FACTSHEET: Mountain States Legal Foundation, MSLF
DETAILS
http://www.mountainstateslegal.org/
2596 South Lewis Way
Lakewood, Colorado 80227
Phone: 303-292-2021
Fax: 303-292-1980
A conservative public interest law founded in 1977 under the National Legal Center for Public Interest, with start up money largely provided by Joseph Coors. MSLF is "dedicated to individual liberty, the right to own and use property, limited and ethical government and the free enterprise system." (mslf website)
The group, initially headed by James Watt and now run by William Perry Pendley. Pendley has referred to environmentalists as communists in disguise, or "watermelons"- "green on the outside and red on the inside." ( "Whither the West," The Landman, January/February 1993.)
MSLF files cases and amicus curiae briefs attacking environmental protections and designations on behalf of oil, mineral, development and timber interests. Ron Arnold, anti-environmental leader and executive director of the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, called MSLF "the litigating arm of the Wise Use Movement." MSLF is active in the "wise use" and extremist property rights movement, was a sponsor of the first "wise use" leadership conference in Reno, Nevada in 1988, and has participated in many conferences hosted by "wise use" organizations. (CLEAR fact sheet)
Over the past two decades, MSLF has served as a training ground for a number of attorneys most active in the anti-environmental movement., including Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Clint Bolick, William "Chip" Mellor and Karen Budd-Falen, Anne Gorsuch-Burford, and Roger and Nancie Marzulla, who started Defenders of Property Rights.
FUNDING
Mountain States Legal Foundation has received $42,500 from ExxonMobil since 1998.
2000
$2,500 ExxonMobil Foundation
general support
Source: ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
2008
$5,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: EXXON FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE GIVING 2008
2009
$10,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 2009 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments
2010
$5,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil 2010 Worldwide Giving Report
2011
$10,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil corporate funding 2011, public policy
2012
$10,000 ExxonMobil Corporate Giving
Source: ExxonMobil corporate funding 2012, public policy
early 90s?
$unknown Exxon Corporation
Source: Greenpeace Guide
KEY PEOPLE
Gale Norton
former Senior attorney
Source: MSLF Norton whitehouse bio
PEOPLE
L. Jerald Sheffels
Chairman of the Board
Source: mountain state legal foundation board
Thomas M. Hauptman
Vicechiarman of the Board
Source: mountain state legal foundation board
Diemer True
Secretary of the Board
Source: mountain state legal foundation board
John F. Kane
Treasurer of the Boarf
Source: mountain state legal foundation board
SOURCES
ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
ExxonMobil Foundation 2000 IRS 990
http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/?a=view&d=4390
Greenpeace Guide
Greenpeace Guide
mountain state legal foundation board
http://www.mountainstateslegal.org/boards.cfm
MSLF Norton whitehouse bio
Whitehouse bio describes Norton as former "Senior Attorney" at MSLF 1979-83
See also
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Inauguration/story?id=122150
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/norton-bio.html
EXXON FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE GIVING 2008
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/community_contributions_report.aspx
ExxonMobil 2009 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments
Exxon Mobil Corporation
2009 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/files/gcr_contributions_pub-policy09.pdf
ExxonMobil 2010 Worldwide Giving Report
http://exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Files/gcr_contributions_pubpolicy-2010.pdf
ExxonMobil corporate funding 2011, public policy
http://www.webcitation.org/68w7Tt51X
ExxonMobil corporate funding 2012, public policy
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Files/gcr_contributions_publicpolicy12.pdf