How Former Very Influential Revolving-Door Senators Give Corporate Propaganda Extraordinary Clout

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http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/how-former-very-influential-revolving-door-senators-give-corporate-propaganda



The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), says its website, “drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue,” and “combines politically-balanced policy making with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach.” The BPC, which is often described in press accounts as a “centrist think tank,” is highly influential and the media and Congress treat its reports and pronouncements as consequential and weighty.

The BPC’s reputation is further enhanced due to the large number of former government officials and Members of Congress who serve on its board and as "senior fellows." For example, on May 8, 2013, a story in Politico said that two former Senators had thrown “their energy policy weight… to make the case that the private sector — rather than federal government — should decide on whether to export natural gas.” One of the former Senators was Byron Dorgan, a Democrat from North Dakota, who was identified in the story with the reassuringly neutral title of co-chairman of the BPC’s Energy Project. The story cited Dorgan’s recent Congressional testimony, during which he had said, “We believe the market should make the decision about the exports of natural gas.”

The story didn’t mention that Dorgan is a “ senior policy advisor” and co-chair of the lobbying practice at Arent Fox, one of Washington’s premiere influence peddling shops. Nor did it say that energy companies, including America’s Natural Gas Alliance, heavily fund the BPC. That’s typical of the free ride the press gives to the BPC, which routinely advocates, under the guise of independent scholarship, for policies that benefit its donors.

The BPC was founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, who all cashed in on their government experience by working for Beltway law and lobbying firms, and advising major corporations. The think tank’s funders include foundations, corporations and trade associations, with donors in the last two categories including FedEx, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, the American Bankers Association, BP, Chevron, Citigroup, ConocoPhillips, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and Shell.

[KoKo]

1. Senator Byron Dorgan, North Dakota...

Anyone remember how he's always been considered one of our most reliably liberal Democrats in the US Senate. I guess when it comes to his wallet and enriching his home state by selling our natural resources he's certainly very liberal in his actions.

Do any of them realize that we are endangering our water system plus selling off a natural resource that cannot be replaced to other countries? What happens when the Natural Gas is all gone? The greed and lack of foresight of these politicians is out of control.

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2. +1