"The same companies that are polluting our rivers with toxic chemicals are also polluting our politics with their spending." - Jennifer Rubiello, Environment Florida Campaign Organizer
Some call them 'polluters' - others call them sociopaths. They are the greedy corporate and political racketeers who care nothing about the safety of other human beings, animals, the environment or democracy. It's all about getting their products made, packaged, and out to consumers for profit. That's it. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil - just do, be, and live by evil. Then get rid of waste wherever you can.
Environment America released its 'Polluting Politics Report' shortly after the introduction of a House bill (H.R.5078) to block the EPA’s clean water rule to restore Clean Water Act meant to protect thousands of waterways in Florida - and across the country.
Despite Progress, Pollution Remains
· More than half of America’s rivers, lakes, and streams aren’t safe for fishing, swimming, or drinking.
· Industrial facilities still reported dumping more than 206 million pounds of toxic pollution into our waterways in a single year.
According to
Environment Florida, the company,
Buckeye Florida LP, spent millions lobbying in 2012 after dumping tons of toxic chemicals into Florida waterways. In 2013, Buckeye was
acquired by Georgia Pacific, which is owned by
Koch Industries which is owned by the law-buying multi-billionaires, David and Charles Koch. And there they are again.
Major findings of the report include:
Buckeye Florida LP dumped over 264,000 pounds of toxic pollution (toxic chemical/waste) into Florida’s waterways. Its owner, Koch Industries, Inc., spent close to $14 million on lobbying in the same year.
Koch Industries, Inc. contributed more than $7.7 million to candidates for federal office in the 2014 election cycle.
There are 39 other corporations listed within report. Here is one category below. The findings of this report are based on publicly available data.
Table ES-1. Top Parent Companies by Discharges, All Company Facilities, Total Pounds of Toxics Released, Paired with Spending on Lobbying in 2014
Source: Wasting Our Waterways and Center for Responsive Politics
The
full report is well worth reading. As one can see, Koch Industries is the clear winner in the category of
'Money Spent Lobbying For A Cheap Place To Dump Our Shit.' The lobbying continues today against the restoration of the
Clean Water Act, which is meant protect the drinking water of millions of Floridians. Current loopholes are leaving those waterways at risk.
Bill Newton, executive director of the Florida Consumer Action Network. states:
'To make sure we’re able to protect our environment and our health, we need reforms to stop the flow of big money into politics.”
Florida Clean Water Network Director Linda Young adds:
"Koch Industries, Inc. and other polluters have mastered the art of privatizing profits and socializing pollution at the public's expense through lobbying and political contributions to our elected officials,” added Linda Young, director of the Florida Clean Water Network. “We are involuntarily giving them scores of acres of submerged lands for free. In return, they are killing 3 Florida rivers and the northeastern corner of the Gulf of Mexico. What a deal for us!"
What a deal for America. The good news is more of the public is becoming aware of the pollution and damage that is being created by the massive corporate and political machines like the Koch brothers.
“It’s clear that Florida’s polluters have deep pockets, but thousands of Floridians have raised their voices in support of doing more to protect the treasured rivers from the St. Johns to the Hillsborough,” Rubiello said. “It’s time for Congress to listen to citizens, not the polluters, and let the EPA finish the job to protect our waterways.”
It's also time for the
Department of Justice to listen to the citizens. A petition has been created requesting a federal criminal investigation involving
Governor Rick Scott and the board of trustees of Florida's public lands for allowing Georgia-Pacific to discharge up to 60 million gallons of toxic waste per day into the St. Johns River, smothering the bottom with tons of solids and making the water unfit for humans/animals. The pipeline easement was issued by FDEP, as agent for the Florida Governor and Cabinet, after a highly misleading newspaper notice and no fair opportunity to request an evidentiary hearing. The river should be held in trust by the Governor and Cabinet for the people of Florida, not given away for private use as dumping grounds and without just compensation.
To join in the fight against Koch Industries corruption, one easy way is to sign/share this petition:
'Demand Federal Criminal Investigation of Rick Scott’s Land Give-away to Koch Brothers'
Special Thanks: Steve Medina, Linda Young, and Jennifer Rubiella for their contributions to this story.