kaiser's family foundation funded the national energy policy institute, a non-profit energy policy organization located at the university of tulsa whose president since its inception is former alaska governor tony knowles. and whose director was former u.s. representative brad carson. in january 2009, kaiser drew attention after he told a committee of the oklahoma house of representatives that the state should eliminate or reduce tax incentives for the oil and gas industry, and instead use the money for health care or education programs or for tax cuts for other taxpayers.