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ALEC News

Koch Criminal Justice Reform Trojan Horse: Special Report on Reentry and Following the Money Charles Koch has taken a high-profile in pushing criminal justice reform. He recently likened his own devotion to that of Bernie Sanders. In a 2015 interview with USA Today, Koch claimed that of the projected $889 million raised by his donor network, the "Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce," only $300 million would be spent on direct electoral politics, whereas, "A good part of the rest is education and research," Koch said, ticking off university grants and other projects he is supporting, including an overhaul of the criminal justice system. Read the rest of this item here. Peabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding Peabody Energy, the world’s largest private-sector coal company, has provided funds to a network of individuals, scientists, non-profits and political organizations espousing climate change denial and opposition to efforts to tackle climate change, according to newly available documents reviewed by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch). Although the documents filed so far do not show the scale or precise dates of funding—they only list current creditors—they demonstrate for the first time that Peabody Energy has financial ties to a very large proportion of the network of groups promoting disinformation around climate change. Read the rest of this item here. Voter Suppression Measures on Trial in Walker's Wisconsin A trial over a raft of measures implemented by Wisconsin's GOP to restrict voting rights in the state commenced in Madison in federal court with the testimony of Dr. Barry C. Burden, UW-Madison Professor of Political Science and Director of the Elections Research Center. The case is being heard by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson and is expected to last nine days. Prof. Burden, an expert on American electoral politics and representation, was asked many questions on a report he wrote on the impact of the multiple changes on voting in Wisconsin. The report was completed in December of 2015, so data of the recent 2016 primary was not included. Read the rest of this item here.