Posted on 01/15/2015 6:58:33 PM PST by Drango
Americans for Prosperity, the most prominent arm of the Koch brothers' organization, put Republican lawmakers on notice Thursday, setting out a conservative agenda for Congress. AFP leaders say it will be pushed by the group's grassroots supporters in 34 states.
Tim Phillips, president of AFP, said at a Washington press conference that congressional Republicans "failed miserably" a decade ago, especially on cutting the federal budget. "They've been given a second chance by the American people," he said, "and we're going to hold them accountable. We're determined about that."
The agenda covers three areas: taxes, including repeal of the estate or death tax; energy, headlined by a call to build the Keystone XL pipeline; and health care, which includes repealing the Affordable Care Act. Phillips noted that Washington has debated all of the issues for years.
AFP is best known for its TV advertising and its financing by billionaire industrialists David and Charles Koch and other, undisclosed, wealthy donors. AFP is a 501c4 social welfare organization, not a political committee, and thus isn't required to disclosure its contributors.
AFP spent more than $17 million on television in the 2014 midterm elections, according to the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks political advertising. Much of the money went into ads framed around accountability, urging voters to look critically at Democratic incumbents' votes on controversial issues.
In 2012, Wesleyan reported that AFP spent about $36 million in the presidential race and about $9 million in Senate contests.
Until now, AFP has almost completely avoided the Republican Party's internal battles — a stance that seems ready to change with the emphasis on "accountability." Phillips said AFP will use grassroots and a variety of other avenues to pressure Republicans on Capitol Hill.
"Hopefully it will be encouraging," he said. "But in cases where we need to hold them accountable, we'll look at everything. But for today, let's just say we're going to hold them accountable.
Make sure Dingy Harry isn’t standing on another treadmill when he’s reading this because we all know how those “evil” Koch Brothers drive him to lunacy.
They better be ready to outbid K-Street because it’s all the GOPe gives a damn about.
The Kochs are conservative? Who Knew?
What defines them as conservative?
They’re libertarians, not conservatives.
They’re a hell of a lot more conservative than 2/3 of the Republican Party, that’s for sure.
FU-NPR.
If I EVER get a tattoo, it’s going to be that.
De-fund these doorknobs, already!
“AFP is best known for its TV advertising and its financing by billionaire industrialists David and Charles Koch and other, undisclosed, wealthy donors. AFP is a 501c4 social welfare organization, not a political committee, and thus isn’t required to disclosure its contributors.”
I live in Wisconsin - in the Belly of the Beast. I have never, ever SEEN any of these ‘ads’ they are talking about.
Of course, I only watch football and weather updates...but still! If the Koch Brothers were permeating EVERY aspect of my life, would I not KNOW IT?
Not being liberal is enough for most.
The Koch brothers support amnesty. AFP is the vehicle for exerting their influence.
Noticeably absent is the repealing of Executive Amnesty.
But the media didn’t mind a bit that the Chamber of Commerce poured millions into GOPe campaigns against TEA Party-backed candidates. What’s fair for the goose is fair for the gander.
I would not call them conservative. I would call them libertarian.
If only the Koch brothers were really conservatives.
If only Fido didn’t cook with water from the toilet!
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