New report shows Koch money scrubbed before funding the right wing attack machine

[kgrandia]

A new report released today unravels a scheme that funnels money from the notorious Koch Brothers through a third party organization and which in turn makes anonymous donations in the millions to right wing policy think tanks.

The 200+ page report by Silicon valley scientist Dr. John Mashey shows in great detail how the Koch brothers flows money through two organizations called Donor Trust and Donors Capital Fund, which in turn passed that money on to major right wing think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute, Heartland Institute and Americans for Prosperity.

In total over $311 million has been put through the Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund with much of that coming from David and Charles Koch.

Donors Trust is run by Whitney Ball who is the former director of development for the Cato Institute. The Trust describes itself as:

DonorsTrust was established as a 501(c)(3) public charity to ensure the intent of donors who are dedicated to the ideals of limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise. Explicitly devoted to supporting organizations that promote liberty, DonorsTrust alone can commit to honor and defend the charitable intent of donors who share in our mission.

Details: http://www.desmogblog.com/2012/10/23/fakery-2-more-funny-finances-free-tax

[AndyTiedye]

1. So They Get To Deduct the Cost of Buying the Election from their Taxes As Well

[kgrandia]

2. They get their cake and eat it too

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. Think about it ...

In total over $311 million has been put through the Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund with much of that coming from David and Charles Koch.

If koch is spending $311 million on funding think tanks and a couple hundred million on funding superpac, think how much they're expecting to gain?

Kinda like, the football player with the multi-million dollar contract ... well, just think how much the person PAYING that athlete must have!

[kgrandia]

4. They profit

It's a business investment. They put $500 million into fighting environmental reg's etc. and they save their company billions in the long run.

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. Yup! n/t

[grassrootbeer]

6. These DONORS groups fund major chunks of front group budgets

Greenpeace has more on groups like Americans for Prosperity, Heartland Institute, CFACT and others who get large portions of their budgets (25-45%) from Donor's Trust and/or Donor's Capital Fund. The Koch brothers' Knowledge & Progress Fund looks like it was established solely to send millions of dollars to the DONORS groups to pass along to the usual suspects...

http://polluterwatch.com/blog/exposed-how-koch-bros-secretly-launder-donations-dirty-front-groups

[Jazzgirl]

7. Welcome grassrootbeer!