Energy Firms in Secretive Alliance With Attorneys General

[applegrove]

Energy Firms in Secretive Alliance With Attorneys General

by Eric Lipton at the NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/us/politics/energy-firms-in-secretive-alliance-with-attorneys-general.html?_r=0

"SNIP.....................


Attorneys general in at least a dozen states are working with energy companies and other corporate interests, which in turn are providing them with record amounts of money for their political campaigns, including at least $16 million this year.

They share a common philosophy about the reach of the federal government, but the companies also have billions of dollars at stake. And the collaboration is likely to grow: For the first time in modern American history, Republicans in January will control a majority — 27 — of attorneys general’s offices.

The Times reported previously how individual attorneys general have shut down investigations, changed policies or agreed to more corporate-friendly settlement terms after intervention by lobbyists and lawyers, many of whom are also campaign benefactors.

But the attorneys general are also working collectively. Democrats for more than a decade have teamed up with environmental groups such as the Sierra Club to use the court system to impose stricter regulation. But never before have attorneys general joined on this scale with corporate interests to challenge Washington and file lawsuits in federal court.





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[applegrove]

1. This reminds me of the recent news in Ottawa. The Harper

government is forcing scientists to get private industry on board with scientific studies or else the government will not fund them. They are trying to create symbiosis where none exists in the Canadian case. All the scientific studies industry doesn't like get nothing.

[okaawhatever]

2. Elections have consequences. So does unlimited corporate donations. nt