Democrats probe Koch's interest in oil sands pipe

http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE74J6TL20110520

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. lawmakers have asked Congressional panels to look into whether Koch, an energy company led by brothers who are powerhouses in conservative politics, will benefit if the Obama administration approves a $7 billion pipeline to bring crude from Canada into the United States.

U.S. Representatives Henry Waxman and Bobby Rush wrote a letter on Friday to Republicans chairing the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and one of its subcommittees, asking them to request documents from Koch Industries regarding the extent to which the company would benefit if the Keystone XL oil sands line would be built.

Privately held Koch is co-owned by David Koch, the founder of Americans for Prosperity -- a group aligned with the conservative Tea Party movement -- and his brother Charles. The Koch family has also funded conservative causes in energy including giving $1 million to back a proposition in California last year that would have put on hold a state law to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

Friday's letter to Representatives Fred Upton and Ed Whitfield, was sent ahead of a hearing the Republicans will hold on Monday on the benefits of the line.

More at the link --

Friends of the Earth last December filed a FOIA to the State Department "asking for all communications between the agency and a former presidential campaign manager of Hillary Clinton’s, who in his new role as oil industry lobbyist is seeking State Department approval for the controversial Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline.

http://stoptarsands.org/clinton-ties-transcanada-lobbyist-fast-tracking-kxl-approval