he was able to mostly stay true to Ronald Reagan’s famous “11th Commandment”: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” He simply trained his guns on Mr Melancon, portraying him as a slavering Obamaphile, and he came away with 57% of the vote. The same tactic worked like a charm last year in Mr Cassidy’s win over longtime Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in a campaign orchestrated by Mr Vitter.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">But party labels mean much less in Baton Rouge, the capital, than they do in Washington, DC. True, the state’s voters are reliably Republican, and the president polls terribly in the Pelican State. And the message that Louisiana must send a conservative to Washington, DC, to block Mr Obama’s left-wing agenda is a reliable seller. But trying to wrap the Obama mantle on a state representative trying to become governor—as Mr Vitter did over and over again—proved far less successful.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">It remains something of an open question whether Bobby Jindal’s deep unpopularity as governor – his approval ratings are hovering in the 20s, and the state is mired in a budget crisis – was a major factor in Mr Vitter’s demise. But the idea that voters were expressing some sort of broader disgust seems like wishful thinking on the part of state Democrats. As Mr Jindal’s handlers have noted, other conservatives on the ballot did just fine Saturday, suggesting that the GOP brand is still in good standing in Louisiana. It is the Vitter and Jindal brands that appear to be in the tank.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">It also can’t be overlooked that Mr Edwards—little known though he was—ran a clever campaign, and Mr Vitter ran a poor one. Mr Edwards held his powder on his rival until the run-off, knowing Mr Vitter was probably the only one of the three Republican candidates he could beat. Once the run-off began, he started clubbing him in earnest, while doing his best to lay claim to his own conservative bona fides: pro-gun; anti-abortion; West Point; former army ranger; family history of law enforcement. When the state’s sheriffs voted to endorse Mr Edwards—the group has often leaned Republican—it helped to blunt Mr Vitter’s claim that Mr Edwards was soft on crime and was planning to release thousands of “thugs” from state prisons.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Mr Vitter, meanwhile, despite his reputation as a formidable campaigner, never found his rhythm, and had a few notable mis-steps. None was more amusing than the one in which a private investigator working for Mr Vitter got arrested after surreptitiously taping a New Orleans-area sheriff and his cronies at a coffee shop. Confronted, the PI made a break for it, and was collared while hiding behind an air-conditioning unit in a suburban yard.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">It was never clear whether the operative actually did anything wrong, other than trespassing. But the episode resonated with the public: it reinforced their idea that Mr Vitter was a Nixonian creep who spied on his enemies. And the sheriff, Newell Normand, a longtime despiser of Mr Vitter, had a field day with it, treating reporters to an hour-long press conference in which he said he had turned over various materials to the FBI.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 2.3rem; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Mr Normand, a Republican from Jefferson Parish—the state’s second-largest county, with about 10% of its population—later cut an anti-Vitter commercial. The ad didn’t mention Mr Edwards. Rather, Normand just spoke of what a distasteful and selfish person Mr Vitter was. On November 21st, Mr Edwards edged Mr Vitter in Jefferson Parish, which typically is reliably Republican, and also happens to be Mr Vitter’s home county. It also happens to be where he has many of his fiercest foes, enemies earned over two decades of bare-knuckled politics. Lots of them were smiling on Saturday night.As the days tick down on Sen. David Vitter's time in office, the Republican lawmaker hasn't given up his protest over how Congress uses Obamacare.Vitter plans to block Beth Cobert's appointment as the permanent director of the Office of Personnel Management over what he describes as an "illegal rule" for members of Congress and their staff.He repeated his reasoning for his stance Wednesday (May 11) in a letter to his colleagues, saying he strongly disagreed with Cobert's apparent support for that rule."This is an outrageous act of fraud," he wrote. "It's all the sort of Washington insider self-dealing that Americans are so sick and tired of."... senator announced last fall he would not seek reelection in the Senate after he lost the Louisiana gubernatorial race to Democrat John Bel Edwards. Vitter's term ends in January 2017.http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/05/david_vitter_continues_to_batt.htmlKyle Ruckert, former chief of staff and campaign manager for U.S. Sen. David Vitter, has set up shop in Baton Rouge. He has launched BOLD Strategies for his political consulting and lobbying work. Ruckert is currently working on campaign efforts for Congressman Garret Graves and an organization that is advocating for the policies being pushed by Attorney General Jeff Landry. His client list also includes Morris & Dickson, the American Chemistry Council, Gulf Coast Bank and a new coalition of Louisiana road contractors. In addition to working the State Capitol, Ruckert says he’ll still keep one foot in D.C. to lobby for clients there.=TOSCA=<a href="http://www.alternet.org/books/heres-how-chemical-companies-decide-whats-toxic-not-epa-or-fda">http://www.alternet.org/books/heres-how-chemical-companies-decide-whats-toxic-not-epa-or-fda</a>an excerpt from the new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nation-Take-Money-Corrupts-Democracy/dp/1632861097/?tag=alternorg08-20" style="text-decoration: none;">Nation on the Take</a> by Wendell Potter & Nick Penniman (Bloomsbury Press, 2016):Arsenic, like formaldehyde, can cause health and developmental problems and at high levels is linked to certain cancers. Columbia University professor Joseph Graziano jokes, darkly, that arsenic makes lead look like a vitamin. That’s because, as he told the Center for Public Integrity’s David Heath, it “sweeps across the body and impact[s] everything that’s going on, every organ system.” It’s in weed killers marketed to fight your lawn’s crabgrass, and, in many places, it’s in the water we drink.A 2008 draft assessment by the EPA estimated that arsenic was seventeen times more potent than previously thought. In assessing the impact of arsenic on women in particular, the agency estimated that if a hundred thousand women were to consume the legal limit of arsenic currently permitted, 730 would get bladder or lung cancer.After seeing the draft assessment, the producers of arsenic-based pesticides that hired Charlie Grizzle to lobby for them, Drexel Chemical Co. and Luxembourg-Pamol, began to take action, as did mining companies like Rio Tinto, which also would have been affected by the regulation. As the Center for Public Integrity’s David Heath reported, a group of lobbyists, including Grizzle, set up a meeting with Representative Mike Simpson, the Republican from Idaho, who by 2015 had received a total of $8,000 in campaign donations from Grizzle, according to data compiled and analyzed by the Sunlight Foundation and the Center for Responsive Politics.All it took to send the EPA’s draft assessment to the National Academy of Sciences for a review was for a congressman to slip one paragraph into in a 221-page spending bill. When Heath asked Simpson about the paragraph, he said he worried about small communities not being able to meet drinking water standards.Such stealth maneuvers are not uncommon in Congress. A senator, for example, can anonymously put a hold on legislation, completely blocking it. Committee members can insert language written by lobbyists directly into a large spending bill before anyone has adequate time to review it. As Chellie Pingree, a Democrat from Maine, bemoaned to Center for Public Integrity reporter David Heath in June 2014: “It’s happening more and more in this Congress that we see less and less of what goes on behind the scenes, that members aren’t informed until the last minute. So things like this, major policy changes like this, can happen somewhat in the dark of the night with very little information to the public.”When confronted by a reporter, Simpson said he didn’t know that the paragraph inserted into the spending bill kept a weed killer containing arsenic on the market, and he said he had “no idea” that Grizzle had donated to his campaigns.Delays continued in subsequent years as industry-funded scientists presented their views to the Academy, sometimes without disclosing their financial ties. (The Center for Public Integrity reported that one such scientist suggested that an arsenic dose even higher than the current drinking water standard doesn’t cause cancer.) The result: in 2015, seven years after the EPA’s draft assessment that arsenic is considerably more dangerous than previously thought, many public health experts said the federal government was continuing to allow too much arsenic in our water and in products like weed killers. “Nobody’s Looking Out for Our Welfare”“We have a broken Toxic Substance Control Act,” says Tom Neltner. That’s the big problem that “federal health officials, prominent academics and even many leaders of the chemical industry” agree on, the Atlantic’s senior health care editor, Dr. James Hamblin, wrote in 2014.The obstacles for public health are (1) the vast majority of the eighty thousand industrial chemicals available for use are not regulated or even tested by the government, and (2) companies are not even required to submit most of them for testing. “What most Americans don’t realize is nobody’s looking out for their welfare,” Mount Sinai’s Philip Landrigan told us. “The great fear is always that there might be other chemicals out there that have never been tested but to which children are exposed.”In addition, the EPA (like the FDA) has to meet a very high standard before it can ban a toxin. The EPA has banned or limited only five. Weak laws even made it difficult to ban asbestos.There were signs in 2015 that the chemical safety laws might be strengthened when legislation to update the laws for the first time in thirty-nine years received bipartisan support in the Senate. It would, among other things, require more frequent testing at the federal level and make it easier for the government to pull products off the shelves.Sponsored by industry favorite David Vitter and New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall, who in the past has supported increased environmental protection, the bill even received kudos of sorts from some environmental advocacy groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, which view the legislation as an improvement over the broken status quo. Other green groups maintained it was much too weak. Senator Barbara Boxer was pushing a separate, more stringent bill that allowed for testing of more chemicals each year.Vitter’s spokesman wrote that the “legislation provides common-sense reforms that are necessary to update the United States’ forty year old chemical regulatory program. Senator Vitter has worked with colleagues across this aisle, stakeholders from all sectors, and the EPA to draft this legislation that will drastically increase EPA’s ability to ensure the safety of chemicals being used in the United States.” It soon became apparent, however, that the bill was being vetted—and possibly even written, at least in part—by industry lobbyists. Using metadata on a Microsoft Word document circulated by Udall, a reporter for Hearst Newspapers found that the document originated at the American Chemistry Council. Senator Boxer said she felt certain the industry wrote it, citing a Senate information technology staffer who investigated the issue.Udall, who the New York Times suggested had formed an “unlikely alliance” with the chemical industry, maintained that the document originated in his office. One of his aides told Hearst that “it was shared with a number of stakeholders including at least one other senator’s office. One of those stakeholders was the ACC.” But the council did not deny authoring that draft of the bill. “There’s no way for anyone to tell,” a council spokesperson said. Others, including Udall’s office, said anyone could change some metadata. A spokesperson for Udall said the senator has been engaged with all groups on all sides of the issue.Regardless of who wrote the bill’s language, the end product was more than palatable to the chemical industry. The American Chemistry Council called the bill the “culmination of a multi-year effort” to secure “compromise, common-sense” legislation that it characterized as “a balanced, science-driven solution that reassured the public that our products are safe and that keeps our economy growing.”The ten biggest chemical companies spent $154 million lobbying on the bill over 2013 and 2014, the watchdog group MapLight found. In contrast, public interest, environmental, and medical groups together spent less than $18 million. The environmental groups spent $6.6 million.Those chemical companies also contributed almost more than $4 million in campaign contributions to several candidates’ campaigns in the 2014 election as the sponsors were shepherding the bill through Congress, MapLight found. The ACC also donated $150,000 to a super PAC supporting Vitter’s gubernatorial bid in Louisiana.The ACC also spent $4 million plus on TV and radio advertising in support of the reelection of Udall and the industry’s other allies in Congress, the Times reported. The ads portrayed Udall as a man who brings “both sides together to get results.” According to the Times, Udall “emphatically rejects” that he was doing the industry’s bidding: “We can’t do something that is pie in the sky; we have to deal with reality,” he said. ---<div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">how Senator Vitter Battled the EPA Over Formaldehyde's Link to Cancer</div><p class="dek" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1rem 0px 1em; padding: 0px 245.656px 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Louisiana Sen. David Vitter has battled an EPA assessment that could label formaldehyde a 'known' carcinogen. The formaldehyde industry has been a generous campaign donor to Vitter.<div class="metadata" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><p class="byline" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-indent: inherit; text-transform: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; display: inline;">by <a class="name" href="https://www.propublica.org/people/joaquin-sapien" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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: transparent; border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">Joaquin Sapien</a> <time class="timestamp" datetime="2010-04-15EDT03:30" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline; white-space: nowrap;">April 15, 2010,</time></div><div class="metadata" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><time class="timestamp" datetime="2010-04-15EDT03:30" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline; white-space: nowrap;">
</time></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/how-senator-david-vitter-battled-formaldehyde-link-to-cancer" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none;">https://www.propublica.org/article/how-senator-david-vitter-battled-formaldehyde-link-to-cancer</a></div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">when Sen. David Vitter persuaded the EPA to agree to yet another review of its long-delayed assessment of the health risks of formaldehyde, he was praised by companies that use or manufacture a chemical found in everything from plywood to carpet.</div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As long as the studies continue, the EPA will still list formaldehyde as a "probable" rather than a "known" carcinogen, even though three major scientific reviews now link it to leukemia and have strengthened its ties to other forms of cancer. The chemical industry is fighting to avoid that designation, because it could lead to tighter regulations and require costly pollution controls.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"Delay means money. The longer they can delay labeling something a known carcinogen, the more money they can make," said James Huff, associate director for chemical carcinogenesis at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences in the Department of Health and Human Services.<div class="formald floatLeft" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 225px; background-color: rgb(255, 238, 238);"><table class="formald" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 2px solid rgb(216, 214, 211); border-collapse: collapse; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-spacing: 0px; width: 225px;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><th colspan="2" style="padding: 5px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(119, 119, 119); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: bottom; background: rgb(102, 51, 51);"><span class="hed" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Timeline: Formaldehyde's Convoluted Review</th></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">1989</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The first health assessment of <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">formaldehyde is written by the EPA.</td></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">1998</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The EPA begins updating the assessment.</td></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">2004</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite preliminary findings from a <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">National Cancer Institute study linking formaldehyde to leukemia, <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., persuades the EPA to delay a planned revision of the formaldehyde health assessment.</td></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">May 2009</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">National Cancer Institute releases new results in its ongoing health study, showing that workers exposed to a higher amount of formaldehyde had a <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">78 percent greater risk of leukemia than those exposed to lower amounts.</td></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">June 29, 2009</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Sen. David Vitter, R-La., urges the EPA to let the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">National Academy of Sciences review the formaldehyde assessment, a process that usually requires more time and money than the EPA's own external peer review panel.</td></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">September 2009</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">International Agency for Research on Cancer and the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">National Toxicology Program, a U.S. organization, both conclude that formaldehyde exposure is linked to leukemia.</td></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Sept. 23, 2009</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Vitter says he will delay the nomination of a senior EPA official until the EPA agrees to send the formaldehyde assessment to the National Academy. <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The EPA says the chemical doesn't need more review.</td></tr><tr style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Dec. 23, 2009</td><td style="padding: 3px 5px 10px; margin: 0px; border-width: 2px 2px thin; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(216, 214, 211) rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image: initial; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The EPA agrees to Vitter’s demand, and Vitter releases his hold on the EPA nominee. The EPA says it asked the National Academy to move quickly, so the review could be done in about the same amount of time it would have taken for an internal review.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The EPA’s chemical risk assessments are crucial to protecting the public’s health because they are the government’s most comprehensive analysis of the dangers the chemicals present and are used as the scientific foundation for state and federal regulations. But it usually takes years or even decades to get an assessment done, or to revise one that is outdated. Often the industry spends millions on lobbying and on scientific studies that counter the government’s conclusions.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The EPA has been trying since 1998 to update the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0419.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">formaldehyde assessment</a>, which was first written in 1989. But the agency’s efforts have repeatedly been stalled by the industry and Congress.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">This time, the resistance came from Vitter, a Republican senator from Louisiana, where, ironically, thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims say they suffered respiratory problems after being housed in government trailers contaminated with formaldehyde. Last year Vitter blocked the nomination of a key EPA official until the agency agreed to ask the National Academy of Sciences to weigh in on the assessment. Vitter’s spokesman, Joel DiGrado, told the media that "because of the FEMA trailer debacle, we need to get absolutely reliable information to the public about formaldehyde risk as soon as possible."<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vitter’s ties to the formaldehyde industry are well known. According to <a href="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/vitter_wants_epa_to_delay_rules_on_pollutant--mi.php" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Talking Points Memo</a>, his election campaign received about $20,500 last year from companies that produce large amounts of formaldehyde waste in Louisiana. But ProPublica found that Vitter actually took in nearly twice that amount if contributions from other companies, trade groups and lobbyists with interests in formaldehyde regulation are included. Among those contributors is Charles Grizzle, a <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?lname=Formaldehyde+Council&year=2009" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">top-paid lobbyist</a> for the Formaldehyde Council, an industry trade group that had <a href="http://formaldehyde.org/blog/entry/FCI_Responds_to_JNCI_Study_on_Formaldehyde_and_Occupational_Exposure" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">long sought</a> a National Academy review of the chemical.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Congress stalled the formaldehyde risk assessment once before. In 2004, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/propublica/assets/docs/leavitt_inhofe_letter_041105.pdf" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">persuaded</a> (PDF) the EPA to delay it, even though preliminary findings from a National Cancer Institute study had already linked formaldehyde to leukemia. Inhofe insisted that the EPA wait for a more "robust set of findings" from the institute.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">Koch Industries, a large chemical manufacturer and one of Inhofe’s biggest campaign <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00005582&type=I" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">contributors</a>, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00236489&cycle=2004" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">gave </a>Inhofe $6,000 that year. That same year Koch <a href="http://www.kochind.com/IndustryAreas/forestry.aspx" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">bought two pulp mills</a> from Georgia-Pacific, a major formaldehyde producer and one of the world’s largest plywood manufacturers. The next year Koch bought all of Georgia-Pacific.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The "more robust" findings that Inhofe asked for weren’t released until five years later – in May 2009 – and they <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/study-reinforces-links-between-formaldehyde-and-cancer-518" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">reinforced</a> the 2004 findings. Of the nearly 25,000 workers the National Cancer Institute had tracked for 30 years, those exposed to higher amounts of formaldehyde had a <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/formaldehyde" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">37 percent greater risk of death</a> from blood and lymphatic cancers and a 78 percent greater risk of leukemia than those exposed to lower amounts.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">The Formaldehyde Council immediately released a <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/related-to-sen.-vitter-and-formaldehyde-regulation#document/p9" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">statement</a> disputing those findings and calling for a full review by the National Academy of Sciences. Such an evaluation could take as long as four years, according to an EPA spokesperson.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But this time it wasn’t Inhofe who stepped in on the industry’s behalf, but Vitter, who like Inhofe sits on the Environment and Public Works Committee.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">On the day the study came out, Grizzle, the Formaldehyde Council lobbyist, <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/related-to-sen.-vitter-and-formaldehyde-regulation#document/p17" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">donated $2,400</a> to Vitter’s re-election campaign, the <a href="http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/citizens.shtml#fn2" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">maximum</a> an individual can give to a federal candidate in a single election cycle. Grizzle didn’t respond to phone calls and e-mails asking for comment for this story.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">Grizzle started his own lobbying firm in 1993, after serving as an EPA assistant administrator in the late 1980s. He joined George W. Bush’s <a href="https://projects.publicintegrity.org/report.aspx?aid=312&sid=200" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">transition team</a> in 2001, and <a href="https://projects.publicintegrity.org/bop2004/report.aspx?aid=273" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">raised more than</a> $500,000 for Bush’s 2004 campaign, earning the title of fundraising "pioneer." A Philadelphia Inquirer <a href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/online_extras/20081207_An_Eroding_Mission_at_EPA.html?page=5&c=y" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">investigation</a> found that Grizzle used his friendship with Bush aide Karl Rove to help get Stephen Johnson the job as assistant administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances at EPA. When Johnson went on to lead the EPA, he changed the risk assessment system so other federal agencies could comment more frequently and forcefully on the EPA’s science, a move that prolonged the process. In the waning days of the Bush administration, Johnson asked the National Academy of Sciences to do a full review of the formaldehyde assessment.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">DiGrado, Vitter’s spokesman, didn’t respond to questions about Vitter’s ties to the industry. Instead, he  sent ProPublica copies of two letters. <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/letters-from-lisa-jackson-preuss-ross-davis-re-david-vitter#document/p3" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">One showed that three Democratic lawmakers</a> also wanted the review. The other letter was written by an EPA official in the final week of the Bush administration, saying that the agency would "seek input" from the academy.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Several public health experts interviewed by ProPublica think the industry’s goal is to delay the assessment as long as possible and to undermine the credibility of the EPA’s chemical risk assessment program.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"This gives the appearance of another congressman being more interested in industry than the health of the public," said Dr. Peter Infante, a former director of the Office of Carcinogen Identification and Classification at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "The public should not think that because a government document is undergoing NAS review, that that review is going to be competent."<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">Other public health experts point to the National Academy’s recent <a href="http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12863" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">review</a> of the EPA’s assessment of perchloroethylene, or PCE, as an example of how additional studies can drag out the assessment process.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">PCE is used in dry cleaning and is found in high concentrations at military bases. Like formaldehyde, it has been linked to leukemia, and the EPA has been trying to update the chemical’s assessment since 1998. In 2008 the agency submitted its findings to the National Academy, and in February the academy sent the assessment back to the EPA with a long list of questions. Although the academy agreed with the EPA’s conclusion that PCE was a "likely" carcinogen, it suggested that the safety standards should be significantly weaker than those the EPA had proposed. The EPA is now responding to the academy’s comments.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://boxer.senate.gov/en/press/releases/051404.cfm" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Democrats</a> in Congress and public health watchdogs have criticized the academy in the past for being slanted toward industry, because some of the scientists who serve on its review panels have written studies paid for by chemical companies whose products they are evaluating. An academy spokeswoman said it thoroughly vets its panelists and has strict financial conflict of interest rules.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">The Road to Review<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vitter began his push for a National Academy review of formaldehyde in a <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/related-to-sen.-vitter-and-formaldehyde-regulation#document/p1" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">June 29 letter</a> to the EPA. It included a list of questions about the formaldehyde assessment and urged the <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/letters-from-lisa-jackson-preuss-ross-davis-re-david-vitter#document/p1" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">EPA to ask the National Academy</a> to weigh in on it, according to documents ProPublica obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The EPA responded on July 8, defending its plan to have the assessment reviewed by its own external peer review panel, the Scientific Advisory Board. The letter noted that the advisory board could do the review in 12 to 16 months for about $200,000, while the average National Academy review takes 18 to 24 months and costs $800,000 to $1 million.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">In September, two more major scientific reviews raised concerns about the dangers of formaldehyde. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization, concluded it had <a href="http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100fintro/100F-introduction.pdf" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">enough evidence</a> (PDF) to show that formaldehyde exposure can cause leukemia. And the National Toxicology Program changed its <a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/december/spotlight-expert.cfm" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">categorization of formaldehyde</a> from "reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen" to "known carcinogen."<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But Vitter continued pressuring the EPA for more review.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">On Sept. 23, he confirmed to reporters that he had placed a hold on the nomination of Paul Anastas, the Obama administration’s choice to head the EPA’s Office of Research and Development. He said he wouldn’t release the hold until the EPA agreed to send the formaldehyde assessment to the National Academy. To smooth the way for that review, he tried to add an <a href="http://www.eenews.net/public/25/12454/features/documents/2009/09/22/document_gw_05.pdf" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">amendment</a> (PDF) to an EPA appropriations bill mandating that the agency set aside $1 million for a National Academy review. Grizzle, the Formaldehyde Council lobbyist, worked to get support for the amendment, according to one of his lobbying disclosure <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/related-to-sen.-vitter-and-formaldehyde-regulation#document/p20" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">forms</a> (PDF). (The amendment wasn’t included in the final bill.)<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On Sept. 24 EPA chief Lisa Jackson met with Vitter and offered a compromise: She would ask the National Academy for its advice on the formaldehyde assessment.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That same day, an EPA spokeswoman told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that the chemical <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/09/epa_nomination_held_up_amid_de.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">didn’t need more review</a>, and that the EPA was ready to begin finalizing its assessment.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"This is not the time for more delay," said EPA spokeswoman Adora Andy.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But Vitter didn’t budge.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">In November, a political action committee created by the American Chemistry Council, whose members include formaldehyde producers Hexion Specialty Chemicals and DuPont, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expenddetail.php?cycle=2010&cmte=C00252338&name=David+Vitter+For+Us+Senate" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">gave Vitter</a> a $2,500 campaign contribution, in addition to the $1,500 it had given him earlier in the year. On Dec. 2, Koch Industries gave Vitter’s political action committee a <a href="http://images.nictusa.com/pdf/482/10930110482/10930110482.pdf#navpanes=0" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">check</a> for $5,000. On Dec. 7, Grizzle <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/propublica/assets/docs/Grizzle%20Donation%202009%20Year%20end%20report.pdf" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">gave Vitter</a> (PDF) $200. On Dec. 17, the Society of the Plastics Industry, which represents formaldehyde manufacturers BASF and DuPont, hosted a <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/party/17835/" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">fundraiser</a> for Vitter at its headquarters, recommending donations of $1,000 per person.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On Dec. 23, Vitter got what he wanted. Jackson agreed to send the study to the National Academy. <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/letters-from-lisa-jackson-preuss-ross-davis-re-david-vitter#document/p4" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">But in a letter Jackson sent to the Formaldehyde Council</a> that day, she indicated it would not be the exhaustive study the industry had pushed for but would instead be done under a "compressed timeframe." Dr. Peter Preuss, who heads the EPA’s chemical risk assessment program, said it will likely be completed in a year.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vitter removed his hold on Anastas’ nomination on Christmas Eve, and the Formaldehyde Council <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1598-documents-related-to-sen-vitter-and-formaldehyde-regulation.html#document/p9" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">released a statement</a> praising his work.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"Overcoming the agency's intransigence in engaging NAS on formaldehyde would have been impossible without the timely intervention of U.S. Senator David Vitter," Betsy Natz, the council’s executive director, said in the news release. The statement said Jackson had contacted the council directly to notify it of the news.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline;">Last month the National Academy began gathering public comments about the 13 scientists it has selected for the formaldehyde panel. The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, has already written a <a href="https://www.propublica.org/documents/item/related-to-sen.-vitter-and-formaldehyde-regulation#document/p11" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: inherit; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">letter</a> raising questions about two of the candidates. One worked for the Hamner Institute, an industry-supported laboratory that lists the Formaldehyde Council as one of its sponsors. The other worked for more than a decade at Dow Chemical, which is a member of the Formaldehyde Council and has contributed to Vitter’s campaigns.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.625; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On March 24, Grizzle, the Formaldehyde Council lobbyist, co-hosted a <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/party/19825/" style="text-decoration-line: none; outline: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; 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(0, 105, 151); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">fundraiser </a>for Vitter at the Capitol Hill Club, an exclusive Republican gathering place. The suggested donation was $1,000 per person.<div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</div>===Two years after Train’s announcement—and after significant

negotiation between the government and industry—the TSCA was finally

signed into law by President Ford on Oct. 11, 1976, authorizing the EPA

to test and regulate new and existing chemicals. In a statement

accompanying the signing of the bill, Ford said, “I believe this

legislation may be one of the <a href="http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=6445" target="_blank">most important</a>

pieces of environmental legislation that has been enacted by the

Congress.” He may have been right, but important does not equal

effective.

Fixing “Fundamental Weaknesses”

A large part of the problem with the TSCA is its fundamentally

Sisyphean nature. In 1994, former EPA Assistant Administrator Lynn

Goldman testified to Congress, saying, “Our available tools for

gathering testing data about these chemicals are <a href="https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/policy/acsonthehill/briefings/tscareform/crs-tsca-implementation-2008.pdf" target="_blank">cumbersome</a>.”

Later, she explained that under the provisions of the TSCA, “It’s

almost as if … we have to, first, prove that chemicals are risky before

we can have the testing done to show whether or not the chemicals are

risky.” Since the TSCA was enacted, some 62,000 chemicals have never

been tested by the EPA because they were grandfathered in and remain on

the market.

In 2009, Michael Wilson and Megan Schwarzman, environmental health scientists at UC Berkeley, published a damning <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19672398" target="_blank">analysis</a>

of U.S. chemical policy, identifying “fundamental weaknesses” in the

way the government protects Americans from toxic substances—weaknesses

that not only leave the public unprotected, but hamstring the

development of a chemical marketplace that is less toxic and more

sustainable. “These policies have <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19672398" target="_blank">largely failed</a>

to adequately protect public health or the environment or motivate

investment in or scientific exploration of cleaner chemical

technologies,” they wrote in the paper, which was published in

Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal. “On this

trajectory,” they warned, “the United States will face growing health,

environmental and economic problems related to chemical exposures and

pollution.”

Two bills, a House and Senate bill, which passed their respective

chambers last year, represent Congress’ first serious attempt to

“reauthorize and modernize” the TSCA. The Senate bill, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr2576/BILLS-114hr2576eas.pdf" target="_blank">S. 697</a>

(the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act), has

been hailed as the result of bipartisan compromise on Capitol Hill led

by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), who

co-sponsored a bill in May 2013. A month later, Lautenberg died. Sen.

Tom Udall (D-NM) picked up the reins and worked with Vitter—an ally of

the chemical companies—to improve the bill, which eventually secured

enough support in the Senate to be filibuster-proof. Now dubbed the

“Udall-Vitter chemical safety bill,” it <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/newsroom/12774/" target="_blank">passed</a> on Dec. 17 by unanimous consent.

New York Times columnist Joe Nocera sees a rare quality in the

Udall-Vitter bill: “In this era of polarized politics,” he writes, “it

is something of a miracle.” He said Udall told him that the bill stood

as “an example of good, old-fashioned legislating.” Nocera also <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/06/opinion/the-case-for-compromise.html?r=0" target="blank">relayed</a> the opinion of Dominique Browning, a co-founder of the grassroots green group known as Moms Clean Air Force:

“Browning, an old friend of mine,

describes herself as an environmental pragmatist. She concluded that

whatever the flaws in the bill, it was a vast improvement over the

status quo—a status quo in which the Environmental Protection Agency

can’t even <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/business/energy-environment/the-uphill-battle-to-better-regulate-formaldehyde.html" target="_blank">regulate formaldehyde</a>.

She and her brain trust decided that their 570,000-member group would

work to improve the bill instead of oppose it. This is also the position

taken by the ever-pragmatic Fred Krupp of the Environmental Defense

Fund, with which Moms Clean Air Force is affiliated.”

The House bill, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2576/text" target="_blank">H.R. 2576</a>

(TSCA Modernization Act), was introduced in May 2015 by Rep. John

Shimkus (R-IL-15) and passed in June. The next step is for the bills to

be assessed in a conference committee to reconcile the two versions.

(Richard Denison, lead senior scientist at the nonprofit Environmental

Defense Fund has published an excellent side-by-side <a href="http://blogs.edf.org/health/2015/06/29/comparing-the-senate-and-house-tsca-reform-legislation-a-side-by-side/" target="_blank">comparison</a> of how the two bills address 12 of TSCA’s key limitations).

As the first major overhaul of the 40-year-old TSCA, the bills have

several laudable goals and fix glaring omissions in the old law. For

example, the TSCA gives no special consideration to segments of the

population that may be more susceptible to toxins, such as infants,

children, pregnant women, workers and the elderly. This is a striking

oversight. Less than <a href="http://www.mountsinai.org/patient-care/service-areas/children/areas-of-care/childrens-environmental-health-center/childrens-disease-and-the-environment/children-and-toxic-chemicals" target="_blank">20 percent</a>

of HPV chemicals have been studied for their ability to impact child

development. The Senate bill addresses this omission, expressly

requiring protections for these vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the TSCA

gives the EPA the authority, but regrettably no mandate, to restrict

chemicals deemed to present an “unreasonable risk.” The new legislation

closes this breach by requiring restrictions on such substances.

Another target of reform is the “safety standard.” Under the TSCA, a

substance of unreasonable risk requires the EPA to conduct a

cost-benefit analysis, an unwieldy requirement that is ultimately not

necessary—if the bottom line is protecting public health. Both bills

address this by prohibiting the EPA from considering costs and other

non-risk factors in making safety determinations, eliminating an onerous

requirement of the TSCA that Denison characterized as a “<a href="http://blogs.edf.org/health/2015/06/29/comparing-the-senate-and-house-tsca-reform-legislation-a-side-by-side/" target="_blank">paralyzing regulatory hurdle</a>.”

The final bill will likely meet one of the threshold principles for

the Obama administration: that the safety standard is a “health only”

standard and not a “cost-benefit” standard. In their analysis, Wilson

and Schwarzman note three key “gaps” caused by the weaknesses in the

TSCA:

<ul><li>Data gap: “Producers are not required to

investigate and disclose sufficient information on chemicals’ hazard

traits to government, businesses that use chemicals or the public.”</li></ul>

<ul><li>Safety gap: “Government lacks the legal tools it

needs to efficiently identify, prioritize and take action to mitigate

the potential health and environmental effects of hazardous chemicals.”</li></ul>

<ul><li>Technology gap: “Industry and government have invested only marginally in green chemistry research, development and education.”</li></ul>

The bills address these gaps to varying degrees. Regarding the data

gap, the new legislation mandates a greater level of transparency,

requiring an upfront justification from companies for all or most new

claims. Regarding the safety gap, the bills, as stated earlier, prohibit

the EPA from considering costs in risk evaluations. Regarding the

technology gap, the Senate bill mandates that, no later than two years

after the bill’s enactment, an Interagency Working Group—comprised of

representative from several agencies, including the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, EPA, National Institutes of Health and the National Science

Foundation—must submit “a summary of federally funded sustainable

chemistry research, development, demonstration, technology transfer,

commercialization, education and training activities.”

Whether or not these changes survive the final combined version of the bill remains to be seen.===
11/15
<div>Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced Saturday night that he will not

run for reelection after losing Louisiana's gubernatorial runoff

election.</div><div> </div><div>Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards

defeated Vitter, bringing an end to a rough campaign that saw Vitter

fall short after entering as the heavy favorite.</div><div> </div><div>The New Orleans Times-Picayune <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/11/louisiana_governor_democrat.html#incart_2box_nola_river_orleans_news">called the race</a> for Edwards just after 10 p.m. Eastern time Saturday night, a little more than hour after polls closed.</div><div> </div><div>"I am going to refocus on the important work of the United States Senate," Vitter said during his concession speech, <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/11/david_vitter_not_running_for_r.html" target="blank">according to NOLA.com</a>. "I am, but I am only going to be doing that for one more year through the end of this term."</div>
formaldehyde<a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/06/28/15000/how-politics-derailed-epa-science-arsenic-endangering-public-health">http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/06/28/15000/how-politics-derailed-epa-science-arsenic-endangering-public-health</a>

cfact:<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">“Sue and Settle “ practices, sometimes referred to as “friendly lawsuits,” are cozy deals through which far-left radical environmental groups file lawsuits against federal agencies wherein court-ordered “consent decrees” are issued based upon a prearranged settlement agreement they collaboratively craft together in advance behind closed doors. Then, rather than allowing the entire process to play out, the agency being sued settles the lawsuit by agreeing to move forward with the requested action both they and the litigants want.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">And who pays for this litigation? All too often we taxpayers are put on the hook for legal fees of both colluding parties. According to a 2011 GAO report, this amounted to millions of dollars awarded to environmental organizations for EPA litigations between 1995 and 2010. Three “Big Green” groups received 41% of this payback, with Earthjustice accounting for 30% ($4,655,425). Two other organizations with histories of lobbying for regulations EPA wants while also receiving agency fundng are the American Lung Association (ALA) and the Sierra Club.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">In addition, the Department of Justice forked over at least $43 million of our money defending the EPA in court between 1998 and 2010. This didn’t include money spent by the EPA for its legal costs in connection with those ripoffs, because the EPA doesn’t keep track of its attorneys’ time on a case-by-case basis.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has concluded that Sue and Settle rulemaking is responsible for many of EPA’s “most controversial, economically significant regulations that have plagued the business community for the past few years.”  Included are regulations on power plants, refineries, mining operations, cement plants, chemical manufacturers, and a host of other industries. Such consent decree-based rulemaking enables EPA to argue to Congress: “The court made us do it.”<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Directing special attention to these congressional end run practices, Louisiana Senator<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> David Vitter, top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has launched an investigation. Last year he asked his Louisiana Attorney General<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> Buddy Caldwell to join with AG’s of 13 other states who filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) seeking all correspondence between EPA and a list of 80 environmental, labor union, and public interest organizations that have been party to litigation since the start of the Obama Administration.- See more at: http://www.cfact.org/2014/01/29/epa-ban-on-wood-stoves-is-freezing-out-rural-america/#sthash.v7waWGFy.dpufproposed 61 bills passed 0; tho claim amend to cut subsidies of big banks?) no food stamps for felons?http://www.desmogblog.com/directory/vocabulary/175158/14On July 30, the Republican minority of the <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.WelcomeMessage" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; letter-spacing: 0.03em; line-height: 1.5em;">U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works</a>, headed by Sen. David Vitter, released a report titled “<a href="http://1.usa.gov/1u326Qm" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; letter-spacing: 0.03em; line-height: 1.5em;">The Chain of Environmental Command: How a Club of Billionaires and Their Foundations Control the Environmental Movement and Obama’s EPA</a>.”Critics of the report say it is <a href="http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">propaganda designed to skewer the Obama EPA and environmental philanthropists</a> for “<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-coleman/senate-report-alleges-bil_b_5656554.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">conspiring to help the environment</a>.”

Vitter's <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2014&cid=N00009659&type=I" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">chief source of campaign cash is the oil and gas industry</a> and he recently called the billionaire Koch Brothers “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7mStFMk6og" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">two of the most patriotic Americans in the history of the Earth</a>.” What the 92-page report leaves out is that Vitter — an esteemed <a href="http://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/states/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">member</a> of the Senate “<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/10/28/is-the-senate-a-millionaires-club" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Millionaires Club</a>” — owns tens of thousands of dollars in stocks of the electric utility <a href="http://sourcewatch.org/index.php/Wisconsin_Energy" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Wisconsin Energy Corporation (We Energies)</a>, which owns major <a href="http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/we_energies_grapples_with_new_epa_rules_477313021.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">coal-fired power plants</a> in both <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oak_Creek_power_station" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Oak Creek, Wisc.</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pleasant_Prairie_Power_Plant" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Pleasant Prairie, Wisc</a>.We Energies says it stands to lose economically if the proposed Obama EPA carbon rules are implemented, citing the potential risks related to legislation and regulation in its<a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/783325/000010781514000080/wec0630201410q.htm" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; letter-spacing: 0.03em; line-height: 1.5em;"> most recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form 10-Q</a>....still pals?
<div class="header" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><h1 class="title" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 5px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; font-stretch: normal; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(224, 215, 82); padding-bottom: 3px;"><a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/in-the-news?ID=65BB94B6-B1A4-40C1-9177-32F9168ADEDA" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; background: 0px 0px;">Sen. Inhofe: America must rebuild its transportation system</a></h1><h4 class="date-time" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 5px;">Friday June 26, 2015</h4></div><div class="media" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; zoom: 1; margin-top: 15px; line-height: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><h5 class="byline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-style: italic;">Sen. Jim Inhofe</h5>Our nation has a long lineage of transportation vitality. President Eisenhower knew this in 1956 when he authorized the Interstate Highway Act. His vision, that the “…transportation system (is) a dynamic element in the very name we bear — United States … and without (it), we would be a mere alliance of many separate parts,” remains true today. Our roads and bridges are a vital aspect of our nation’s security and economic prosperity.While it is not often the case that the government spends taxpayer dollars wisely — or on deserving programs — the building, maintaining and modernizing of our nation’s roads and bridges is one area any Constitution-abiding member of Congress should defend and work to properly fund.This is why on Tuesday I introduced with Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., David Vitter, R-La., and Tom Caper, D-Del., the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (DRIVE Act), to support the vision of President Eisenhower and appropriately fund the very backbone of this great nation’s economy and national security.</div></div>=Two attempts last week to force the committee to schedule hearings on climate change scientific findings failed."I am disappointed that the primary energy committee has come to this point of denying the science," Rep. Henry Waxman , D-Calif., said in a statement Wednesday. "House Republicans have buried their heads in the sand."Cheyenne Steel, Republican press secretary from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said via email that Sen. David Vitter , R-La., as well as other Republican committee members, is focused on more "answers on the science behind EPA's new air standards regulations and how they will impact states and localities and economic recovery."Steel cited two bills Vitter recently introduced: one against carbon tax and one against regulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions unless implemented by China, India and Russia.[similarto amendment to stall WM?]<div>
</div>January 9, 2013 The new top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has laid off almost all the professional staff—about a dozen—who worked under his predecessor, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., National Journal has learned.This is a departure from the norm, Hill sources on both sides of the aisle tell NJ, where many professional committee staff members often remain through elections and other committee shuffles. To wit: The new chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has decided to retain about half of the staff who worked under the former chairman, now retired Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. Wyden announced his new staff, including many who worked for Bingaman, on Wednesday.“My EPW staff did excellent work during my 10 years in leadership on the committee,” Inhofe told National Journal in an e-mailed statement Wednesday. “I trust Sen. Vitter has hired people he views will be of a good resource to his goals as the new Ranking Member and a representative of Louisiana."Among the staff let go were James O’Keeffe, a senior economist who had worked for the committee since 2005, according to Legistorm, an online database of congressional staff information. He focused on infrastructure issues, including the Highway Trust Fund, according to a source familiar with the committee workings. Todd Johnston, who worked on coal issues for Inhofe at the committee since 2007 and before that for former Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, was also let go.Communication and staff directors are often let go during committee shakeups. These positions are more political than other policy-oriented positions, and the people holding these posts often build strong relationships with the senator they represent so it’s natural they would leave along with the senator.Matt Dempsey, who has worked for Inhofe for a decade and had been Inhofe’s communications director at the committee for the past four years, was among those Vitter did not retain. Inhofe is now ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, whose press inquiries will be handled by Inhofe’s personal office spokespeople Jared Young and Donelle Harder.New chairs often keep policy advisers and committee counsel because of the institutional knowledge these people offer.“A lot of times the professional staff will stay because they have had so much experience,” said Robert Dillon, spokesman for Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. He said that Murkowski retained about 85 percent of the professional staff from the previous top Republican on the committee, Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico. Dillon was quick to point out that every new chair handles staffing differently.It’s not clear what reason, if any particular one, prompted Vitter to not keep most of the policy staff on the committee. One rumor, according to an aide who used to work for Inhofe on the panel, is that the two senators didn’t get along.“From what I’ve been told, it was due to the fact that Vitter was pissed at Inhofe because Inhofe refused to help him fund-raise because of the prostitution scandal that Vitter faced,” the aide said, who was not among the dozen or so most recently let go. “Vitter wanted to purge and get rid of everyone.”Vitter easily won reelection in 2010 despite the scandal, which was revealed in 2007. The PAC affiliated with Inhofe, Fund for a Conservative Future, did donate $5,000 to Vitter’s reelection campaign in 2010, according to data compiled by Center for Responsive Politics. In Vitter’s first election to the Senate in 2004, Inhofe’s PAC donated $10,000.
<div>
</div><div>Louisiana Senator David Vitter made headlines with conservative websites in the last few days by releasing a report called <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=8af3d005-1337-4bc3-bcd6-be947c523439" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Chain of Environmental Command</a>: How a Club of Billionaires and Their Foundations Control the Environmental Movement and Obama’s EPA.Below the lengthy title is a <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=8af3d005-1337-4bc3-bcd6-be947c523439" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">report</a> that claims breathlessly that environmental and public health foundations are part of a cabal of “a close knit network of likeminded funders, environmental activists, and government bureaucrats” responsible for spreading “bogus propaganda disguised as science and news to spread an anti-fossil energy message to the unknowing public.”The report goes on to list groups such as the American Lung Association and the Union of Concerned Scientists as “agenda-driven far-left elites” obsessed with using “secretive backroom deals and transfers” to hide their agenda from the public. To shine a light on these organizations, the Vitter report details annual budget numbers and board membership lists scrubbed from annual tax forms that these nonprofits, like any nonprofit, are required to publish.Though the report scolds the nonprofits as untrustworthy and elite, there’s virtually no information in the report that details anything they have done wrong. Rather, Vitter and his staff appears to disagree with the shared policy goals of these nonprofits, which include combatting global warming as well reducing cancer-causing pollutants from the air and water.If there is a conspiracy afoot, as eluded to in “Chain of Environmental Command,” perhaps Vitter himself is involved.In 2009, Vitter <a href="http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/news/legislative-activities/2008-legislative-activities/senators-cochran-boxer-brownback-vitter-join-as-cosponsors-of-lung-cancer-mortality-reduction-act.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">co-sponsored</a> the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act, legislation to require several federal agencies to work together on a comprehensive plan for reducing lung cancer mortality. The American Lung Association, one of the groups targeted by the Vitter report as a purveyor of “bogus propaganda,” <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lungcan-celebrates-lung-cancer-screening-breakthrough-220244871.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">helped pass</a> the legislation, which was signed into law last year.Or what about the RESTORE Act, which funds coastal restoration and economic recovery projects along the Gulf Coast using fines generated from the 2010 BP oil spill? The legislation <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/environmental_groups_praise_bi.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">was supported</a> by the Environmental Defense Fund, the Nature Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation. All four groups were named in Vitter’s report as members of the pernicious “Club of Billionaires.” Vitter regularly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTzgo9xRk-Q" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">boasts</a> that he was a champion of this environmental group-backed legislation, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/bp-oil-spill-restore-act_n_1675566.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">which was signed</a> into law in 2012.A request a comment from Vitter’s office was not returned.The change in tone from Vitter corresponds closely to his new perch as the top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, a position he <a href="http://theadvocate.com/home/4815967-125/vitter-to-become-top-gop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">secured last year</a>.  Since 2013, Vitter has positioned himself as a close ally of the fossil fuel industry, attempting to <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/vitter_and_other_republicans_b.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">block</a> the confirmation of the Environmental Protection Agency administrator[gina?] and going so far as to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/20/sen-david-vitter-god-bless-the-koch-brothers/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">proclaim</a>, “God bless the Koch brothers.”Fossil fuel companies have leaned on congressional Republicans to block new environmental regulations. But with little influence within the Obama administration and without control of the Senate, lawmakers close to industry have lashed out at public health advocates and scientists. Just as Vitter is now targetting NGOs, the GOP on the House Science Committee has <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/house-science-committee_n_5525609.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">begun</a> subpoenaing scientists that have researched air pollutants, a move widely condemned by observers.- See more at: http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/#sthash.BowZESWq.QR40tBAq.dpuf- See more at:<a href="http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/#sthash.BowZESWq.dpuf"> http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/#sthash.BowZESWq.dpuf</a></div>another take on bill rept;
<h2 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-coleman/senate-report-alleges-bil_b_5656554.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">David Vitter's Green "Billionaire's Club" Report:</a></h2><h2 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</h2>"The Chain of Environmental Command: How a <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/08/green-billionaires-club-david-vitter-owns-stock-coal-utilities-epa-obama-carbon-rules" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Club of Billionaires</a> and their Foundations Control the Environmental Movement and Obama's EPA" is a <a href="http://1.usa.gov/1s3Qv19" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">report </a>released in July of 2014 by the the US Senate Commitee on Environmental and Public Works (EPW) republican minority. The "<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/18/1322750/-Taxpayers-Fund-Vitter-s-Billionaire-Club-Conspiracy-Theory-Oil-and-Gas-Funds-his-Campaigns#" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Billionaire's Club</a>" funding report contains information about donations from large <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia/taxpayers-fund-vitters-bi_b_5689624.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">environmental foundations</a> to various environmental groups.The <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">green "Billionaire's Club" report</a> was released by the minority republican staff of the Environment and Public Works committee, chaired by David Vitter. The report's only listed author is <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Kristina Moore</a>, a staff member of EPW.The report goes into detail about the flow of grants between non-profits and foundations engaged in environmentally focused work. It does not find any conflicts of interest in the environmental community, such as corporate donations funnelled to groups who advocate positions that benifit those corporations. In fact, the report is silent about corporate funding of groups like the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Legislative_Exchange_Council" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)</a>, a non-profit that accepts corprate funding to lobby against environmental regulations. ALEC has been repeatedly accused of violating their non-profit status by lobbying state and federal officials without disclosure.During<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qViUij0Ztwo" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;"> an interview</a> regarding the <a href="http://www.nationofchange.org/overseeing-profits-koch-tied-roots-vitter-s-green-billionaires-club-report-1409063450" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Billionaire's Club report</a>, David Vitter was asked why the <a href="http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">environmental funding report</a> only focused on groups supporting environmental regulation. Specifically he was asked "did you look on the other side?" Senator Vitter responded "we didn't see any multi layered system [on the anti-environmental side] like this to completely defeat transparency." This quote shows the partisan nature of the report, given the widespread reporting of shadow funding and <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/donors-trust-donor-capital-fund-dark-money-koch-bradley-devos" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">dark money groups</a> used by large corporate interests like the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/12/nonprofit-funneled-money-to-kochs-voter-database-effort-other-conservative-groups/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Koch Brothers</a>. ProPublica exposed a very complex scheme used by the <a href="http://projects.propublica.org/graphics/koch" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Kochs to funnel money</a> used for political purposes through non-profits.<h2 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ties to Cause of Action</h2>Meta data and other information included in the report indicates that it may be tied to the advocacy group <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Cause_of_Action" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Cause of Action</a>. Cause of Action uses the legal system to fight "government overreach" like the Department of Energy's <a href="http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1059972505" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">energy efficiency standards</a>.The Executive Director of Cause of Action is <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Dan </a><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Epstein</a>, <a href="http://danielzepstein.brandyourself.com/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">former legal council</a> for  <a class="new" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Charles_G.Koch_Charitable_Institute&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Charles G. Koch Charitable Institute (page does not exist)" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; line-height: 19px; background-image: none;">Charles G. Koch Charitable Institute</a>. The Koch Brothers have recieved significant criticism for using their multi-billion dollar oil fortune to fund controversial political causes, like <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/global-warming-and-energy/polluterwatch/koch-industries/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">opposing solutions to global warming and species loss.</a><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Dan Epstein</a> and <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Kristina Moore</a>, the listed author of the report, both <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">worked for Congressman Darrell Issa</a> on the Oversight Committee's Investigation Team.Much of the data for the report was obtained throught Freedom of Information Act requests, filed by Cause of Action employee <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/adam-butschek/8/3ba/7a1" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; line-height: normal;">Adam Butschek</a> in 2013.Furthermore, Cause of Action <a href="http://causeofaction.org/discussion-sen-david-vitter-environmentalist-money-shaping-public-policy/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">interviewed David Vitter</a> about the <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Billionaire's Club environmental funding report</a> on the same day that meta data reveals the report was being edited, implying a close working relationship between Vitter's EPW staff and Cause of Action. <h2 style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">David Vitter's Financial Ties</h2><div>
</div>Senator Vitter has publicly supported the billionaire Koch Brothers<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7mStFMk6og" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> on camera</a> saying: "I think the Koch Brothers are two of the most patriotic Americans in the history of the Earth… I’ll be honest with you, God bless the Koch brothers." According to <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/election/2014/03/21/3417468/vitter-koch-brothers/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">ThinkProgress,</a> the Koch brothers have supported Senator Vitter with politcal donations. A review of campaign contributions finds that he and his leadership PAC have received at least $57,500 from the Koch brothers’ corporate political action committee - the same <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/campaign_reform_advocacy_group.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">PAC</a> that has been repeatedly accused of breaking elections laws surrounding money contributions. Besides the Koch brothers, Senator Vitter's largest political contributors are <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2014&cid=N00009659&type=I" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">billionaire oil and gas interests</a>.  [http://blog.nola.com/politics/print.html?entry=/2014/03/campaign_reform_advocacy_group.html<h1 style="margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px; line-height: 22.2px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Campaign reform advocacy groups file FEC complaint against Vitter Super PAC</h1><div class="clearfix" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="article_container" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="top_images" style="line-height: 22.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="resimg adv-photo-large" data-image="http://media.nola.com/politics/photo/11451973-mmmain.jpg" data-position="article-main" style="margin: 5px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; display: block; height: 0px; max-width: 380px; background: rgb(241, 241, 241);">david-vitter-official-horizontal.jpg</div><div class="Caption" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">U.S. Sen. David Vitter Super PAC draws an FEC complaint Tuesday (March 18, 2014) from two campaign reform advocacy groups. (U.S. Senate)</div></div><div id="Byline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune By Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune  Email the author | Follow on Twitter  on March 18, 2014 at 7:29 PM, updated March 18, 2014 at 8:46 PM<div id="sponsor_tablet" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="sub-sponsor" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="social_top" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="article_inset" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="story-package" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="series" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="adunit nomobilead" id="StoryAd" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="entry-content" style="line-height: 22.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="ndn_embed" id="ndn-video-player-1" data-config-distributor-id="90300" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">WASHINGTON -- Two campaign finance reform advocacy groups Tuesday asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate what it says are possible solicitation of illegal campaign contributions by a Super PAC formed by backers of Sen. David Vitter, R-La.The complaint was filed by the Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21. It says the Vitter Super PAC, The Fund for Louisiana's Future, did not include the required disclaimers as it sought unlimited "soft money" donations and isn't really separate from his campaign organizations for his 2015 run for Louisiana governor and his Senate re-election campaign.The Fund for Louisiana's Future was created to raise funds that could be used to advocate either for Vitter's current campaign for Louisiana governor, or a possible re-election bid for the Senate in 2016, as well as possibly to raise concerns about potential Vitter opponents, according to Charles Spies, the group's lawyer."This is a frivolous complaint filed by left-wing activist organizations with a history of failed harassment of conservative leaders," Spies said of the FEC filing. "Sen. Vitter and the Fund for Louisiana's Future have fully complied with all FEC rules and regulations."As of Jan. 31, The Fund reported raising $1.5 million, including three donations of $100,000 each.The complaint by the two campaign reform advocacy groups says that the Fund for Louisiana employs the same fund-raisers, Lisa Spies, the wife of Charles Spies, and Courtney Guastella, used by his regular Senate campaign fund and therefore is not really separate.The complaint also says The Fund for Louisiana's Future raised money in a way that did not comply with the FEC's requirements for groups raising non-federal campaign contributions. So-called soft money donations aren't subject to dollar limits, and unlike donations directly to federal candidates, can be made directly by corporations."Where a federal officeholder or candidate is mentioned in a solicitation for a fundraising event for another entity that is soliciting soft money contributions in excess of the federal limits and from prohibited sources, the FEC rules require that the solicitation must: (1) identify the federal candidate only 'as a featured guest, honored guest, special guest, featured speaker, or honored speaker, or in any other manner not specifically related to fundraising' and (2) include 'a clear and conspicuous disclaimer that the solicitation is not being made by the Federal candidate or officeholder,'" the Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 say in their complaint.The complaint says those disclaimers were not made by the Fund for Louisiana as it sought donations."Senator Vitter's fundraisers seem to have ignored the rules that prohibit a Senator from soliciting unlimited soft money contributions for a Super PAC supporting the candidate," said Larry Noble, an attorney for Campaign Legal Center. "Instead, they are using him to solicit contributions for FLF in excess of $5,000, requesting $25,000 and even $100,000 without ever stating that the Senator is allowed to only soliciting contributions that comply with federal limits and source prohibitions."</div></div><p style="line-height: 22.2px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">]end<p style="line-height: 22.2px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Top <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2014&cid=N00009659&type=I" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">fossil fuel contributors</a> to David Vitter's campaign:<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">Murray Energy <p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Chevron <p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Edison Chouest Offshore<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Atco Investment<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Offshore Warriors Inc<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">Entergy Corp<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">Alpha Natural Resources<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">Dow Chemical<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">Southern Co<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">
<h2 style="line-height: 22.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Fossil Fuel Investment</h2><div style="line-height: 22.2px;">
</div><div><a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/10/28/is-the-senate-a-millionaires-club">http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/10/28/is-the-senate-a-millionaires-club</a></div><div style="line-height: 22.2px;">
</div><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">David Vitter is a member of the congresssional "<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/10/28/is-the-senate-a-millionaires-club" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Millionaire's Club</a>." He also has significant personal investment in fossil fuels, including tens of thousands of dollars in stocks of the electric utility Wisconsin Energy Corporation (We Energies), which owns major coal-fired power plants in both Oak Creek and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. As <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/08/green-billionaires-club-david-vitter-owns-stock-coal-utilities-epa-obama-carbon-rules" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Desmog blog's Steve Horn</a> points out,<blockquote style="line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; padding: 5px 5px 1px; background-color: rgb(223, 223, 218);">"We Energies says it stands to lose economically if the proposed Obama EPA carbon rules are implemented, citing the potential risks related to legislation and regulation in its most recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form 10-Q."</blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;">Financial disclosure forms obtained by DeSmogBlog also show <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/08/green-billionaires-club-david-vitter-owns-stock-coal-utilities-epa-obama-carbon-rules" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sen. Vitter</a> owns stock in other polluting companies that stand to benefit from lax environmental standards such as: Chevron, ExxonMobil, Emerson Electric, General Electric, and NextEra Energy, which owns Florida Light & Power.<p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sources for David Vitter's <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">"Billionaire's Club" environmental funding report</a><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Koch-tied Roots of Senator Vitter's Green Billionaire's Club Environmental Attack Report</a><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.energyandpolicy.org/vitter-green-billionaries-club-epa-carbon-rules" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Vitter and His Campaign Contributors Fight Against EPA Carbon Rules, Favor Anti-Environment Agenda</a><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Senator Vitter Report Claims Cancer Prevention, Wildlife Nonprofits Are Part of Nefarious Cabal</a><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia/taxpayers-fund-vitters-bi_b_5689624.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Taxpayers Fund Vitter's Billionaire Club Conspiracy Theory, Oil and Gas Funds His Campaigns</a><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://greenpeaceblogs.org/2014/08/06/vitters-billionaire-club-conspiring-save-environment-alleges-david-vitter/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">"Billionaire's Club" conspiring to save environment alleges David Vitter</a><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-grandia/taxpayers-fund-vitters-bi_b_5689624.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Environmental Funding Billionaires</a><p style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
<p style="line-height: 22.2px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.polluterwatch.com/david-vitters-green-billionaires-club-report-environmental-funding=United States SenateCommittee on Environment and Public WorksMinority Staff Report
The Chain of Environmental Command:How a Club of Billionaires and TheirFoundations Control the EnvironmentalMovement and Obama’s EPA
July 30, 2014Contact: Luke Bolar — Luke_Bolar@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176Cheyenne Steel — Cheyenne_Steel@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Minority)---fox and hounds California College Republicans Chairwoman Cheyenne Steel (daughter of F&H Blogger Michelle Steel), staffer since 09?Alternate Names: Cheyenne Klotz, Cheyenne Park Steel  http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/cache/files/ee94d0d9-882c-4e93-a286-d111a678c3af/criticalthinkingonclimatechange.pdf=Environment and Public Works CommitteeMinority ReportCritical Thinking on Climate ChangeQuestions to Consider Before Taking RegulatoryAction and Implementing Economic PoliciesJuly 18, 2013Contact: Luke Bolar – Luke_Bolar@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176Cheyenne Steel – Cheyenne_Steel@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (Minority)---bill club:EXECUTIVE SUMMARYIn his 2010 State of the Union Address, President Obama famously chided the SupremeCourt for its recent campaign finance decision by proclaiming, “With all due deference to theseparation of powers, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates forspecial interests – including foreign corporations – to spend without limit in our elections."1 In another speech he further lamented, “There aren’t a lot of functioning democracies around theworld that work this way where you can basically have millionaires and billionaires bankrollingwhoever they want, however they want, in some cases undisclosed. What it means is ordinaryAmericans are shut out of the process.”2
These statements are remarkable for their blatant hypocrisy and obfuscation of the factthat the President and his cadre of wealthy liberal allies and donors embrace the very tactics hepublically scorned. In reality, an elite group of left wing millionaires and billionaires, which thisreport refers to as the “Billionaire’s Club,” who directs and controls the far-left environmentalmovement, which in turn controls major policy decisions and lobbies on behalf of the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even more unsettling, a dominant organization in thismovement is Sea Change Foundation, a private California foundation, which relies on fundingfrom a foreign company with undisclosed donors. In turn, Sea Change funnels tens of millionsof dollars to other large but discreet foundations and prominent environmental activists whostrive to control both policy and politics.This report examines in detail the mechanisms and methods of a far-left environmentalmachine that has been erected around a small group of powerful and active millionaires andbillionaires who exert tremendous sway over a colossal effort. Although startling in its findings,the report covers only a small fraction of the amount of money that is being secreted and movedaround. It would be virtually impossible to examine this system completely given the enormityof this carefully coordinated effort and the lack of transparency surrounding it.[but uses public records, and he presumably ~ camp fin reform]The failure to openly acknowledge this force and the silence of the media with whomthey coordinate further emphasize the fact that until today, the Billionaire’s Club operated inrelative obscurity hidden under the guise of “philanthropy.” The scheme to keep their effortshidden and far removed from the political stage is deliberate, meticulous, and intended tomislead the public. While it is uncertain why they operate in the shadows and what they arehiding, what is clear is that these individuals and foundations go to tremendous lengths to avoidpublic association with the far-left environmental movement they so generously fund.The report attempts to decipher the patterns of “charitable giving.” Often the wealthiestfoundations donate large sums to intermediaries – sometimes a pass through and sometimes afiscal sponsor. The intermediary then funnels the money to other 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)organizations that the original foundation might also directly support. The report offers theories

1 Bill Mears, Chief justice chides State of the Union as ‘political pep rally’, CNN, March 11, 2010, 7:33 A.M.,http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/10/obama.supremecourt (last visited July 27, 2014).2 Ben Wolfgang, Obama weighs in for campaign finance limits, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Oct. 8, 2013,http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/oct/8/obama-weighs-campaign-finance-limits (lastvisited July 27, 2014<a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=8af3d005-1337-4bc3-bcd6-be947c523439">http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=8af3d005-1337-4bc3-bcd6-be947c523439</a>...

that could explain this bizarre behavior, but at its core, the Billionaire’s Club is not, andseemingly does not, want to be transparent about the groups they fund and how much they aresupporting them.In advancing their cause, these wealthy liberals fully exploit the benefits of a generoustax code meant to promote genuine philanthropy and charitable acts, amazingly with littleapparent Internal Revenue Service scrutiny. Instead of furthering a noble purpose, their taxdeductible contributions secretly flow to a select group of left wing activists who are complicitand eager to participate in the fee-for-service arrangement to promote shared political goals.Moreover, the financial arrangement provides significant insulation to these wealthy elite fromthe incidental damage they do to the U.S. economy and average Americans.[duncan tarr]Through these arrangements, the Billionaire’s Club gains access to a close knit networkof likeminded funders, environmental activists, and government bureaucrats who specialize inmanufacturing phony “grassroots” movements and in promoting bogus propaganda disguised asscience and news to spread an anti-fossil energy message to the unknowing public. Not only isthe system incredibly sophisticated, but the Club’s attorneys and accountants have mastered theloopholes and gray areas in the tax code, which enable them to obtain a full tax benefit, evenwhen the recipient of the grant is not recognized as a public charity, and even if the moneyindirectly and impermissibly funds political activities. In order to understand how the Billionaire’s Club colludes with the far-leftenvironmental activists and government officials, the report articulates the fundamentalframework that governs these relationships. Essentially, the far-left environmental machine iscomprised of hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Each entity is set up according to itsdesignated purpose and is either a private foundation or a public charity, depending on where thecog fits in this well-designed wheel. The facilitators – both organizations and individuals who bring together the privatefoundations and the activists – are a key component of the movement’s success. The reportidentifies three organizations that serve prominent roles as facilitators: the EnvironmentalGrantmakers Association, the Democracy Alliance, and the Divest/Invest movement. There isalso a narrow set of individuals whose careers are part of the fabric of the far-left environmentalmovement and who serve as coordinators and intermediaries between the Billionaire’s Club andthe activist groups. The ultimate recipients of donations from the Billionaire’s Club work in tandem withwealthy donors to maximize the value of their tax deductible donations and leverage theircombined resources to influence elections and policy outcomes. Often, they lobby on behalf ofthe EPA and advance policy positions important to the agency, which is statutorily prohibitedfrom lobbying on its own behalf. [huh?] But most importantly, they serve as the face of theenvironmental movement and present themselves as non-partisan benevolent charities to a publicnot aware of the secretive backroom deals and transfers.The Billionaire’s Club achieves many of its successes through the “capture” of keyemployees at EPA. These “successes” are often at the expense of farmers, miners, roughnecks,iismall businesses, and families. This report proves that the Obama EPA has been deliberatelystaffed at the highest levels with far-left environmental activists who have worked hand-in-glovewith their former colleagues. The green-revolving door at EPA has become a valuable asset forthe far-left and their wealthy donors. In addition to providing insider access to important policydecisions, it appears activists now at EPA also funnel government money through grants to theirformer employers and colleagues. The report tracks the amount of government aid doled out toactivist groups and details a troubling disregard for ethics by certain high powered officials.The report further describes what the Billionaire’s Club is purchasing with their fortunes.It reveals that activists are skilled at creating and pushing out propaganda disguised as scienceand news. For example, both the Park Foundation and the Schmidt Family Foundation havefinanced questionable scientists to produce anti-fracking research, which the Huffington Post,Mother Jones, and Climate Desk – all grant recipients themselves – eagerly report on.The Billionaire’s Club has also perfected the craft of assembling and funding fakegrassroots movements to assist in ballot measures and other state initiatives. The efforts in NewYork and Colorado to ban fracking are prime examples. The report explains how these fauxgrassroots efforts are actually funded by foundations outside the states they seek to influence.All these groups are similarly utilizing their platform to attack jobs, economic development, andinfrastructure projects across the country.
The Energy Foundation is a quintessential example of a pass through frequentlyemployed by the Billionaire’s Club. Energy Foundation receives money from several keyfoundations and redirects it to activists. In doing so, they are providing two services: distancebetween the donor and the activist, and enhancing the clout of the donors as their individualinfluence is maximized by pooling resources. [koch/aspen] One of the major funders of the EnergyFoundation is Sea Change, which has gone to great lengths to hide the source of its money. Thisis especially concerning in light of recent revelations that environmental activists do not appearto be morally conflicted over where their money comes from – so long as it supports their goals.The Billionaire’s Club is also adept at converting charitable donations into politicaloutcomes by taking advantage of loopholes in the tax code. Numerous examples raise questionsas to whether the charitable donations are indirectly supporting political activity. For example,in many cases they fund a 501(c)(3), like the Energy Foundation or the League of ConservationVoters, which then transfers large sums to an affiliated 501(c)(4), which can engage in politicalactivity. The affiliated groups often share office space, staff, and even board members. In thecase of the 501(c)(4) Green Tech Action Fund, which received donations from the EnergyFoundation, and in turn, donated funds to 501(c)(4) far-left environmental activist organizations.The evidence provided in this report highlights the lengths the far-left environmentalmovement goes to hide sources of funding and to disguise their actions – bought and paid for bymillionaires and billionaires – as charitable acts in service of their fellow man. This reportoutlines a sampling of the individuals, foundations, and practices that are active in our politicalsystem today, shedding light on just a fraction of the activities of the far-left environmentalmachine that undermines American free enterprise and resource security.iiiFINDINGS:• The “Billionaire’s Club,” an exclusive group of wealthy individuals, directs the far-leftenvironmental movement. The members of this elite liberal club funnel their fortunesthrough private foundations to execute their personal political agenda, which is centeredaround restricting the use of fossil fuels in the United States. (Pg. 6)• The Billionaire’s Club has established a dozen prominent private foundations with hugesums of money at their disposal to spend on environmental causes. (Pg. 9)• Members of the Billionaire’s Club also donate directly to 501(c)(3) public charities.Generally, the public charity is considered the preferred status under the tax code, basedon the greater tax benefits and protections on donor disclosures. (Pg. 10) [but can't do politics, vs c4 which can, but has to disclose donors? prk fdn etc would disclose in their annual reports from org?]]• Public charities attempt to provide the maximum amount of control to their donorsthrough fiscal sponsorships, which are a legally suspect innovation unique to the left,whereby the charity actually sells its nonprofit status to a group for a fee. (Pg. 12)• Nearly all of the public charities discussed in this report have an affiliated 501(c)(4) thatengages in activities designed to influence elections and have no restrictions on theirlobbying efforts. The funding of a 501(c)(4) by a 501(c)(3) affiliates is provocative inlight of the legal restrictions on public charities from participating in politicalcampaigning, either directly or indirectly, while permitting a 501(c)(4) to significantlyengage in campaign activities. (Pg. 14)• Members of the Billionaire’s Club put a premium on access to the complexenvironmental infrastructure that has evolved to leverage substantial assets towardsachieving defined policy outcomes. (Pg. 16)• Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) is a place where wealthy donors meetand coordinate the distribution of grants to advance the environmental movement. EGAencourages the use of prescriptive grantmaking. It is a secretive organization, refusing todisclose their membership list to Congress. (Pg. 16)[like koch aspen?]• Democracy Alliance (DA), a facilitator for wealthy donors seeking to advance a broaderfar-left agenda, does not disclose the details of any transaction it facilitates, and itsmembers and donor-recipients cannot speak publically about the organization. (Pg. 18)• Environmental activist groups are well aligned with the greater far-left agenda. One ofDA’s acclaimed successes in the last year includes President Obama’s executive actionson climate change. (Pg. 20)• Many far-left environmental foundations and groups have pledged to divest in fossil fuelsand invest in renewable projects as well as “philanthropy.” (Pg. 22)iv• There is a narrow set of individuals whose careers are part of the fabric of the far-leftenvironmental movement. These individuals exercise outsized influence regarding thedistribution of funds. (Pg. 23)• Public charity activist groups propagate the false notion that they are independent,citizen-funded groups working altruistically. In reality, they work in tandem withwealthy donors to maximize the value of the donors’ tax deductible donations andleverage their combined resources to influence elections and policy outcomes, with afocus on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Pg. 25)• Far-left environmental activists, while benefiting from nonprofit status, essentially sell aproduct to wealthy foundations who are seeking to drive policy and political outcomes.(Pg. 38)[EBH]• The Obama Administration has installed an audacious green-revolving door amongsenior officials at EPA, which has become a valuable asset for the environmentalmovement and its wealthy donors. (Pg. 28)• In one example, senior EPA officials planned to use Michelle DePass’s position on theBoard of Directors of EGA, her eminent employment at EPA, and her relationship withformer EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, to enhance her influence with EGA. (Pg. 29)• Former far-left environmentalists working at EPA funnel government money throughgrants to their former employers and colleagues, often contributing to the bottom line ofenvironmental activist groups. (Pg. 34)• Under President Obama, EPA has given more than $27 million in taxpayer-funded grantsto major environmental groups. Notably, the Natural Resources Defense Council andEnvironmental Defense Fund – two key activists groups with significant ties to seniorEPA officials – have collected more than $1 million in funding each. (Pg. 34)• EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck appears to be inappropriately and personallyinvolved in the allocation of EPA grants to favored groups. Enck is also the subject of aninquiry led by the EPA Office of Inspector General. (Pg. 35)• EPA also gives grants to lesser-known extreme groups. For example, the LouisianaBucket Brigade received hundreds of thousands of grants under former AdministratorLisa Jackson despite challenges by state regulators over the use of such grants. (Pg. 33) [head of LA epa huasfrau?]• Some of the most valued services activists provide the Billionaire’s Club includespromulgation of propaganda, which creates an artificial echo chamber; appearance of afaux grassroots movement; access to nimble and transient groups under fiscalsponsorship arrangements; distance/anonymity between donations made by well-knowndonors and activities of risky activist groups; and above all – the ability to leverage tensof millions of dollars in questionable foreign funding. (Pg. 38)v• Foundations finance research to justify desired predetermined policy outcome. Theresearch is then reported on by a news outlet, oftentimes one that is also supported by thesame foundation, in an effort to increase visibility. In one example, a story reporting on aPark Foundation-supported anti-fracking study was reproduced by a Park-funded newsorganization through a Park-funded media collaboration where it was then furtherdisseminated on Twitter by the maker of Park-backed anti-fracking movies. (Pg. 41)• Another service provided to the Billionaire’s Club is the manufacturing of an artificialgrassroots movement where it is not the citizen’s interest that drives the movement;rather, it is part of a well-funded national strategy. (Pg. 43)• In New York and Colorado, a pseudo grassroots effort to attack hydraulic fracturing hasgerminated from massive amounts of funding by the NY-based Park Foundation, as wellas CA-based Schmidt Family Foundation and Tides Foundation. (Pg. 44)• The same California and New York-based foundations behind the New York antifrackingefforts have shifted to Colorado through two coalitions – Local ControlColorado and Frack Free Colorado. (Pg. 45)• Bold Nebraska is another example of faux grassroots where a purportedly localorganization is, in fact, an arm of the Billionaire’s Club. It is nothing more than a shieldfor wealthy and distant non-Nebraskan interests who seek to advance a political agendawithout drawing attention to the fact that they, too, are outsiders with little connection tothe state. (Pg. 50)• The Energy Foundation is a pass through public charity utilized by the most powerfulEGA members to create the appearance of a more diversified base of support, to shieldthem from accountability, and to leverage limited resources by hiring dedicatedenergy/environment staff to handle strategic giving. (Pg. 51)• The Energy Foundation is the largest recipient of grants from the foreign-funded SeaChange Foundation; yet, it appears the Energy Foundation attempts to hide donationsfrom Sea Change, as it is not listed as one of Energy Foundation’s partners. (Pg. 53)[vs IRS 99a record?]• The circumstances surrounding the flow of money from 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) groups,[ROVE? various action funds?]and the likelihood of lax oversight, raises questions as to whether 501(c)(3) nonprofitfoundations and charities are indirectly funding political activities. (Pg. 56)• 501(c)(4) Green Tech Action Fund receives millions of dollars from green 501(c)(3)organizations, then distributes the funds to other 501(c)(4) groups that donate to politicalcampaigns. (Pg. 57)• Many of the large environmental organizations form both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)nonprofits that are publically advertised as separate and independent entities. In reality,they are closely associated groups that transfer money from the Billionaire’s Club tononprofits, and eventually into political campaigns. (Pg. 58)vi• Between 2010 and 2012, Tides Foundation gave over $10 million to Tides Center, andTides Center gave over $39 million to Tides Foundation. It is unclear what purpose thetransfer of funds between these two organizations serves, other than obscuring the moneytrail. (Pg. 60)• Tides Center is a fiscal sponsor to over 200 groups, which are subject to Tides Center’soversight and direction in important aspects that include forming a governing board,managing payroll, and monitoring risk. (Pg. 60).• The New York-based Sustainable Markets Foundation is also a significant fiscal sponsorand receives vast sums from the Billionaire’s Club. It only exists on paper and has zeropublic presence – no website, no Facebook page, no Twitter account, nothing. (Pg. 64)• The Billionaire’s Club knowingly collaborates with questionable offshore funders tomaximize support for the far-left environmental movement. (Pg. 65)• The little information available on Sea Change is limited to a review of its IRS Form-990for 2010 and 2011 as its 2012 form is not public, and a sparsely worded website – listingsolely the logo and a three-sentence mission statement. (Pg. 65)• Klein Ltd., an overseas company contributing tens of millions to organizations dedicatedto abolishing the use of affordable fossil fuels through a U.S. private foundation is highlyproblematic. This is only compounded by the fact that it is deliberately and completelylacking in transparency – having no website and withholding its funders. (Pg. 68)viiContentsINTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1I. Legal Framework of Far-Left Environmental Movement.........................3a. 501(c)(3) Private Foundations and Public Charities................................3b. The 501(c)(4) ................................................................................................8II. The Billionaire’s Club: Leveraging their Investment...............................11a. The Ties that Bind: Key Relationships Between Facilitators, Donors,and Activists.....................................................................................................11b. The Facilitators: Key Environmental Activists......................................18c. The Face of the Environmental Movement: Public Charity Activists.21III. The Bureaucrats: How the Obama EPA is Deeply Intertwined with theBillionaire’s Club and their Far-left Environmental Activists.......................23a. EPA’s Green Revolving Door...................................................................23b. The Obama EPA Helps to Fund the Far-Left Environmental Groups29c. Questionable Behavior by Regional Administrator Judith Enck.........31IV. Billionaire’s Club in Action: Case Studies of Services Rendered.........33a. Activists Groups Provide Billionaire’s Club with Propaganda............33b. Activist Groups Provide Billionaire’s Club with Artificial GrassrootsMovements........................................................................................................38c. Converting Charitable Donations into Political Outcomes...................49d. Fiscal Sponsorships Provide the Billionaire’s Club with Access toNimble and Transient Groups and also Provide Distance from their HiredHands ................................................................................................................54e. The Billionaire’s Club Collaborating with Shady Foreign Funders....60CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................67APPENDIX A: TOP FOUNDATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GIVING 68APPENDIX B: ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.................................................73
viiiINTRODUCTION
The “Billionaire’s Club,” an exclusive group of wealthy individuals, directs the far-leftenvironmental movement. The members of this elite liberal club funnel their fortunes throughprivate foundations to execute their personal political agenda, which is centered aroundrestricting the use of fossil fuels primarily in the United States. This report demonstrates that, far from pursuing philanthropic goals, the money from thiselite group is funneled to like-minded activists in a defined fee-for-service arrangement. Fiscalsponsorships, a legally suspect vehicle for charitable funding, allows new and transient groupsthe ability to receive foundation funding while quickly mobilizing in local communities toprovide rapid response services where their ability to affect public change is greatest.
The Billionaire’s Club has formed exclusive networks and alliances – in and out of thefederal government – to maximize the effectiveness of its “investment.” One such outfit is theEnvironmental Grantmakers Association – command central of the environmental movement. Itis also very secretive, refusing to disclose their membership list to Congress. NO CITE The wealthy liberalelite have also formed public charities, including the Energy Foundation, the ClimateWorksFoundation, the Sustainable Markets Foundation, and the Tides Center, to coordinate andleverage their expenditures. Moreover, efforts like the recently exposed Democracy Allianceand the Divest/Invest Movement have pooled hundreds of millions of dollars in collectiveresources to funnel funds towards chosen activists.The Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund,League of Conservation Voters, Center for Biological Diversity, National Wildlife Federation,World Wildlife Fund, and other environmental activist organizations serve as the face of themovement and provide cover for where the secretive foundations direct their resources.Klein Ltd., a foreign corporation, has risen to prominence in the far-left environmentalcommunity – doling out tens of millions to favored charities via Sea Change Foundation. In fact,none of this foreign corporation’s funding is disclosed in any way. This is clearly a deceitfulway to hide the source of millions of dollars that are active in our system, attempting to effectpolitical change. Finally, the success of this movement is hinged on direct access to policy makers who areloyal to the cause and work to implement the far-left environmental agenda when they occupygovernment positions. Relationships with policy makers provide the opportunity for theBillionaire’s Club and activists to change public policy and obtain government grants. TheCommittee demonstrates how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under PresidentObama’s watch has installed an audacious green-revolving door, which has become a valuableasset for the environmental movement and the Billionaire’s Club. The common goal of this network appears to be the explosion of stringent restrictions onenergy access and a reformation of the capitalist system. This goal was clearly articulated byBillionaire Club member, Nat Simons, President and Founder of Sea Change Foundation...
[T]o get it done, quickly, is going to take a HerculBillionaire’s Club Private FoundationsFoundation Total Assets - 2012:David and Lucile Packard Foundation $6,299,952,716Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation $5,697,258,026Heinz Family Foundation $117,095,904Marisla Foundation $51,482,397Park Foundation $366,405,008Rockefeller Brothers Foundation $800,956,943Schmidt Family Foundation $46,542,559Sea Change Foundation $124,350,435Walton Family Foundation $1,999,066,369William and Flora Hewlett Foundation $7,735,371,139 Assets from most recent IRS Form-990-PF available (2011)=A public charity may be characterized as a foundation or an otherwise nonprofitorganization. Some of the most active public charities in the far-left environmental sphere arecharacterized as foundations. These include the Tides Foundation, Energy Foundation,ClimateWorks Foundation and the Sustainable Markets Foundation. Other public charitiesrepresent themselves as activists, such as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), SierraClub, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Greenpeace,Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and the WorldWildlife Fund (WWF), which act as the public face of the environmental movement.
Top Public Charity FoundationsOrganization Total Assets - 2012:ClimateWorks Foundation $219,543,071Energy Foundation $32,212,733Pew Charitable Trusts $735,245,419Sustainable Markets Foundation $2,056,007Tides Foundation $141,039,613American Lung Association $31,049,040BlueGreen Alliance Foundation $3,179,681Center for American Progress $50,042,142Center for Biological Diversity $12,282,335Earthjustice $58,945,673Environmental Defense Fund $208,751,208Environmental Integrity Project $1,744,942Greenpeace Fund $15,313,140League of Conservation Voters Education Fund $7,545,946National Audubon Society $450,334,791National Wildlife Federation $66,456,891Natural Resources Defense Council $268,165,564Nature Conservancy $6,168,924,112Sierra Club Foundation $98,974,748Union of Concerned Scientists $8,195,448World Wildlife Fund $450,932,452
Assets from most recent IRS Form-990 available (2011)===i. Environmental Grantmakers Association: Where the Liberal Elite Meet and MingleAccording to its website, EGA has nearly 200 members and “works with members andpartners to promote effective environmental philanthropy by sharing knowledge, fosteringdebate, cultivating leadership, facilitating collaboration, and catalyzing action.”67 In 2011, EGAmember organizations collectively donated approximately $1.13 billion, or 40% of all foundationgiving, to environmental causes.68 EGA is a very secretive organization, withholding itsmembership list from the public. In fact, in response to a request from the Committee, EGAeven refused to disclose their membership list to Congress.69
67 ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTMAKERS ASSOCIATION, http://www.ega.org (last visited July 24, 2014) and About,ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTMAKERS ASSOCIATION, http://www.ega.org/about (last visited July 24, 2014). 68 Franny C. Canfield & Maud Henderson, Tracking the Field: Analyzing Trends in Environmental Grantmaking,ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTMAKERS ASSOCIATION,http://ega.org/sites/default/files/pubs/summaries/EGA_TTF_v4_ExecSummary_Final.pdf (last visited July 24,2014).69 Letter from Rachel Leon, Exec. Dir., Envt’l Grantmakers Assoc., to Rep. Staff, S. Comm. on Env’t & PublicWorks (July 22, 2014).NOTE NOT ONLINE? [vs: The newly released Tracking the Field database allows EGA members (it is member-only, since the need for trust in providing data by foundations is crucial for real-time information sharing) to search more than 8,000 coded grants by issue, geography, strategy, and grantor and/or grantee. It also contains information on all grants made by a member, members’ contact information, and all grants received by a grantee.]...According to Ron Arnold, a prolific author whohas written extensively on how the far-leftenvironmental funders operate, distribute money, andinfluence policy, he argues that the EGA is “commandcentral of the environmental movement.”70 By decidingwhich organizations get money, the grantmakers“driv[e] their own agenda with selective grants.”71 Atranscript of an early EGA strategy meeting contains aconversation about how funders can reorganize theenvironmental movement. Donald Ross, who at the time represented the Rockefeller B70 Ron Arnold, UNDUE INFLUENCE: WEALTHY FOUNDATIONS, GRANT-DRIV...1991...Top 10 EGA Donors to Environmental Causes in 2011Foundation Total Dollars Awarded No. of Grants:Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation $134,438,760 251David and Lucile Packard Foundation $121,016,258 207Walton Family Foundation, Inc. $76,218,045 105William and Flora Hewlett Foundation $53,439,469 115Rockefeller Foundation $43,809,793 117Sea Change Foundation $43,149,911 42Richard King Mellon Foundation $29,080,000 41 [girl coup?]Robertson Foundation $28,507,000 16John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation $24,204,500 60Ford Foundation $23,922,840 108Total: $577,786,576 1,034
ii. Democracy Alliance: Advancing the Progressive Agenda by Promoting theFar-Left Environmental Agenda
The EGA is unquestionably the funding epicenter of the environmental movement;however, other groups have emerged to augment their efforts. The Democracy Alliance (DA)adopted many of the lessons learned by EGA and works to create an all-encompassing far-leftinfrastructure to support affiliated and approved groups. According to DA, it connects wealthydonors, other similarly minded donors, “high impact organizations,” and political leaders.77  In fact, DA boasts that it is the “largest convener of progressive individuals and institutionaldonors” and serves as a “center of gravity” for the far-left funding world.78Members of DA pay $30,000 in dues and pledge to contribute at least $200,000 to groupsDA supports.79 In exchange, DA gives clients “professional recommendations” on progressivephilanthropy, as well as “invitations to exclusive events and conference calls, regularcommunications, such as updates on important issues and the work of recommendedorganizations and quarterly newsletters and access to [a] members-only community website andcomprehensive Partner Directory.”80......
In a spring 2014 publication, DA claims to make investment recommendations to wealthydonors to advance and protect the interests of “lower and middle-income Americans” in thepolitical system.81 Yet, in doing so, this group caters to millionaires and billionaires, whileironically suggesting the “flood of special interest money in our political system continuesunabated” without acknowledging the hypocrisy in its efforts to funnel money to activists groupsattacking affordable energy, and undermining the very people they claim to protect.82
Further, DA flouts transparency and publicparticipation as the group emphasizes secrecy in all itsoperations. It does not disclose the details of anytransaction it facilitates, and its members and donor recipientscannot speak publically about theorganization.83 While DA does not disclosetransactions it facilitates, it is likely not a coincidencethat two groups highlighted in its 2014 publication - the Center for American Progress (CAP)and Media Matters - received vast sums of money from the same foundations supporting the farleftenvironmental movement. CAP is an organization dedicated to increasing governmentcontrol. It was co-founded by John Podesta, the current senior climate advisor to PresidentObama and former President Bill Clinton’s Chief of Staff, along with Herbert Sandler, whorecently contributed $1 million to Tom Steyer’s NextGen Climate Action Committee.84 Notably,Sandler is the Founding Chairman of far-left media outlet ProPublica, and currently serves on itsBoard of Directors with Steyer’s wife, Kat Taylor.85
Between 2010 and 2013, Sea Change Foundation, Wallace Global Fund, EnergyFoundation, Rockefeller Family Fund, RockefellerBrothers Fund, Tides Foundation, and the MarislaFoundation donated over $7 million to CAP.86 Notably, in 2009, a Bermuda-based group, The AtlanticPhilanthropies, gave CAP a $500,000 grant, “Tosupport a joint project with Media Matters ActionNetwork.”87 Media Matters is a clearly liberal mediagroup that advertises itself as “dedicated tocomprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting

81 DEMOCRACY ALLIANCE, SPRING 2014 DEMOCRACY ALLIANCE INVESTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS (2014),available at https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1202744-da-portfolio2012-2014-042714.html#document/p1(last accessed July 25, 2014).82 Id. 83 Lachlan Markay, Read the Confidential Document Left Behind at the Democracy Alliance Meeting, THEWASHINGTON FREE BEACON, (May 5, 2014, 1:00 PM), http://freebeacon.com/politics/jonathan-soros-left-aconfidential-document-at-his-donor-conference 404 -->http://freebeacon.com/politics/jonathan-soros-left-a-confidential-document-at-his-donor-conference/(last visited July 25, 2014). 84 Greg Giroux, Steyer Cuts $2 Million for Climate, Mercer Aids Tea Party, BLOOMBERG, July 21, 2014,http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-21/steyer-cuts-2-million-for-climate-mercer-aids-tea-party.html. 85 http://www.propublica.org/about/leadership/ 86 SeaChange Found., Wallace Global Fund, Energy Found., Rockefeller Family Fund, Rockefeller Bros. Fund,Tides Found., Marisla Found., IRS Form 990, 2010-2013. 87 Atlantic Philanthropies, IRS Form 990, 2009.

[Democracy Alliance does notdisclose the details of anytransaction it facilitates, and itsmembers and donor-recipientscannot speak publically about theorganization.“Many of our donors choose notto participate publicly, and werespect that. The DA exists toprovide a comfortableenvironment for our partners tocollectively make a real impact.”-Democracy Alliance Board ofDirectors]14 conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.”88Members of the Billionaire’s Club, including WallaceGlobal Fund, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, ParkFoundation, Tides Foundation and Marisla Foundations,have donated over $1.8 million to Media Mattersbetween 2010 and 2013.89
 David Brock founded MediaMatters in 2004 and currently serves as the group’spresident as well as president of the far-left mediaoutlet, The American Independent Institute.90 Brockalso sits on the board of Priorities USA, another groupDA steers money towards.91...In addition to groups such as CAP and Media

Matters, DA created a progressive infrastructure map

including several environmental groups discussed in

this report.92 Many of the groups recommended to the ‘investors’ and “vetted by Investment

Services Staff”93 lead the environmental movement and are already heavily funded by EGA

members. For instance, DA seeks to steer money towards 350.org, BlueGreen Alliance, the

League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra

Club, and U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS)....
iii. Divest/Invest: The Moral Crusaders
The divesting in fossil fuels and investing in philanthropy (Divest/Invest) movementfollows a slightly different model, but involves many of the same players. Essentially,Divest/Invest defines the fossil fuel industry as a moral pariah.95 This group attempts to evoke the moral stance associated with the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa in the 1980’s anddepicts the effort to divest in fossil fuel as a moral imperative.96 In doing so, this group opposesa tool that would help to secure the goal of economic opportunity for Africans that Mandelafought for.97
Originally, Bill McKibben, the founder and President of 350.org started the movementthrough the 2013 “Do the Math” tour.98 According to an article in Rolling Stone magazine,McKibben further argued that foundations should divest from fossil fuels because the industry'sbusiness plan to market its existing reserves contradicts the far-left efforts on climate change.99Moreover, he urged that these funds go towards “climate solutions” and so-called renewableprojects.100
 The goal of these efforts has been clearly articulated by Nat Simons, President ofSea Change Foundation:
To get it done, quickly, is going to take a Herculean effort from all sides. Becauseit’s not really a question of whether we move to a low carbon economy. I thinkit’s clear we’re moving there…the question is how quickly. The role ofphilanthropy is really to facilitate that process... It’s not going to be rammingsomething down the throats of certain people. We know that that’s not going towork. We’ve seen that, we’ve watched that movie before. We know it’s not goingto happen. We can’t take this momentum and let it stall. So philanthropists,foundations, they have a huge responsibility.101
 Following McKibben’s efforts, in January 2014, Dr. Ellen Dorsey, Executive Director ofthe Wallace Global Fund, launched the initiative, Divest-Invest Philanthropy.102 She previously worked with the Heinz endowments and sat on the board of Amnesty International.103 TheWallace Family Fund has given to many environmental groups highlighted in this report,including 350.org, Sustainable Markets Foundation, Center for American Progress, Center forBiological Diversity, Union of Concerned Scientists, the Tides Center, Sierra Club, Virginia

95 Why Divest?, DIVEST-INVEST, http://divestinvest.org/why-divest (last visited July 25, 2014). 96 Id. 97 Ron Arnold, Electricity for Africa initiative could help make ‘High-Energy Planet’ vision a reality, WASHINGTONEXAMINER, July 22, 2014, 5:00 PM, http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/electricity-for-africa-initiative-could-helpmake-high-energy-planet-vision-a-reality/article/2551141(last visited July 28, 2014). 98 350.org. Do the Math, http://math.350.org/ (last visited July 28, 2014). 99 Bill McKibben, The Case for Fossil Fuel Divestment, ROLLING STONE, Feb. 22, 2013,http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-case-for-fossil-fuel-divestment-20130222 (last visited July 25, 2014). 100 Id. 101 Nat Simons, Remarks at National Clean Energy Project Roundtable, C-SPAN, Feb. 23, 2009, http://www.cspan.org/video/?284239-1/national-clean-energy-project.102 Ellen Dorsey and Richard Mott, Philanthropy Rises to the Fossil Fuel Divest-Invest Challenge, HUFFINGTONPOST, Jan. 30, 2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-dorsey/philanthropy-rises-to-the_b_4690774.html. 103 About Us: Who We Are, Board of Directors, Dr. Ellen Dorsey, U.S. HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK,http://www.ushrnetwork.org/about-us/who-we-are/board/dr-ellen-dorsey (last visited July 25, 2014).17 Organizing, Greenpeace, Media Matters, Earth Justice, and the Environmental IntegrityProject.104 Currently, seventeen foundations with a combined asset base of $1.8 billion,105including the Wallace Global Fund, Park Foundation, the Schmidt Family Foundation, and theSierra Club Foundation have joined the Divest-Invest Philanthropy effort.106

b. The Facilitators: Key Environmental Activists
Just as the Environmental Grantmakers Association, Democracy Alliance, and othershave forged close relationships in order to attract attention of investors, so too have individuals.The Committee has discovered a narrow set of individuals whose careers are part of the fabric ofthe far-left environmental movement. These individuals exercise outsized influence regardingthe distribution of funds. Some of these individuals include: Donald Ross, Hal Harvey, MarkBurget, Charlotte Pera, Larry Kramer, William Reilly, and Jay Halfon. Each individual has longemployment histories at private foundations, public charities and activist groups at the forefrontof the far-left environmental movement. Today, they serve as coordinators and intermediariesbetween the private foundations and the activist groups.
Donald Ross began his career as an attorney working for Ralph Nader,107 and is currently the principal/founding partner of M+R Strategic Services, whose clients include someof the lead environmental groups and foundations including: Environmental Defense Fund,Earthjustice, Hewlett Foundation, League of Conservation Voters, Marisla Foundation, NRDC,The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Rockefeller Brothers Foundation,Rockefeller Family Fund, UCS, WWF, and the Wallace Global Fund.108 He served on the Boardof the LCV Education Fund in 2012109 and as the chairman of the Board for Greenpeace from2002 to 2010.110 He previously served as the director of the Rockefeller Family Fund,111 as well as founder and Executive Director of the NY-PIRG.112Hal Harvey connects the Hewlett Foundation, the Energy Foundation and theClimateWorks Foundation. He currently serves as CEO of Energy Innovation, an energy andenvironmental policy firm, and most recently assisted in the public release of the highlycriticized113 Risky Business Project, co-Chaired by Henry Paulson, Michael Bloomberg, and

104 Wallace Global Fund, IRS Form 990, 2010-2012. 105 Justin Doom, Foundations with $1.8 Billion Vow Fossil-Fuel Divestment, BLOOMBERG (Jan. 30, 2014, 2:53 PM),http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-30/foundations-with-1-8-billion-vow-fossil-fuel-divestment.html. 106 Philanthropy, DIVEST-INVEST, http://divestinvest.org/philanthropy (last visited July 24, 2014). 107 Donald K. Ross, SOURCEWATCH, http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Donald_K.Ross (last visited July25, 2014).108 SourceWatch, M&R Strategic Services,http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=M%2BR_Strategic_Services, (last visited July 24, 2014).109 League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, GUIDESTAR,http://www.guidestar.org/ViewPdf.aspx?PdfSource=0&ein=52-1379661 (last visited July 25, 2014). 110 Will Evans, Profile: League of Conservation Voters, NPR, Sept. 9, 2008,http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94411562 (last visited July 25, 2014).111 Donald K. Ross, SOURCEWATCH, http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Donald_K.Ross (last visited July25, 2014).112 Id. 113 Risky Business Project, Understanding Climate Risk with Hal Harvey,http://riskybusiness.org/report/overview/understanding-risk (last visited July 28, 2014).18 Tom Steyer.
114 Paulson is a former Secretary of the Treasury and current Chairman of thePaulson Institute,115 which advocates for environmental protection in the United States andChina.116 Michael Bloomberg is founder of Bloomberg LP and served three terms as Mayor ofNew York City.117 The main sponsors of the project were Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Officeof Hank Paulson, the Rockefeller Family Fund and the TomKat Charitable Trust.118 Harvey’srelationship with Paulson dates back at least to May 2012, when Harvey served as a SeniorFellow at the Paulson Institute, though it likely goes back much further as Wendy Paulson, HankPaulson’s wife, is active in the environmental sphere as she served on the board of The NatureConservancy (TNC).119
Before his collaborative project with Paulson, Bloomberg and Steyer, Harvey wasfounder and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation from 2008 to 2011, and served as the founderand President of the Energy Foundation from 1991 to 2002. From January 2002 through January2008, he was the Environment Program Director of the Hewlett Foundation.120 Harvey’s 
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</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">III. The Bureaucrats: How the Obama EPA is Deeply Intertwined with the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Billionaire’s Club and their Far-left Environmental Activists</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Federal agencies, which wield significant amounts of delegated power, should be staffed</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">with neutral experts dedicated to serving the public interest. However, recent reports of alleged</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">collusion between environmentalists and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) senior</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">officials have made apparent the Obama Administration’s failure to abide by this most basic</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">principle of executive branch governance. In fact, the Committee has uncovered evidence that</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">proves President Obama and his EPA are pivotal partners in the far-left environmental</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">movement. The Agency’s leadership under President Obama is closely connected with the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Billionaire’s Club and their network of activists. These connections provide the Billionaire’s</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Club with the opportunity to exploit the relationships, and in turn shape public policy and the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">disposition of government grants. This section reveals that as part of the far-left scheme, the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Obama Administration has installed an audacious green-revolving door at EPA, which has</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">become a valuable asset for the environmental movement and its wealthy donors.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">a. EPA’s Green Revolving Door</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Committee has obtained emails that amply demonstrate how the environmental</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">movement is deeply plugged into the Obama EPA via operatives who rotate through the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Administration. In one shocking example, the Committee learned of an arrangement between</div><div>the Rockefeller Family Fund (RFF) and EPA where RFF agreed to pay the salary of Shalini</div><div>Vajjhala, then an employee at the nonprofit organization Resources for the Future, to work at the</div><div>White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).138 According to internal EPA</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">documents, this arrangement benefited EPA as Vajjhala would have the opportunity to, “stake</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">our claim there”139 – where “our” is the EPA Office of International and Tribal Affairs and</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“there” refers to the White House.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This arrangement was enthusiastically endorsed by both former EPA Administrator Lisa</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jackson, stating “I think it’s a fine idea and can only help EPA in the long run,”140 and Jackson’s</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Chief of Staff Diane Thompson, affirming “My thoughts exactly. The more inside connections</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">the better” (emphasis added).141 After Vajjhala cycled through the White House and EPA, she</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">returned to the Rockefeller Family Fund and is now founder and CEO of E.invest Initiative,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">whose portfolio is supported by the Rockefeller funding.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">142 Interestingly, Vajjhala is also a</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">contributor to the Huffington Post, which is heavily funded by the Park Foundation.143</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In another outrageous email exchange, former Assistant Administrator for the Office of</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">International and Tribal Affairs, Michelle DePass, and “Richard Windsor,” former Administrator</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jackson’s alias, strategize over how best to leverage a public appearance before the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA). Reproduced in full, the email exchange states:</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">138 Email from Shalini Vajjhala to Michelle DePass (June 19, 2009; 07:27 AM EST)(On file with Committee) </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">139 Email from Michelle DePass to Richard Windsor (June 19, 2009)(On file with Committee). 140 Id. 141 Id. </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">142 Shalini Vajjhala, LINKEDIN, https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalinivajjhala (last accessed July 25, 2014). </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">143 Shalini Vajjhala, HUFFINGTON POST, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shalini-vajjhala (last accessed July 25,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">23</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In this exchange, top level EPA leadership planned how to use DePass’s position on the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Board of Directors of EGA, her imminent employment at EPA, and her relationship with</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Administrator Jackson, to enhance her leverage with EGA. Jackson supported the plan, despite</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">the ease with which DePass could have withdrawn from sponsoring the event to eliminate the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">conflict of interest. Notably, other sponsors of the event included Jessica Bailey and Michael</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Northop from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, as well as Eric Heitz and Charlotte Pera from the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Energy Foundation.144 The Committee uncovered another instance where DePass was taking</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">advantage of her EPA appointment to benefit her environmental colleagues. Specifically, in</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">May 2009 – after her nomination to EPA was announced – DePass emailed Jackson asking her to</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“do a drive-by” at a Grist event.145 At the time, DePass was a Grist board member146 and noted</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“It is my last Grist function as a board member….but this will be fun… I invited the CEQ posse</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">144 Email from Rob Sargent to Michelle DePass (January 26, 2009; 01:53PM EST)(on file with Committee) </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">145 Email from Michelle DePass to Richard Windsor (May 27, 2009; 05:05 PM EST) (on file with Committee).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> 146 Kate Sheppard, Grist Board Member Appointed to Obama Administration, GRIST, Mar. 19, 2009,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://grist.org/article/2009-03-grist-board-member-appointed-to/ .</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">24</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">too.”147 These email exchanges confirm the close relationships between the foundations,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">environmental activist groups and the Obama Administration.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A review of senior Obama EPA officials also demonstrates that the Agency values and</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">seeks out individuals with ties to large environmental groups for key leadership positions. The</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">groups cultivating the most EPA staff mirror the groups garnering the lion’s share of donations</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">from the Billionaire’s Club. These groups include the Natural Resources Defense Council</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(NRDC), Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Public Interest Research Groups</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(PIRGs), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Center for American Progress (CAP).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Indeed, the NRDC staff absorbed by the Obama Administration and Capitol Hill</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Democrats in 2009 was referred to as the “NRDC mafia” because they occupied so many key</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">positions throughout the democratically controlled government.148 </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">While at EPA, these officials</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">were able to advance their activist agenda, this time with full support of the government.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Former activists have held or are currently holding senior positions throughout the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Agency – in its Washington D.C. headquarters and in its ten regional offices across the country.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The revolving door includes activists from private foundations as well as public charities. </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">These</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">officials include:</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div>• Bob Perciasepe – Deputy Administrator of the EPA. He was the former Chief Operating</div><div>Officer of the National Audubon Society. He recently announced his impending</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">departure from the Agency to become President of the Center for Climate and Energy</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Solutions, formerly the Pew Center for Climate Solutions.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">149 Watchdog groups</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">uncovered evidence that Perciasepe used his personal email to communicate with</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">environmentalists in violation of EPA policy.150</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Nancy Stoner – Acting Administrator/Deputy Administrator for the Office of Water. She</div><div>served as the Co-Director and Senior Attorney for the NRDC’s Water Program from</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">1999 until 2010. In her capacity at the Office of Water at EPA, she was accused of</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">sharing livestock operators’ personal information with environmental groups, including</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">NRDC.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">151</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Judith Enck – Region 2 Administrator. She was previously Senior Environmental</div><div>Associate at NY-PIRG, Executive Director of the Environmental Advocates of New</div><div>York, and President of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Enck has been accused of</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">several inappropriate and unethical actions, which this report discusses in detail.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">147 Id. 148 Darren Samuelsohn, ‘NRDC Mafia’ finding homes on Hill, in EPA, NEW YORK TIMES, March 6, 2009,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/06/06greenwire-nrdc-mafia-finding-homes-on-hill-in-epa-10024.html (last</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">accessed July 25, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">149 Josh Hicks, EPA loses bridge builder with Bob Perciasepe’s departure as No. 2, THE WASHINGTON POST, July</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">18, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/07/18/epa-loses-bridge-builder-with-bobperciasepes-departure-as-no-2</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last visited July 25, 2014). </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">150 Ben Geman, Top EPA official used personal email address, THE HILL, Feb. 19, 2013,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/283821-top-epa-official-used-personal-email-address. </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">151 Victoria G. Myers, EPA Makes a Mess, PROGRESSIVE FARMER, August 2013, http://dtnpfdigital.com/article/EPA_Makes_A_Mess/1566949/185130/article.html</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last visited July 25, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">25</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Watchdog groups also uncovered Enck using her personal email to communicate with</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">environmentalists in violation of EPA policy.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">152</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Jared Blumenfeld – Region 9 Administrator. He was formerly employed by the Sierra</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Club Legal Defense Fund as well as the NRDC.153 He was recently caught lying to the</div><div>EPA’s Office of Inspector General about using his personal email account for work</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">purposes, in violation of EPA policy.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">154</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Joseph Goffman – Associate Assistant Administrator and Senior Counsel for the Office</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">of Air and Radiation. He is the chief architect of EPA’s proposed Existing Source</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Performance Standards for existing power plants,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">155 which has been criticized as relying</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">too heavily on a draft produced by the NRDC.156 Goffman previously held a senior</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">policy position at Environmental Defense (formerly of EDF).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">157 He also served on the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Board of Directors for the Environmental Resources Trust, a nonprofit organization he</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">and two colleagues founded with the help of EDF.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Francesca Grifo – Scientific Integrity Official. She previously served as senior scientist</div><div>and director of the UCS, where she was heavily criticized for her lack of scientific</div><div>integrity.158 In her current role, she has failed to provide competent responses to the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Committee related to instances of scientific misconduct at the EPA.159</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Matthew Tejada – Director of the Office of Environmental Justice. He previously</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">worked for TX-PIRG160 and led Air Alliance Houston, an activist organization focusing</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">specifically on environmental justice issues,161 for over five years.162 Air Alliance of</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">152 Michael Bastasch, Emails: Another top EPA official used private email account to aid environmentalists, THE</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">DAILY CALLER, Feb. 24, 2014, http://dailycaller.com/2014/02/24/emails-another-top-epa-official-used-privateemail-account-to-aid-environmentalists/.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">153 Meeting of the Minds Speaker: Jared Blumenfeld, MEETING OF THE MINDS, http://cityminded.org/speaker/jaredblumenfeld</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last visited July 25, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">154 See Letter from Hon. David Vitter, Ranking Member, S. Comm. on Env’t & Public Works, to Hon. Arthur</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Elkins, Inspector Gen., U.S. Envt’l Prot. Agency (Feb. 20, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">155 Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units, 79 Fed.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Reg. 34829 (proposed June 18, 2014) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. 60).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">156 Coral Davenport, Taking Oil Industry Cue, Environmentalists Drew Emissions Blueprint, NEW YORK TIMES, July</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">6, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/us/how-environmentalists-drew-blueprint-for-obama-emissionsrule.html</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last visited July 25, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">157 Coral Davenport, E.P.A. Staff Struggling to Create Pollution Rule, NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 4, 2014,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/us/epa-staff-struggling-to-create-rule-limiting-carbon-emissions.html?r=0</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last visited July 25, 2014).</div><div>158 Henry I. Miller, EPA's New Overseer Of 'Scientific Integrity': The Blind Leading The Blind, FORBES, Dec. 4,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2013, http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrymiller/2013/12/04/epas-new-overseer-of-scientific-integrity-the-blindleading-the-blind/</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div>159 Letter from Hon. David Vitter, Ranking Member, S. Comm. on Env’t & Public Works, to Dr. Francesca Grifo,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Science Integrity Official., U.S. Envt’l Prot. Agency (Mar. 17, 2014); Letter from Dr. Robert Kavlock, Interim</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Science Advisor, U.S. Envt’l Prot. Agency, to Hon. David Vitter, Ranking Member, S. Comm. on Env’t & Public</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Works (July. 22, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">160 Global Community Monitor, New Director for Office of Environmental Justice, Matt Tejada, Jan. 11, 2013,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.gcmonitor.org/new-director-for-office-of-environmental-justice-matt-tejada/. 161 About Air Alliance Houston, AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON, http://airalliancehouston.org/about_air_alliance_houston/</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last accessed July 25, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">26</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Houston publically partners with EDF, NRDC, Sierra Club, and Public Citizen, among</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">other far-left environmental organizations.163 He was brought to the attention of former</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">EPA Region 6 Administrator Al Armendariz in March 2010 by Elena Craft, of EDF.164</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Ironically, at the time he was appointed to the EPA, he was actually suing EPA, along</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">with other environmental activists on the basis of environmental justice concerns.165</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Many former Obama EPA officials also worked with the far-left environmental</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">movement and the Billionaire’s Club. Today, many of them work for their former employer or</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">elsewhere in the environmental movement.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Bob Sussman served as Senior Policy Counsel at EPA under Administrator Jackson. He</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">was a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP) before he was tapped to</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">co-chair the EPA Transition Team in 2008.166 The Committee has obtained documents</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">which demonstrates he vetted potential EPA employees based on whether they, “had the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">support of environmental justice leaders,” and their connections to environmental groups,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">like the NRDC.167 Watchdog groups also uncovered Sussman using his personal email to</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">communicate with environmentalists in violation of EPA policy.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Michelle DePass was the former Assistant Administrator for the Office of International</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">and Tribal Affairs. Prior to her appointment at EPA, she worked for the Ford Foundation</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">as an Environment and Community Development Program Officer and served on the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Board of the EGA. For a period of time between her confirmation by the U.S. Senate and</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">official start date at EPA, she continued her role at the Ford Foundation, effectively</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">operating as an employee of both EPA and the private organization simultaneously.168</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">DePass resigned her position shortly after being held accountable by the Committee.169</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Dr. Al Armendariz was the Region 6 Administrator from 2009 to 2012. Prior to his</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">appointment to EPA, he worked for the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) and was a</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">consultant serving as an expert witness for the Sierra Club.170 Soon after assuming his</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">position at EPA he sought out and hired two environmental advocates he had previously</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">162 Tejada worked as the Executive Director of Air Alliance Houston for five years and five months. See Matthew</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Tejada’s Profile, LINKEDIN, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-tejada/3/959/1b4 (last accessed July 24, 2014). </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">163 Our Partners, AIR ALLIANCE OF HOUSTON, http://airalliancehouston.org/content/our-partners (last visited July 25,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">164 Email from Elena Craft to Al Armendariz (Mar. 1, 2010; 12:03 PM EST) (on file with Committee). </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">165 Ron Arnold, Meet the little nobody from Texas with big power at EPA, WASHINGTON EXAMINER, June 13,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2013, http://washingtonexaminer.com/ron-arnold-meet-the-little-nobody-from-texas-with-big-power-atepa/article/2531854</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">166 Georgetown University Law Center, Profile of Robert M. Sussman,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/sussman-robert-m.cfm (last visited July 28, 2014) 167 Email from Macon Cowles to Bob Sussman (Feb. 13, 2009; 01:25 pm EST)(on file with Committee). 168 Letter from Hon. David Vitter, Ranking Member, S. Comm. on Env’t & Public Works, and Hon. Darrell Issa,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Chair of the H. Comm. On Oversight & Gov’t Reform, to Michelle DePass, U.S. Envt’l Prot. Agency (May. 15,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2013) (on file with Committee).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">169 Letter from Hon. Arvin Ganisan, Assoc. Admin., U.S. Envt’l Prot. Agency, to Hon. David Vitter, Ranking</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Member, S. Comm. on Env’t & Public Works (June 5, 2013). 170 Juliet Eilperin and Lisa Rein, EPA official who compared enforcement to crucifixion resigns, WASHINGTON</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">POST, Apr. 30, 2012, http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-official-who-comparedenforcement-to-crucifixion-resigns/2012/04/30/gIQAucsisT_story.html.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">27</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">worked with at EIP – Chrissy Mann and Layla Mansuri.171 Mann was an attorney at EIP</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">who later served as Armendariz’s special assistant at EPA; and Mansuri served as EPA’s</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Region 6 Associate Administrator previously worked for Public Citizen, EDF, and EIP.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Both Mann and Mansuri had actively litigated against the Houston, Texas, petroleum</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">coke fueled power plant, Las Brisas Energy Center (LBEC), while Armendariz prepared</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">testimony against LBEC. While at EPA, they collectively worked on denying LBEC’s</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">permit.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">172</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> The Committee released a recording in 2012 revealing Armendariz stating</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">how he would “crucify” an energy company to set an example for the rest of the oil and</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">gas industry.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">173 He was scheduled to testify before Congress about his controversial</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">statement, but he skipped the Congressional hearing in favor of an interview with the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sierra Club.174 Soon thereafter, he resigned from EPA and is now Senior Campaign</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• James Martin was the former Region 8 Administrator for EPA. Earlier in his career he</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">was a senior attorney at EDF. He resigned his position at EPA after it became public he</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">was using his personal email account to communicate with environmentalists, including</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vicki Patton of EDF, about official agency business in violation of official EPA</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">policy.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">175</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Michael Goo was the former Associate Administrator of EPA. He was the legislative</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">director for NRDC before he worked for then-Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA). While</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">at EPA, he frequently met environmental groups at a coffee shop near EPA</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">headquarters.  176 Among the individuals he met with were John Coequyt, head of Sierra</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Club’s “Beyond Coal”177 campaign and Lena Moffitt, who worked for Sierra’s “Beyond</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Oil”178 campaign. Based on a series of emails between the parties, it appears they were</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">discussing strategies to defeat the Keystone XL pipeline and the permitting of coal fired</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">power plants.179</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">171 Letter from Hon. David Vitter, et.al., Ranking Member, S. Comm. on Env’t & Public Works, to Hon. Gina</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">McCarthy, Assist. Admin., U.S. Envt’l Prot. Agency (Mar. 12, 2013).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">172 Id. 173 Dina Capiello, Al Armendariz, EPA Official, Resigns Over 'Crucify' Comment, HUFFINGTON POST, Apr. 30,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/30/al-armendariz-epa-official-resigns_n_1464919.html 174 Amy Harder, EPA Official Felled by ‘Crucify’ Comment Skips House Hearing, Visits Sierra Club, NATIONAL</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">JOURNAL, June 7, 2012, http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/epa-official-felled-by-crucify-comment-skipshouse-hearing-visits-sierra-club-20120607</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last visited July 25, 2014). 175 Judson Berger, EPA official scrutinized over emails to resign, FOX NEWS, Feb. 19, 2013,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/19/epa-official-scrutinized-over-emails-to-resign (last visited July 25,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">176 John Roberts, ‘Secret dealing’? Emails show cozy relationship between EPA, environmental groups, Fox News,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jan. 22, 2014, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/22/emails-show-cozy-relationship-between-epaenvironmental-groups-on-keystone-coal</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(last visited July 28, 2014). 177 Emails from EPA, environmental officials, FOX NEWS,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/interactive/2014/01/22/emails-from-epa-environmental-officials/ (last visited July</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">24, 2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">178 Lena Moffitt’s profile, LINKEDIN, https://www.linkedin.com/pub/lena-moffitt/61/418/b55 (last visited July 24,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2014).</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">179 Roberts, supra note 177.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">28</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• Robert Brenner was the former Deputy Assistant Administrator to Gina McCarthy in the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Office of Air and Radiation. Soon after the EPA Office of Inspector General (EPA OIG)</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">targeted Brenner for accepting illegal gifts he promptly retired from the Agency.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">180 He was also a central figure in the embarrassing saga of John Beale, the fake CIA Agent</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">employed by the EPA.</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">181 Brenner left EPA to join Duke University’s Nicholas Institute</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">for Environmental Policy Solutions.182 He is also on the Board of Directors for the</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Center for Clean Air Policy, along with another former EPA official, David Hawkins,</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">who is currently at NRDC.183</div><div style="font-weight: bold; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
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</div><div>b. The Obama EPA Helps to Fund the Far-Left Environmental Groups </div><div>
</div><div>In addition to providing insider access to important policy decisions, it appears activists</div><div>now at EPA also funnel government money through grants to their former employers and</div><div>colleagues. The Committee’s research demonstrates that oftentimes EPA contributes to the</div><div>bottom line of green groups through grants. Accordingly, a grant from EPA or another</div><div>government agency is particularly valuable to a 501(c)(3) as nonprofits are required to obtain</div><div>one-third of its funding from the public to maintain its tax-exempt status. A grant from EPA</div><div>contributes to that goal, without limitation.184</div><div>
</div><div>Over the last ten years EPA has awarded nearly $3 billion in grants to nonprofit</div><div>organizations.185 Based on a Committee review of the EPA grants database, the Obama EPA has</div><div>given more than $27 million in taxpayer funded grants to major environmental groups. Notably,</div><div>NRDC and EDF - two key activists groups with significant ties to senior EPA officials – have</div><div>collected more than $1 million in funding each.</div><div>
</div><div>EPA’s Top Five Environmental Nonprofit Grantees</div><div>Grantee Number of Grants 2009-2014 Awards:</div><div>
</div><div>ALA* 36 $13,970,196</div><div>EDF 2 $1,099,839</div><div>NRDC 2 $1,877,907</div><div>NWF* 2 $64,734</div><div>Nature Conservancy* 24 $10,700,796</div><div>TOTAL 66 $27,713,472</div><div>
</div><div>An (*) denotes inclusion of grants to state or regional chapters.</div><div>
</div><div>The American Lung Association (ALA) receives the most Obama-EPA grants among</div><div>environmental groups the Committee reviewed, totaling nearly $14 million since 2009. Over the</div><div>
</div><div>180 Secret Agent Man? Oversight of EPA’s IG Investigation of John Beale: Hearing Before the H. Comm. on</div><div>Oversight & Gov’t Reform, 113th Cong. (Oct. 1, 2013). 181 Id. 182 Duke Nicholas Institute, Former High-Ranking EPA Official to Join Duke, Oct. 27, 2011,</div><div>http://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/news/former-high-ranking-epa-official-to-join-duke#.U9fx_fldUVw (last visited</div><div>July 28, 2014).</div><div>183 Center for Clean Air Policy, profile of Rob Brenner, http://ccap.org/people/rob-brenner-retired/ (last visited July</div><div>28, 2014).</div><div>184 26 C.R.F. §1.509 (2012). 185 EPA Grants Award Database, All Awards to Nonprofits,</div><div>http://yosemite.epa.gov/oarm/igms_egf.nsf/Reports/Non-Profit+Grants?OpenView (last visited July 28, 2014).</div><div>29</div><div> </div><div>last ten years, ALA has racked in $20,405,655 in EPA grants.186 Yet, ALA has been a main</div><div>litigant against EPA, frequently suing the Agency only to reach a cozy settlement agreement</div><div>while taxpayers foot the bill for ALA’s legal fees.</div><div>187 Moreover, since federal agencies are</div><div>forbidden from lobbying, one scholar suggests that ALA acts as a surrogate to lobby for the EPA</div><div>in exchange for generous grants, stating:</div><div>
</div><div>To survive, if not thrive, the ALA needed a source of revenue. The solution:</div><div>selling its reputation as an organization only interested in promoting and</div><div>protecting ‘the public interest’ to government agencies and commercial firms. By</div><div>lobbying and engaging in political advocacy under the halo of ‘charity,’ the ALA</div><div>sought to revive its fortunes.188</div><div>
</div><div>Mainstream environmental groups are not the only ones to benefit from EPA grants. The</div><div>Obama EPA gives grants to regional and less-well-known extreme groups, especially those</div><div>operating within the environmental network described in this report. For example, the Louisiana</div><div>Bucket Brigade (LABB) is an environmental activist group not only connected to the</div><div>environmental network, but also has close ties to the EPA. Formerly a project of the Tides</div><div>Foundation, LABB received over $400,000 in funding from the Marisla Foundation between</div><div>2011 and 2012.189 Further, LABB received significant funding from EPA under former</div><div>Administrator Lisa Jackson. Jackson grew up in a New Orleans, Louisiana neighborhood and</div><div>has close ties to the state.190</div><div>
</div><div>Most of LABB’s efforts focus on attacking oil and petrochemical refineries through</div><div>“citizen science” efforts primarily funded by the EPA. The Louisiana Department of</div><div>Environmental Quality brought a series of concerns to EPA headquarters and Region 6, detailing</div><div>how LABB’s activities are not based on “sound science and legally defensible facts.”191 Even</div><div>so, EPA continued to award LABB grants. From 2010 to 2012, EPA awarded LABB $194,500</div><div>in grants.192 </div><div>
</div><div>For fiscal year 2011, EPA’s $100,000 grant on June 11, 2012, constituted more than</div><div>80% of LABB’s government funding and almost half of the group’s one-third public funding</div><div>requirement.193</div><div>
</div><div>186 Karen Kerrigan, Fact of the Day: EPA and Lung Association: Time for Transparency, The Center for Regulatory</div><div>Solutions (June 5, 2014).</div><div>187 COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS MINORITY STAFF, EPA’S PLAYBOOK UNVEILED: A</div><div>STORY OF FRAUD, DECEIT, AND SECRET SCIENCE (March 19, 2014), available at</div><div>http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=b90f742e-b797-4a82-a0a3-</div><div>e6848467832a (last accessed July 25, 2014).</div><div>188 James T. Bennett, Pandering for Profit: The Transformation of Health Charities to Lobbyists, GEO. MASON</div><div>DEPT. OF ECON., Paper No. 11-54, p. 20. 189 Ron Arnold, Meet the little nobody from Texas with big power at EPA, THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER, June</div><div>13, 2013, http://washingtonexaminer.com/ron-arnold-meet-the-little-nobody-from-texas-with-big-power-atepa/article/2531854.</div><div>190 Administrator Lisa Jackson Biography, ENV’T PROT. AGENCY, http://blog.epa.gov/administrator/bio (last visited</div><div>July 24, 2014).</div><div>191 Letter from Peggy M. Hatch, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, to Lisa Jackson,</div><div>Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency (Oct. 26, 2012). 192 Grant Awards Database, U.S. ENV’T PROT. AGENCY,</div><div>
</div><div> http://yosemite.epa.gov/oarm/igms_egf.nsf/Reports/NonProfit+Grants?OpenView.</div><div>
</div><div>193 Louisiana Bucket Brigade, IRS Form 990, 2011.</div><div>30</div><div> </div><div>c. Questionable Behavior by Regional Administrator Judith Enck</div><div>
</div><div>Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck appears to be inappropriately and personally</div><div>involved in the allocation of EPA grants. Such involvement runs afoul of the Standards of</div><div>Ethical Conduct, which require all EPA employees to act impartially and not give preferential</div><div>treatment to any private organization.194 The Committee received reports of two separate</div><div>instances where Enck gave EPA grantees</div><div>special treatment.</div><div>
</div><div>In one case, Administrator Enck</div><div>required a subordinate to search for grants</div><div>that could benefit an activist group, El</div><div>Puente.195 Allegedly, El Puente violated</div><div>the terms of an EPA award, but Enck</div><div>intervened on the group’s behalf, delaying</div><div>termination of the grant by ten months.196</div><div>Both the RFF and Tides Foundation</div><div>provided grants to El Puente over the same</div><div>period of time Enck advocated for EPA</div><div>grants to the group.197 The Committee also</div><div>has proof Enck attended meetings between</div><div>El Puente and representatives from the</div><div>RFF.</div><div>
</div><div>Moreover, the </div><div style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">
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</div></div><div style="line-height: 22.2px;"><h2 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; line-height: 1.3em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><a href="https://labucketbrigade.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/letter-i-delivered-to-mathy-stanislaus-epa-deputy-administrator-for-solid-waste-and-emergency-response/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Letter I delivered to Mathy Stanislaus, EPA Deputy Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response</a></h2><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 24px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Posted on <a href="https://labucketbrigade.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/letter-i-delivered-to-mathy-stanislaus-epa-deputy-administrator-for-solid-waste-and-emergency-response/" title="3:30 pm" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">September 28, 2012</a> by <a class="url fn n" href="https://labucketbrigade.wordpress.com/author/labucketbrigade/" title="View all posts by Louisiana Bucket Brigade" rel="author" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Louisiana Bucket Brigade</a></div><div class="entry-content" style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 12px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">By Anna Hrybyk, LABB Program ManagerSeptember 20, 2012Arthur ElkinsOffice of Inspector GeneralEnvironmental Protection AgencyMail Code 2410T Lisa JacksonAdministratorEnvironmental Protection AgencyMail Code 1101A Ariel Rios Building1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20460 Re:  LDEQ’s Rapid Response to Chemical Emergencies Poses Serious Dangers to the PublicDear Mr. Elkins and Ms. Jackson:We write to you today to alert you to the great frequency of life threatening petrochemical accidents in South Louisiana.  We are requesting two action items that require your immediate attention:<ul style="line-height: 24px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: square; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Risk Management Plan inspections be conducted for all chemical plants and refineries in the path of Hurricane Isaac, particularly Stolthaven Chemical Plant Braithwaite, Phillips 66 Refinery Belle Chasse, Chalmette Refining, Shell Chemical and Motiva Refinery Norco, Valero Meraux and Valero Norco to ensure that they are prepared to prevent future risks.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Revoke the authority of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to administer the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Emergency Response programs.</li></ul>So far in 2012, we have seen 14 major chemical emergencies in Southeast Louisiana:<ol start="1" style="line-height: 24px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">March 22, 2012 & May 10, 2012 – On March 22, 2012 at Westlake Chemical, Geismar a tank exploded releasing vinyl choride, chlorine and many other chlorinated chemicals.  Even though the tank exploded at 8:30am, EPA does not start air monitoring until that afternoon.  The Geismar community is required to shelter in place even though the wind direction put the Modeste community across the river in Ascension Parish at greater risk.  Modeste is not even notified that they may be in danger. On May 10, 2012 Westlake Chemical suffers a power outage in the same unit releasing more vinyl chloride and sending three workers to the hospital for inhalation injuries.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">May 8, 2012 – <span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Shell <span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Chemical in Norco is struck by lightening and flares for over 24 hours releasing benzene, butadiene, carbon monoxide, ethylene, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxide, propylene, sulfur dioxide, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds.  LDEQ air monitors arrive on the scene over 12 hours later, and the agency states in the press that the release poses no danger to the public.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">May 15, 2012 – <span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Honeywell <span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">in Baton Rouge leaked hydrofluoric acid, a highly toxic substance.  There is no LDEQ presence at the scene even though the LDEQ Headquarters are less than two miles from the plant.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">June 14, 2012 – <span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">ExxonMobil<span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> in Baton Rouge reported to the NRC only 10 pounds of Benzene released but by June 18 they had revised their estimate to upwards of 28,686 pounds of Benzene after workers alerted LABB to the real amount.  No one in the community was notified of the ongoing release even though 400 workers were being monitored for exposure.  LDEQ was on-scene the morning of June 14<span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; bottom: 1ex; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">th but did not enter the plant, did not test for low levels of Benzene on the perimeter and publicly stated that the release did not leave the plant.  EPA Region 6 was in the neighborhood on June 14<span style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; bottom: 1ex; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">th and smelled the strong VOC odors but did nothing.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">June 15 – 27, 2012 – Shell/Motiva Norco began flaring nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds and other chemicals for 12 straight days.  Nothing by the company has been reported to the NRC or to LDEQ regarding the cause and exact amount of pollution release during this flaring marathon.  Reports to LABB’s iWitness Pollution Map say the flare fluctuated between 20 to 100 feet in height.  Photos posted to the map show a large ground flare with black smoke.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">August 3, 2012 – A 422-foot-deep, 372-foot-diameter sinkhole emerged close to Texas Brine salt domes containing oil waste, diesel and natural gas.  Residents were reporting roiling bubbles and odors for months to the LDEQ, but no one listened.  Almost one month later, residents are still reporting strong hydrocarbon odors coming from the site.  LDEQ has dispatched their MultiRae air monitor but has not picked up anything and has been seen riding around with it held out the window, potentially compromising the samples due to wind speed.  Since August 3rd, the sinkhole has expanded by over 200’.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">August 17, 2012 – Sun Drilling in Belle Chasse released a vapor cloud of divinylbenzene affecting hundreds of residents living within 2 miles of the facility.  LDEQ towed the company line and insisted the cloud was only nitrogen used to cool the expanding tank.  LABB surveyed 160 residents who claimed that the cloud smelled like benzene, spraypaint and burning oil.  Nitrogen has no smell.  Surveyed residents also reported health impacts from breathing in the cloud such as headaches, eye irritation, skin irritation and respiratory health problems.  Nitrogen would not cause this.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">August 29, 2012– Hurricane Isaac was a Category 1 hurricane.  It’s storm surge, rain and winds inundated Southeast Louisiana.  Two refineries, Phillips 66 in Belle Chasse and Chalmette Refining, shut down operations quickly reportedly causing over 550,000 pounds of pollution in the process.<ol start="1" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: upper-alpha; background: transparent;"><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Shell, Motiva and Valero refineries in Norco and Meraux did NOT shut down even though the parish was under a mandatory evacuation order.  According to a worker at Shell Chemical Norco, the plant manager should have shut down because they could not get the flare to light because the ignition boxes were dislodged in the wind, all of the furnaces tripped, motors went underwater, half of the pumps cavitated burning up all the pump seals and operators were ordered to go out in hurricane force winds to tie things down and drain blocked canals all while sheets of metal were flying through the air.</li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Stolthaven Chemical in located in Braithwaite was inundated with 12 feet of storm surge that caused storage tanks to collapse or move off their foundations and rail cars to overturn.  Overflight photos and citizen reports from right after the hurricane show offsite contamination.  Stolthaven’s report to LDEQ states that contamination “flowed offsite with storm surge,” yet LDEQ continued to make public assurances that there was no spill.</li></ol></li></ol>This list does not include the chronic petrochemical accidents that occur, according to the National Response Center, at a rate of approximately 10 per day all over the state.  As hurricane season continues, this pattern is of great concern to the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and our constituents.<p style="line-height: 24px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Of even greater concern is the LDEQ’s propensity to declare to the public that none of these accidents pose any danger to human health or property.  The Louisiana Bucket Brigade feels that these statements are inaccurate and place the public at greater risk because:<ul style="line-height: 24px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: square; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Monitoring has never been conducted exactly at the time of peak exposure or any time period even close to the peak exposure.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">LDEQ never shares with the public elevated levels of chemicals that were found in their sampling unless you submit a public records request.</li><li style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">It is not made transparent the exact times and locations of the peaks and valleys in the monitoring data, indicating communities most impacted by acute chemical exposure, unless you submit a public records request.</li></ul>The LABB’s iWitness Pollution Map (<a href="http://www.labucketbrigade.org/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">www.labucketbrigade.org</a>) is a real time crowd sourced map of citizen reports of petrochemical accidents and their effects on people’s health and their environment.  These reports detailing symptoms of acute chemical exposure contradict the “no danger to the public” statements made by LDEQ and the companies.  LABB conducts due diligence with these reports by sending them to all enforcement agencies, including the EPA, the US Coast Guard and LDEQ.This lack of rapid response creates even more danger to the public because:<ol start="1" style="line-height: 24px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">People are exposed to highly toxic chemicals.</li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Evacuation/shelter in place orders are never called.</li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Health surveillance for symptoms of chemical exposure are never triggered.</li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Communities distrust the LDEQ because they never find a problem.</li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">It increases the population at risk.  If people believe the LDEQ statements that these accidents pose no danger to the public, they make decisions like buying a house next to a refinery or sending their kids to school near a chemical plant due to a (false) sense of safety.</li></ol><p style="line-height: 24px; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">We have been tracking citizen complaints made to the LDEQ since 2005 on our Refinery Accident Database (<a href="http://www.labucketbrigade.org/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">http://www.labucketbrigade.org</a>).  In some cases it takes LDEQ over 20 days to get to the scene of reported air pollution.  Obviously, the monitor will not pick up anything 20 days later!  With air releases, pollution can move within a matter of minutes so the quicker the response time the more accurate the readings.The Louisiana Bucket Brigade and the Environmental Integrity Project are renewing our petition to the EPA to revoke the LDEQ’s authority to manage the Clean Air Act program due to the frequency of hazardous petrochemical accidents happening in our area.  As of today, we still have not received a response from the Inspector General’s office on the petition filed on December 14, 2011.We look forward to your response no later than October 31st, 2012Anna HrybykLABB Program Manager CC:Peggy Hatch, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Environmental QualityCheryl Nolan, Administrator of Enforcement, Louisiana Department of Environmental QualityEsteban Herrera, Chief of Air Toxics Enforcement, EPA Region VIRon Curry, Regional Administrator, EPA Region VISteve Mason, Emergency Response, EPA Region VIMathy Stanislaus, Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA HQCynthia Giles, Administrator Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, EPA HQEric Schaeffer, Executive Director, Environmental Integrity Project<p style="border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">https://labucketbrigade.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/letter-i-delivered-to-mathy-stanislaus-epa-deputy-administrator-for-solid-waste-and-emergency-response/</div></div>vitter rep k
=IV. Billionaire’s Club in Action: Case Studies of Services Rendered
Far-left environmental activists, while benefiting from nonprofit status, essentially sell aproduct to wealthy foundations who are seeking to drive policy and political outcomes. Thattransaction is driven by a close knit network of activists and funders who strategically channeltheir money into supported organizations. The Committee has found that some of the mostvalued services these activists provide the Billionaire’s Club includes promulgation ofpropaganda which creates an artificial echo chamber; appearance of a faux grassroots movement;access to nimble and transient groups under fiscal sponsorship arrangements; distance/anonymitybetween donations made by well-known donors and activities of risky activist groups; and aboveall – the ability to leverage tens of millions of dollars in shady foreign funding.
a. Activists Groups Provide Billionaire’s Club with Propaganda
This section documents how the Billionaire’s Club both finances the creation of“science” and other studies, then pays nonprofits specialized in media relations to report on the“discovery.” Foundations often finance research that bolsters their desired policy outcome.Subsequently, another outlet they also fund will “report” on the new study and other affiliated“news outlets” will also report on it, in an effort to increase visibility. One could easily be fooledinto believing that the study was independent and disinterested, covered by unbiased mediaoutlets. However, this perception is far from the truth.
In addition to peddling studies that bolster a policy position, the foundation-backed“news outlets” use their position to rebut any criticism of the integrity of the report. Throughthis process, foundations can both inject an environmental issue into the news stream, and framethe way the public perceives it.
i. The Park Foundation: Buying and Spreading Anti-Fracking Science
One of the best examples of this foundation-manifested echo chamber arises from theIthaca, New York-based Park Foundation. It reported assets of over $366 million in 2012,203 andis run by Adelaide Park Gomer, who inherited her fortune from her late father, Roy Park.204 Sheis a fierce and vocal critic of fracking, especially in the Marcellus Shale region in New York andPennsylvania.205 Her hostility to fracking likely arises from Park’s location in the MarcellusShale region. Her environmental views are radical, as evidenced in a very strongly wordedpoem, Ballad of a Dying Planet, in which she laments the “rape and pillage” of the earth bymankind.206 In March 2010, the Park Foundation gave $100,000 to Cornell University (alsolocated in Ithaca) for “A Comprehensive Economic Impact Analysis of Natural Gas Extraction inthe Marcellus Shale.”207 In June 2010, Park gave Cornell another $35,000 for “a study

203 Park Found., IRS Form 990, 2012. 204 Bill Chaisson, Legacy Lives On: Park, Triad foundations continue the work of Roy Park Sr., ITHACA.COM,Aug. 15, 2012, http://www.ithaca.com/news/article_2aab243e-e662-11e1-84d1-0019bb2963f4.html (last visited July25, 2014).205 Mike Soraghan, Hydraulic Fracturing: Quiet foundation funds the 'anti-fracking' fight, E&E PUBLISHING,LLC, Mar. 12, 2012, http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059961204 (last visited July 25, 2014). 206 Adelaide Park Gomer, Ballad for a Dying Planet, EGA JOURNAL at 23,http://ega.org/sites/default/files/pub/reports/EGA_Journal_25th_lorez_full.pdf (last visited July 25, 2014).207 Park Found., IRS Form 990, 2010.33 estimating the greenhouse gas consequences of Marcellus Shale gas.”208 According to somecontemporaneous accounts, ecologist Robert Howarth admitted to meeting with Parkrepresentatives and agreeing with them to create a report finding that fracking wasenvironmentally harmful.209
Consequently, Cornell published Howarth’s study in spring 2011, which found thatfracking the Marcellus Shale produces more greenhouse gas emissions than coal mining.210 Thestudy was almost immediately discredited by other scientists, and even by environmentalists andHowarth’s colleagues at Cornell, based on flaws in the research and data.211 Despite suchcriticism, Park continues to fund Cornell’s anti-fracking research and has given an additional$193,229 since 2010.212 Park’s steady influence overHowarth is evident from its 2013 grant of $60,000 for ananti-shale gas “evaluation” to the “Howarth and MarinoLab Group.”213
Since the spring 2011 study, Cornell’s Park fundedanti-fracking efforts have received extensiveattention from Park-linked far-left environmental mediasources. Park funded news outlets such as Earth IslandJournal (who received $31,500 from Park between 2010and 2012214) and Yes! magazine (who received $50,000from Park between 2010 and 2012215) supported and defended Howarth and his Cornellstudy.216 In fact in January 2012, long after the controversy erupted, an article in Yes! attackingfracking in the Marcellus Shale admiringly referred to Howarth as “co-author of last year’slandmark Cornell University study, which established the staggering greenhouse-gas footprint offracking.”217 This is but one discreet example of the manufactured echo chamber.
Another example of Park’s paid-for propaganda involves an online news-sharing sitecalled the Climate Desk. It describes itself as a “journalistic collaboration dedicated to exploring

208 Id. 209 Jon Entine, Killing drilling with farcical ‘science’, NEW YORK POST, Jan. 24, 2012,http://nypost.com/2012/01/24/killing-drilling-with-farcical-science (last visited July 25, 2014).

 210 Stacey Shackford, Natural gas from fracking could be 'dirtier' than coal, Cornell professors find, CORNELLCHRONICLE, Apr. 11, 2011, http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2011/04/fracking-leaks-may-make-gas-dirtiercoal(last visited July 25, 2014).211 Jon Entine, New York Times Reversal: Cornell University Research Undermines Hysteria Contention that ShaleGas is "Dirty", FORBES, Mar. 2, 2012, http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2012/03/02/new-york-times-reversalcornell-university-research-undermines-hysteria-contention-that-shale-gas-is-dirty(last visited July 25, 2014). 212 [A] Park Found., IRS Form 990, 2010-2012 [B] Grants Awarded, PARK FOUND., http://www.parkfoundation.org/search.php (last visited July 25, 2014). 213 Grants Awarded – 2013, PARK FOUND., http://www.parkfoundation.org/search.php (last visited July 25, 2014). 214 Park Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2010-2012. 215 Park Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2010-2012 216 Sharon Kelly, Oil and Gas Drilling Linked to Smog, EARTH ISLAND JOURNAL, Mar. 8, 2012,http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/oil_and_gas_drilling_linked_to_smog/ (last visitedJuly 25, 2014).217 Ellen Cantarow, New York’s Little Revolution, YES!, Jan. 25, 2012, http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/newyorks-little-revolution(last visited July 25, 2014).

A story reporting on a Parksupportedanti-fracking studywas reproduced by a Parkfundednews organizationthrough a Park-funded mediacollaboration, where it was thenfurther disseminated by themaker of Park-backed antifrackingmovies.34 the impact . . . of climate change.”
218 In reality, it aids the exchange and spread of climate-relatednews stories between generally left-leaning news partners that include Grist, MotherJones, the Huffington Post, Slate, The Guardian and The Atlantic.

219 The Climate Deskacknowledges Park is one of its “major funders”220 and Park’s IRS Form-990s and its 2013online grants database reflect that Park gave $300,000 to the Climate Desk between 2010 and2013.221
A review of the online article databases of Climate Desk partners, The Huffington Post,222Mother Jones,223 The Atlantic,224 and The Guardian,225 show that since 2011 they have allfavorably cited Howarth and his work on the effects of fracking.226 Accordingly, through theClimate Desk, Park enabled a coalition of environmentally friendly news groups to share andspread stories involving researchers and work paid for by Park. However, Park’s influence inthis situation reaches deeper than simply backing the Climate Desk. Between 2010 and 2013,Park gave Grist $95,000 and Mother Jones (through its parent organization, The Foundation forNational Progress) $170,000.227 Following the fallout from Cornell’s Howarth-led frackingreport, Grist published an article standing by the report even while admitting it had beendiscredited.228 Mother Jones published a complimentary story on it soon after the report waspublished, including a noncritical interview with Howarth.229 Mother Jones continued promotingthe study even after it was discredited.230
Another clear example of Park’s purchased propaganda involves Duke University’sNicholas School of the Environment. The Institute, which used to employ disgraced bureaucratRobert Brenner, received $50,000 from Park in 2011 for, “the completion of a study of theimpact of gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing on water quality . . .”231 In October 2013, theNicholas School published a report finding that fracking byproducts contaminate drinking water
218 Climate Desk: About, CLIMATE DESK, http://climatedesk.org/about-climate-desk/ (last visited July 22, 2014). 219 Id. 220 Id. 221 [A] Parks Found., IRS Form 990, 2010-2012 990s; [B] Grants Awarded, PARK FOUND., http://www.parkfoundation.org/search.php (last visited July 25, 2014). 222 The Huffington Post Search of “Robert Howarth fracking,”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/search.php/?q=robert+howarth+fracking (last visited July 22, 2014).223 Mother Jones search of “Howarth,” http://www.motherjones.com/search/apachesolr_search/howarth (last visitedJuly 22, 2014).224 The Atlantic search of “Howarth,” http://www.theatlantic.com/search/?q=howarth (last visited July 22, 2014). 225 Bobby Magill, Thousands of fracking wells in Pennsylvania 'may be leaking methane', THE GUARDIAN, June20, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/20/fracking-wells-pennsylvania-leaking-methane 226 See also Inside Climate News, http://insideclimatenews.org/about/our-funders, which is a Park-funded media organization that also promoted the Cornell study. Similar to Climate News Desk, it is in partnership with other news media outlets, including Bloomberg, the Associated Press, and The Weather Channel;http://insideclimatenews.org/about/media-partners. 227 The Park Foundation, 2013 Grants Database;http://www.parkfoundation.org/search.php?coding=group&group=2013&title=2013%20Grants#category_31228 Christopher Mims, Maybe fracked natural gas isn’t dirtier than coal, after all, GRIST, May 23, 2011,http://grist.org/list/2011-05-23-maybe-fracked-natural-gas-isnt-dirtier-than-coal-after-all/. 229 Kate Sheppard, Natural Gas: Worse Than Coal?, MOTHER JONES, Apr. 12, 2011,http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/04/natural-gas-worse-coal. 230 Kate Sheppard, About That Clean Energy Future, MOTHER JONES, Jan. 27, 2012,http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/01/about-clean-energy-future. 231 Park Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2011.35 in the Marcellus Shale region.232 The study was criticized as being at odds with other studies onthe subject.233 Although acknowledging receiving thousands of dollars from Park, the study’slead researcher denied any Park-related bias.234 He claimed that Park’s money was merely usedfor “field work” and not for the specific purpose of producing a study on shale gas, as Parkrepresented to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).235Following the report’s release, Climate Desk partners The Guardian236 and HuffingtonPost237 immediately published favorable stories on the study. The Guardian’s story wasreproduced by Mother Jones “as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.”238 Filmmaker and wellknown anti-fracking activist Josh Fox posted the Mother Jones’ link on his Twitter page, whereit was spread by Fox’s Twitter followers.239 Fox has received hundreds of thousands of dollarsfrom Park to finance his anti-fracking series of documentaries called Gasland.
240 Thus, a story reporting on a Park-supported anti-fracking study was reproduced by a Park-funded newsorganization through a Park-funded media collaboration, where it was then further disseminatedon Twitter by the maker of Park-backed anti-fracking movies.

ii. The Schmidt Family anti frack<div style="line-height: 22.2px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div>
</div><div>Fiscal Sponsorships Facilitate Artificial Grassroots Movements to Attack</div><div>Fracking</div><div>
</div><div>In New York and Colorado a pseudo-grassroots effort to attack hydraulic fracturing has</div><div>germinated from massive amounts of funding by three foundations: Schmidt Family Foundation,</div><div>Tides Foundation and Park Foundation. Since each of these foundations is believed to be part of</div><div>the exclusive and nontransparent Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA), it is no</div><div>surprise they coordinated funding schemes to achieve a desired outcome. Moreover, in typical</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>252 Schmidt Family Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2012. 253 Heather Smith, One California oil town keeps fracking in check — by banning all drilling, GRIST (Mar. 26,</div><div>2014), http://grist.org/climate-energy/carson-city-frack-ban (last visited July 24, 2014). 254 Webster’s Dictionary, “grassroots”, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grassroots (last visited July 25,</div><div>2014).</div><div>255 Farm Aid, What is grass roots organizing?,</div><div>http://www.farmaid.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=qlI5IhNVJsE&b=2723877&ct=3852191, (last visited July</div><div>28, 2014).</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div> </div><div>secretive billionaire donor fashion, the foundations’ funding was funneled through fiscal</div><div>sponsors. Funding through these intermediary organizations, such as the Sustainable Markets</div><div>Foundation (SMF) and Food & Water Watch, create distance between the wealthy foundations</div><div>and alleged community-based outfits.</div><div>
</div><div>The Committee uncovered two parallel funding schemes with the shared goal of</div><div>replicating environmentalists’ anti-fracking efforts from New York to hot-bed Colorado. In New</div><div>York, environmentalists have experienced successes on the anti-fracking front as a temporary</div><div>ban on the practice is currently in place,</div><div>256 and just last month the New York Court of Appeals</div><div>upheld two local fracking bans;257 concurrently, the above three private foundations have doled</div><div>out millions to promote these efforts.</div><div>
</div><div>One scheme, led by the New York-based Park Foundation and California-based Schmidt</div><div>Family Foundation, provides numerous grants to the New York-based SMF, which serves as the</div><div>fiscal sponsor for multiple New York groups engaged in this effort, including Water Defense,</div><div>Frack Action and Artists Against Fracking. During 2011, SMF gave $147,750 to Water</div><div>Defense.258 The following year, SMF funneled a $150,000 grant “to support Water Defense”</div><div>from Schmidt.259 Notably, Water Defense was founded in 2010 by actor Mark Ruffalo, who has</div><div>an estimated net worth of $20 million and was listed on Time Magazines’ 2011 “People Who</div><div>Mattered” for his anti-fracking efforts.260 In 2011, SMF gave Frack Action $324,198, with</div><div>$150,000 stemming from Schmidt grants to SMF.261 Ironically, one of the Schmidt grants</div><div>specified that $100,000 go “to support Frack Action’s grassroots campaign fighting for a ban on</div><div>horizontal hydraulic fracturing”262 (emphasis added).</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>However, the mere funding from the California-based Schmidt demonstrates Frack</div><div>Action’s campaign is anything but grassroots. In 2012, SMF received $185,000 for Frack Action</div><div>through grants from Park263 and Schmidt.264 While the amount of money funneled to Yoko</div><div>Ono’s Artists Against Fracking cannot be identified, as SMF’s 2012 IRS Form-990 is</div><div>unavailable, Artists Against Fracking’s now-removed website directs donations to SMF.265</div><div>Simultaneously, Park and Schmidt formed a parallel effort, along with the CA-based</div><div>Tides Foundation, to funnel money to anti-fracking efforts in Colorado through Food & Water</div><div>Watch. Food & Water Watch was founded in 2005 as an outgrowth of another Ralph Nader-</div><div>
</div><div>256 Sean Cockerham, New York ruling on fracking bans might send tremors across U.S., MCCLATCHYDC, June</div><div>30, 2014, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/06/30/231963/new-york-ruling-on-fracking-bans.html. 257 Id. </div><div>258 Sustainable Markets Found., IRS Form 990, 2011. 259 Sustainable Markets Found., IRS Form 990, 2012. </div><div>260 Bryan Walsh, People Who Mattered: Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Ingraffea, Robert Howarth, TIME (Dec. 14, 2011) </div><div>261 Sustainable Markets Foundation IRS Form 990, 2011; The Schmidt Family Foundation IRS Form 990, 2011. </div><div>262 The Schmidt Family Foundation IRS Form 990, 2011. </div><div>263 Park Foundation IRS Form 990, 2012. 264 The Schmidt Family Foundation IRS Form 990, 2012. </div><div>265 Tom Shepstone , Artists Against Fracking … and Lobbying Disclosure?, ENERGY IN DEPTH, (Apr. 3, 2013)</div><div>http://energyindepth.org/marcellus/artists-against-fracking-and-lobbying-disclosure/ ; During the research for this</div><div>report, Artists Against Fracking’s website was taken down.</div><div>39</div><div> </div><div>formed nonprofit, Public Citizen.266 </div><div>
</div><div>Food & Water Watch’s Executive Director, Wenonah</div><div>Hauter, served as Director of Public Citizen’s Energy and Environment Program from 1997 to</div><div>2005, and was a senior organizer for the Union of Concerned Scientists.267 Notably, the DCbased</div><div>Food & Water Watch is an organization heavily funded by billionaire-backed foundations</div><div>in California and New York, yet extremely active in environmentalist’s anti-fracking initiative in</div><div>New York and Colorado. Moreover, Food & Water Watch boasts about the “wave of local</div><div>resolutions, laws and proposals to ban or limit fracking”268 in New Jersey, Colorado, Michigan,</div><div>Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Specifically in New York, SMF gave Food & Water</div><div>Watch $14,250 in 2011,269 and Schmidt contributed $65,000 in 2012, “to support education and</div><div>outreach on fracking in New York.”270 Park donated $590,000 from 2010 to 2013 to Food &</div><div>Water Watch to advocate for anti-fracking rallies in New York.271 Park’s $355,000 grant to</div><div>Food & Water Watch was specifically for New Yorkers Against Fracking272 – another group not</div><div>recognized by the IRS, but whose website has a link to the donations page of Food & Water</div><div>Watch.</div><div>
</div><div>The same billionaire foundations behind the New York anti-fracking efforts have also</div><div>moved into Colorado through two coalitions - Local Control Colorado and Frack Free Colorado,</div><div>which are directly affiliated with the NY-based groups already discussed. Local Control</div><div>Colorado claims to be, “a coalition of community, consumer and public interest groups from</div><div>across Colorado”273 (emphasis added) promoting an anti-fracking ballot measure. However,</div><div>they list DC-based Food & Water Watch, which is funded by CA-based Schmidt and Tides, and</div><div>NY-based Park, as part of the coalition.274 Food & Water Watch is also listed as a partner to</div><div>another member of the Local Control Colorado coalition, Frack Free Colorado (FFC).275 Self-described</div><div>as a “collaborative, grassroots movement that works to raise awareness about the</div><div>dangers of fracking,”276 FFC’s website states the group is “a people’s movement that consists of</div><div>concerned citizens, companies … and organizations.”277 (emphasis added). However, at least</div><div>two of the organizations listed as a member of FFC278 – Artists Against Fracking and Food &</div><div>
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</div><div>266 Food & Water Watch, About Food & Water Watch, http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/about/ (last visited July</div><div>28, 2014).</div><div>267 Meet the Food & Water Watch Staff, FOOD & WATER WATCH, http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/about/whowe-are/</div><div>(last visited July 25, 2014). 268 Steven Mufson, How two small New York towns have shaken up the national fight over fracking, THE WASHINGTON POST, July 2, 2014.</div><div>269 Sustainable Markets Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2011. 270 Schmidt Family Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2012. 271Park Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2010-2012; Park Foundation 2013 Grants Database,</div><div>http://www.parkfoundation.org/search.php?coding=group&group=2013&title=2013%20Grants#category_29 (last</div><div>visited July 25, 2014). 272[A] Park Foundation, IRS Form 990, 2012</div><div> [B] Grants Awarded, PARK FOUND., 2013,</div><div>http://www.parkfoundation.org/search.php?coding=group&group=2013&title=2013%20Grants#category_29 (last</div><div>visited July 25, 2014).</div><div>273 Local Control Colorado, Press Release February 24, 2014, http://localcontrolcolorado.org/press-release-february-</div><div>24-2014/ (last visited July 25, 2014). 274 Id. 275 Frack Free Colorado, Who We Are, http://www.frackfreecolorado.com/about.html (last visited July 25, 2014). 276 Id. 277 Id. 278 Id.</div><div>40</div><div> </div><div>Water Watch – are based in New York and Washington, DC. Interestingly, FFC has reportedly</div><div>tried to hide its partnership with another NY-based organization, Water Defense.279</div><div>In addition to the funding and partnership ties, these schemes have one key employee in</div><div>common who binds these cross-country efforts: Russell Mendell. Mendell previously worked</div><div>for three of the NY-based organizations – Frack Action, New Yorkers Against Fracking and</div><div>Water Defense.280 While at Frack Action in November 2011, Mendell organized a rally of</div><div>activists in front of the White House calling for the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline.281</div><div>Mendell was also active in the Occupy Wall Street movement, once stating that Occupy was</div><div>“about linking arms between the various movements … there’s not a lot that separates the</div><div>environmental movement and Occupy Wall Street.”282 In 2012, Mendell, along with another</div><div>Water Defense employee, Ana Tinsely, left to move across the country and work for FFC283 in</div><div>an apparent coordinated effort to apply the same activist tactics used in New York to the attack</div><div>on fracking in Colorado. Overall, these schemes illustrate a model with FFC and Local Control</div><div>Colorado “grassroots” coalitions that bind efforts via partnerships with billionaire-backed groups</div><div>that are far from local. These complicated relationships are depicted in the following illustration.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>279 Randy Hildreth, Frack Free Colorado Maintains Deep Ties to National Activist Organizations, ENERGY IN</div><div>DEPTH, May 29, 2014, http://energyindepth.org/mtn-states/frack-free-colorado-maintains-ties-national-activistorganizations</div><div>(last visited July 25, 2014). 280 Id. 281 Colin Sullivan, Occupy Wall Street shows its greener side in weekend shout fest, E&E PUBLISHING, LLC, Nov.</div><div>1, 2011, http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059955786 (last visited July 25, 2014). 282 Id. 283 Michael Sandoval, Frack Free Colorado erases ties to Water Defense, THE COMPLETE COLORADO, Nov.</div><div>18, 2013, http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2013/11/18/frack-free-colorado-erases-ties-to-water-defense (last</div><div>visited July 25, 2014).</div><div>
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</div><div style="line-height: 22.2px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div>=</div><div>
</div><div>d. Fiscal Sponsorships Provide the Billionaire’s Club with Access to Nimble and</div><div>Transient Groups and also Provide Distance from their Hired Hands</div><div>
</div><div>Fiscal sponsorship arrangements provide the Billionaire’s Club with access to nimble and</div><div>transient groups to address fast moving political developments. As discussed in this report, fiscal</div><div>sponsors rent out their 501(c)(3) status to outfits that are not recognized by the IRS. This</div><div>arrangement allows foundation funds to flow to activists who would not otherwise qualify to</div><div>receive foundation money as most private foundations have guidelines that explicitly require</div><div>grantees to be recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS. Additionally, as the fiscal sponsor is</div><div>generally a well-known and well regarded nonprofit, the arrangement provides distance between</div><div>the wealthy donor and the actions of their hired hands.</div><div>
</div><div>i. Tides Center: The Principal Fiscal Sponsor</div><div>
</div><div>Tides Inc., a group of separate yet closely intertwined organizations, sets the standard in</div><div>inventing the infrastructure behind the fiscal sponsor relationship. Tides heavily funds green</div><div>organizations and its setup provides one stop shopping for the Billionaire’s Club. The Tides</div><div>Foundation and the Tides Center are the most prominent affiliates of Tides Inc. The Tides</div><div>Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in San Francisco founded in 1976 by Drummond</div><div>Pike,347 an activist environmentalist with connections to other left-leaning foundations and</div><div>organizations.348 Tides Foundation reported net total assets of over $135,000,000 in 2012.349 It</div><div>takes in large sums of money from other large foundations, including the Hewlett Family</div><div>Foundation, Schmidt Family Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, and Sea Change Foundation. A</div><div>key component of the Tides’ operations involves maintaining donor anonymity. 350</div><div>The Tides Center is also a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1994 and based in San</div><div>Francisco.351 It promotes itself as “the leading fiscal sponsor in the nation,” and boasts of</div><div>sponsoring roughly 230 projects.352 It receives money from Hewlett, Rockefeller Brothers</div><div>Foundation, Schmidt, Sea Change, Marisla Foundation and Energy Foundation. Both Tides</div><div>Foundation and Tides Center heavily support each other. Between 2010 and 2012, Tides</div><div>Foundation gave over $10 million to Tides Center,353 and Tides Center gave over $39 million to</div><div>Tides Foundation.354 It is unclear what purpose the transfer of funds between these two</div><div>organizations serves, other than obscuring the money trail.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>347 History, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/about/history (last visited July 24, 2014). </div><div>348 Drummond Pike, RON ARNOLD’S UNDUE INFLUENCE, http://www.undueinfluence.com/drummond_pike.htm (last</div><div>visited July 24, 2014).</div><div>349 Tides Found. IRS Form 990 (2012). 350 Ben Johnson, Teresa Heinz Kerry: Bag Lady for the Radical Left, FRONTPAGE MAG, Feb. 13, 2004,</div><div>http://archive.frontpagemag.com/Printable.aspx?ArtId=14166.</div><div>351 Tides Center IRS Form 990 (2012). 352 Learn About Fiscal Sponsorship at Tides, </div><div>TIDES, http://www.tides.org/i-want-to/turn-my-vision-ideas-into-anonprofit-project/learn-about-fiscal-sponsorship-at-tides#3</div><div>(last visited July 24, 2014). 353 Tides Found., IRS Form 990, 2010-2012. 354 Tides Center, IRS Form 990, 2010-2012.</div><div>54</div><div> </div><div> TOTAL GRANTS BETWEEN TIDES FOUNDATION & TIDES CENTER 2010-2012</div><div>$39,012,027</div><div>$10,047,801</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>As a prominent and highly active fiscal sponsor, Tides Center exerts the Tides’ influence</div><div>both through controlling funding allocations to its sponsored groups, but also through overseeing</div><div>their structures, staff, and activities. Tides Center describes its close, intertwined relationship</div><div>with the groups it sponsors by stating: “Tides’ projects are not separate entities or affiliated</div><div>organizations. Because they are an integral part of Tides Center and not separate legal entities,</div><div>projects are able to receive charitable donations and grants available only to tax-exempt</div><div>organizations. Tides Center is legally and financially responsible for all our projects and</div><div>activities.”355</div><div>
</div><div>Groups that Tides Center sponsors are subject to Tides Center’s oversight and direction</div><div>in important aspects that include forming a governing board,356 managing payroll,357 and</div><div>monitoring risk.358 Tides Center stresses its hands-on involvement with its sponsored projects by</div><div>stating: “Every Tides Center staff member is invested in the success, growth, and achievement of</div><div>our projects. We continually strive to improve our work and streamline processes so that the</div><div>provision of services to each project is seamless.”359 In return, Tides Center profits through</div><div>charging an amount equaling 9% of its sponsored groups’ annual revenues, with a slight</div><div>percentage reduction in later years for revenues</div><div>exceeding $1 million.360</div><div>
</div><div>Despite the influence exerted by the Tides</div><div>Center’s over a group it sponsors, generally their</div><div>relationship is not always evident from looking at the</div><div>group. One example is the Story of Stuff project based</div><div>in Berkeley, California.361 It produces movies, podcasts and other mediums that perpetuate</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>355 Learn About Fiscal Sponsorship at Tides, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/i-want-to/turn-my-vision-ideas-into-anonprofit-project/learn-about-fiscal-sponsorship-at-tides#2</div><div>(last visited July 24, 2014). 356 Advisory Board Consultation, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/i-want-to/turn-my-vision-ideas-into-a-nonprofitproject/learn-about-fiscal-sponsorship-at-tides/service-overview/advisory-board-consultation</div><div>(last visited July 24,</div><div>2014).</div><div>357 Payroll Management, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/i-want-to/turn-my-vision-ideas-into-a-nonprofit-project/fiscalsponsorship-at-tides/service-overview/payroll-management</div><div>(last visited July 24, 2014). 358 Risk Management, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/i-want-to/turn-my-vision-ideas-into-a-nonprofit-project/fiscalsponsorship-at-tides/service-overview/risk-management</div><div>(last visited July 24, 2014). 359 Project Relations, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/i-want-to/turn-my-vision-ideas-into-a-nonprofit-project/learnabout-fiscal-sponsorship-at-tides/service-overview/project-relations</div><div>(last visited July 24, 2014). 360 Costs, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/i-want-to/turn-my-vision-ideas-into-a-nonprofit-project/fiscal-sponsorship-attides/service-overview/costs</div><div>(last visited July 24, 2014).</div><div>Tides Foundation</div><div>501(c)(3)</div><div>Tides Center</div><div>501(c)(3)</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>It is unclear what purpose the</div><div>transfer of funds between these</div><div>two organizations serves, other</div><div>than obscuring the money trail.</div><div>55</div><div> </div><div>propaganda on climate change and environmental issues.362 Its founder, Annie Leonard, has</div><div>been associated with various green groups, including Greenpeace.363 One if its most notable</div><div>works is a propaganda movie called The Story of Stuff. On its website, Tides Center boasts:</div><div>With over 12 million online views, The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard is one</div><div>of the most widely viewed environmental-themed short films of all time. Since its</div><div>release in December 2007, The Story of Stuff has been shown in thousands of</div><div>schools, houses of worship, community events, and businesses, and translated into</div><div>10 languages. It reveals the connections, at times hidden, between the</div><div>environmental, social, and economic issues which surround consumerism, and it</div><div>has inspired a global movement.364</div><div>
</div><div>Nonetheless, there is no mention of the Tides Center on the Story of Stuff’s website</div><div>except for a passing reference on a separate “questions” page linked on the donations page that</div><div>confirms that contributions are tax deductible due to the fiscal sponsorship arrangement.365</div><div>Source: https://storyofstuff.actionkit.com/donate/general_donations/</div><div>Tides Center-sponsored projects also associate closely with organizations that receive</div><div>money from Tides Foundation. For example, Tides Center fiscally sponsors The Center for</div><div>Environment and Policy (CEP), which conducts research and advocacy associated with</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>361 Project Directory, TIDES, http://www.tides.org/community/project-directory (last visited July 24, 2014). 362 From a Movie to a Movement, STORY OF STUFF PROJECT, http://storyofstuff.org (last visited July 24, 2014). 363 Annie Leonard, STORY OF STUFF PROJECT, http://storyofstuff.org/annie (last visited July 24, 2014). 364 Stories, STORY OF STUFF PROJECT, http://www.tides.org/impact/stories/show/story/single/title/the-story-of-stuffproject</div><div>(last visited July 24, 2014).</div><div>365 Support the Project!, STORY OF STUFF PROJECT, https://storyofstuff.actionkit.com/donate/general_donations (last</div><div>visited July 24, 2014).</div><div>56</div><div> </div><div>sustainable development and populations.366 CEP partners with multiple groups that receive</div><div>donations from Tides Foundation, including The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife</div><div>Federation, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, and Union of Concerned Scientists.367</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>ii. Sustainable Markets Foundation: A</div><div>=</div><div style="font-weight: bold;">
</div></div>=
wfb:- Washington Free Beacon - http://freebeacon.com -<div class="Center" style="line-height: 22.2px; margin: 0px auto;"><div id="Outline" style="width: 1410.296875px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial;">Read the Confidential Document Left Behind at the Democracy Alliance MeetingPosted By Lachlan Markay On May 5, 2014 @ 1:00 pm In Politics | <a href="http://freebeacon.com/politics/jonathan-soros-left-a-confidential-document-at-his-donor-conference/print/#comments_controls">No Comments</a><div id="BlogContent" style="padding: 10px; margin-top: 10px;">The Democracy Alliance takes pains to ensure that its work disbursing millions of dollars to top left-wing organizations remains secretive and free from public scrutiny. But a document left on the floor of the group’s recent gathering reveals for the first time the names of a number of individuals involved in the effort.It lists new Democracy Alliance “partners,” individuals who every year <a href="http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=F87CCB53-6FC6-42ED-8A3D-664D96C96825">must pay</a> $30,000 in dues and contribute at least $200,000 to the groups that DA supports. It also reveals names of DA “advisers,” foundation participants, and individuals getting a “sneak peek” at the group’s activities.Among its new partners are top labor union bosses, financial and business leaders, and heirs to billion-dollar fortunes who have made names for themselves as high-dollar Democratic donors.Security was tight at the <a href="http://freebeacon.com/politics/security-tight-at-secretive-democracy-alliance-meeting/" target="blank">Democracy Alliance conference</a> last week at the chic Ritz Carlton in Chicago. Politico reporter Ken Vogel was <a href="http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=F87CCB53-6FC6-42ED-8A3D-664D96C96825" target="blank">manhandled</a> by security when he tried to interview an attendee. Other conference-goers ripped off their nametags when a Washington Free Beacon reporter approached.The Democracy Alliance does not actually accept donations. Instead, it solicits contributions from left-wing millionaires and billionaires, and serves as a “pass through” between those donors and top liberal advocacy groups, including the Center for American Progress, Media Matters for America, and Democratic Super PAC Priorities USA.The group emphasizes secrecy in all of its operations, even as its members and the DA “favored organizations” to which they donate decry the role of “dark money” in American politics. DA does not disclose details of any of the transactions it facilitates, and its members and donation recipients are prohibited from speaking publicly about the organization and its operations.While few conference attendees would speak with the Free Beacon last week, one mistakenly left a revealing document on the floor of a publicly accessible area of the conference. The list of new partners provides previously unreported details on one of the left’s most powerful dark money groups.<h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Big Labor Bucks</h3><div id="attachment_262765" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Noel-Beasley.jpg">Noel Beasley</a></div>Labor unions have for decades served as financiers for some of the left’s most prominent think tanks and activist groups. The list of new DA partner reveals increasing involvement by top labor bosses in the group’s work financing those organizations.New members in 2014 include Noel Beasley, president of Workers United, a textile union affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, and Keith Mestrich, president of the union-owned Amalgamated Bank, where Beasley, also a SEIU vice president, serves as chairman.Amalgamated, which is majority-owned by the SEIU, is <a href="http://freebeacon.com/politics/dnc-owes-democracy-alliance-big-time/" target="blank">still owed</a> $8.5 million by the Democratic National Committee for a pair of loans taken out in 2012 to support the DNC’s work to reelect President Barack Obama.“We are a partisan bank that’s owned by a union,” Mestrich <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/bank-owned-by-a-union-for-unions-sets-it-sights-on-washington/2013/08/02/e8c62ea4-f878-11e2-b018-5b8251f0c56e_story.html" target="blank">told the Washington Post</a> last year. “There’s no question that unions are very tight with the Democratic Party, and we make no bones about that.” He would not answer questions about the bank’s involvement with the Democracy Alliance at last week’s conference.The addition of top officials at Workers United and Amalgamated comes after DA added other top labor bosses in 2013, according to the list of new members.Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, both signed on as partners last year. The document also lists CWA senior director George Kohl and Michelle Ringuette, Weingarten’s assistant, as new partners in 2013.Weingarten and Cohen both sit on the <a href="http://www.epi.org/about/board/" target="blank">board</a> of the Economic Policies Institute, a labor-funded think tank. Richard Trumka, who attended last week’s conference, is also a board member, as are SEIU president and <a href="http://www.democracyalliance.org/leadership" target="blank">DA board member</a>Mary Kay Henry, and <a href="http://www.epi.org/about/board/" target="blank">one-time</a> DA board member Robert Johnson.While union higher ups are well compensated—Weingarten and Cohen made <a href="http://www.unionfacts.com/employees/American_Federation_of_Teachers" target="blank">$550,000</a> and <a href="http://www.unionfacts.com/employees/Communications_Workers_of_America" target="blank">$200,000</a> in 2012, respectively, while Ringuette and Kohl each pulled down more than $150,000—the $100,000 minimum aggregate contribution requirement likely means that AFT and CWA, rather than the individuals listed, are the entities providing DA pass-through funds, with top union officials serving as liaisons.<h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Famed Horticulturalist and Real Estate Heir Joins DA</h3><div id="attachment_262774" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Amy.png">Amy Goldman</a></div>Many of DA’s new partners, though, have the personal financial means to support its favored organizations, due either to their own successful business ventures or to large inheritances.Amy Goldman is one of the country’s foremost horticulturalists, but her fortune comes from her status as heiress to one of the largest real estate fortunes ever amassed. Goldman’s father, Sol, owned nearly 600 New York commercial real estate properties when he died in 1987. At one point, he owned the famed Chrysler Building.The <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=x-cCAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA34&ots=YLetisppm7&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="blank">ensuing legal battle</a> over his $1 billion estate was at the time the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/25/realestate/heirs-of-sol-goldman-battle-over-estate.html?pagewanted=all" target="blank">largest ever</a> to take place in New York’s Surrogate Court, more than doubling the previous record.Amy Goldman has since become one of the Democratic Party’s largest individual campaign contributors. Goldman has donated more than $6 million to Democratic candidates, party organs, interest groups, and independent expenditure groups since 1990.Those donations have included $1 million to Priorities USA in 2012, $500,000 to House Majority PAC the same year, $1.75 million to Planned Parenthood from 2011 to 2013, and $750,000 to Organizing for Action last year.Goldman has donated nearly $9,000 to Obama, and more than $13,000 to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign and independent groups supporting that effort.<h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Munger the Younger</h3><div id="attachment_262804" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_6619.jpg">Philip Munger / newyorksocialdiary.com</a></div>Another benefactor of a massive inheritance that appears on DA’s new partner list was donating tens of thousands of dollars to Democrats while he was still in school.Philip Munger is the son of Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman and Warren Buffett lieutenant Charles Munger, whose estimated net worth is $1.2 billion, according to <a href="http://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-munger/" target="blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Forbes</a>. Munger the younger is a professor at the New School in New York City. Despite living on an educator’s salary, he also manages to donate vast sums to Democratic politicians.Munger has shelled out more than $700,000 in political contributions since 1990, all to Democrats or liberal interest groups. He donated $46,300 while he was still a student, according to FEC forms that require donors to disclose their profession.Munger was among the first donors to OFA, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/04/organizing-for-action-releases-foun.html" target="blank">topping</a> the group’s list of “founding members” with a $250,000 contribution.More inherited wealth will likely flow through DA from Henry van Ameringen, heir to the International Flavors and Fragrance fortune. Van Ameringen is another massive Democratic donor. He has donated more than $900,000 to Democrats since 1990.Van Ameringen was the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivs.php?cycle=2012" target="blank">21st largest</a> individual contributor to 527 “political action committees” in 2012, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. He is the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivs.php?cycle=2014" target="blank">ninth largest</a> donor to those groups in the current election cycle.Much of van Ameringen’s political activity is aimed at promoting gay rights. He <a href="http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2012/02/09/obama-lgbt-event-expected-raise-15m" target="blank">attended</a> a $35,800 per-plate fundraiser for Obama in 2012 that solicited support from wealthy gay and lesbian individuals. The event raised an<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/obama-no-same-sex-marriage-supporter-solicits-cash-at-home-of-lesbian-married-couple/" target="blank">estimated</a> $1.4 million for the president’s reelection.His promotion of gay rights has occasionally expanded into condemnation of religious conservatism. In announcing a <a href="http://www.truthwinsout.org/pressrelease/2014/05/40332/" target="blank">$100,000 donation</a> from van Ameringen to the group Truth Wins Out, TWO’s executive director condemned “religious extremists” in the United States who are “literally getting away with murder from Uganda to Russia.”Van Ameringen has also <a href="http://www.medicaljane.com/2014/04/19/henry-van-ameringen-makes-hefty-donation-to-legalization-efforts-in-oregon/" target="blank">contributed $100,000</a> to an effort to legalize marijuana in Oregon. Democracy Alliance founder and automotive insurance kingpin Peter Lewis donated to the same effort.Some new DA partners include individuals with their own successful business careers.Adam Abram made his fortune in insurance and real estate. He sold his company, James River Group, to Bermuda-based Franklin Holdings in 2007. Abram is currently Franklin’s chairman. He also founded Adaron Group, a commercial real estate developer in North Carolina.Some of Abram’s recent ventures have come under scrutiny for alleged cronyism. James River Group <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/campusnotes/unc-takes-private-cash-for-airport-study" target="blank">provided</a> $15,000 in financing for an economic impact study that recommended construction of an airport in the research triangle region of North Carolina. The company indicated that the airport was “’very important’ or ‘essential’ to [its] business,” according to the <a href="http://preserveruralorange.org/uploads/Economic_Impact.pdf" target="blank">study</a>.Some residents saw that as a financial conflict. “As a resident of rural Orange County … I find it deeply disturbing that companies like the James River Group fund an economic study and they themselves want the airport because the airport will benefit their businesses,” one resident <a href="http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/orange-county-airport-flying-under-the-radar/Content?oid=1211747" target="blank">wrote</a>.Abram has donated more than $110,000 to Democrats since 1990. He <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=170x10482" target="blank">cohosted</a> Michelle Obama at a 2008 fundraiser in Durham, N.C.Many of Abram’s political contributions have focused on specific policy issues. In 2009, he offered to match all contributions up to $5,000 to the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.Abram has been critical of the Obama administration’s civil liberties record and tactics in the war on terror. He wrote a <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/10/19/1577837/stripping-away-americans-rights.html" target="blank">2011 column</a> for the Raleigh News-Observer criticizing legislation eventually signed by Obama that granted the executive wide latitude in detaining and trying suspected terrorists.Despite those misgivings, Abram has donated $4,600 to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.Other individuals on DA’s list of new partners have been far friendlier to Obama. Rick Segal, CEO of financial services firm Seavest, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/bundlers.php" target="blank">bundled</a> between $250,000 and $500,000 for the president’s reelection campaign, in addition to his $165,000 in political contributions since 1990.Paul Boskind has contributed nearly $200,000 to Democrats since 1990, and <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/bundlers.php" target="blank">bundled</a> between $100,000 and $200,000 for Obama’s reelection. He also <a href="http://www.baremusicalnyc.com/creative.html" target="blank">served</a> on the DNC’s national finance committee.Boskind is the CEO of Deer Oaks Mental Health Associates, a Texas based mental health organization. He is also involved in theater, producing a number of plays designed to promote liberal political sensibilities, <a href="http://immediatefamilyplay.com/index.php/producers" target="blank">including</a> Gore Vidal’s “The Best Man.”These and other individuals (full list below) are some of DA’s newest partners, but the list also includes a host of individuals with other statuses at the organization.The Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel was given a “sneak peak,” according to the list. Lee Wasserman and Lisa Guide of the Rockefeller Family Fund are listed as “committed.” Joan Davidson, heir to the Welch juice fortune and president emeritus of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, is listed under the status “convening.”The Democracy Alliance did not respond to requests for comment or additional information about the roles that DA partners and other individuals listed on the document play.On the back of the document, someone took notes that appeared to refer to potential or actual donations by individuals and groups affiliated with the DA.“McKay 25k AV” likely refers to Rob McKay, and a $25,000 contribution to America Votes, a group that DA has supported. “Nathan Cummings 500k CCC” is likely a reference to a $500,000 contribution from the Nathan Cummings Foundation to the Center for Community Change, which has <a href="http://foundationsearch.com/990/Archive/2/THE%20NATHAN%20CUMMINGS%20FOUNDATION%20INC%202005%20237093201.pdf#xml=http://www.foundationsearch.com/FindFunders/Search/FreeTextSearch/PdfHighlighter.aspx?DocId=724985&Index=F%3a%5cFS%2dData%5cUS%5cIndex%5cArchive&HitCount=6&hits=83fc+83fd+83fe+83ff+a10b+a10c+" target="blank">previously received</a> Nathan Cummings grant funds.<a title="View Democracy Alliance new members list on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/222073619/Democracy-Alliance-new-members-list?secret_password=1e1jbm0yjmob7ocl5zc">Democracy Alliance new members list</a> by <a title="View Washington Free Beacon's profile on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/WashingtonFreeBeacon">Washington Free Beac</a>NEW PARTNERS, 2013Paul Boskind: CEO of Deer Oaks Mental Health Associates and theater producer.Larry Cohen: President of the Communications Workers of America.Randi Weingarten: President of the American Federation of Teachers.George Kohl: Senior director of the Communications Workers of America.Michelle Ringuette: Assistant to the president of the American Federation of Teachers.Amy Goldman: Author, horticulturalist, and daughter of the late New York City real estate magnate Sol Goldman.NEW PARTNERS, 2014Adam Abram: Founder of James River Group, chairman of Franklin Holdings, chairman of Piedmont Community Bank Holdings, former president of Adaron Group.Noel Beasley: President of Workers United, vice president of the Service Employees International Union, chairman of Amalgamated Bank.Keith Mestrich: President of Amalgamated BankPhilip Munger: New School professor, son of Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman Charles Munger.Colin Greer: President of the New World Foundation.Heeten Kalan: Senior program officer at the New World Foundation.Rick Segal: CEO of Seavest, Inc.Ryan Smith: Unknown. It was originally <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/07/organizing-for-action.html">reported</a> that Smith was the CEO of Qualtrics, but that was not the case.Henry van Ameringen: President of the Van Ameringen Foundation, son of Arnold Louis van Ameringen, founder of International Flavors and Fragrances.Dirk Wiggins: Founder of Code for Progress, former director of targeting for Field Strategies, former outreach director for the Florida Democratic Party.</div><hr class="Divider" style="width: 1128.234375px; height: 1px; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" />Article printed from Washington Free Beacon: http://freebeacon.comURL to article: http://freebeacon.com/politics/jonathan-soros-left-a-confidential-document-at-his-donor-conference/Click <a href="http://freebeacon.com/politics/jonathan-soros-left-a-confidential-document-at-his-donor-conference/print/#Print" title="Click here to print.">here</a> to print.</div></div>
with Udall?!5/15udall, say it ain't so:[newest millionaire?]5/15What do you get when you let the chemical industry write a “chemical safety” bill?A bill that protects chemical companies, not consumers.The last time Congress passed a chemical safety bill — the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) — was in 1976. The TSCA “was <a href="http://www.ewg.org/key-issues/toxics/chemical-policy" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">broken from the start</a>,” according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), because it grandfathered in thousands of chemicals already on the market. It was so “broken and weak,” says EWG, that it didn’t even allow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban asbestos, a known cause of cancer.Now, 39 years later, tens of thousands of new chemicals have been introduced, the majority of which have never been safety tested by the EPA. These chemicals, more than 80,000 of them, are in the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the homes we live in.It’s time for reform. But unfortunately, S.697 — which still doesn’t address asbestos — falls far short of accomplishing that. That could have something to do with the fact that the chemical industry has <a href="http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2015/03/chemical-industry-spending-surges-support-sham-reform" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">spent $190 million</a> lobbying for this bill. Democratic Sponsor Tom Udall’s (D-N.M.) campaign received $49,050 from the Chemical industry in the 2014 cycle, plus $23,500 from lobbyists employed by the American Chemistry Council. Republican sponsor David Vitter’s (R-La.) campaign received $20,600 in the 2014 cycle, and $14,300 from American Chemistry Council lobbyists. We need your voice to stop this bill.On April 27 (2015), the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a rewritten version of S.697, sending it to the Senate floor for a vote. The revised bill gave slightly more protection to state chemical safety laws, by changing the grandfathered date to Jan. 1, 2015, instead of Aug. 1, 2015. The new version also no longer allows federal chemical rules to preempt state clean water and clear air laws.But the bill is still inadequate, according to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.):"The legislation does nothing to ensure that terrifying disease clusters of children's cancers are addressed, and the killer of 10,000 Americans a year — asbestos — was entirely left out of the bill," Boxer said. "I will continue to call attention to the flaws of the bill and the improvements that are needed to protect our families."Boxer and her colleague Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) have introduced an <a href="http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/Boxer-Markey.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">opposing bill</a>, which <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=dbec8491-c006-4e04-9e44-416e78622e83" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">they say</a> offers far better protection than S. 697, which they say cripples state efforts to regulate toxic chemicals, while leaving the federal government without the resources needed to properly safety test them.One of the bill’s biggest shortcomings is that it allows the EPA to review no more than 25 chemicals in the first three years. At that pace, it would take more than a century to address the backlog of chemicals in need of review. We already know that some chemicals, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), are <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076011001063" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">hormone disrupters</a>, yet BPA is still found in baby food containers. As for thousands of other unregulated chemicals, the effects are unknown.In the absence of federal action, states have taken the lead in monitoring toxic chemicals and setting safety standards for industry — 33 states have passed laws to include some form of monitoring or restrictions to harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, mercury, asbestos and BPA. S.697, though it will grandfather in many of these state laws, will hinder states from taking stronger action in the future.More on how chemicals are regulated <a href="http://photo.pds.org:5012/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2009012300" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none;">here</a> and <a href="http://photo.pds.org:5012/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2014071800" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">here</a>.=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/18/1371650/-Chemical-lobby-set-to-gut-U-S-toxic-chemical-regulations#3/15<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/chemical-lobbyist-caught-drafting-new-law-414698563573" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none;">Chemical lobbyist exposed as author of new bill to regulate industry (link to video segment):</a><blockquote style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 1.2em 0px; padding: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); border-top: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); background: rgb(246, 243, 236);">Rachel Maddow reports on the discovery that a draft of a new law to make much-needed updates to regulations on the chemical industry was authored by the American Chemistry Council, the leading trade organization and lobbyist for the chemical industry</blockquote>  The last time U.S. toxic chemical regulations were updated was 39 years ago. Since then many states have opted to enact stricter safety standards than those Federal standards of the past to keep pace with newer chemicals and innovations developed over the years as well as the latest methods to evaluate toxic chemical hazards more accurately. These state standards are now in jeopardy as new Federal regulations are in the making that would cap and essentially override safer more complete laws in some states. California is one of those states. There are many more.   A reporter from the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Questions-raised-on-authorship-of-chemicals-bill-6137823.php" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none;">San Francisco Chronicle</a> discovered that a Microsoft Word draft of the new Federal regulations soon on its way to congress was authored by the American Chemistry Council. The Lobbying firm has denied they wrote the Bill. Further investigation by IT experts proved that denial to be untrue. <blockquote style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 1.2em 0px; padding: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); border-top: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); background: rgb(246, 243, 236);">In recent days, a draft of the bill — considered the product of more than two years of negotiation and collaboration between Sen. David Vitter, R-La., Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and both chemical industry and environmental groups — was circulated by Udall’s office ahead of the hearing. The draft bill, obtained by Hearst Newspapers, is in the form of a Microsoft Word document. Rudimentary digital forensics — going to “advanced properties” in Word — shows the “company” of origin to be the American Chemistry Council.</blockquote>Senator Barbara Boxer weighed in:<blockquote style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 1.2em 0px; padding: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); border-top: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); background: rgb(246, 243, 236);">Call me old-fashioned, but a bill to protect the public from harmful chemicals should not be written by chemical industry lobbyists. The voices of our families must not be drowned out by the very industry whose documented harmful impacts must be addressed, or the whole exercise is a sham,” Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said Monday.Boxer, who chaired the committee when the Democrats held the majority, and Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., have introduced an alternative version of the bill with much more stringent regulatory provisions.</blockquote>Ken Cook, president of the <a href="http://www.ewg.org/about-us/staff" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 18.2px; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Environmental Working Group</a>, who will testify against the bill at Wednesday’s hearing had this to say:<blockquote style="line-height: 18.2px; margin: 1.2em 0px; padding: 20px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); border-top: 1px solid rgb(226, 226, 225); background: rgb(246, 243, 236);">“We’re apparently at the point in the minds of some people in the Congress that laws intended to regulate polluters are now written by the polluters themselves,” </blockquote>Indeed. I'm glad some people are doing their jobs. And thank you Senator Ed Markey and others on top of this for showing how it's done.P.S. this story is a day or so old, but it is so important that I thought it worth repeating.  - H/T to <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/comments/1371650/55920910#c5" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none;">kfunk937</a> for posting this petition link: <a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/264/658/327/?z00m=22771723&redirectID=1622978190" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none;">Don't Abolish State Protections Against Toxic Chemicals</a> ===

2/15

Years of cultivating relationships with Republican lawmakers and supporting their campaign committees financially may begin to pay off tomorrow, as the GOP now controls the Senate — and thus, the Environment and Public Works Committee — and some of the industry’s closest friends will lead the questioning of EPA officials at tomorrow’s hearing.

The committee will hold an oversight hearing Wednesday morning to discuss proposed carbon dioxide regulations for American power plants. The rules, announced last year by the EPA, would expand the Environmental Protection Agency’s control over big-carbon emitting industries. But those industries are not taking the proposed move lightly, and the affected industries are influential ones in Washington.

Wednesday’s hearing is one battle in a larger war between the Republican-controlled Congress and President Obama on environmental policy. After winning control of the Senate in November, Republicans vowed to fight the President’s agenda to address climate change. Senate Republicans <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/us/politics/republicans-vow-to-fight-epa-and-approve-keystone-pipeline.html?_r=0" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">don’t appear to have the ability to completely repeal the EPA rules</a>, but they have vowed to undermine and defund the ability of the EPA to administer those rules.

The proposed EPA rules, <a href="http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/fact-sheet-clean-power-plan-overview" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">announced in June</a>, will cut carbon dioxide production from power plants and the power sector to 30 percent below 2005 levels. According to an overview published on the EPA website when the rules were first rolled out, power plants are the biggest source of carbon emissions in the country, accounting for roughly a third of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. The plan would have an impact on health and quality of life issues as well: The EPA says that the rules would cut smog pollution by 25 percent, save $55 billion in health care costs, prevent up to 6,600 premature deaths, and cut asthma attacks for children.

The rules would require compliance from the states as well, and the varying levels of cooperation <a href="http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-and-wyoming-see-epa-coal-rules-differently/article_329c9d8c-4dc1-5516-b9f7-d225348ca8c0.html" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">seem to reflect the polarized nature of American politics</a> on the issue in general. Two states that rely heavily on coal power plants, Wyoming and Montana, have adopted different stances on the EPA policies. The state with the Democratic governor, Montana, is embracing compliance with the regulations. The state with the Republican governor, Wyoming, has rejected the rules.

As for money, the difference between giving to Republicans and Democrats on the committee illustrates a contrast between major carbon-based energy industries and the environmental advocacy groups.

For the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/cmteprofiles/indus.php?cmteid=S10&cmte=SENV&congno=113" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Senate Energy and Public Works committee</a> overall, the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=E01" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">oil and gas industry</a> and <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=E08" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">electric utilities industry</a> both make a strong showing. As of late last year, $2.7 million had been donated in the 2014 cycle by the oil and gas industry to then-committee members, making it the tenth biggest donor industry to the committee. Republicans received a full 79 percent of those contributions. Electric utilities came in 19th among donors to the committee, giving $1.7 million with 55 percent going to Democrats. The <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=Q11" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">environmental industry</a>, made up of advocacy groups like the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000288" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">League of Conservation Voters</a> and the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000259" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Sierra Club</a>, didn’t make the committee’s top 20 donors.

The chair of the committee, Sen. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00005582&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">James Inhofe</a> (R-Okla.), who has rejected the idea that humans are responsible for changes to the planet’s climate <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/21/jim-inhofe-flips-the-script-on-democratic-climate-change-is-a-hoax-vote/" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">as recently as January</a>, received more money from the oil/gas and electric utilities industries than any other industries. Oil and gas gave $556,700 to the senator’s campaign committee and leadership PAC from 2009 to 2014, making it his biggest industry donor. The electric utilities industry dropped $278,000 into his accounts during that same time, ranking second.

Three of Inhofe’s top four donors in that period were major energy companies that may face repercussions if the EPA tightens its grip on carbon emissions. At the top of the list, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000186&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Koch Industries</a> employees and PACs donated $45,200, and lobbyists hired by the company donated $9,430. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000334" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Honeywell</a> came in second with individuals and PACs donating $45,000, while Honeywell lobbyists donated $15,500. Inhofe’s fourth biggest donor was <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000022303" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Valero Energy</a>, which donated $40,000 through its PAC.

The other Republicans on the committee received a considerable sum from the two industries as well. Virtually all of the ten other Republicans had oil and gas make their top 20 donor industry lists. At least five had the electric utilities industry make that list. The biggest oil and gas recipient in the committee was Sen. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000022303" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">David Vitter</a> (R-La.) with $694,650 coming from the industry. The biggest electric utilities industry recipient was Sen. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00006236&cycle=2014" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">John Barrasso</a> (R-Wyo.), who received $322,250 from the industry.

On the minority side of the committee, the oil and gas industry didn’t crack the top 20 for a single current member. The electric utilities industry made it onto the top 20 industries list for Sens. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00012508&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Tom Carper</a> (D-Del.) , <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00001955&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Ben Cardin</a> (D-Md.) , and <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00035267&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Cory Booker</a> (D-N.J.), with $155,100, $124,000, and $168,138, respectively. The environment industry did make the top 20 for five of the nine Senators caucusing with the Democratic party, including ranking Democratic Sen. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00006692&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Barbara Boxer</a> (D-Calif.). No Republicans on the committee had the environmental industry on their top 20 industry donor list.

==

<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/02/17/epas-secret-and-costly-sue-and-settle-collusion-with-environmental-organizations/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/02/17/epas-secret-and-costly-sue-and-settle-collusion-with-environmental-organizations/</a>

bell bs

"Sue and Settle “ practices, sometimes referred to as “friendly lawsuits”, are cozy deals through which far-left radical environmental groups file lawsuits against federal agencies wherein  court-ordered “consent decrees” are issued based upon a prearranged settlement agreement they collaboratively craft together in advance behind closed doors. Then, rather than allowing the entire process to play out, the agency being sued settles the lawsuit by agreeing to move forward with the requested action they and the litigants both want.

In other words, the agency throws the case, somewhat like Bre’r Rabbit agreeing to be thrown into a favorite brier-patch. A big difference however, is that in this case, Farmer McGregor andMr. Rabbit were partners in the scam from the beginning. It’s the unwary American public that actually does get caught in the thorns.

While the environmental group is given a seat at the table, outsiders who are most impacted are excluded, with no opportunity to object to the settlements. Accordingly, both the litigants and the defendant agency, operating in coffee bars and friendly courtroom shadows, avoid the harsh outside glare of oversight. No public notice about the settlement is released until the agreement is filed in court…after the damage has been done.

On top of all that, we taxpayers, including those impacted regulatory victims, are put on the hook for legal fees of both colluding parties.<a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=20ba71b7-802a-23ad-4ca7-a06341934622" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"> According to a 2011 GAO report</a>, this amounted to millions of dollars awarded to environmental organizations for EPA litigations between 1995 and 2010. Three “Big Green” groups received 41% of this payback: Earthjustice, $4,655,425 (30%); the Sierra Club, $966,687; and the Natural Resources Defense Council, $252,004. Most of this was paid to environmental attorneys in connection to lawsuits filed under the Clean Air Act, followed next by the Clean Water Act.

In addition, the Department of Justice forked over at least $43 million of our money defending EPA in court between 1998 and 2010. This didn’t include money spent by EPA for their legal costs in connection with those rip-offs, since EPA doesn’t keep track of their attorney’s time on a case-by-case basis.

While researching various broken government regulatory processes, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discovered many new rulemakings and unreasonable permitting delays which appeared to have resulted from such consent decrees  in which the EPA agreed to bind itself to issue new regulations on a specific timetable; i.e., “We can tell Congress the court made us do it.”

The Chamber concluded that such Sue and Settle rulemaking is responsible for many of EPA’s “most controversial, economically significant regulations that have plagued the business community for the past few years”. Included are regulations on power plants, refineries, mining operations, cement plants, chemical manufacturers, and a host of other industries. One of the most successful Sue and Settle strategies <a href="http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/reports/1207_ETRA_HazeReport_lr.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">they cited</a>“… has been on an issue few in <a href="http://www.forbes.com/places/dc/washington/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Washington</a> or around the nation are paying attention to: regional haze requirements under the Clean Air Act.”

The Chamber’s study author, William Yeatman, Assistant Director for <a href="http://www.forbes.com/energy/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Energy</a> and Environment at the Competitive <a href="http://www.forbes.com/enterprise/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Enterprise</a> Institute (CEI), emphasizes that EPA’s abuse of its Regional Haze authority forces states to relinquish their authority and accept EPA’s far more expensive plans, thereby increasing consumer utility charges. He concluded that: “… no state is immune from having its rightful Regional Haze authority trampled by EPA at profound costs for virtually nonexistent benefits.”

Having conducted eight state case studies, Yeatman <a href="http://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2012/july/us-chamber-report-reveals-epa%E2%80%99s-takeover-states%E2%80%99-regional-haze-programs-all" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">found that</a>:

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In <a href="http://www.forbes.com/places/az/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Arizona</a>, EPA’s Regional Haze regulation threatens to increase the cost of water, forcing the state to spend an additional $90.2 million per year to implement the federal regulation.</li>

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In <a href="http://www.forbes.com/places/mt/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Montana</a>, EPA’s proposed Regional Haze controls are nearly 250% more expensive than what that agency’s standing rules presume to be “cost-effective” for compliance,</li>

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In 2011, the EPA disregarded New Mexico’s Regional Haze plan, instead imposing a federal plan that requires nearly $840 million more in capital costs…potentially raising average annual household utility bills by $120.</li>

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Although North Dakota is one of only 12 states that achieves all of EPA’s air quality standards for public health, it would not be able to achieve EPA’s Regional Haze goals for visibility even by shutting down all industry. The EPA plan would also cost the state an additional $13 million per year,</li>

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Refusing to approve Oklahoma’s Regional Haze plan, the EPA’s plan would cost the state $282 million annually.</li>

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In Wyoming, the EPA proposed a federal implementation plan that would cost almost $96 million per year more than the state’s plan.</li>

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Minnesota is subject to back-to-back Regional Haze regulations, whereby EPA is claiming authority to regulate regional haze twice in succession at its Sherburne County generating plant.</li>

<li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">EPA’s proposed plan would cost Nebraska nearly $24 million per year to achieve invisible “benefits”.</li>

</ul>

<p style="line-height: 27px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.656px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana Senator David Vitter (R-LA), the new ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, <a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=644862c0-f95a-e23f-b506-828fbd0cab86" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">plans to investigate this Sue and Settle practice</a>, “using all available tools to bring to light this often abused path to regulatory influence”. For starters, he asked his Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to join with AGs of 13 other states who filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with EPA on August 10, 2012, asking for any and all correspondence between EPA and a list of 80 environmental, labor union and public interest organizations that have been party to litigation since the start of the Obama administration.

Unfortunately, getting federal agencies to comply with formal FOIA requests isn’t proving to be easy. And to make matters worse, there is evidence that top bureaucrats have even used private e-mail accounts and aliases to cover culpability tracks.

For example, Senator Vitter, along with Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) who heads the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, recently sent a letter to James Martin, EPA’s Region 8 administrator, <a href="http://www.globalwarming.org/2013/02/05/sen-vitter-hits-the-ground-running/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">warning him</a>: “The use of personal, non-official e-mail accounts raises concerns that you could be attempting to insulate this and other e-mail correspondence from a Freedom of Information Act request. Moreover, your actions may also constitute violation of the Federal Records Act”…evading congressional oversight of federal agencies.

One of those private e-mails at issue involved an exchange between Martin and Vickie Patton, the General Counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, regarding an arranged meeting with him. Patton wrote: “Hi Jim, Next Monday or Tuesday December 12/13 at 9am depending on which is best for you.” Responding, Martin replied: “January 13 at 9:00 am works for me if it works for you. (Lost your original note-is that the date and time you proposed?” Vitter and Issa have confirmed that the meeting did, in fact, take place at the EPA regional office.

Several Martin e-mails were released by EPA as the result of a FOIA lawsuit lodged by Christopher Horner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Horner’s efforts also revealed evidence that former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson was conducting official agency business under cover of the alias name “Richard Windsor”, and CEI also sued EPA seeking   e-mails concerning the EPA’s behind-the-scenes regulatory war on coal plants. Horner’s new book, <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451694881/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451694881&linkCode=as2&tag=chrishorneron-20" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">The Liberal War on Transparency</a>, discusses this and other tricks.

Suspicions abound that the exposure of Jackson’s undercover communications had much to do with her departure decision shortly afterwards. Senator Vitter commented: “I think this e-mail issue clearly spurred Lisa Jackson’s resignation. But it’s much broader than her. It’s about a culture of hiding anextreme agenda from Americans because it can’t be sustained in public debate.”

CEI issued a statement that agreed with Vitter’s perspective, <a href="http://blog.nola.com/politics/print.html?entry=/2012/12/sen_vitter_thinks_lisa_jackson.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">commenting</a>: “We also believe the timing was no accident. She claims to have told President Obama shortly after his re-election she planned to leave in early 2013, but her announcement went public just days after the Justice Department agreed- as a result of a lawsuit filed by CEI- to begin producing 12,000 e-mails from her ‘Richard Windsor’ account.”

On January 28, 2013, on behalf of the American Tradition institute (ATI) Horner also sued in the Federal District Court of Washington, D.C. to compel EPA to end its eight-month stonewall of two FOIA requests regarding its “uncomfortably close ties at great taxpayer expense” with the American Lung Association (ALA), and the Sierra Club. Both of these organizations lobby for stringent regulatory legislation the EPA wants, while at the same time, receiving agency funding. ALA has received $20,405,655 from EPA over the past 10 years, and has run campaigns against politicians who challenge its policies. An ALA billboard ad in Michigan targeted House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, featuring a child with an oxygen mask over her face. The text read: “Rep. Fred Upton, protect our kids’ health. Don’t weaken the Clean Air Act.”

According to the ATI complaint, “The Sierra Club employs a similar model and has close working relationships with Agency officials.” This charge refers most particularly to a recent incidence where Sierra hired disgraced EPA Region 6 Administrator Al Armendariz. He left EPA shortly after a videotape revealed him acknowledging his “philosophy of enforcement” as being akin to random crucifixions used to keep subjects suitably respectful and “really easy to manage for the next few years.” Armendariz has pledged to continue to help Sierra (and, presumably, EPA) fight the coal industry.

Senator Vitter’s office has informed me that there are ongoing investigations regarding a known revolving door of environmentalists and agencies, as well as Equal Action to Justice Act recovery money flowing to these groups post-settlement. In other words, the litigating groups are getting paid to sue both at the front end and tail end as well.

In an <a href="http://www.atinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ATI-Sierra-ALA-Appeal-Ex-3.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">affidavit</a>, ATI informed the court that one of the two specialists EPA assigned to handle the CEI’s FOIA requests <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/public-interest-group-sues-epa-for-foia-delays-claims-agency-ordered-officials-to-ignore-requests/article/2519881" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">admitted</a> that a supervisor instructed her and a colleague to perform no work on them. Then: “Following this, EPA constructed a cul de sac of refusing to perform a search of responsive records until ATI agreed to pay estimated fees…which by law non-profits typically do not pay under FOIA…but which EPA then refused to provide.”

Quite certainly, EPA is not the only federal agency to engage in secret Sue and Settle deals with crony environmental lobbying organizations. In a January letter to his Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, Senator Vitter wrote: “The collusion between federal bureaucrats and the organizations entering consent agreements under a shroud of secrecy represents the antithesis of a transparent government, and your participation in the FOIA request [filed by 13 other states’ AGs] will help Louisianans understand the process by which these settlements were reached.” Caldwell subsequently agreed to the Senator’s request.

Vitter highlighted a recent example where the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under management of the Department of Interior, entered an agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity involving new rules for endangered species …a deal that could impact private property owners across the South who lack financial resources necessary to fight a legal challenge from that massive federal agency.

In a massive 2011 settlement of a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, FWS promised to address more than 250 candidate species it had previously found warranting protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) but were precluded from listing due to a backlog. As part of a behind-closed-door agreement, USFWS also pledged to review hundreds more species proposed for listing. One of these is the “lesser prairie chicken”, a Sue and Settle determination which would thwart economic development and give Washington politicos power to control private lands in five states: New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma.

As New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce said: “The Endangered Species Act is one of the most heavy-handed unbending laws we have…it gives bureaucrats the power to destroy entire economies with hardly a second thought.” Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) summed up concerns of his constituents, saying: “Amid historic drought in the Great Plains, the last thing we need is another federal agency intruding into the lives and private property rights of Americans. In this case, we are talking about a bird that is populous enough that we can still hunt them in Kansas. This is not about preservation of a species; it’s about federal control of private landowners and limiting the ability to develop and grow rural America. Bureaucrats are becoming an invasive species in America’s heartland.”

Noting that this ESA-based Sue and Settle ruling presents a problem for private landowners throughout the country, Senator Vitter is also <a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=644862c0-f95a-e23f-b506-828fbd0cab86" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-image: initial; outline: none 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">encouraging the inclusion of USWFS </a>(which was not originally included) in the multi-state AG FOIA collusion investigation. Recognizing that the path forward towards obtaining disclosure will be difficult, Vitter added that he was: “Warily confident that both EPA and USFWS will shun all efforts to open the doors on these practices, the negotiations, and the communications between agency staff and outside groups regarding Sue and Settle agreements.”

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<p style="line-height: 27px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Considering that our top law enforcement official, Attorney General Eric Holder, has been cited for Contempt of Congress in withholding requested communications regarding the DOJ’s own “Fast and Furious” debacle, there can be no lingering doubt that Senator Vitter’s unfortunate prediction will prove right. Sadly, and alarmingly, this all falls far short of what would logically be expected from that “most transparent administration in history” we were promised.

==

omg

United States Senate

Committee on Environment and Public Works

Minority Staff Report

The Chain of Environmental Command:

How a Club of Billionaires and Their

Foundations Control the Environmental

Movement and Obama’s EPA

July 30, 2014

Contact: Luke Bolar — Luke_Bolar@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176

Cheyenne Steel — Cheyenne_Steel@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176

U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Minority

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In his 2010 State of the Union Address, President Obama famously chided the Supreme

Court for its recent campaign finance decision by proclaiming, “With all due deference to the

separation of powers, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for

special interests – including foreign corporations – to spend without limit in our elections."1

In

another speech he further lamented, “There aren’t a lot of functioning democracies around the

world that work this way where you can basically have millionaires and billionaires bankrolling

whoever they want, however they want, in some cases undisclosed. What it means is ordinary

Americans are shut out of the process.”2

These statements are remarkable for their blatant hypocrisy and obfuscation of the fact

that the President and his cadre of wealthy liberal allies and donors embrace the very tactics he

publically scorned. In reality, an elite group of left wing millionaires and billionaires, which this

report refers to as the “Billionaire’s Club,” who directs and controls the far-left environmental

movement, which in turn controls major policy decisions and lobbies on behalf of the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even more unsettling, a dominant organization in this

movement is Sea Change Foundation, a private California foundation, which relies on funding

from a foreign company with undisclosed donors. In turn, Sea Change funnels tens of millions

of dollars to other large but discreet foundations and prominent environmental activists who

strive to control both policy and politics.

This report examines in detail the mechanisms and methods of a far-left environmental

machine that has been erected around a small group of powerful and active millionaires and

billionaires who exert tremendous sway over a colossal effort. Although startling in its findings,

the report covers only a small fraction of the amount of money that is being secreted and moved

around. It would be virtually impossible to examine this system completely given the enormity

of this carefully coordinated effort and the lack of transparency surrounding it.

The failure to openly acknowledge this force and the silence of the media with whom

they coordinate further emphasize the fact that until today, the Billionaire’s Club operated in

relative obscurity hidden under the guise of “philanthropy.” The scheme to keep their efforts

hidden and far removed from the political stage is deliberate, meticulous, and intended to

mislead the public. While it is uncertain why they operate in the shadows and what they are

hiding, what is clear is that these individuals and foundations go to tremendous lengths to avoid

public association with the far-left environmental movement they so generously fund.

The report attempts to decipher the patterns of “charitable giving.” Often the wealthiest

foundations donate large sums to intermediaries – sometimes a pass through and sometimes a

fiscal sponsor. The intermediary then funnels the money to other 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)

organizations that the original foundation might also directly support. The report offers theories

1 Bill Mears, Chief justice chides State of the Union as ‘political pep rally’, CNN, March 11, 2010, 7:33 A.M.,

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/10/obama.supremecourt (last visited July 27, 2014).

2 Ben Wolfgang, Obama weighs in for campaign finance limits, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Oct. 8, 2013,

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/oct/8/obama-weighs-campaign-finance-limits (last

visited July 27, 2014).

i

that could explain this bizarre behavior, but at its core, the Billionaire’s Club is not, and

seemingly does not, want to be transparent about the groups they fund and how much they are

supporting them.

In advancing their cause, these wealthy liberals fully exploit the benefits of a generous

tax code meant to promote genuine philanthropy and charitable acts, amazingly with little

apparent Internal Revenue Service scrutiny. Instead of furthering a noble purpose, their tax

deductible contributions secretly flow to a select group of left wing activists who are complicit

and eager to participate in the fee-for-service arrangement to promote shared political goals.

Moreover, the financial arrangement provides significant insulation to these wealthy elite from

the incidental damage they do to the U.S. economy and average Americans.

Through these arrangements, the Billionaire’s Club gains access to a close knit network

of likeminded funders, environmental activists, and government bureaucrats who specialize in

manufacturing phony “grassroots” movements and in promoting bogus propaganda disguised as

science and news to spread an anti-fossil energy message to the unknowing public. Not only is

the system incredibly sophisticated, but the Club’s attorneys and accountants have mastered the

loopholes and gray areas in the tax code, which enable them to obtain a full tax benefit, even

when the recipient of the grant is not recognized as a public charity, and even if the money

indirectly and impermissibly funds political activities.

In order to understand how the Billionaire’s Club colludes with the far-left

environmental activists and government officials, the report articulates the fundamental

framework that governs these relationships. Essentially, the far-left environmental machine is

comprised of hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Each entity is set up according to its

designated purpose and is either a private foundation or a public charity, depending on where the

cog fits in this well-designed wheel.

The facilitators – both organizations and individuals who bring together the private

foundations and the activists – are a key component of the movement’s success. The report

identifies three organizations that serve prominent roles as facilitators: the Environmental

Grantmakers Association, the Democracy Alliance, and the Divest/Invest movement. There is

also a narrow set of individuals whose careers are part of the fabric of the far-left environmental

movement and who serve as coordinators and intermediaries between the Billionaire’s Club and

the activist groups.

The ultimate recipients of donations from the Billionaire’s Club work in tandem with

wealthy donors to maximize the value of their tax deductible donations and leverage their

combined resources to influence elections and policy outcomes. Often, they lobby on behalf of

the EPA and advance policy positions important to the agency, which is statutorily prohibited

from lobbying on its own behalf. But most importantly, they serve as the face of the

environmental movement and present themselves as non-partisan benevolent charities to a public

not aware of the secretive backroom deals and transfers.

The Billionaire’s Club achieves many of its successes through the “capture” of key

employees at EPA. These “successes” are often at the expense of farmers, miners, roughnecks,

ii

S

--

FINDINGS:

• The “Billionaire’s Club,” an exclusive group of wealthy individuals, directs the far-left

environmental movement. The members of this elite liberal club funnel their fortunes

through private foundations to execute their personal political agenda, which is centered

around restricting the use of fossil fuels in the United States. (Pg. 6)

• The Billionaire’s Club has established a dozen prominent private foundations with huge

sums of money at their disposal to spend on environmental causes. (Pg. 9)

• Members of the Billionaire’s Club also donate directly to 501(c)(3) public charities.

Generally, the public charity is considered the preferred status under the tax code, based

on the greater tax benefits and protections on donor disclosures. (Pg. 10)

• Public charities attempt to provide the maximum amount of control to their donors

through fiscal sponsorships, which are a legally suspect innovation unique to the left,

whereby the charity actually sells its nonprofit status to a group for a fee. (Pg. 12)

• Nearly all of the public charities discussed in this report have an affiliated 501(c)(4) that

engages in activities designed to influence elections and have no restrictions on their

lobbying efforts. The funding of a 501(c)(4) by a 501(c)(3) affiliates is provocative in

light of the legal restrictions on public charities from participating in political

campaigning, either directly or indirectly, while permitting a 501(c)(4) to significantly

engage in campaign activities. (Pg. 14)

• Members of the Billionaire’s Club put a premium on access to the complex

environmental infrastructure that has evolved to leverage substantial assets towards

achieving defined policy outcomes. (Pg. 16)

• Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) is a place where wealthy donors meet

and coordinate the distribution of grants to advance the environmental movement. EGA

encourages the use of prescriptive grantmaking. It is a secretive organization, refusing to

disclose their membership list to Congress. (Pg. 16)

• Democracy Alliance (DA), a facilitator for wealthy donors seeking to advance a broader

far-left agenda, does not disclose the details of any transaction it facilitates, and its

members and donor-recipients cannot speak publically about the organization. (Pg. 18)

• Environmental activist groups are well aligned with the greater far-left agenda. One of

DA’s acclaimed successes in the last year includes President Obama’s executive actions

on climate change. (Pg. 20)

• Many far-left environmental foundations and groups have pledged to divest in fossil fuels

and invest in renewable projects as well as “philanthropy.” (Pg. 22

--

There is a narrow set of individuals whose careers are part of the fabric of the far-left

environmental movement. These individuals exercise outsized influence regarding the

distribution of funds. (Pg. 23)

• Public charity activist groups propagate the false notion that they are independent,

citizen-funded groups working altruistically. In reality, they work in tandem with

wealthy donors to maximize the value of the donors’ tax deductible donations and

leverage their combined resources to influence elections and policy outcomes, with a

focus on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Pg. 25)

• Far-left environmental activists, while benefiting from nonprofit status, essentially sell a

product to wealthy foundations who are seeking to drive policy and political outcomes.

(Pg. 38)

• The Obama Administration has installed an audacious green-revolving door among

senior officials at EPA, which has become a valuable asset for the environmental

movement and its wealthy donors. (Pg. 28)

• In one example, senior EPA officials planned to use Michelle DePass’s position on the

Board of Directors of EGA, her eminent employment at EPA, and her relationship with

former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, to enhance her influence with EGA. (Pg. 29)

• Former far-left environmentalists working at EPA funnel government money through

grants to their former employers and colleagues, often contributing to the bottom line of

environmental activist groups. (Pg. 34)

• Under President Obama, EPA has given more than $27 million in taxpayer-funded grants

to major environmental groups. Notably, the Natural Resources Defense Council and

Environmental Defense Fund – two key activists groups with significant ties to senior

EPA officials – have collected more than $1 million in funding each. (Pg. 34)

• EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck appears to be inappropriately and personally

involved in the allocation of EPA grants to favored groups. Enck is also the subject of an

inquiry led by the EPA Office of Inspector General. (Pg. 35)

• EPA also gives grants to lesser-known extreme groups. For example, the Louisiana

Bucket Brigade received hundreds of thousands of grants under former Administrator

Lisa Jackson despite challenges by state regulators over the use of such grants. (Pg. 33)

• Some of the most valued services activists provide the Billionaire’s Club includes

promulgation of propaganda, which creates an artificial echo chamber; appearance of a

faux grassroots movement; access to nimble and transient groups under fiscal

sponsorship arrangements; distance/anonymity between donations made by well-known

donors and activities of risky activist groups; and above all – the ability to leverage tens

of millions of dollars in questionable foreign funding. (Pg. 38)

===

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ranking member on env and PW: en. David Vitter, R-La., the ranking member on the committee, once described talk of climate change as “ridiculous pseudo-science garbage that’s so common on the left on this issue,” adding that ”I think there is beginning to be a serious reconsideration of the science of this.”</div>

</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">paises kochs, point man on formaldehyde</div>

</div>

<div>#3 energy money, votes w/ them 88%

</div>

Louisiana Senator David Vitter made headlines with conservative websites in the last few days by releasing a report called <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=8af3d005-1337-4bc3-bcd6-be947c523439" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">Chain of Environmental Command</a>: How a Club of Billionaires and Their Foundations Control the Environmental Movement and Obama’s EPA.

Below the lengthy title is a <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=8af3d005-1337-4bc3-bcd6-be947c523439" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">report</a> that claims breathlessly that environmental and public health foundations are part of a cabal of “a close knit network of likeminded funders, environmental activists, and government bureaucrats” responsible for spreading “bogus propaganda disguised as science and news to spread an anti-fossil energy message to the unknowing public.”

The report goes on to list groups such as the American Lung Association and the Union of Concerned Scientists as “agenda-driven far-left elites” obsessed with using “secretive backroom deals and transfers” to hide their agenda from the public. To shine a light on these organizations, the Vitter report details annual budget numbers and board membership lists scrubbed from annual tax forms that these nonprofits, like any nonprofit, are required to publish.

Though the report scolds the nonprofits as untrustworthy and elite, there’s virtually no information in the report that details anything they have done wrong. Rather, Vitter and his staff appears to disagree with the shared policy goals of these nonprofits, which include combatting global warming as well reducing cancer-causing pollutants from the air and water.

If there is a conspiracy afoot, as eluded to in “Chain of Environmental Command,” perhaps Vitter himself is involved.

In 2009, Vitter <a href="http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/news/legislative-activities/2008-legislative-activities/senators-cochran-boxer-brownback-vitter-join-as-cosponsors-of-lung-cancer-mortality-reduction-act.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">co-sponsored</a> the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act, legislation to require several federal agencies to work together on a comprehensive plan for reducing lung cancer mortality. The American Lung Association, one of the groups targeted by the Vitter report as a purveyor of “bogus propaganda,” <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lungcan-celebrates-lung-cancer-screening-breakthrough-220244871.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">helped pass</a> the legislation, which was signed into law last year.

Or what about the RESTORE Act, which funds coastal restoration and economic recovery projects along the Gulf Coast using fines generated from the 2010 BP oil spill? The legislation <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/environmental_groups_praise_bi.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">was supported</a> by the Environmental Defense Fund, the Nature Conservancy, the National Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation. All four groups were named in Vitter’s report as members of the pernicious “Club of Billionaires.” Vitter regularly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTzgo9xRk-Q" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">boasts</a> that he was a champion of this environmental group-backed legislation, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/bp-oil-spill-restore-act_n_1675566.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">which was signed</a> into law in 2012.

A request a comment from Vitter’s office was not returned.

The change in tone from Vitter corresponds closely to his new perch as the top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, a position he <a href="http://theadvocate.com/home/4815967-125/vitter-to-become-top-gop" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">secured last year</a>.  Since 2013, Vitter has positioned himself as a close ally of the fossil fuel industry, attempting to <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/vitter_and_other_republicans_b.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">block</a> the confirmation of the Environmental Protection Agency administrator and going so far as to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/20/sen-david-vitter-god-bless-the-koch-brothers/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">proclaim</a>, “God bless the Koch brothers.”

Fossil fuel companies have leaned on congressional Republicans to block new environmental regulations. But with little influence within the Obama administration and without control of the Senate, lawmakers close to industry have lashed out at public health advocates and scientists. Just as Vitter is now targetting NGOs, the GOP on the House Science Committee has <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/house-science-committee_n_5525609.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">begun</a> subpoenaing scientists that have researched air pollutants, a move widely condemned by observers.

- See more at: http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/#sthash.BowZESWq.dpuf</div>

On July 30, the Republican minority of the <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.WelcomeMessage">U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works</a> [1], headed by Sen. David Vitter, released a report titled “<a href="http://1.usa.gov/1u326Qm">The Chain of Environmental Command: How a Club of Billionaires and Their Foundations Control the Environmental Movement and Obama’s EPA</a> [2].”

Critics of the report say it is <a href="http://www.republicreport.org/2014/senator-vitter-report-claims-cancer-prevention-wildlife-nonprofits-are-part-of-nefarious-cabal/">propaganda designed to skewer the Obama EPA and environmental philanthropists</a> [3] for “<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-coleman/senate-report-alleges-bil_b_5656554.html">conspiring to help the environment</a> [4].”

Vitter's <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2014&cid=N00009659&type=I">chief source of campaign cash is the oil and gas industry</a> [5] and he recently called the billionaire Koch Brothers “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7mStFMk6og">two of the most patriotic Americans in the history of the Earth</a> [6].”

What the 92-page report leaves out is that Vitter — an esteemed <a href="http://apps.washingtonpost.com/politics/capitol-assets/states/">member</a> [7] of the Senate “<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/10/28/is-the-senate-a-millionaires-club">Millionaires Club</a> [8]” — owns tens of thousands of dollars in stocks of the electric utility <a href="http://sourcewatch.org/index.php/Wisconsin_Energy">Wisconsin Energy Corporation (We Energies)</a>[9], which owns major <a href="http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/we_energies_grapples_with_new_epa_rules_477313021.html">coal-fired power plants</a> [10] in both <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oak_Creek_power_station" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Oak Creek, Wisc.</a> [11] and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pleasant_Prairie_Power_Plant" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pleasant Prairie, Wisc</a> [12].

We Energies says it stands to lose economically if the proposed Obama EPA carbon rules are implemented, citing the potential risks related to legislation and regulation in its<a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/783325/000010781514000080/wec0630201410q.htm"> most recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form 10-Q</a> [13].

<a href="http://desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/David%20Vitter%202014%20Amended%20Financial%20Disclosure%20Form.pdf"><img src="/ba6e39e8-0d56-54d1-bf07-d523d06e78e0.png"/></a> [14]

“Any legislation or regulation that may ultimately be adopted, either at the federal or state level, designed to reduce GHG emissions could have a material adverse impact on our electric generation and natural gas distribution operations,” We Energies stated on the form.

“Such regulation could make some of our electric generating units uneconomic to maintain or operate, and could adversely affect our future results of operations.”

<a href="https://www.wisconsinenergy.com/aboutus/WEC_bios/klappa_bio.htm">We Energies CEO Gale Klappa</a> [15] also voiced dissatisfaction with the proposed rule during <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/2360645-wisconsin-energys-wec-q2-2014-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single">his company's most recent earnings call</a> [16], saying the company will submit comment to the EPA as part of the <a href="http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/how-comment-clean-power-plan-proposed-rule">public comment period</a>[17].

<h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Not Just Wisconsin Energy</h3>

Financial <a href="http://desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/David%20Vitter%202014%20Financial%20Disclosure%20Form.pdf" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">disclosure forms</a> [18] for <a href="http://desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/David%20Vitter%202014%20Amended%20Financial%20Disclosure%20Form.pdf" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2013</a> [19] obtained by DeSmogBlog show that, beyond We Energies, Vitter also owns stock in other companies with “skin in the game” on fossil fuel investments, such as <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/05/08/idUS235505+08-May-2008+PRN20080508" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">General Electric</a>[20], <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=NextEra_Energy_Resources#Existing_Coal_Plants" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">NextEra Energy</a> [21] and <a href="http://www2.emersonprocess.com/en-us/news/pr/pages/907-secureenergy.aspx" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Emerson Electric</a> [22].

<a href="http://desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/David%20Vitter%202014%20Amended%20Financial%20Disclosure%20Form.pdf"><img src="/d60840c6-cf26-5a77-9508-1144aed61786.png"/></a> [14]

Like We Energies, NextEra Energy — which owns <a href="http://216.92.66.74/index.php?title=Florida_Power_%26_Light#Existing_Coal_Plants">Florida Light & Power</a> [23] — said greenhouse gas regulations at either the federal or state level could hurt its corporate bottom line in its most recent SEC Form 10-Q.

“[NextEra] business could be negatively affected by federal or state laws or regulations mandating new or additional limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions,” <a href="http://desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/NextEraEnergyInc.pdf">reads the Form 10-Q</a> [24].

“Extensive federal regulation of the operations of [the company] exposes [it] to significant and increasing compliance costs and may also expose them to substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions for compliance failures.”

Vitter also owns stock in oil majors ExxonMobil and Chevron.

Vitter owns $250,000-$500,000 in Chevron stock alone, not including ownership in other related holdings, such as the company's mutual funds. When that is tallied, Vitter owns<a href="http://desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/David%20Vitter%202014%20Financial%20Disclosure%20Form.pdf"> hundreds of thousands more dollars</a> [18] worth of Chevron holdings.

<a href="http://desmogblog.com/sites/beta.desmogblog.com/files/David%20Vitter%202014%20Financial%20Disclosure%20Form.pdf"><img src="/841632b2-cfdf-5bd8-9240-f8c3f197e5eb.png"/></a> [25]

Spokespeople for U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and Sen. Vitter's office did not respond to a request for comment from DeSmogBlog sent via email.

<h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Transparency is in the Eye of the Beholder</h3>

In the opening section of the report, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works wrote that “the Billionaire’s Club is not, and seemingly does not, want to be transparent about the groups they fund and how much they are supporting them.”

Yet the hundreds of thousands of dollars in investments owned by Vitter in companies that stand to lose from the proposed Obama EPA carbon rules go unmentioned anywhere in the report.

Transparency, some would say, is in the eye of the beholder.

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Published on DeSmogBlog (http://www.desmogblog.com</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Koch-Tied Roots of Senator Vitter's Green Billionaires Club Environmental Attack Report</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sun, 2014-08-24 18:09Steve Horn</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Koch-Tied Roots of Senator Vitter's Green Billionaires Club Environmental Attack Report</div>

</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A DeSmogBlog investigation reveals that Kristina Moore [1], the Senate staffer listed as the author of U.S. Sen. David Vitter's (R-La.) “green billionaire's club” report [2] published by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) [3] on July 30, has career roots tracing back to the Koch Brothers' right-wing machine [4].</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Metadata from Vitter's green billionaire's club report [5] shows Moore's name as the author, though it remains unclear whether or not she authored it alone. Moore did not respond to a question about her authorship sent via email.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">During a July 30 presentation of the report [6] given to conservative transparency advocacy group Cause of Action [7], Vitter thanked Moore and several other staffers for their help putting together the 92-page document.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Moore — EPW's senior counsel for oversight and investigations — went to law school at George Mason University School of Law, graduating in 2007. David and Charles Koch both serve as major donors to George Mason University [8] and also endow George Mason's Mercatus Center [9], where Charles sits on the Board of Directors [10]. </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kristina Moore Vitter</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kristina Moore; Photo Credit: Bertelsmann Foundation [11]</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">While attending law school, Moore concurrently worked as chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) [12], according to financial disclosure documents obtained by DeSmogBlog.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As a Davis staffer, Kristina Moore (then Kristina Husar), attended two Mercatus Center-sponsored retreats in 2006 [13] and 2007 [14], held in Richmond, Va. and Willamsburg, Va., respectively.</div>

<div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Husar served as the first Mercatus Fellow for Regulatory Studies [16]. In February 2006, she wrote an article in the Small Business Advocate about attending the Mercatus retreat.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Originating as the Austrian Economics Program [17] in the late-1970s and then hubbed at Rutgers University, Mercatus — latin for “markets” [18] — has held annual congressional staff retreats from its inception [19], according to SourceWatch. The Center for Public Integrity pointed to the retreats as example of potentially illegal unregistered lobbying in a 2006 investigative piece [20].</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The retreats fit under the broader umbrella of Mercatus' “Capitol Hill Campus” program [21], which it devoted over $1.6 million to both in 2006 [22] and 2007 [23], according to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 990 forms reviewed by DeSmogBlog.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Beyond Moore, a close look into the origins of and people behind the Vitter green billionaire's club report [24] show Koch brothers ties through and through. </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Mercatus-Taught Oversight Techniques</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Prior to working for Vitter's EPW Committee, Moore worked for U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Ca.) [11], serving as senior counsel for the minority staff of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee [25], headed by Issa.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Watchdog Institute revealed in a February 2011 investigation that many of the so-called “oversight” investigations conducted by the Committee benefited corporate campaign contributors [26].</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">And many of Issa's Oversight Committee staffers, including Moore, attended Mercatus Center staff retreats. Mercatus schooled them in oversight tactics and techniques.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“In February 2009…Issa…approved a trip to a Mercatus-funded retreat for his committee staff director, Larry Brady,” wrote The Watchdog Institute [26]. “On his disclosure form, Brady, who did not respond to an interview request, cited the purpose of the trip: 'Provide in-depth briefings on issues of relevance to oversight investigations.'”</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Daniel Epstein's Koch Connection</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Daniel Z. Epstein, executive director of Cause of Action — which did the presser premiering the Vitter green billionaire's club report [27] to the U.S. public — formerly served as counsel for Issa's Oversight Committee before launching Cause of Action [28].</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Epstein, who worked alongside Moore for the Oversight Committee's investigations team [29], introduced Vitter at the event. </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On the day of the release and the day after the release of the report, Cause of Action published [30] four [31] different [32] items [33] on its website promoting it, including issuing a public statement [30].</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">According to a 2009 article appearing in The Hill, Epstein served as “an associate in legal reform at the Koch Foundation, working together with Koch Industries Inc.’s assistant general counsel.”</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“The job was an interesting mixture of corporate culture with an emphasis on social change — I miss that synergy,” he told The Hill at the time [29]. </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">On his personal website, Epstein lists that 2008-2009 gig as “Counsel, Legal Reform at CGKF [28].” CGKF is shorthand for the Charles G. Koch Foundation [34] and an in the Marin Independent Journal confirms Epstein worked there from June 2008 through January 2009 [35].</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Beyond Koch ties, Epstein also has personal financial ties that may make him averse to environmental regulations.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A financial disclosure form submitted by Epstein [36] when he worked for Issa's Oversight Committee shows that he had (or still has) personal investments in both Dominion Resources [37] and Duke Energy [38].</div>

</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Both of those companies stand to lose from President Barack Obama's U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) coal-fired power plant regulations, as both Dominion [40] and Duke [41] own coal-fired power plant assets.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“God bless the Koch brothers”</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Koch Industries front group Americans for Prosperity [42] immediately decried Obama's EPA coal regulations after they were announced in June [43], an important detail because the Vitter green billionaire's club report [44] alleges the environmental movement controls Obama’s EPA.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vitter also stands to gain personally from his report's dissemination. As first reported by DeSmogBlog, Vitter has tens of thousands of dollars in personal investments in coal-fired power plant corporation, Wisconsin Energy [45]. </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Confronted at a March campaign event about the Kochs, Vitter sang the brothers' praises.  </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“I think the Koch brothers are two of the most patriotic Americans,” Vitter said at a March campaign stump event [46]. “I'll be honest with you: My reaction is God bless the Koch brothers. They're fighting for our freedoms.”</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div>According to OpenSecrets.org [47], Vitter has taken [48] over $116,000 in Koch Industries campaign contributions since the 2010 campaign cycle [49]. </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Oversight for Who?</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">At the Cause of Action-hosted presser announcing the release of the Vitter green billionaire's club report [50], Vitter discussed the importance of Congressional oversight work.</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">“This is oversight work and I think that is really important work in Congress in general, often work those of us in Congress don't focus on enough,” Vitter told the audience [6]. “I think the minority side of the Senate EPW Committee has been dedicated to good, aggressive oversight work, so that's what this [report] is.” </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But it's important to ask: oversight for who and overseeing what?</div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In the case of the Vitter green billionaire's club report [51], the answer seems clear: the corporate bottom-line of the Koch brothers and Koch Industries. </div>

</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vitter [52]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Dominion Resources [53]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Duke Energy [38]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Barack Obama [54]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Bertelsmann Foundation [55]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Center for Public Integrity [56]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">lobbying [57]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">lobbyists [58]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">sourcewatch [59]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">center for media and democracy [60]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Environmental Protection Agency [63]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Austrian Economics Program [64]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Capitol Hill Campus [65]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Center for Market Processes [66]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Center for the Study of Market Processes [67]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rutgers University [68]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">U.S. Rep. Thomas Davis [69]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">U.S. Rep. Tom Davis [70]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">U.S. Sen. David Vitter [71]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">David Vitter [72]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kochtopus [74]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">David Koch [75]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Charles Koch [76]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Mercatus Center [77]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">george mason university [78]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">George Mason University School of Law [79]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Darrell Issa [80]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Dan Epstein [81]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Cause of Action [82]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Daniel Z. Epstein [83]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">U.S. Senator David Vitter [84]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">republican party [86]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kristina Moore [87]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Senate EPW [88]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Vitter Green Billionaires Club [89]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Green Billionaires Club [90]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Small Business Advocate [91]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">U.S. Small Business Administration [92]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kristina Husar [93]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Senate Environment and Public Works Committee [94]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee [95]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">U.S. Senate EPW Committee [96]</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Read more: Koch-Tied Roots of Senator Vitter's Green Billionaires Club Environmental Attack Report [97]</div>

<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Source URL: http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/08/24/koch-roots-vitter-green-billionaires-club-environmental-attack-report</div>

</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></div><div><p style="line-height: 27px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">ttle agreements.”<div id="article_container_0_loge" class="loge_ad ad_initialized article_body_ad" style="line-height: 20px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 10px 0px 30px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: right; clear: right; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/7175/fdc.forbes/article-new_3container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0pt none; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: transparent; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Considering that our top law enforcement official, Attorney General Eric Holder, has been cited for Contempt of Congress in withholding requested communications regarding the DOJ’s own “Fast and Furious” debacle, there can be no lingering doubt that Senator Vitter’s unfortunate prediction will prove right. Sadly, and alarmingly, this all falls far short of what would logically be expected from that “most transparent administration in history” we were promised.omg United States SenateCommittee on Environment and Public WorksMinority Staff Report The Chain of Environmental Command: How a Club of Billionaires and TheirFoundations Control the EnvironmentalMovement and Obama’s EPAJuly 30, 2014Contact: Luke Bolar — Luke_Bolar@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176Cheyenne Steel — Cheyenne_Steel@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-6176U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Minority EXECUTIVE SUMMARYIn his 2010 State of the Union Address, President Obama famously chided the SupremeCourt for its recent campaign finance decision by proclaiming, “With all due deference to theseparation of powers, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates forspecial interests – including foreign corporations – to spend without limit in our elections."1Inanother speech he further lamented, “There aren’t a lot of functioning democracies around theworld that work this way where you can basically have millionaires and billionaires bankrollingwhoever they want, however they want, in some cases undisclosed. What it means is ordinaryAmericans are shut out of the process.”2 These statements are remarkable for their blatant hypocrisy and obfuscation of the factthat the President and his cadre of wealthy liberal allies and donors embrace the very tactics hepublically scorned. In reality, an elite group of left wing millionaires and billionaires, which thisreport refers to as the “Billionaire’s Club,” who directs and controls the far-left environmentalmovement, which in turn controls major policy decisions and lobbies on behalf of the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even more unsettling, a dominant organization in thismovement is Sea Change Foundation, a private California foundation, which relies on fundingfrom a foreign company with undisclosed donors. In turn, Sea Change funnels tens of millionsof dollars to other large but discreet foundations and prominent environmental activists whostrive to control both policy and politics.This report examines in detail the mechanisms and methods of a far-left environmentalmachine that has been erected around a small group of powerful and active millionaires andbillionaires who exert tremendous sway over a colossal effort. Although startling in its findings,the report covers only a small fraction of the amount of money that is being secreted and movedaround. It would be virtually impossible to examine this system completely given the enormityof this carefully coordinated effort and the lack of transparency surrounding it.The failure to openly acknowledge this force and the silence of the media with whomthey coordinate further emphasize the fact that until today, the Billionaire’s Club operated inrelative obscurity hidden under the guise of “philanthropy.” The scheme to keep their effortshidden and far removed from the political stage is deliberate, meticulous, and intended tomislead the public. While it is uncertain why they operate in the shadows and what they arehiding, what is clear is that these individuals and foundations go to tremendous lengths to avoidpublic association with the far-left environmental movement they so generously fund.The report attempts to decipher the patterns of “charitable giving.” Often the wealthiestfoundations donate large sums to intermediaries – sometimes a pass through and sometimes afiscal sponsor. The intermediary then funnels the money to other 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)organizations that the original foundation might also directly support. The report offers theories1 Bill Mears, Chief justice chides State of the Union as ‘political pep rally’, CNN, March 11, 2010, 7:33 A.M.,http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/10/obama.supremecourt (last visited July 27, 2014).2 Ben Wolfgang, Obama weighs in for campaign finance limits, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Oct. 8, 2013,http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/oct/8/obama-weighs-campaign-finance-limits (lastvisited July 27, 2014).ithat could explain this bizarre behavior, but at its core, the Billionaire’s Club is not, andseemingly does not, want to be transparent about the groups they fund and how much they aresupporting them.In advancing their cause, these wealthy liberals fully exploit the benefits of a generoustax code meant to promote genuine philanthropy and charitable acts, amazingly with littleapparent Internal Revenue Service scrutiny. Instead of furthering a noble purpose, their taxdeductible contributions secretly flow to a select group of left wing activists who are complicitand eager to participate in the fee-for-service arrangement to promote shared political goals.Moreover, the financial arrangement provides significant insulation to these wealthy elite fromthe incidental damage they do to the U.S. economy and average Americans.Through these arrangements, the Billionaire’s Club gains access to a close knit networkof likeminded funders, environmental activists, and government bureaucrats who specialize inmanufacturing phony “grassroots” movements and in promoting bogus propaganda disguised asscience and news to spread an anti-fossil energy message to the unknowing public. Not only isthe system incredibly sophisticated, but the Club’s attorneys and accountants have mastered theloopholes and gray areas in the tax code, which enable them to obtain a full tax benefit, evenwhen the recipient of the grant is not recognized as a public charity, and even if the moneyindirectly and impermissibly funds political activities.In order to understand how the Billionaire’s Club colludes with the far-leftenvironmental activists and government officials, the report articulates the fundamentalframework that governs these relationships. Essentially, the far-left environmental machine iscomprised of hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Each entity is set up according to itsdesignated purpose and is either a private foundation or a public charity, depending on where thecog fits in this well-designed wheel.The facilitators – both organizations and individuals who bring together the privatefoundations and the activists – are a key component of the movement’s success. The reportidentifies three organizations that serve prominent roles as facilitators: the EnvironmentalGrantmakers Association, the Democracy Alliance, and the Divest/Invest movement. There isalso a narrow set of individuals whose careers are part of the fabric of the far-left environmentalmovement and who serve as coordinators and intermediaries between the Billionaire’s Club andthe activist groups.The ultimate recipients of donations from the Billionaire’s Club work in tandem withwealthy donors to maximize the value of their tax deductible donations and leverage theircombined resources to influence elections and policy outcomes. Often, they lobby on behalf ofthe EPA and advance policy positions important to the agency, which is statutorily prohibitedfrom lobbying on its own behalf. But most importantly, they serve as the face of theenvironmental movement and present themselves as non-partisan benevolent charities to a publicnot aware of the secretive backroom deals and transfers.The Billionaire’s Club achieves many of its successes through the “capture” of keyemployees at EPA. These “successes” are often at the expense of farmers, miners, roughnecks,ii S --FINDINGS:• The “Billionaire’s Club,” an exclusive group of wealthy individuals, directs the far-leftenvironmental movement. The members of this elite liberal club funnel their fortunesthrough private foundations to execute their personal political agenda, which is centeredaround restricting the use of fossil fuels in the United States. (Pg. 6)• The Billionaire’s Club has established a dozen prominent private foundations with hugesums of money at their disposal to spend on environmental causes. (Pg. 9)• Members of the Billionaire’s Club also donate directly to 501(c)(3) public charities.Generally, the public charity is considered the preferred status under the tax code, basedon the greater tax benefits and protections on donor disclosures. (Pg. 10)• Public charities attempt to provide the maximum amount of control to their donorsthrough fiscal sponsorships, which are a legally suspect innovation unique to the left,whereby the charity actually sells its nonprofit status to a group for a fee. (Pg. 12)• Nearly all of the public charities discussed in this report have an affiliated 501(c)(4) thatengages in activities designed to influence elections and have no restrictions on theirlobbying efforts. The funding of a 501(c)(4) by a 501(c)(3) affiliates is provocative inlight of the legal restrictions on public charities from participating in politicalcampaigning, either directly or indirectly, while permitting a 501(c)(4) to significantlyengage in campaign activities. (Pg. 14)• Members of the Billionaire’s Club put a premium on access to the complexenvironmental infrastructure that has evolved to leverage substantial assets towardsachieving defined policy outcomes. (Pg. 16)• Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) is a place where wealthy donors meetand coordinate the distribution of grants to advance the environmental movement. EGAencourages the use of prescriptive grantmaking. It is a secretive organization, refusing todisclose their membership list to Congress. (Pg. 16)• Democracy Alliance (DA), a facilitator for wealthy donors seeking to advance a broaderfar-left agenda, does not disclose the details of any transaction it facilitates, and itsmembers and donor-recipients cannot speak publically about the organization. (Pg. 18)• Environmental activist groups are well aligned with the greater far-left agenda. One ofDA’s acclaimed successes in the last year includes President Obama’s executive actionson climate change. (Pg. 20)• Many far-left environmental foundations and groups have pledged to divest in fossil fuelsand invest in renewable projects as well as “philanthropy.” (Pg. 22--There is a narrow set of individuals whose careers are part of the fabric of the far-leftenvironmental movement. These individuals exercise outsized influence regarding thedistribution of funds. (Pg. 23)• Public charity activist groups propagate the false notion that they are independent,citizen-funded groups working altruistically. In reality, they work in tandem withwealthy donors to maximize the value of the donors’ tax deductible donations andleverage their combined resources to influence elections and policy outcomes, with afocus on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Pg. 25)• Far-left environmental activists, while benefiting from nonprofit status, essentially sell aproduct to wealthy foundations who are seeking to drive policy and political outcomes.(Pg. 38)• The Obama Administration has installed an audacious green-revolving door amongsenior officials at EPA, which has become a valuable asset for the environmentalmovement and its wealthy donors. (Pg. 28)• In one example, senior EPA officials planned to use Michelle DePass’s position on theBoard of Directors of EGA, her eminent employment at EPA, and her relationship withformer EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, to enhance her influence with EGA. (Pg. 29)• Former far-left environmentalists working at EPA funnel government money throughgrants to their former employers and colleagues, often contributing to the bottom line ofenvironmental activist groups. (Pg. 34)• Under President Obama, EPA has given more than $27 million in taxpayer-funded grantsto major environmental groups. Notably, the Natural Resources Defense Council andEnvironmental Defense Fund – two key activists groups with significant ties to seniorEPA officials – have collected more than $1 million in funding each. (Pg. 34)• EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck appears to be inappropriately and personallyinvolved in the allocation of EPA grants to favored groups. Enck is also the subject of aninquiry led by the EPA Office of Inspector General. (Pg. 35)• EPA also gives grants to lesser-known extreme groups. For example, the LouisianaBucket Brigade received hundreds of thousands of grants under former AdministratorLisa Jackson despite challenges by state regulators over the use of such grants. (Pg. 33)• Some of the most valued services activists provide the Billionaire’s Club includespromulgation of propaganda, which creates an artificial echo chamber; appearance of afaux grassroots movement; access to nimble and transient groups under fiscalsponsorship arrangements; distance/anonymity between donations made by well-knowndonors and activities of risky activist groups; and above all – the ability to leverage tensof millions of dollars in questionable foreign funding. (Pg. 38)  =<div>ranking member on env and PW: en. David Vitter, R-La., the ranking member on the committee, once described talk of climate change as “ridiculous pseudo-science garbage that’s so common on the left on this issue,” adding that ”I think there is beginning to be a serious reconsideration of the science of this.”</div><div>
</div><div>praises kochs, point man on formaldehyde</div><div>
</div><div>#3 energy money, votes w/ them 88%
<div>
</div><div>==</div><div>LCV 15/5%</div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
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<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear397458" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber397458" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">180<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle397458" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-180-mccarthy-confirmation-epa" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">McCarthy Confirmation (EPA)</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues397458" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Air, Water<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice397458" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear403141" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber403141" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">151<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle403141" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-151-border-fence" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Border Fence</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues403141" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Lands/Forests, Water, Wildlife<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice403141" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear403040" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber403040" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">145<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle403040" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-145-advancing-conservation-farm-bill" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Advancing Conservation in the Farm Bill</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues403040" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Water, Lands/Forests, Wildlife<span class="voteChoice vote-pro-env" id="voteChoice403040" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/pro-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear395175" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber395175" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">119<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle395175" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-119-clean-water-protections" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Clean Water Protections</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues395175" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Water<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice395175" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear402939" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber402939" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">116<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle402939" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-116-national-endowment-oceans" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">National Endowment for the Oceans</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues402939" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Oceans<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice402939" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear402838" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber402838" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">94<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle402838" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-94-jewell-confirmation-doi" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Jewell Confirmation (DOI)</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues402838" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Lands/Forests, Wildlife<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice402838" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear394641" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber394641" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">76<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle394641" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-76-climate-change-safeguards" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Climate Change Safeguards</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues394641" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Climate Change<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice394641" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear394338" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber394338" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">72<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle394338" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-72-toxic-air-pollution-power-plants" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues394338" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Air<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice394338" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear394439" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber394439" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">61<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle394439" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-61-keystone-xl-tar-sands-pipeline-kxl" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline (KXL)</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues394439" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Climate Change, Dirty Energy, Water<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice394439" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear394540" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber394540" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">59<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle394540" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-59-pricing-carbon-pollution" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Pricing Carbon Pollution</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues394540" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Climate Change<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice394540" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear402737" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber402737" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">46<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle402737" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-46-big-oil-budget" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Big Oil Budget</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues402737" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Other<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice402737" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear402636" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber402636" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">41<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle402636" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-41-military-investments-advanced-biofuels" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Military Investments in Advanced Biofuels</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues402636" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Clean Energy, Dirty Energy<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice402636" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear390999" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2013<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber390999" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">4<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle390999" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2013-4-disaster-relief-hurricane-sandy" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Disaster Relief for Hurricane Sandy</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues390999" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Lands/Forests, Wildlife, Climate Change, Other<span class="voteChoice vote-pro-env" id="voteChoice390999" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/pro-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375727" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375727" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">206<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375727" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-206-military-investments-alternative-fuels" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Military Investments in Alternative Fuels</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375727" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Clean Energy<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375727" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375626" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375626" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">159<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375626" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-159-industrial-farm-clean-water-violations" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Industrial Farm Clean Water Violations</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375626" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Water<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375626" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375525" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375525" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">155<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375525" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-155-conservation-compliance" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Conservation Compliance</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375525" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Lands/Forests, Water<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375525" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375424" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375424" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">148<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375424" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-148-conservation-private-farmlands" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Conservation on Private Farmlands</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375424" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Lands/Forests, Water<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375424" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375323" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375323" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">139<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375323" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-139-toxic-air-pollution-power-plants" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Toxic Air Pollution from Power Plants</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375323" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Air<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375323" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375222" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375222" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">106<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375222" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-106-genetically-engineered-salmon" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Genetically Engineered Salmon</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375222" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Wildlife, Oceans, Other<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375222" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375121" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375121" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">63<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375121" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-63-oil-subsidies-clean-energy-incentives" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Oil Subsidies & Clean Energy Incentives</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375121" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Dirty Energy, Clean Energy<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375121" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear375020" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber375020" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">47<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle375020" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-47-environmental-review-transportation-rebuilding" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Environmental Review in Transportation Rebuilding</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues375020" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Other, Transportation<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice375020" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear374919" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber374919" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">39<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle374919" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-39-clean-energy-tax-incentives" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Clean Energy Tax Incentives</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues374919" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Clean Energy<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice374919" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear374818" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber374818" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">38<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle374818" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-38-arctic-refuge-offshore-drilling-kxl" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Arctic Refuge & Offshore Drilling & KXL</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues374818" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Climate Change, Dirty Energy, Drilling, Lands/Forests, Water, Wildlife<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice374818" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear374717" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber374717" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">34<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle374717" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-34-keystone-xl-tar-sands-pipeline-kxl" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline (KXL)</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues374717" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Climate Change, Dirty Energy, Water<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice374717" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear374616" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber374616" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">32<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle374616" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-32-gulf-coast-restoration-land-and-water-conservation-fund" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Gulf Coast Restoration & Land and Water Conservation Fund</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues374616" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Lands/Forests, Oceans, Water<span class="voteChoice vote-pro-env" id="voteChoice374616" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/pro-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear374515" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber374515" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">30<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle374515" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-30-toxic-pollution-industrial-boilers" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Toxic Pollution from Industrial Boilers</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues374515" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Air<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice374515" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear374414" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2012<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber374414" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">28<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle374414" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2012-28-offshore-drilling" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Offshore Drilling</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues374414" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Drilling, Dirty Energy<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice374414" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear25425" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2011<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber25425" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">229<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle25425" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2011-229-undermining-critical-environmental-programs" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Undermining Critical Environmental Programs</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues25425" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Other<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice25425" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear25324" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2011<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber25324" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">202<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle25324" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2011-202-broad-environmental-assault-s-1720" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Broad Environmental Assault (S. 1720)</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues25324" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Air, Dirty Energy, Drilling, Water, Wildlife<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice25324" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

<div class="tableRow dataItem" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 14px; height: 32px; clear: both; width: 680px; overflow: hidden; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="voteYear" id="voteYear25223" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 110px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">2011<span class="voteNumber" id="voteNumber25223" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 100px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">201<span class="voteTitle" id="voteTitle25223" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 205px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;"><a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/roll-call-vote/2011-201-cross-state-air-pollution" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Cross-State Air Pollution</a><span class="voteIssues" id="voteIssues25223" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 200px; display: block; height: 32px; float: left;">Air<span class="voteChoice vote-anti-env" id="voteChoice25223" style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 34px; display: block; height: 26px; float: left; margin-right: 0px !important; padding-left: 21px !important; background: url(http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/all/themes/lcv_scorecard/images/anti-env-icon-20.png) no-repeat;"> </div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

David Bruce Vitter is the Junior <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S.Senate" title="U. S. Senate" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Senator</a> from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Members_of_the_U.S._Congress_from_Louisiana" title="Category:Members of the U.S. Congress from Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana</a>. He was formerly a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Republican_Party_U.S.A." title="Republican Party U.S.A." class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Republican</a> member of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">United States House of Representatives</a>, first elected in 1999, representing the First Congressional District of Louisiana. (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/pagecgd109_la2.gif" style="text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">map</a>)

<h2 style=" margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border: none; display: inline; background: none;">Contents</h2>

[<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#" class="internal" id="togglelink" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">hide</a>] </div>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Record_and_controversies" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1 Record and controversies</a>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Environmental_record" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.2 Environmental record</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Senate_ethics_committee_clears_Vitter_of_ties_to_Abramoff_scandal" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.3 Senate ethics committee clears Vitter of ties to Abramoff scandal</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Hurricane_Katrina" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.4 Hurricane Katrina</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#DC_Madam_scandal" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.5 DC Madam scandal</a>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-7" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Revelations_of_brothel_patronage_in_Louisiana" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.5.1 Revelations of brothel patronage in Louisiana</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-8" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Possible_resignation_and_replacement" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.5.2 Possible resignation and replacement</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-9" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Vitter_speaks_out" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.5.3 Vitter speaks out</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-10" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Watchdog_group_calls_for_ethics_inquiry" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.5.4 Watchdog group calls for ethics inquiry</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-11" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#New_Orleans_prostitute_claims_relations_with_Vitter.3B_passes_lie_detector_test" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.5.5 New Orleans prostitute claims relations with Vitter; passes lie detector test</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-12" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Ethics_committee_dismisses_complaint" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">1.5.6 Ethics committee dismisses complaint</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Background" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">2.1 Background</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Congressional_Career" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">2.2 Congressional Career</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-16" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Money_in_politics" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">3 Money in politics</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-17" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Committees_and_Affiliations" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">4 Committees and Affiliations</a>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Committees" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">4.1 Committees</a>

<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-19" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Committee_assignments_in_the_109th_Congress_.282005-2006.29" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">4.1.1 Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Caucuses_and_Coalitions" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">4.2 Caucuses and Coalitions</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-21" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Boards_and_other_Affiliations" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">4.3 Boards and other Affiliations</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-22" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#More_Background_Data" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">5 More Background Data</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-23" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Contact" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">6 Contact</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-24" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Articles_and_resources" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">7 Articles and resources</a>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#External_Resources" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">7.1 External Resources</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-26" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Sourcewatch_Articles" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">7.2 Sourcewatch Articles</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-27" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Local_blogs_and_discussion_sites" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">7.3 Local blogs and discussion sites</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-28" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#References" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">7.4 References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-29" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#Articles" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">7.5 Articles</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

</div>

<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Record and controversies</h2>

<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(92, 121, 181); border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; padding: 0.25em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(220, 232, 248); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:U.S._legislation" title="Category:U.S. legislation" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">articles on legislation</a>. You can add information you find on how David Vitter voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Help:References" title="Help:References" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">cite your sources</a>!</div>

Vitter voted for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Authorization_for_Use_of_Military_Force_Against_Iraq_Resolution_of_2002" title="Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002</a> that started the Iraq War.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-1" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[1]</a>

<div style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(92, 121, 181); border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; padding: 0.25em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(220, 232, 248); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">For more information see the chart of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S._House_of_Representatives_votes_on_the_Iraq_War" title="U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War</a>.</div>

For more information on environmental legislation, see the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Portal:Energy_and_Environment_Policy_(U.S.)" title="Portal:Energy and Environment Policy (U.S.)" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Energy and Environment Policy Portal</a>

The <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Louisiana_Jena_Band_of_Choctaws&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Louisiana Jena Band of Choctaws (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Louisiana Jena Band of Choctaws</a> accused Vitter of being "in cahoots" with <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Jack_Abramoff" title="Jack Abramoff" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Jack Abramoff</a> and his attempts to stymie the tribe's casino plans. The <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Indian_Affairs_Committee" title="Senate Indian Affairs Committee" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Senate Indian Affairs Committee</a> found the allegations had no factual basis, with chairman <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_McCain" title="John McCain" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">John McCain</a> (R-Ariz.) saying "The committee has seen absolutely no evidence whatsoever that Senator Vitter's opposition to (the proposed casino) had to do with anything other than his long-standing opposition to gambling." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-2" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[2]</a>

<dd style=" line-height: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-right: 0px;">Main article: <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Abramoff-Reed_Indian_Gambling_Scandal" title="Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal</a></dd>

</dl>

In the wake of 2005's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina" class="extiw" title="w:Hurricane Katrina" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Hurricane Katrina</a>, while New Orleans' flood levels were still rising in all areas, Vitter made an inaccurate statement that received notable media attention.

"In the metropolitan area in general, in the huge majority of areas, it's not rising at all. It's the same or it may be lowering slightly. In some parts of New Orleans, because of the 17th Street breach, it may be rising and that seemed to be the case in parts of downtown.

"I don't want to alarm everybody that, you know, New Orleans is filling up like a bowl. That's just not happening," said Vitter on August 30. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.factcheck.org/article348.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">[1]</a>

In later days, Vitter gave the federal government's emergency response an "F grade" during an interview on Fox News's Hannity & Colmes, but avoided criticising US President <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_W._Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">George W. Bush</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=8&id=348202" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 100% 50%;">[2]</a>

On July 9, 2007, Vitter released an apology after revealing that his telephone number appeared in the phone records of "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Pamela_Martin_and_Associates&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Pamela Martin and Associates (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Pamela Martin and Associates</a>," a prostitution ring in the Washington, D.C. area organized by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Deborah_Jeane_Palfrey" title="Deborah Jeane Palfrey" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Deborah Jeane Palfrey</a>, who faces federal racketeering charges on the matter. The phone records were released on the Internet that day after a judge lifted a restraining order which had prevented their publication. In the Senator's statement, he said that "this was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible." Vitter was the first member of Congress to be caught up in the scandal. During his senatorial campaign in 2006, Vitter was accused of having an affair with a prostitute in New Orleans, an accusation which he denied. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-3" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[3</a>

<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Revelations of brothel patronage in Louisiana</h4>

Following disclosure of Vitter's association with the "DC Madam scandal," a former New Orleans madam who operated a high-profile brothel there said that Vitter was a client at her establishment as well. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jeanette_Maier&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Jeanette Maier (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Jeanette Maier</a>, the brothel operator, argued that Vitter was being unfairly smeared for his indiscretions, and in spite of his actions he was nonetheless a "good man." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-4" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[4]</a>

<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Possible resignation and replacement</h4>

Following revelations that Vitter had frequented brothels in both Washington, DC and New Orleans, Louisiana, top Louisiana Republicans discussed the possibility of asking Vitter to resign. The discussions suggested that if Vitter were asked to resign, the resignation would be part of a deal with Democratic Governor <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Kathleen_Blanco&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Kathleen Blanco (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Kathleen Blanco</a>, wherein she would appoint a Republican replacement for Vitter, most likely former Governor <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/David_Treen" title="David Treen" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">David Treen</a>. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-5" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[5]</a>

<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Vitter speaks out</h4>

On July 16, 2007, following a week of silence on the matter, Vitter denied having any relationship with prostitutes in New Orleans, but again confirmed having made calls to the DC Madam prostitution ring. His wife, Wendy, spoke with him, stating that she had forgiven her husband several years ago, upon finding out about the escort service. She pleaded for her family's privacy regarding the issue. The senator, who has focused on family-values in his campaigns, said he had been "trying to live up to the important values we believe" since admitting to his mistakes, vowing to resume his work in the Senate. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-6" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a>

<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Watchdog group calls for ethics inquiry</h4>

On July 19, 2007, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washington" title="Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</a> (CREW) filed a complaint with the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_ethics_committee" title="Senate ethics committee" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Senate ethics committee</a> to investigate whether Vitter's actions were considered "improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate," a violation of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S._Senate_Rules" title="U.S. Senate Rules" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Senate rules</a>. CREW Executive director <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Melanie_Sloan" title="Melanie Sloan" style=" text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Melanie Sloan</a> wrote in the complaint, "Whether or not Sen. Vitter is ultimately adjudicated to have broken any criminal laws, the Senate may still discipline him for improper conduct as it has done for others in the past." Senate ethics committee rules allow outside groups to file ethics complaints against members.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-Schor_7-19-7" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[7]</a>

<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">New Orleans prostitute claims relations with Vitter; passes lie detector test</h4>

Vitter denied extramarital relations with New Orleans prostitute <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wendy_Cortez&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Wendy Cortez (page does not exist)" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Wendy Cortez</a>, but Cortez insisted that they did indeed have relations and passed a lie detector test. Cortez's claims were promoted by Hustler magazine publisher <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Larry_Flynt" title="Larry Flynt" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Larry Flynt</a>, who said more revelations would be forthcoming soon. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-8" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[8]</a>

<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Ethics committee dismisses complaint</h4>

On May 8, 2008, the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Ethics_Committee" title="Senate Ethics Committee" class="mw-redirect" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Senate Ethics Committee</a> dismissed a complaint filed against Vitter for his alleged involvement in the D.C. prostitution ring.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-Raju_5-08-9" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[9]</a> The complaint, filed by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washington" title="Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</a>, argued that Vitter should be admonished for improper conduct.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-Schor_7-19-7" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[7]</a> In a letter issued by the committee, its members wrote that Vitter had not been criminally charged nor had his conduct involved his public office. The committee therefore rejected the complaint without prejudice. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_note-Raju_5-08-9" style=" text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[9]</a>

He was born May 3, 1961 in New Orleans, was educated at Harvard University, Oxford University (and was a Rhodes Scholar), and Tulane University, and was a lawyer and member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_House_of_Representatives" class="extiw" title="w:Louisiana House of Representatives" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Louisiana House of Representatives</a> before entering the House.

As of January 2005, he occupies the Senate seat vacated by outgoing Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Breaux" class="extiw" title="w:John Breaux" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">John Breaux</a>. While he is widely believed to be the first Republican Senator elected in Louisiana, that title goes to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_S._Harris" class="extiw" title="w:John S. Harris" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">John S. Harris</a> who took his office as a senator in 1868. However, Vitter is the first to be elected by the general populace of Louisiana, while Harris was chosen by the state legislature before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" class="extiw" title="w:Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution</a> made that procedure obsolete.

<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Money in politics</h2>

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00009659&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

<table class="prettytable" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); border-image-source: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-width: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="3" style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em; text-align: center; background: rgb(242, 242, 242);">Links to more campaign contribution information for David Vitter

from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">OpenSecrets.org</a> site.</th></tr><tr><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;">Fundraising profile:</td><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">2006 election cycle</a></td><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?cid=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Career totals</a></td></tr><tr><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;">Top contributors by organization/corporation:</td><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">2006 election cycle</a></td><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?cid=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Career totals</a></td></tr><tr><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;">Top contributors by industry:</td><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">2006 election cycle</a></td><td style=" border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allindus.asp?cid=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Career totals</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/search_result.asp?mem=Vitter%2C+David" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Revolving door profile for David Vitter</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/travel.asp?CID=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">2006 privately funded travel profile for David Vitter</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/candlook.php?CID=N00009659" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Personal finance profile for David Vitter</a> from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">OpenSecrets.org</a> website.</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Committees and Affiliations</h2>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Commerce,Science,and_Transportation" title="Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation</a>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Small_Business_and_Entrepreneurship" title="Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Special_Committee_on_Aging" title="Senate Special Committee on Aging" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Senate Special Committee on Aging</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Environment_and_Public_Works" title="Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works</a>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Senate_Committee_on_Foreign_Relations" title="Senate Committee on Foreign Relations" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Senate Committee on Foreign Relations</a>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on African Affairs</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Democracy and Human Rights</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)</h4>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs Product Safety and Insurance</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Fisheries and the Coast Guard</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Global Climate Change - Chair</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on National Ocean Policy Study</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Trade Tourism and Economic Development</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Clean Air Climate Change and Nuclear Safety</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Fisheries Wildlife and Water</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">I-49 Congressional Caucus</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Republican Policy Committee</li>

</ul>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Member, Coastal Conservation Association</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Member, Ducks Unlimited</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Former Member, Louisiana Bar Association</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Member, National Rifle Association</li>

</ul>

<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">More Background Data</h2>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS022639" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Background information on David Vitter from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS022639" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Interest group scorecard ratings for David Vitter from Project Vote Smart</a></li>

</ul>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/v000127" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Voting record for David Vitter from the Washington Post database</a></li>

</ul>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=LAJR&site=congressmerge" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Information on David Vitter from Congress Merge</a></li>

</ul>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Wikipedia</a> also has an article on <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">David Vitter</a>. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">GFDL</a>.

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://whereistand.com/DavidVitter/wizard" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">See how you compare to David Vitter</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/David_Vitter.htm" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">On The Issues</a></li>

</ul>

DC Office:

516 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-4623

Fax: 202-228-5061

<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://vitter.senate.gov/contact.cfm" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Web Email</a>

<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://vitter.senate.gov/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Website</a>

District Office - Alexandria:

2230 South MacArthur Drive Suite 4

Alexandria, LA 71301

Phone: 318-448-0169

Fax: 318-448-0189

District Office - Baton Rouge:

858 Convention Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Phone: 225-383-0331

Fax: 252-383-0952

District Office - Lafayette:

800 Lafayette Street Suite 1200

Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Phone: 337-262-6898

Fax: 337-262-6373

District Office - Lake Charles:

3221 Ryan Street Suite E

Lake Charles, LA 70601

Phone: 337-436-0453

Fax: 337-436-3163

District Office - Metairie:

2800 Veterans Boulevard Suite 201

Metairie, LA 70002

Phone: 504-589-2753

Fax: 504-589-2607

District Office - Monroe:

1217 North 19th Street

Monroe, LA 71201

Phone: 318-325-8120

Fax: 318-325-9165

District Office - Shreveport:

920 Pierremont Road Suite 113

Shreveport, LA 71106

Phone: 318-861-0437

Fax: 318-861-4865

<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 19.2000007629395px; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Articles and resources</h2>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://vitter.senate.gov/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Official website</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/294890/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Political Biography (Washington Post)</a></li>

</ul>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Brothers" title="Koch Brothers" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Koch Brothers</a>

<li id="cite_note-1" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-1" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up↑</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Roll call vote</a>, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.</li>

<li id="cite_note-2" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-2" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up↑</a> Bill Walsh, [<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20050907221410/http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/washington/index.ssf?/base/news-1/112253289179960.xml" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">http://web.archive.org/web/20050907221410/http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/washington/index.ssf?/base/news-1/112253289179960.xml</a> "McCain defends Vitter as tribe cries foul," New Orleans Times Picayune, July 28, 2005. Internet Archive capture from Sept. 7, 2005.</li>

<li id="cite_note-3" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-3" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up↑</a> Shailagh Murray, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/09/AR2007070902030.html?hpid=topnews" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Senator's Number on 'Madam' Phone List,"</a> Washington Post, July 10, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-4" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-4" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up↑</a> Kate Moran, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blog.nola.com/updates/2007/07/no_madam_ids_vitter_as_client.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Former madam says Vitter was a client at Canal Street brothel,"</a> New Orleans Times Picayune, July 10, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-5" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-5" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up↑</a> John Hill, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEWS01/707120336/1060/NEWS01" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Republicans are pondering their next move over Vitter scandal,"</a> Shreverport Times, July 12, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-6" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-6" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up↑</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/16/vitter/index.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">" Scandal-linked senator breaks a week of silence,"</a> CNN, July 17, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-Schor_7-19-7" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-Schor_7-19_7-0" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up to:7.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-Schor_7-19_7-1" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">7.1</a> Elana Schor, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/watchdog-group-asks-senate-ethics-panel-to-start-vitter-inquiry-2007-07-19.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Watchdog group asks Senate ethics panel to start Vitter inquiry,"</a> The Hill. July 19, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-8" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-8" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up↑</a> Elana Schor. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/flynt-throws-fresh-jab-at-vitter-2007-09-12.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Flynt throws fresh jab at Vitter,"</a> The Hill. September 12, 2007.</li>

<li id="cite_note-Raju_5-08-9" style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-Raju_5-08_9-0" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;"><span class="cite-accessibility-label" style=" top: -99999px; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; position: absolute !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;">Jump up to:9.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=David_Vitter#cite_ref-Raju_5-08_9-1" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">9.1</a> Manu Raju, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/ethics-panel-dismisses-vitter-complaint-2008-05-08.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Ethics panel dismisses Vitter complaint,"</a> The Hill. May 8, 2007.</li>

</ol>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Burgess Everett, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/david-vitter-koch-brothers-104873.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"David Vitter defends Koch brothers"</a>, Politico, March 20, 2014.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Josh Catone, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Senator_Vitter_admits_number_on_DC_0709.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Senator Vitter admits number on 'DC Madam' phone records,"</a> The Raw Story, July 9, 2007. re <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Deborah_Jeane_Palfrey" title="Deborah Jeane Palfrey" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Deborah Jeane Palfrey</a></li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/09/sen-vitter-on-dc-madam-list/" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Sen. Vitter on D.C. madam list,"</a> Think Progress, July 9, 2007.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Vitter_snagged_by_2nd_madam_Flynt_0711.html" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"Second madam comes forward to 'defend' GOP senator, saying he paid call girls $300/hour,"</a> The Raw Story, July 11, 2007.</li>

<li style=" margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/30138" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">"CREW releases 'Beyond DeLay: The 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and two to watch)',"</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washington" title="Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington" style=" text-decoration: none; background: none;">Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</a>, September 18, 2007.</li>

</ul>

</div>

Corresponding article on <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Wikipedia</a> and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.causecaller.com/wiki/David_Vitter" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">Cause Caller</a>. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.causecaller.com/wiki/Senator" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">senators</a>and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.causecaller.com/wiki/Representative" style=" text-decoration: none; padding-right: 13px; background: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVElEQVR42n3PgQkAIAhEUXdqJ3dqJ3e6IoTPUSQcgj4EQ5IlUiLE0Jil3PECXhcHGBhZ8kg4hwxAu3MZeCGeyFnAXp4hqNQPnt7QL0nADpD6wHccLvnAKksq8iiaAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC) 100% 50% no-repeat;">representatives</a>.)

</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Edison Chouest Offshore$109,302$109,302$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jones Walker LLP$99,035$64,800$34,235</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Adams & Reese$88,850$39,350$49,500</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Columbus Properties$67,650$67,650$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Boh Brothers Construction$53,300$53,300$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Bollinger Shipyards$52,650$52,650$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">C&C Technologies$52,650$52,650$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Entergy Corp$51,083$14,583$36,500</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Mockler Beverage$50,400$50,400$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Louisiana State University$50,180$50,180$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Atco Investment$49,360$49,360$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Chevron Corp$49,300$20,300$29,000</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Northrop Grumman$48,050$2,550$45,500</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Morris & Dickson$44,200$44,200$0 PHARMA</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">D&J Construction$43,450$43,450$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Associated Builders & Contractors$42,000$0$42,000</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blank Rome LLP$41,750$32,250$9,500</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Otto Candies$41,088$41,088$0</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold$40,633$18,633$22,000</div>

<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Murray Energy$39,423$24,423$15,000</div>

<table id="topIndus" class="datadisplay" style=" border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; width: 605px; background: rgb(224, 230, 236);"><tbody><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Industry</th><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Total</th></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=E01" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Oil & Gas</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,220,677</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=H01" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Health Professionals</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,207,195</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=K01" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Lawyers/Law Firms</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,165,371</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=W06" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Retired</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,087,781</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=F10" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Real Estate</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$885,136</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=Q03" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Leadership PACs</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$784,043</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=F07" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Securities & Investment</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$685,258</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=M05" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Sea Transport</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$576,544</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=C01" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">General Contractors</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$524,522</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=F09" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Insurance</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$485,393</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=K02" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Lobbyists</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$425,872</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=F13" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Misc Finance</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$410,024</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=C04" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Construction Services</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$386,550</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=F03" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Commercial Banks</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$336,490</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=Q01" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Republican/Conservative</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$303,686</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=N15" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Misc Manufacturing & Distributing</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$281,589</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=N12" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Misc Business</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$265,377</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=E08" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Electric Utilities</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$256,665</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=N05" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Business Services</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$233,637</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=N01" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Food & Beverage</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$227,200</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div>

<h1 class="ruleAbove" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 36px;"><a id="sec" name="sec" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Sector Totals</a></h1>

<table id="topSect" class="datadisplay" style=" border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; width: 605px; background: rgb(224, 230, 236);"><tbody><tr><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Sector</th><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Total</th><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">PACs</th><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Indivs</th></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=A" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Agribusiness</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$666,714</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$340,170</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$326,544</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=B" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Communications/Electronics</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$601,020</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$297,850</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$303,170</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=C" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Construction</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,311,524</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$267,350</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,044,174</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=D" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Defense</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$194,612</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$144,500</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$50,112</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=E" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Energy & Natural Resources</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,858,748</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$746,199</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,112,549</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=F" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Finance, Insurance & Real Estate</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$3,090,604</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$734,148</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$2,356,456</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=H" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Health</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,642,456</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$363,133</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,279,323</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=K" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Lawyers & Lobbyists</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,591,243</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$284,752</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,306,491</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=M" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Transportation</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,224,266</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$485,618</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$738,648</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=N" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Misc Business</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,726,619</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$556,990</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,169,629</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=P" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Labor</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$119,750</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$119,750</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$0</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=Q" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Ideological/Single-Issue</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,549,569</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,048,979</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$500,590</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=All&ind=W" style="text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Other</a></td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,384,442</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$18,500</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$1,365,942</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div>

<div>

<h5 style="margin: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">FIRST ELECTED:1999</h5>

</div>

<h3 style="margin: 0px; clear: left;">Leadership PAC (1): </h3>

<div class="cmtePacs" style="margin: 5px 5px 10px 20px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00409631&cycle=2014" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana Reform PAC</a></div>

<h2 class="ruleAbove" style="margin: 2em 0px 0.2em; clear: left;"><a id="fundraising" name="fundraising" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Career Fundraising</a></h2>

<table id="summaryData" class="datadisplay" style=" border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; width: 605px; border: 0px; background: rgb(224, 230, 236);"><tbody><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">1999 - 2014 Total Receipts:</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><img src="/cb1d5927-f849-548b-9ac7-d3be37a07cc2.gif"/> $26,031,673</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">1999 - 2014 Total Spent:</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><img src="/d771b879-0fc3-5606-bb0b-7c0d523ed760.gif"/> $25,390,397</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Debts:</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;"><img src="/4b00d5d4-c0d4-55c8-8489-d52144761e8c.gif"/> $0</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Last Report:</td><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Monday, March 31, 2014</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div>

<h2 style="margin: 2em 0px 0.2em; clear: left;">Top 5 Contributors, 1999 - 2014</h2>

</div>

<table id="topContrib" class="datadisplay" style=" border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; width: 605px; background: rgb(224, 230, 236);"><thead><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Contributor</th><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Total</th><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Indivs</th><th style="padding: 3px; text-align: center; background: rgb(153, 153, 153);">PACs</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Edison Chouest Offshore</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$109,302</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$109,302</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$0</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Jones Walker LLP</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$99,035</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$64,800</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$34,235</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Adams & Reese</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$88,850</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$39,350</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$49,500</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Columbus Properties</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$67,650</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$67,650</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$0</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px; vertical-align: top;">Boh Brothers Construction</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$53,300</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$53,300</td><td class="number" style=" padding: 5px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top;">$0</td></tr></tbody></table>

</div>

<h2 style="margin: 2em 0px 0.2em; clear: left;">Top 5 Industries, 1999 - 2014</h2>

</div>

</div>

<h2 style="margin: 2em 0px 0.2em; clear: left;"><a id="funds" name="funds" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Source of Funds</a></h2>

</div>

<table id="src_table" class="datadisplay" style=" border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin: 0.5em 0px 1em; padding: 0px; width: 605px; background: rgb(224, 230, 236);"><tbody><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;"><img src="/065a6d50-6257-5580-ba12-4862e3ff5837.gif"/></td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">Individual Contributions</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">$18,945,900</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">(73%)</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;"><img src="/909b24a1-48c1-5605-8775-51aa051a0e12.gif"/></td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">PAC Contributions</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">$5,371,729</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">(21%)</td></tr><tr style=" background-color: rgb(240, 243, 246);"><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;"><img src="/4eafc45c-cdb2-5233-a7ba-8c81ef1906e3.gif"/></td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">Candidate self-financing</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">$385,186</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">(1%)</td></tr><tr><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;"><img src="/fdf20e7f-ae2b-5914-a3a5-206c2d0ece50.gif"/></td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">Other</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">$1,328,858</td><td style=" padding: 5px 30px 5px 5px; vertical-align: top; border-collapse: collapse;">(5%)

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</div>

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<div>

David Vitter defends Koch brothers

By: Burgess Everett

March 20, 2014 06:08 PM EDT

</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="story" style="margin-bottom: 7px; margin-top: 5px; display: block;" valign="top">

Sen. David Vitter stepped up this week to defend the billionaire Koch brothers from Democrats’ repeated attacks, concluding that they are “two of the most patriotic Americans.”

In a <a data-mce="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7mStFMk6og" target="_blank" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">video </a>posted by the liberal tracking firm American Bridge from a Louisiana town hall, Vitter told a constituent that the First Amendment is a “protective right” of the public to be able to lobby legislators directly. The woman then questioned the Louisiana Republican senator about the growing influence of Charles and David Koch.

“I think the Koch brothers are two of the most patriotic Americans,” Vitter replied. “Maybe this is a good example, because I’ll be honest with you, God bless the Koch brothers. They’re fighting for our freedom.”

In a longer version of the clip shared with POLITICO, Vitter said at the beginning of the discussion he is “not defending Big Money in politics” by backing the role that lobbyists play but instead instead simply noting the protections of the First Amendment.

(<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/koch-brothers-democrats-104787.html" target="_blank" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Also on POLITICO: Back when the Kochs gave to Democrats …</a>)

Vitter is running for governor of Louisiana in 2015. A Vitter spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about the video clip. American Bridge said the video was taken on Wednesday in Blanchard, La., and local media <a data-mce="" href="http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20140317/NEWS01/140317022/Sen-David-Vitter-hold-town-hall-meeting-Blanchard-Elementary-Tuesday" target="_blank" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">reported </a>the senator was scheduled for a town hall in Blanchard that day.

The Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity is spending millions attacking incumbent Democrats on climate and health care issues, including Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). The avalanche of outside spending has provoked a rhetorical broadside from Democrats, who are itching to make the influence of the conservative brothers a central issue during this fall’s midterm elections. That effort has been led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who has a particularly frosty relationship with Vitter.

Other Senate Republicans have defended the rights of AFP and other outside groups to spend freely on political causes, but Vitter’s remarks in the video are the strongest pro-Koch backing from a Republican yet.

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<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">from senate public works:</div>

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<h1 class="title-blog" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; overflow: visible; line-height: 36px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Senator Vitter's 'Chemical Safety' Bill</h1>

<div class="comments_datetime_new border_none relative v05" data-beacon="{" p="p" mnid="mnid" entrybyline="entryByline" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Posted: 08/14/2013</div><div class="comments_datetime_new border_none relative v05" data-beacon="{" p="p" mnid="mnid" entrybyline="entryByline" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; overflow: visible; position: relative; line-height: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
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These days, legislation rarely makes it through Congress without support from interest groups on both sides of the issue, forcing lawmakers to draft bills that are largely balanced. Now, however, the American people are being pushed by big polluters to accept"chemical safety" legislation advanced by one of Washington's most ardent anti-environmental advocates, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), that has virtually zero support in the environmental and public health communities.

The bill is the industry-backed Chemical Safety Improvement Act, or CSIA, which would take the worst of all major federal environmental laws, the Toxic Substances Control Act and make it even worse, according to months of <a href="http://www.ewg.org/key-issues/toxics/chemical-policy" target="hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">meticulous analysis</a> by <a href="http://www.ewg.org/release/wave-opposition-senate-chemicals-bill-swells-public-interest-groups-legal-scholars" target="hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">dozens of public interest groups</a>, legal scholars and <a href="http://www.ewg.org/release/california-environment-law-enforcement-officials-warn-senators-about-federal-chemicals-bill" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">state environment and law enforcement officials</a>.

This shouldn't come as a surprise. Sen. Vitter's environmental voting record in Congress has a lifetime score of only <a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/david-b-vitter" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">4 percent </a>from the League of Conservation Voters.

At virtually every opportunity to consider legislation to protect the quality of our air, water and land or mitigate the ravages of climate change, Vitter has said or voted "No." The only issues where he comes down on the side of the environment is his support for ending wasteful federal subsidies for ethanol, and for the RESTORE Act that steered fines collected from the BP oil spill to Gulf restoration projects in his home state.

Vitter's voting record on environmental issues squares well with the wishes of the companies and industries that have largely bankrolled his campaigns. Since 2009, the petrochemical industry has been his <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?type=C&cid=N00009659&newMem=N&cycle=2014" target="_hplink" style=" list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">largest benefactor</a>, delivering nearly $600,000 to his campaign coffers, while the chemical industry and its downstream users have contributed roughly $340,000 over the same period, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Sen. Vitter has a unique history when it comes to protecting toxic chemicals over public health, having almost single-handedly blocked the Environmental Protection Agency's more than two-decade effort to regulate the use formaldehyde, one of the most studied and highly carcinogenic chemicals in commerce today, in the production of construction materials.

The National Toxicology Program classifies formaldehyde as a <a href="http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/twelfth/profiles/Formaldehyde.pdf#search=formaldehyde" target="hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">"known human carcinogen."</a>And a 30-year investigation by the <a href="http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/newsfromnci/2009/formaldehyde" target="hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">National Cancer Institute</a> that tracked the cancer deaths among a group of nearly 26,000 people who were exposed to formaldehyde in the workplace found that those exposed to elevated levels of the chemical had a 78 percent greater chance of being diagnosed with leukemia and a 37 percent increased risk of dying from lymphatic and blood cancers, compared with workers who had not been exposed.

Other victims of formaldehyde exposure include many of Vitter's own constituents who were housed in government-supplied trailers contaminated with the carcinogen in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's devastation.

Despite this evidence and much more documenting the real dangers of exposure, Sen. Vitter pushed for further study in an effort to delay EPA's attempt to regulate formaldehyde, going so far as to hold up an Obama administration appointment to a top job at EPA unless then-Administrator Lisa P. Jackson agreed to have the National Academy of Sciences review EPA's formaldehyde assessment. That has likely pushed off the agency's final decision for several years.

Joaquin Sapien of the independent investigative journalism center ProPublica <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/how-senator-david-vitter-battled-formaldehyde-link-to-cancer" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">wrote a detailed and wide-ranging piece</a> on Vitter's efforts on behalf of the formaldehyde industry and the financial support he received from its key players. The senator is now the ranking Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee that oversees the EPA and its efforts to improve the quality of our air, water and land. The committee also has jurisdiction over legislation controlling the use of toxic chemicals in consumer and commercial goods, including Vitter's proposed Chemical Safety Improvement Act.

I'm sure that Vitter's patrons in the petroleum and chemical sectors, for whom EPA is a persistent thorn in the side, could hardly be more thrilled with his ascension. And to have the man who delivered for them on formaldehyde leading the charge to water down efforts to reform and strengthen the broken chemical regulation law (often known just as TSCA and pronounced tosca) must be a nice bonus.

Most recently, Vitter <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/05/13/2000051/the-facts-behind-senator-vitters-bogus-campaign-against-epa-nominee-gina-mccarthy/" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">held up for weeks</a> the nomination of Gina McCarthy to be the head of EPA, calling further into question his commitment to an EPA that has the resources and Congressional support to do its job.

Given that history, it's not surprising that red flags went up at EWG and many other organizations when Vitter unveiled a chemical policy reform "compromise" bill co-sponsored with the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), who for nearly a decade had championed efforts to reform TSCA that the environmental and public health communities strongly supported.

Those initial concerns over the proposal rolled out by the senator turned out to be right on the mark. Earlier this summer, my colleague David Andrews, Ph.D., delivered <a href="http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2013/06/why-ewg-opposes-chemical-safety-improvement-act" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">a thorough critique </a>of how Vitter's bill would benefit the chemical industry -- and fail the public.

Earlier in my career, when I worked for several members of the Senate including Sen. Lautenberg, a former boss passed along one particularly valuable piece of advice on the art of negotiation in Congress: "Always start from your strongest possible position and work down until both sides can agree."

But what Sen. Vitter and his allies want is for the American people to swallow the weakest possible position in terms of public health and environmental protection before the negotiations on TSCA reform have even begun.

The fact is, legislation seldom improves significantly -- at least in terms of the public interest -- when it's debated in committee, a process formally known as the "mark-up." This is when legislators offer their amendments. Some propose changes that would benefit all of us, while others offer up changes designed to help out special interests, such as the chemical companies.

That's why it's essential that any bill that is brought before the full Environment and Public Works Committee start out with broad support from the public interest community, which will require a dramatic rewrite of Vitter's bill to address the problems David Andrews and other experts have identified.

Happily, there is good news for those of us concerned about exposures to toxic chemicals. The chairman of the committee is Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat from California who is arguably the strongest defender of environmental protection and human health to wield that gavel in a generation.

Sen. Boxer notified Vitter and other members during a hearing late last month that she would take charge of moving any TSCA reform legislation through the committee, which as chairman is her right and responsibility.

It's imperative to maintain a focus on not only the failings of the existing federal law but also the pitfalls of adopting Vitter's bill in its place. It's also important that the public interest community vociferously support Sen. Boxer as she works with other leaders to bring <a href="http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Majority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=36365a59-c5b4-06ae-7fca-669eb37cadb0&Region_id=&Issue_id=" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; outline: 0px;">strong chemical safety legislation</a> to the floor of the Senate. It must be legislation that reflects the desires of the American people and of Frank Lautenberg, her longtime friend and ally whose entire career was spent protecting people -- not the clients of the formaldehyde and petrochemical lobby. alex f ewg

===

Koch Industries alone has given over $6 million in ‘dirty energy money’ to representatives in

Congress since 199921, including contributions to members of the key Senate committees listed in

Figure 6a and 6b as well as to members of key House committees.22

Of the top 25 recipients of contributions from Koch Industries, seven can be found on these committees including prominent representatives such as Joe Barton, Mike

Pompeo, and James Inhofe - all voting for

fossil-fuel interests at least 93% of the

time.23

Inhofe is a famous denier of global

warming and has even written a book

arguing that global warming is a hoax.24

Pompeo (R-KA), who has taken over

$100,000 from the Kochs in this current

(2010-2012) Congress alone,25

is backing

fossil fuel subsidies and resisting financial

support for wind energy.26

Pompeo has

even tried to eliminate six EPA internship

slots each accompanied by a $6000

stipend.27

Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) suggested renaming a House bill that would block

EPA climate regulations to the ‘Koch Brothers Appreciation Act’ in 2011.28

The connections between contributions to elected officials were apparent in the vote for the latest

House bill, ‘the Strategic Energy Production Act’, which aimed to limit public influence and

environmental review of agency action on leasing public lands for fossil-fuel production. Those

voting in favor of the bill have taken almost five times more from fossil-fuel interests over the last

thirteen years than those voting against the bill had.29

A closer look at the correlation between

politicians’ voting patterns and the money they receive from the fossil-fuel industry (coal, oil and

gas) with data from Oil Change International reveals similar voting patterns on bills where the public

interest has been pitted against fossil-fuel interests.30

The Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Environment and Public Works

Committee (currently under Democratic majority control) have jurisdiction over EPA issues31

as well as other energy policy, climate change, oil, gas and coal production and distribution32, air

pollution, and environmental policy.33

Figure 6 shows the average contribution per Congress, the percentage of votes in favor of fossil-fuel

interests on selected bills, and party affiliation of representatives on two key Senate committees with

jurisdiction over energy and environmental areas. The correlation between party affiliation and votes

in favor of fossil-fuel interests demonstrates a high degree of polarization. It is also observable that

those not voting for fossil-fuel interest as frequently also receive little in contributions from the

fossil-fuel industry. The data reveals a clear pattern: Party affiliation and money from fossil-fuel

interests strongly correlates with voting patterns. What stands out is the relatively expensive

Democratic votes of Joe Manchin, Mary Landrieu, and Max Baucus indicating the higher cost of

going against the party line.

ifg  <a href="http://kochcash.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/ifg_report.pdf">http://kochcash.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/ifg_report.pdf</a>

Figure 6a. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Representative ($) Average contribution/congress (%) Votes in favor of fossil-fuel interests

John Barrasso (R-WY) 246,366 90

James M. Inhofe (R-OK) 189,764 94

David Vitter (R-LA) $172,732 88 %

Max Baucus (D-MT) 95,318 40

Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 75,800 94

Jeff Sessions (R-AL) 69,252 94

Mike Johanns (R-NE) 58,750 89

Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) 54,517 13

Mike Crapo (R-ID) 45,206 94

John Boozman (R-AR) 35,246 88

Mark Udall (D-CO) 35,198 11

Thomas R. Carper (D-DE) 32,766 13

Benjamin L. Cardin (D-DE) 31,207 13

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) 16,139 8

Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) 14,058 13

Barbara Boxer (D-CA) 12,336 6

Jeff Merkley (D-OR) 4,650 11

Bernard Sanders (D-VT) 1,557 7

===

<a href="http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/ridiculous-pseudo-science-garbage-meet-gops-environment-leaders"> http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/ridiculous-pseudo-science-garbage-meet-gops-environment-leaders</a>

As scientists agree that the problem of man-made climate change is getting more and more urgent, a review of their records reveals that all eight Republican senators on the body’s Environment and Public Works Committee do not believe the phenomenon even exists.

This sentiment was on full display last week in a committee hearing on the subject, when, most notably, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., called for greater “tolerance” in “the public discourse regarding the many scientific viewpoints on climate change. Respect should be shown to those who have done the research and come to a different conclusion.”

That conclusion is certainly “different” from the consensus reached by most members of the scientific community, who have concluded that anthropogenic climate change is real. A 2010 survey of 1,372 climate researchers, in fact, found that 97-98 percent believe in man-made climate change.

So what do the Republicans on the committee believe?

Wicker, in addition to preaching “tolerance,” responded to President Obama’s speech on climate change earlier this month by decrying Obama’s “assertions that global temperatures are on the rise – a notion challenged by scientists and scholars.” He was also initially slated to be part of the “Truth Squad” organized by Sen. Jim Inhofe (see below) for a climate change summit in Denmark in 2009, which was intended to present “another view” of climate change. In the end, though, Wicker did not attend.

Inhofe, R-Okla., on the other hand, did follow through on the “Truth Squad” promise and attended the summit — by himself. Inhofe is one of the Senate’s most ardent climate change deniers, and famously said that global warming is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” In Copenhagen, he described where that hoax came from. “It started in the United Nations,” he said, but “the ones who really grab a hold of this in the United States are the Hollywood elite.” Inhofe is also fond of proclaiming that “we’re in a cold spell” whenever it snows.

Sen. John Barrasso, of Wyoming, was also supposed to be on Inhofe’s “Truth Squad,” but he too wound up sitting it out. He has said of Inhofe that “legislatively we’re on the same page.” What’s on that page? In 2011 Barrasso introduced sweeping legislation that would have stopped the EPA from regulating carbon emissions without authorization form Congress, reversed the EPA’s findings that carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses are harmful to the environment, and prevented the federal government from employing a number of federal laws that are intended to deal with global warming. “Washington agencies are now trying a backdoor approach to regulate our climate by abusing existing laws,” he said at the time.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., the ranking member on the committee, once described talk of climate change as “ridiculous pseudo-science garbage that’s so common on the left on this issue,” adding that ”I think there is beginning to be a serious reconsideration of the science of this.”

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<div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">===</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">cited in bill rept:</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">EPA's New Overseer Of

'Scientific Integrity': The Blind

Leading The Blind

Comment Now

Francesca Grifo (Photo credit: Harvard STS Photos)

If you needed to hire a person to

head the financial integrity

division of the Securities and

Exchange Commission, how

about someone who had held that

position in Bernie Madoff’s

investment firm? In effect, that’s

what EPA has done by choosing

Francesca Grifo as its “scientific

integrity official.”

Grifo previously oversaw the scientific integrity program at the Union of

Concerned Scientists – an oxymoron if there ever was one. UCS is well

known for exploiting every opportunity to distort science to further its

radical, antitechnology agendas. In particular, the organization’s “experts”

have been consistent, irresponsible and mendacious critics of genetic

engineering and nuclear power, among other technologies; and they have

been advocates for the kinds of shifts to “renewable energy” that would send

energy costs to consumers and companies into the stratosphere.</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> UCS’ view of genetic engineering applied to agriculture is especially

indefensible and hypocritical: “Genetic engineering in agriculture has failed

to deliver on many of its promised benefits, and has produced some serious

unintended consequences.” The facts argue otherwise. Because of its

advantages – higher yields, less spraying of chemical pesticides, and greater

food security and an improved bottom line for farmers — genetic

engineering has been hugely successful and the most rapidly adopted

agricultural technology in history. The major factor preventing the

realization of even more of the “promised benefits” is the overregulation and </div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Henry I. Miller Contributor

I debunk junk science and flawed public policy.. </div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

8/7/2015 EPA's New Overseer Of 'Scientific Integrity': The Blind Leading The Blind Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrymiller/2013/12/04/epasnewoverseerofscientificintegritytheblindleadingtheblind/print/ 2/5 </div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">nuisance lawsuits promoted by UCS and similar groups! UCS’s carping

about lackluster progress is reminiscent of the story about the man who kills

his parents and then begs the court for mercy because he’s an orphan.

Serious unintended consequences of genetic engineering? Please. Even

after the cultivation of more than 3 billion acres of genetically engineered

crops (by more than 17 million farmers in 28 countries) worldwide and the

consumption of more than 3 trillion servings of food that contains

genetically engineered ingredients by inhabitants of North America alone,

there has not been a single ecosystem disrupted or a single confirmed

tummy ache or zit.

Grifo’s appointment is especially inopportune at an agency in desperate need

of an overhaul of its integrity, scientific and otherwise. Its waste, fraud, and

abuse in scientific and regulatory programs are legendary.

With a research budget in excess of $800 million, EPA has long appeared to

be more concerned with public relations than public or environmental

health. A scheme was exposed several years that would have diverted EPA

“research” funds to pay outside public relations consultants up to $5 million

over five years to improve the website of the Office of Research and

Development, conduct focus groups on how to polish the office’s image, and

produce ghostwritten articles praising the agency “for publication in

scholarly journals and magazines.”

This payola scheme is similar to the agency’s longstanding practice of buying

influence by doling out hundreds of millions of dollars each year to certain

favored nonprofit organizations — money that, according to the inspector

general and Government Accountability Office, is dispersed with no public

notice, competition, or accountability. The GAO investigators documented

systematic malfeasance by regulators, including: (1) making grants to

grantees who were unable to fulfill the terms of the grants; (2) favoring an

exclusive clique of grantees without opening the grants to competition; (3)

funding “environmental” grants for activities that lack any apparent

environmental benefit; and (4) failing to ensure that grantees performed the

objectives identified in the grants.

I saw evidence of this while I was an official at the FDA. For some reason I

was favored with periodic reports of the research funded by the EPA. The

overwhelming majority of it was shoddy, irrelevant, and unpublishable.

It is understandable that EPA needs to resort to such chicanery to whitewash

its shortcomings. Science is routinely regarded there as a tool to further

its antitechnology and antiindustry agendas, even if it means torturing the

intent of statutes and affronting common sense.

8/7/2015 EPA's New Overseer Of 'Scientific Integrity': The Blind Leading The Blind Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrymiller/2013/12/04/epasnewoverseerofscientificintegritytheblindleadingtheblind/print/ 3/5

The EPA is the prototype of agencies that spend more and more to address

smaller and smaller risks. In one analysis by the Office of Management and

Budget, of the 30 least costeffective regulations throughout the government,

the EPA had imposed no fewer than 17. For example, the agency’s

restrictions on the disposal of land that contains certain wastes prevent 0.59

cancer cases per year – about three cases every five years – and avoid $20

million in property damage, at an annual cost of $194 to $219 million.

In his excellent book Breaking the Vicious Circle, written shortly before he

became a U.S. Supreme Court justice, Stephen Breyer cited another, similar

example of expensive, noncosteffective regulation by the EPA: a ban on

asbestos pipe, shingles, coating, and paper, which the most optimistic

estimates suggested would prevent seven or eight premature deaths over 13

years – at a cost of approximately a quarter of a billion dollars. Breyer

observed that such a vast expenditure would cause more deaths than it

would prevent from the asbestos exposure, simply by reducing the resources

available for other public amenities. And perversely, the very act of

removing asbestos from existing structures poses greater risk from asbestos

than simply leaving it where it is: During removal, longdormant asbestos

fibers are spread into the ambient air, where they expose workers and

bystanders to heightened risk. When the EPA banned asbestos in 1989, it

was already an old product whose risks and benefits were well

understood. Nevertheless, political pressures from environmental activists

pushed the EPA into making a decision that turned out to increase the risk

to individuals and society.

Another example of flawed decisionmaking at the EPA is the imposition of

overly stringent ambient air standards under the Clean Air Act. Clean air is

desirable, of course, but an EPA rule finalized in February 2012 that created

new emissions standards for coal and oilfired electric utilities was illconceived.

According to an analysis by Diane Katz and James Gattuso of the

Heritage Foundation, “The benefits are highly questionable, with the vast

majority being unrelated to the emissions targeted by the regulation. The

costs, however, are certain: an estimated $9.6 billion annually. The

regulations will produce a significant loss of electricity generating capacity,

which [will] undermine energy reliability and raise energy costs across the

entire economy.”

Stung repeatedly by such benefitcost calculations, EPA has begun more

frequently to manipulate the benefit side by invoking socalled “nonuse

benefits” of regulations, such as “the value one places on knowing that an

aquatic ecosystem is healthy” or secondary and tertiary ecosystem

impacts.” The problem with such supposed benefits is that estimating them

is highly prone to wishful thinking. (Read: plucking numbers from the

air.) For example, regulators might “calculate” that a significant

8/7/2015 EPA's New Overseer Of 'Scientific Integrity': The Blind Leading The Blind Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrymiller/2013/12/04/epasnewoverseerofscientificintegritytheblindleadingtheblind/print/ 4/5

improvement in water quality in the Mississippi could be a source of benefit

to people throughout the nation, not just those who use the river or who live

near it, because the river is nationally symbolic.

Perhaps not coincidentally related to Grifo’s appointment, the regulation of

products made with modern genetic engineering techniques has been a bête

noir of both the Union of Concerned Scientists and EPA.

The EPA has long regulated field tests and the commercial use of pesticides

under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). In

2001, the EPA issued final rules for the regulation of genetically engineered

plants and concocted a new concept — “plantincorporated protectants,” or

PIPs, defined as “pesticidal substances produced and used by living plants.”

But the EPA regulatory net captures pestresistant plants only if the

“protectant” has been introduced or enhanced by the most precise and

predictable techniques of genetic engineering. The registration process is

excessively complex and burdensome. The submission required for

regulatory review includes copious data on the parental plant, the genetic

construction, the behavior of the test plant and so on — requirements that

could not be met for any plant modified with older, cruder techniques, which

are exempt from the FIFRA rules. EPA then conducts a series of redundant

casebycase reviews — before the initial trial; when trials are scaled up or

tested on additional sites; and again if even minor changes have been made

in the genetic construct. Those reviews are then repeated when the sponsor

is ready to cultivate the plants at commercial scale.

This approach, which has been condemned repeatedly by the scientific

community over many years, has discouraged innovation and provided

incentives for the developers of new plant varieties to use inferior but

unregulated techniques.

Grifo said recently that government scientists are currently working on “safe

food” and a “safe environment” using the “best available science,” and that

“the most important thing as we move forward is to increase the

transparency of the federal government.” She is wrong on both counts.

EPA’s science is shoddy, and its scientists and administrators routinely

manipulate it to fit their radical policy agendas. Moreover, transparency is

less important in government regulation than the content of

decisions. Putting it another way, transparency is desirable, but arriving at

the right decisions about public health and environmental protection is what

is paramount.

The EPA has long been intellectually, scientifically and ethically

bankrupt. Francesca Grifo will fit right in</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/21/1271380/-David-Vitter-will-seek-Louisiana-s-governorship-in-2015-and-he-s-already-the-frontrunner</div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div>Political observers have long expected Sen. David Vitter to run for governor when Bobby Jindal is term-limited out in 2015, so Tuesday's announcement that <a href="http://theadvocate.com/news/8159530-123/david-vitter-to-run-for" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;">he will indeed do so</a> is an anticlimactic un-surprise. Since the seat will be open, plenty of Vitter's fellow Republicans are also likely to be interested. The list includes—but is not limited to—Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, ex-Rep. Rodney Alexander, State Treasurer John Kennedy, Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, and retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who commanded the federal government's Katrina relief task force. Democrats will have a hard time competing in this red-trending state, but one intriguing option is New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, brother of Sen. Mary Landrieu.Louisiana doesn't conduct traditional primaries but instead has all candidates from all parties face one another in a so-called "jungle primary," with the top two vote-getters advancing to a runoff if no one clears 50 percent. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_gubernatorial_election,2015#Polling" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;">Limited early polling</a> shows Vitter as the strongest Republican, which is due in part to his higher name recognition. Certainly he's the best-known candidate on that list we rattled off just above. But if you're most familiar with Vitter thanks to his notorious admission that he had "sinned" when the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#D.C.Madam_scandal" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;">D.C. Madam scandal</a> broke loose in 2007, you might be wondering how Vitter wound up in the pole position for such a competitive race.Part of the answer is that Vitter chose to weather out his ordeal, knowing that his next re-election campaign was several years away. Indeed, by the time 2010 rolled around, memories of Vitter's involvement with prostitutes had faded and he cruised to re-election. But just as important is Vitter's assiduous cultivation of the Republican establishment throughout Louisiana. Writing in the New Republic last year, Marin Cogan <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/12/1222910/-Daily-Kos-Elections-Morning-Digest-How-David-Vitter-became-Louisiana-s-most-powerful-Republican?detail=hide" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;">explained Vitter's fascinating ascendance</a>: <blockquote style="margin: 1.2em 0px; padding: 20px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: rgb(226, 226, 225); border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(226, 226, 225); border-top-style: solid; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Jindal was elected to the governor's mansion later that year [2007], while the national press excoriated Vitter. But Vitter had already begun laying the groundwork for his ascendance in his home state. In his days as a state legislator, he had successfully pushed for term limits for legislators, forcing many of the lawmakers he had served alongside to give up their seats in 2007. Vitter began recruiting conservative candidates to replace them and helped fund campaigns through the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority (LCRM), a PAC he had co-founded a couple years earlier. He also personally reached out to Democrats in conservative districts, encouraging them to get ahead of the state's rightward turn.The Louisiana legislature didn't go red in 2007, but, thanks to a successful election cycle and a few high-profile Democratic defections, the House flipped in 2010. A year later, the state Senate followed suit. It was the first time Republicans controlled the legislature since Reconstruction. Scott Hobbs, a Louisiana-based political consultant, estimated that Vitter helped "at least sixty to seventy percent [of Republicans in the legislature] in some way" between 2007 and 2011. Now Baton Rouge is filled with Vitter-friendly pols, sometimes referred to as the "fiscal hawks." They've made Jindal's life a lot harder, attacking him for using accounting gimmicks to balance the state budget. Vitter has gotten in on the action too, castigating the governor for "kicking the can down the road—the sort of bad spending policy I'm constantly fighting in Washington."</blockquote>So Vitter not only helped oversee a changing of the guard in the legislature, but he ensured that these new cadres would be loyal to him. Vitter may seem like a guy dumb enough to get caught up in a high-profile prostitution bust, but this shows he's a whole lot savvier than many people think.Conventional wisdom chalks up Lyndon Johnson's ability to bend people to his will to his domineering style, but in reality, Johnson succeeded in getting things done because <a href="https://findings.com/clips/hfqonC/influence/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;">he'd done so many favors</a> during his long career that everyone owed him. Vitter's following that path in Louisiana, and it will make him a force to be reckoned with on the campaign trail.</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</div><div style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">wikifluff</div><div style="line-height: 20px;">David Bruce Vitter<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[1]</a> (born May 3, 1961) is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senior_Senator" title="Senior Senator" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">senior</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">United States Senator</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana</a> and a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Republican Party</a>. Previously, he served in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">United States House of Representatives</a>, representing the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suburbs" title="Suburbs" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">suburban</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana%27s_1st_congressional_district" title="Louisiana's 1st congressional district" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana's 1st congressional district</a>. He served as a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_House_of_Representatives" title="Louisiana House of Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana House of Representatives</a>before entering the U.S. House.He won a second Senate term in 2010, defeating a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party(United_States)" title="Democratic Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Democratic</a> challenge from U.S. Representative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Melancon" title="Charlie Melancon" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Charlie Melancon</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonville,Louisiana" title="Napoleonville, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Napoleonville</a>, the seat of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_Parish" title="Assumption Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Assumption Parish</a>. In the Republican primary held on August 28, 2010, Vitter handily defeated former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Supreme_Court" title="Louisiana Supreme Court" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Louisiana Supreme Court</a> Justice <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chet_D.Traylor" title="Chet D. Traylor" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Chet D. Traylor</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe,Louisiana" title="Monroe, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Monroe</a>, formerly from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnsboro,Louisiana" title="Winnsboro, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Winnsboro</a>.On January 21, 2014, Vitter announced that he will run for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Louisiana" title="Governor of Louisiana" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Governor of Louisiana</a> to succeed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_limits" title="Term limits" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">term-limited</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Jindal" title="Bobby Jindal" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Bobby Jindal</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_gubernatorial_election,2015" title="Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2015" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">2015 gubernatorial election</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-atr.rollcall.com-2" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[2]</a>In 2007, Vitter admitted to and apologized for prior involvement with a Washington, DC escort service. Vitter was first accused of soliciting a prostitute by a New Orleans newspaper in 2002. He has not been charged with a crime.
<div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 7px; display: table; zoom: 1; background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249);"><div id="toctitle" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border: none; display: inline; line-height: 1.3; background: none;">Contents</h2>  [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#" id="togglelink" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">hide</a>] </div><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Early_life_and_education" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">1 Early life and education</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Early_political_career" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">2 Early political career</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Louisiana_House_of_Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">2.1 Louisiana House of Representatives</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#United_States_House_of_Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">2.2 United States House of Representatives</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#2002_gubernatorial_election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">2.3 2002 gubernatorial election</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#United_States_Senate" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">3 United States Senate</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#2004_election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">3.1 2004 election</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#2010_election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">3.2 2010 election</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Committee_assignments" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">3.3 Committee assignments</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Sex_Scandal" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">4 Sex Scandal</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#2015_gubernatorial_election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">5 2015 gubernatorial election</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Political_positions" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6 Political positions</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Fiscal" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.1 Fiscal</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-14" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Louisiana_Family_Forum_earmark" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.1.1 Louisiana Family Forum earmark</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-15" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Children.27s_health_insurance_program" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.1.2 Children's health insurance program</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-16" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Automotive_industry_bailout" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.1.3 Automotive industry bailout</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Social" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2 Social</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-18" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Immigration" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.1 Immigration</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-19" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Abstinence_education" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.2 Abstinence education</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-20" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Same-sex_marriage" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.3 Same-sex marriage</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-21" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#School_board_prayers" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.4 School board prayers</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-22" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Gambling" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.5 Gambling</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-23" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Abortion" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.6 Abortion</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-24" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Planned_Parenthood" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.7 Planned Parenthood</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-25" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Gun_rights" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.8 Gun rights</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-26" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Gun_control.2FBackground_Checks" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.9 Gun control/Background Checks</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-27" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Child_protection" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.10 Child protection</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-28" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Chemical_Safety" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.11 Chemical Safety</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-29" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Opposition_to_Franken_amendment" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.12 Opposition to Franken amendment</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-30" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Tea_Party_movement" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.2.13 Tea Party movement</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-31" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Political_actions" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.3 Political actions</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-32" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#United_Nations_Convention_on_the_Law_of_the_Sea" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.3.1 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-33" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Military" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.3.2 Military</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-34" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Obama_nominations" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.3.3 Obama nominations</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-35" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Network_neutrality" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.3.4 Network neutrality</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-36" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Ethics_and_term_limits" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.4 Ethics and term limits</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-37" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Gulf_Coast" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.5 Gulf Coast</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-38" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Hurricane_Katrina" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.5.1 Hurricane Katrina</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-39" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Water_Resources_and_Development_Act" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.5.2 Water Resources and Development Act</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-40" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#New_Orleans_public_housing" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.5.3 New Orleans public housing</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-41" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#BP_Horizon_oil_spill" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">6.5.4 BP Horizon oil spill</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-42" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Other_political_matters" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">7 Other political matters</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-43" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Electoral_history" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">8 Electoral history</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-44" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#Footnotes" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">9 Footnotes</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-45" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#External_links" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">10 External links</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Early life and education[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=1&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Early life and education" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>David Vitter was born on May 3, 1961 in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans" title="New Orleans" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">New Orleans</a>, the son of Audrey Malvina (née St. Raymond) and Albert Leopold Vitter. He graduated in 1979 from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_La_Salle_High_School(New_Orleans,Louisiana)" title="De La Salle High School (New Orleans, Louisiana)" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">De La Salle High School</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[3]</a> While a student at De La Salle, Vitter participated in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Up_Foundation" title="Close Up Foundation" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Close Up Washington</a> civic education program. He received an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts" title="Bachelor of Arts" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">A.B.</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_College" title="Harvard College" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Harvard College</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge,Massachusetts" title="Cambridge, Massachusetts" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Cambridge, Massachusetts</a>, in 1983; a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts" title="Bachelor of Arts" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">B.A.</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University" title="Oxford University" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Oxford University</a> in 1985, as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes_Scholar" title="Rhodes Scholar" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Rhodes Scholar</a>; and a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor" title="Juris Doctor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">J.D.</a> from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulane_University_Law_School" title="Tulane University Law School" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Tulane University </a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulane_University_Law_School" title="Tulane University Law School" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Law School</a> in New Orleans in 1988. He was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyer" title="Lawyer" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">lawyer</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[4]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-SLU042701-5" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[5]</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjunct_professor" title="Adjunct professor" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">adjunct law professor</a> at Tulane and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyola_University_New_Orleans" title="Loyola University New Orleans" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Loyola University New Orleans</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-SLU042701-5" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[5]</a>Vitter and his wife Wendy, a former prosecutor,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-WP-07-10-07-6" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a> have three daughters, Sophie, Lise, and Airey, and a son, Jack. Vitter's brother <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Vitter" title="Jeffrey Vitter" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Jeffrey</a> is a notable academic, a computer science professor and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provost(education)" title="Provost (education)" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">provost and </a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provost(education)" title="Provost (education)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">executive vice chancellor</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Kansas" title="University of Kansas" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">University of Kansas</a>.<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Early political career[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=2&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Early political career" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana House of Representatives<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=3&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Louisiana House of Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h3>Vitter was a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_House_of_Representatives" title="Louisiana House of Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Louisiana House of Representatives</a> from 1992 to 1999. As a freshman representative, he filed two complaints against <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Louisiana" title="Governor of Louisiana" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Governor</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_W.Edwards" title="Edwin W. Edwards" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Edwin W. Edwards</a> before the Louisiana Ethics Board. One questioned the financing of a trip Edwards took to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,Nevada" title="Las Vegas, Nevada" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Las Vegas</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada" title="Nevada" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Nevada</a>, where he attended an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evander_Holyfield" title="Evander Holyfield" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Evander Holyfield</a> fight and gambled at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesars_Palace" title="Caesars Palace" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Caesars Palace</a>. The other questioned the involvement of Edwards' children in riverboat casinos.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[7]</a><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">United States House of Representatives<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=4&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: United States House of Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h3>Vitter won a special election to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana%27s_1st_congressional_district" title="Louisiana's 1st congressional district" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana's 1st congressional district</a> in 1999, succeeding Republican U.S. Representative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Livingston" title="Bob Livingston" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Bob Livingston</a>, who resigned after disclosure that he had committed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adultery" title="Adultery" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">adultery</a>. In the initial vote on May 1, 1999,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[8]</a> former Congressman and Governor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_C.Treen" title="David C. Treen" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">David C. Treen</a> finished first with 36,719 votes (25 percent). Vitter was second, with 31,741 (22 percent), and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_nationalism" title="White nationalism" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">white nationalist</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Duke" title="David Duke" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">David Duke</a> finished third with 28,055 votes (19 percent). Monica L. Monica, a Republican <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthalmologist" title="Ophthalmologist" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">ophthalmologist</a>, had 16 percent; State Representative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Strain&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Bill Strain (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Bill Strain</a>, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Democrat" title="Conservative Democrat" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">conservative Democrat</a>, finished fifth with 11 percent; and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Couhig" title="Rob Couhig" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Rob Couhig</a>, a Republican lawyer and the owner of New Orleans's minor league baseball team, garnered 6 percent.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[9]</a> In the runoff, Vitter defeated Treen 51–49 percent.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-Almanac_of_American_Politics-2005-10" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[10]</a>In 2000 and 2002, Vitter was re-elected with more than 80 percent of the vote in what had become a safe Republican district.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-Almanac_of_American_Politics-2005-10" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[10]</a><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">2002 gubernatorial election<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=5&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: 2002 gubernatorial election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h3>In 2002, Vitter was preparing to run for governor in 2003, with the incumbent, Republican <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy_J.Foster,Jr." title="Murphy J. Foster, Jr." style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Mike Foster</a>, prevented by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Term_limits" title="Term limits" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">term limits</a> from running again. But in June 2002, shortly before the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Weekly" title="Louisiana Weekly" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana Weekly</a> ran a story about Vitter's alleged relationship with a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitute" title="Prostitute" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">prostitute</a>, Vitter dropped out of the governor's race,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">[11]</a> saying he and his wife were dealing with marital problems.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[12]</a><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">United States Senate[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=6&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: United States Senate" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">2004 election<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=7&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: 2004 election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h3><div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle" style="font-style: italic; padding-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Louisiana,2004" title="United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2004" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2004</a></div>In 2004, Vitter ran to replace Democrat <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Breaux" title="John Breaux" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">John Breaux</a> in the U.S. Senate. Former state Senator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Richey" title="Dan Richey" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Daniel Wesley Richey</a>, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baton_Rouge" title="Baton Rouge" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Baton Rouge</a> political consultant, directed Vitter's grassroots organization in the race, with assistance from Richey's longtime ally, former state Representative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Jenkins" title="Woody Jenkins" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins</a> of Baton Rouge, himself a defeated U.S. Senate candidate in 1978, 1980, and 1996.During the campaign, Vitter was accused by a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee of having had a lengthy affair with a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitute" title="Prostitute" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">prostitute</a> in New Orleans. Vitter responded that the allegation was "absolutely and completely untrue" and that it was "just crass Louisiana politics." However, Vitter ultimately admitted that he had engaged the services of prostitutes, and apologized for lying about the affair. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-WP-07-10-07-6" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a>On November 2, 2004, Vitter won the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_primary" title="Jungle primary" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">jungle primary</a>, garnering a majority of the vote, while the rest of the vote was mostly split among the Democratic contenders.Vitter was the first Republican in Louisiana to be popularly elected as a U.S. Senator. The previous Republican Senator, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt_Kellogg" title="William Pitt Kellogg" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">William Pitt Kellogg</a>, was chosen by the state legislature in 1876, in accordance with the process used before the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution</a> went into effect in 1914.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-13" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[13]</a>State Representative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Futrell" title="Mike Futrell" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Mike Futrell</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baton_Rouge,Louisiana" title="Baton Rouge, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Baton Rouge</a> resigned early in 2005 to become Vitter's state director. Futrell remained in the position until 2008, when he was engaged in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Baton_Rouge_Parish" title="East Baton Rouge Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">East Baton Rouge Parish</a>municipal/parish government.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-14" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[14]</a><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 1.6; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">2010 election<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Vitter&action=edit&section=8&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: 2010 election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h3><div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle" style="font-style: italic; padding-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; line-height: 22.4px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Louisiana,2010" title="United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2010" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">United States Senate election in Louisiana, 2010</a></div>
Vitter began fundraising for his 2010 reelection run in December 2008.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-15" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[15]</a> He raised $731,000 in the first quarter of 2009 and $2.5 million for his 2010 campaign.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[16]</a> He had wide leads against potential Democratic opponents in aggregate general election polling.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[17]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[18]</a> He faced intraparty opposition from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chet_D.Traylor" title="Chet D. Traylor" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Chet D. Traylor</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe,Louisiana" title="Monroe, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Monroe</a>, a former associate justice of the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Supreme_Court" title="Louisiana Supreme Court" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Louisiana Supreme Court</a> in the August 28 Republican <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_election" title="Primary election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">primary election</a> and defeated him. He then faced the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party(United_States)" title="Democratic Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Democrat</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.Representative" title="U.S. Representative" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">U.S. Representative</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Melan%C3%A7on" title="Charlie Melançon" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Charlie Melançon</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonville,Louisiana" title="Napoleonville, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Napoleonville</a> in the November 2 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_election" title="General election" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">general election</a>. An <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent(politics)" title="Independent (politics)" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Independent</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Legislature" title="Louisiana State Legislature" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">State Representative</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Wooton" title="Ernest Wooton" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Ernest Wooton</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Chasse,_Louisiana" title="Belle Chasse, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Belle Chasse</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaquemines_Parish" title="Plaquemines Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background: none;">Plaquemines Parish</a>, also ran.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#cite_note-19" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[19]</a> On Nov 4th, 2010, Vitter was re-elected as Louisiana Senator, defeating his Democratic rival, Melancon. According to international news reports, Vitter got 715,304 votes while Melancon got 476,423 votes. Vitter received about 57% of the total vote while Melancon got 38%. The independent candidate Wooton finished with only 8,167 votes, or 1 percent of the total cast
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