153 lines
7.1 KiB
Markdown
153 lines
7.1 KiB
Markdown
# John Dunbar Koch — Louisiana Lobbyist Investigation
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**Research Date:** 2026-03-12
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**Data Sources:** Louisiana Board of Ethics (eap.ethics.la.gov), F Minus lobbying database (fminus.org), Pelican State Partners website, Business Report LA
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---
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## Executive Summary
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**CRITICAL FINDING:** John Dunbar Koch is a Louisiana lobbyist whose firm, **Pelican State Partners LLC**, represents **Meta Platforms, Inc.** as a client. Koch's surname is "Koch" — he is NOT connected to Koch Industries or the Koch political network. His significance to this investigation is that his firm is one of Meta's registered lobbying operations in Louisiana, where HB-570 (the App Store Accountability Act) was passed with Meta's support.
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---
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## 1. Lobbyist Profile
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| Field | Value |
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|-------|-------|
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| **Full Name** | Mr. John Dunbar Koch |
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| **Goes By** | Johnny Koch |
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| **Lobbyist ID** | LB000349 |
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| **Firm** | Pelican State Partners, LLC |
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| **Address** | 504 Lakeland Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 |
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| **Phone** | (225) 445-4805 |
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| **Lobbying Type** | Legislative AND Executive Branch |
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| **Registration History** | Active since at least 2009 |
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| **Prior Employer** | Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balhoff & McCollister (law firm, through ~2020) |
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### Career Timeline
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- **Pre-2020**: Partner at **Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balhoff & McCollister**, a Baton Rouge law firm at 8440 Jefferson Highway, Suite 301
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- **~September 2020**: Roedel Parsons' lobbying division disbanded; Koch and colleagues formed **Pelican State Partners, LLC** (per Business Report, Sept 4, 2020, by Jeremy Alford)
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- **2021-present**: Operating as Pelican State Partners from 504 Lakeland Drive, Baton Rouge
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---
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## 2. Pelican State Partners — Meta Connection
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### Confirmed: Meta Platforms, Inc. is a Pelican State Partners Client
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Per the F Minus lobbying database (fminus.org/clients/pelican-state-partners-llc/, accessed 2026-03-12), Pelican State Partners represents the following notable clients:
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**Tech Companies:**
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- **Meta Platforms, Inc.** ← KEY FINDING
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- Uber Technologies, Inc.
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- AT&T
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- **Roblox Corporation** ← also relevant to age verification
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**Other Major Clients:**
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- BP America
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- CVS Health
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- Equifax
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- Reynolds American, Inc.
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- Tulane University
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### Significance for HB-570 Investigation
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Multiple sources confirm Meta deployed approximately **12 lobbyists** in Louisiana for HB-570 alone (per Jessica Reed Kraus, Substack). Koch/Pelican State Partners is one of these lobbying operations. The firm's dual representation of **Meta** and **Roblox** (both companies that benefit from shifting age verification responsibility to app stores) is noteworthy.
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---
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## 3. Full 2023 Client List (from LA Ethics Registration)
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Koch's 2023 registration (PDF, 9 pages) lists 30 clients:
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| Client | Description | State | Since |
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|--------|-------------|-------|-------|
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| Aflac | Insurance | GA | 2009 |
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| American Assoc. of Bioanalysts | Healthcare/medical techs | MO | 2011 |
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| Associated Branch Pilots | Maritime | LA | 2009 |
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| Atmos Energy Corp. | Oil and Gas | TX | 2009 |
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| Capitol Policy Group | Prison Healthcare | GA | 2020 |
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| Castle Hill Gaming | Gaming | VA | 2021 |
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| Coastal Conservation Assoc. of LA | Marine conservation | LA | 2022 |
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| Communities in Schools Gulf South | Student supports | LA | 2022 |
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| Correct Solutions, LLC | Corrections healthcare | LA | 2016 |
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| Deloitte Consulting, LLP | Consulting | TX | 2009 |
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| Driving School Assoc. of LA | Driving schools | LA | 2019 |
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| HCA Healthcare Corp. | Healthcare | LA | 2009 |
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| HDR, Inc. | Engineering | LA | 2018 |
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| ITeach US | Education/teacher cert | TX | 2009 |
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| LA Airport Managers & Assoc. | Airports | LA | 2017 |
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| LA Assoc. of Chiefs of Police | Law enforcement | LA | 2009 |
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| LA Assoc. of Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | LA | 2021 |
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| LA Court Reporters Assoc. | Judicial | LA | 2009 |
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| LA Craft Brewers Guild | Beer brewing | LA | 2017 |
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| LA Dental Association | Healthcare | LA | 2009 |
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| LA Hemp Extractors | CBD products | LA | 2022 |
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| LA Loggers Association | Logging | LA | 2019 |
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| LA Podiatry Medical Assoc. | Healthcare | LA | 2009 |
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| MedImpact Healthcare Systems | Pharmacy benefit mgmt | CA | 2020 |
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| NE Louisiana Power Cooperative | Electric utility | LA | 2020 |
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| Pelican State Partners, LLC | Own firm | LA | 2021 |
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| Performa Labs | Computer software | CA | 2022 |
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| Southern Key Investments | Financial planning | LA | 2009 |
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| Stat Shots, LLC | Manufacturing | LA | 2022 |
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| Strategic Partnerships, Inc. | Procurement consulting | TX | 2022 |
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| Turn Key Health Clinics | Inmate healthcare | OK | 2022 |
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| Uber Technologies, Inc. | Tech/rideshare | CA | 2014 |
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| Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | Retail | AR | 2009 |
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**Note:** Meta Platforms, Inc. does NOT appear on the 2023 registration. It appears on the more recent F Minus database listing, indicating Meta retained Pelican State Partners **after** the 2023 registration period — likely in **2024 or 2025**, coinciding with HB-570 activity.
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---
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## 4. Firm Team
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| Name | Role |
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|------|------|
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| Johnny Koch | Partner |
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| Christian J. Rhodes | Partner (attorney since 2008) |
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| Scott Kirkpatrick | Partner |
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| Suchitra J. Satpathi | Partner |
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| Liza Albrecht | Government Affairs Coordinator |
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**Contact:** Baton Rouge (225) 219-8900 | New Orleans (504) 699-7454
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---
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## 5. Koch Industries Connection — DEBUNKED
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Initial investigation flagged "Koch lobbyist" as a potential connection to Koch Industries' political network. This is **incorrect**:
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- John Dunbar Koch's surname is "Koch" — a common surname
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- His 2019 employer was "Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balhoff & McCollister" — a law firm where "Koch" in the name refers to him
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- His client list shows no Koch Industries, Americans for Prosperity, or Koch network entities
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- His clients span healthcare, insurance, education, energy, and tech — a typical Louisiana lobbying portfolio
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---
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## 6. Connections to HB-570 Investigation
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### What This Establishes
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1. **Meta → Pelican State Partners → Louisiana Legislature**: Koch's firm is a registered Meta lobbyist in Louisiana
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2. **Timing**: Meta likely retained Pelican State Partners in 2024-2025, coinciding with HB-570 legislative push
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3. **Dual Tech Representation**: Koch's firm also represents Roblox, which benefits from the same app store accountability framework
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4. **Scale**: Koch's firm is just one of an estimated 12+ lobbyists Meta deployed for HB-570
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### What Remains Unknown
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1. The exact date Meta retained Pelican State Partners
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2. Whether Koch personally lobbied on HB-570 or delegated to other firm partners
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3. Koch's expenditure reports specific to Meta's interests
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4. Whether Koch had any interaction with DCA or Casey Stefanski during HB-570 proceedings
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---
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## Sources
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- LA Board of Ethics Registration: https://eap.ethics.la.gov/Lobbyist/upload/349/20221219_142034_349Year2023.pdf
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- LA Board of Ethics Registration (2019): https://eap.ethics.la.gov/Lobbyist/upload/349/20190116_140215_349Year2019.pdf
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- F Minus Client Database: https://fminus.org/clients/pelican-state-partners-llc/
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- Pelican State Partners: https://www.pelicanstate.com/about
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- Business Report: https://www.businessreport.com/newsletters/lapolitics-roedel-parsons-disbands-members-launch-pelican-state
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