An ALEC Movement, In a 2009 Koch Press Release It Speaks of a New Project where Koch Lobbyist Would Play Bigger Roll in Monitoring Governmental Affairs and Legislature in Majority of the States, Included the Names of Who is Involved in Your State

Koch Industries promotes the message of ALEC and it permeates through all its companies. Koch brothers in this mindset if possible would have ownership in everything they touch. It is reflective in their current fight to gain the majority stocks in Libertarian Think Tank the Cato Institute. In 2009 out of 50 states Koch sent lobbyist into 42 states to promote their likely political agenda. The Koch brothers interest in politics is open and it is passed down to its employees, which can be seen in their campaign donations. Some of the states not mention in the Press Release are Alaska. There is a chance that some of the states not listed like Alaska already promote the Koch agenda at the time of the Press Release. It would certainly no sense doubling efforts in Alaska when your agenda is already working in that particular state. Koch like most of the oil and gas companies can call Alaska home.

Jim Messina, President Obama’s campaign manager recently challenged Philip Ellender, who is Koch’s president for government and public affairs over releasing the names of the donors. In the Press Release below it says Philip Ellender will be leading this new project and is the point of contact for this project. That project push that began in 2009 was all about the politics the Koch brothers and the organization ALEC are pushing and nothing more.

“The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a politically conservative [1] 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector, mostly representing corporations. ALEC’s mission statement describes the organization’s purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty. Among other activities, the group provides a venue for private individuals and corporations to assist politicians in developing what it considers model laws serving the economic and political aims of its members. ALEC also serves as a networking tool among state legislators, allowing them to research the handling and “best practices” of policy in other states.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legislative_Exchange_Council

One way Koch has been able to get in and promote their agenda has been for its lobbyist of Koch Co Public Sector LLC to join various states Chamber of Commerce. In some instances Koch’s lobbyist have not registered within the states as a lobbyist, but in other instances I have seen such as in South Carolina where Koch Lobbyist Jim Groninger is a member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commece but it doesn’t appear he is registered in South Carolina as a lobbyist. Also through the Koch Foundation providing grants to several colleges and Universities they are consolidating and harnessing their power. This Press Release below was made in January 8, 2009. Coincidence or more than a coincidence that in 2009 that Clemson University was given a grant from Koch G. Foundation.

Take note of the second half of the Press Release its seem to be talking about two new proposals. The project I’m referring to includes some of Koch Lobbyist like Alan Richardson and Jim Groninger which I have previously blogged about.

According to her donations Diane Schmidt is the current Vice President of KOCH CO PUBLIC SECTOR LLC. She is mentioned in the Press Release.

Lobbyist data for:

Schmidt, Diane M
PO Box 64596
St Paul, MN 55164-0596
Telephone: (651)437-0560
Email: diane.schmidt@kochps.com
Registration Number: 7934

Association Represented Association
Number Registration
Date Termination
Date Leg/Adm/Metro Designated
Lobbyist
Flint Hills Resources LP 3157 1/5/1996 Leg/Adm
Georgia-Pacific LLC 863 1/18/2011 Leg/Adm
Koch Companies Public Sector LLC 6257 1/13/2009 12/31/2010
Koch Pipeline Co LP (MN Pipe Line Co) 5622 4/13/2004 5/31/2010 Leg/Adm
Koch Pipeline Co LP (MN Pipe Line Co) 5622 1/18/2011 Leg/Adm

In the PRESS RELEASE (KCPS) refers to Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC. KCPS or Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC is a lobbyist firm.

PRESS RELEASE

Shared-service organizations created for human resources and government and public sector

Atlanta, GA. January 8, 2009 —

Two new shared services companies were formed in early January to provide common HR and public sector services across all Koch companies.

A portion of GP’s human resources capability, including the HR service center, HR information technology, benefits teams, and relocation services are part of the new Koch Business Solutions (KBS) HR Solutions group which is based in Atlanta.

“Moving to a Koch-wide HR services entity provides opportunities through standardizing tools and technologies, processes and best practices,” said Julie Stensrud, who will lead the new organization. “One of the major benefits of this group will be providing services using SAP as a common software platform, which GP already uses.”

GP’s other HR employees will remain employees of GP and will continue to provide the specific HR services used to run GP businesses and capability teams. And, the number to the HR Service Center remains the same: 1-800-700-3365.

In addition, Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC (KCPS) was formed as a shared services group to provide some, but not all, legal, government and public affairs services to Koch companies.

KCPS is designed to improve the effectiveness of the public sector team across Koch companies where the Koch Industries/stand-alone company approach created inefficiencies or double representation to outside parties, particularly government officials in the U.S.

GP corporate and business unit communications, legal, community relations and local public affairs capabilities will remain within GP. However, KCPS will include state and federal government affairs employees who serve Georgia-Pacific, INVISTA, Flint Hills Resources and the other Koch companies. As a president of KCPS, Philip Ellender will lead the new organization and remain the primary point of contact for GP for government affairs.

“This new organization will help us continue to advance market-based policies and better leverage our resources on priority issues across Koch companies to best achieve our Public Sector Vision,” Philip said. “In addition, the KCPS government affairs staff will monitor and anticipate legislative, judicial and regulatory actions for all Koch company operations.”

The following government affairs employees, led by Diane Schmidt, will cover the following states for all Koch companies, including GP:

Jim Groninger: Virginia, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
George Guidry: Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri
Meghan McDaniel: Minnesota
Mark Nichols: Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa
Bill Oswald: Texas, New Mexico
Allen Richardson: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, West Virginia, Kentucky
Peggy Sato: Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, California
Diane Schmidt: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, California, North Dakota, South Dakota
Al Toma: Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, New York

All of these contacts can be reached through the GP e-mail system, including phone numbers and office mailing addresses.