PRESS RELEASE: Media Must Ask V.P. Harris About Walton Family Influence in the Colorado River

For Immediate Release
Oct. 18, 2021
Contact: Gary Wockner, Save The Colorado, 970-218-8310

Media Should Ask V.P. Harris About Walton Family Influence in the Colorado River

Lake Mead: Today, Vice President Harris is reported to be visiting Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, to talk about drought and water supplies in the Western U.S. The Associated Press — which is now a media outlet funded by the Walton Family Foundation — reported Harris’ visit, and also put a disclaimer at the bottom of its report (here) about the Associated Press being funded by the Waltons.

This visit and Associated Press report come two weeks after a bombshell story from the Wall Street Journal (here) about the Waltons’ influence on policy, science, government, media, and NGOs working in the Colorado River basin, including at least $200 million of funding over the last decade by the Walton Family to influence Colorado River management. In the Wall Street Journal report, Biden appointees for the Dept of Interior and Defense Dept. — who were former Walton Family-funded staffmembers — refused to answer questions from the Wall Street Journal reporter about the Waltons’ influence in the Colorado River, specifically about how the Waltons are trying to create a complex “water market” scheme that would enrich “impact investors”.

“V.P. Harris needs to be asked, and must answer, questions about the Walton Family’s influence in the Colorado River,” said Gary Wockner of Save The Colorado. “You can bet that the Associated Press won’t ask the question, so it behooves media outlets not funded by Walton to push the Biden administration about Walton influence.”

Save The Colorado does not take money from any Walton foundation or family member.

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