"Democrats Probe Koch's Interest in Oil Sands Pipe"

"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."

Timothy Gardner reports for Reuters May 20, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"Koch Brothers Now at Heart of GOP Power" (Los Angeles Times)

"Koch, GOP Fire Back at Waxman Over Oil Sands Pipeline Inquiry" (The Hill/E2 Wite)

"Michigan's Rep. Upton Emerges as a Champion of Oil Sands Pipeline" (SolveClimate News)

"Fred Upton Links: New Poll by Environmental Group Finds Upton's Stance on  Climate Change Unpopular" (Kalamazoo Gazette)

"Poll: Upton’s War Against Epa Climate Rules Unpopular at Home" (E2 Wire)

"The Koch Committee’s Big Oil Witnesses For Upton-Inhofe Pollution Act" (Think Progress)

"Upton Shrugs Off Dem's Koch Brothers Slam" (E2 Wire)