A May 17 CNSNews.com article by Matt Cover carries the headline “Democratic Leaders Mislead on Gas Prices, Oil Taxes, Says Energy Expert.” The “expert” in question is Institute for Energy Research senior vice president Dan Kish, who told Cover that “eliminating tax write-offs for oil companies will not have any effect on gas prices.”
Unmentioned by Cover: Kish’s organization is a conservative think tank funded by the oil and energy industries.
According to ExxonSecrets, ExxonMobil has given $307,000 to the Institute for Energy Research since 1998. It has also received funding from other petroleum-related entities, including Koch Industries and KBR.
Cover began his article with the flat assertion that “Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate continue to make misleading statements about the effect their plans to raise taxes on oil companies would have on gas prices.” At no point does Cover describe the political ideology of Kish or his group.