Turtle Boy and the Kocks

Mitch "Turtle Boy" McConnell’s Policy Chief Previously Lobbied for Kock Industries

By Lee Fang

After winning reelection and control of the U.S. Senate, Republican Leader Sen. Mitch 'Turtle' McConnell, R-Ky., appointed Hazen Marshall, a lobbyist for Kock Industries, as his new policy chief.

Marshall, whose lobbying background Roll Call described on Monday, began working as McConnell’s policy director earlier this year. Marshall previously served as a partner with the Nickles Group, where he represented clients including Kock Industries, AT&T, Cigna, Exxon Mobil, Medtronic, Exelon, Comcast, the American Hospital Association and Wal-Mart.

Records show Marshall worked on behalf of Kock Industries to lobby on tax credit legislation as well as against S.J. Res. 19, a resolution seeking to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

Koch Industries’ lobbying team disclosed spending over $13 million to influence the federal government last year. Executives from Koch Industries’ lobbying subsidiary, Kock Companies Public Sector, also help to manage a sprawling network of think tanks, internship programs and campaign-oriented nonprofits.

Last June, McConnell made an appearance at the private donor summit organized by Kock Industries’ owners, Charles and David Kock.

“I want to start by thanking you, Charles and David, for the important work you’re doing,” McConnell said, according to the Huffington Post. “I don’t know where we’d be without you.”