"[168], Conor Friedersdorf wrote for The Atlantic's "Daily Dish" that, while he respected Mayer, "as best I can tell, the Koch brothers are legitimately upset by some aspects of the piece, and anyone who reads it should also look at the rebuttals from libertarians who are persuasively pushing back against some of its conclusions. ", According to Mayer: "The Koch brothers are known for their strongly conservative politics and for their efforts to finance a network of advocacy groups whose goal is to move the country to the right. Koch has touted the help of Leonard Leo, who sits at the helm of a dark money operation that has spent more than $250m to change the makeup of the federal and state courts through the secretive funding of groups like the Judicial Crisis Network. The Koch Industries representatives appeared interested in both the rules and regulations, but also how political donations were viewed "culturally" in Australia. That same year, the Koch brothers created a conservative political group called Citizens for a Sound Economy. [42][43], In July 2012, David H. Koch hosted a $50,000-a-person ($75,000 a couple) fundraising dinner for 2012 Republican Party Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, which was the subject of liberal and progressive protests. [79][80] As of 2015, David Koch sits on the board of directors of the Cato Institute,[81] the Reason Foundation and the Aspen Institute. The Kochs aligned with President Barack Obama in heading criminal justice reform, citing poor conditions and an outdated system. In political circles, the Koch brothers have been most known for huge donations to conservative causes. In essence, the reforms could potentially overturn Ignorantia juris non excusat statutes. The Koch brothers are the sons of Fred C. Koch (1900–1967), who founded Koch Industries, the second-largest privately held company in the United States, of which they own 84% of the stock. Since then the Koch brothers have given more than one million dollars to AFP. [68] The foundation distributed more than $27 million of its assets between 1997 and 2009. [10], The phrase "Koch brothers" generally refers to the sons of Fred C. [106], The Kochs have donated millions of dollars via organizations they fund to the National Federation of Independent Business. the Obama] Administration and many of our elected officials" and "we cannot rely on politicians to [defend our free society], so it is up to us to combat what is now the greatest assault on American freedom and prosperity in our lifetimes". When Michael Bloomberg entered the 2020 race, some declared his $60bn fortune an asset for taking on Donald Trump, who once claimed he was going to self-fund his own campaign. $118,754 from the oil and gas industry as of Oct.12, according to Open Secrets, a site that tracks donations. [171] Koch Industries responded to the allegations in Mayer's article by stating that "the story dredges up issues resolved long ago and mischaracterizes our business philosophy and principles, our practices and performance record, and the education efforts and policies we support. Koch Industries's political action committee donated $2.8 million to Republicans during the 2020 campaign cycle and $221,000 to Democrats, according to the Wall Street Journal. [94][95] AFP spent $45 million in the 2010 election. [39] Most support for Walker was in the form of expenditures estimated at $3 million from Americans for Prosperity (AFP). Almost certain to attend are conservative political candidates looking to show off their ideological credentials in exchange for campaign funding. $5,000 from Koch Industries. After Buckley, the FEC gave the Libertarian party an advisory opinion to allow Koch to give the party 25 times the limit Congress had adopted. I'm interested in advancing libertarian ideas". David Koch left the network in June 2018 due to ill health, and when Charles Koch (83) steps down as head of the network, it is "widely expected" that his son, Chase Koch, will take over (with assistance by "several longtime Koch aides"), and that Chase may turn the focus of the network away from partisan politics. "[83][90][91] AFP is the political arm of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, for which David Koch serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees. We are in a continuing constitutional crisis, where the big money of a tiny few is swamping the voices of most Americans. Featured Story Koch Brothers' Conference 2015: Highlights. Bob McDonnell said Saturday he is "absolutely" ready to take the helm of the Republican Governors Association if the current chairman, Texas Gov. Koch Brothers' network will drop almost $1 billion on 2016 election. And Charles Koch helped make that. ‘Because personnel is policy, this means Koch often gets the policies – and judges – he wants.’. [84][85][86][87] David Koch was the top initial funder of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation. $24,500 (1.48%) To Democrats. $1,626,000 (98.52%) To Republicans. In her column, “The Really Big Money? [123] The foundation helped finance a 2007 analysis suggesting that climate change was not a threat to the survival of polar bears,[124] which was questioned by other researchers. [132], In January 2011, Rolling Stone magazine included the Koch brothers on its list of the top twelve people blocking progress on global warming. David H. Koch Charitable Foundation. We vote on candidates' personalities." [158], In 2014, Koch Companies Public Sector CEO Philip Ellender responded to comments that Democrat Harry Reid made on the floor of the Senate, when he said that the Koch brothers were trying to "buy the country". Indeed, the brothers have funded opposition campaigns against so many Obama Administration policies – from health-care reform to the economic-stimulus program – that, in political circles, their ideological network is known as the "Kochtopus. The meeting invitation stated that "[our] prosperity is under attack by the current [i.e. [82] A 2013 study by the Center for Responsive Politics said that nonprofit groups backed by a donor network organized by Charles and David Koch raised more than $400 million in the 2011–2012 election cycle. The two brothers have vast resources to invest in politics, commanding over $50bn each from their ownership of Koch Industries. Koch spending down the ballot will help buoy Trump, without naming him, as it did in the 2016 Senate races. [136][137], The Koch network funds the nonprofit group Concerned Veterans for America. Koch then bundled money with his family to become that political party’s biggest donor, giving it an amount that seems small now but was big then and was the start of something bigger. The stated priorities of the restructured Koch network include efforts aimed at increasing employment, addressing poverty and addiction, ensuring excellent education, building a stronger economy, and bridging divides and building respect. [40], According to the Palm Beach Post, David Koch has been active in Wisconsin politics. [71][82][92][93], Americans for Prosperity created Patients United Now, which advocated against a single-payer health care system during the 2009-2010 healthcare reform debate. The billion-dollar GOP mega-donor Koch network, headed by billionaire Charles Koch, is threatening to cut off donations to Republicans who objected to the electoral college results of the 2020 presidential election. Buckley also created a loophole that allowed David Koch to self-fund his campaign for vice-president in 1980, establishing perhaps one of the most extreme examples of privilege in politics today: most Americans can’t afford to max out in campaign contributions, but a couple of billionaire white guys have what amounts to a supreme court-divined right to spend an unlimited amount on their own elections. [69] The Claude. [133], In March 2015, the general counsel of Koch Industries, in a letter responding to a request from three Senate Democrats, wrote that "The activity efforts about which you inquire, and Koch's involvement, if any, in them, are at the core of the fundamental liberties protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution", and declined to cooperate with the senators' inquiry into the funding of researchers skeptical of climate change. If successful that revolution would mark a return to the robber-baron era of limited democratic control over corporations, which Koch fueled in innumerable ways. The Koch network of donors spends hundreds of millions of dollars every election … [74], Citizens for a Sound Economy was co-founded by David Koch in the 1980s. Despite Charles’s public posture of disdain for the president, Trump policy is largely Koch’s. Leo recently bragged to donors that America is on the precipice of a revolution to roll back nearly a century of legal precedents. [29], In 2008, the three main Koch family foundations contributed to 34 political and policy organizations, three of which they founded, and several of which they directed. Reported net assets through Dec. 31, 2013: $5.57 million. Sun, Jan 17, 2021 LOGIN Subscribe [48][49][50] After the Republican primary, they decided to not donate to Trump's campaign at all, instead focusing on the Congress and Senate races. In addition to his political activity David is a major donor to the arts. [115][127][128][129], In 2010, Koch Industries supported efforts to roll back emission regulations in California. Outside Spending in the 2020 cycle: $0. [8] In 1990, the brothers created the spinoff group Citizens for the Environment. [66][67], Charles Koch and his wife were trustees of the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation, as directed by Claude R. And, just days ago, Koch’s operatives announced their biggest election effort ever for 2020. The same goes for Koch helping to pack the supreme court, which Charles flagged as another top priority for his network of billionaires. [121][122], The Charles G. Koch Foundation gave the Smithsonian Institution two grants totaling $175,000 in 2005/6 and again in 2010 to support research of climate change denial skeptic Willie Soon. Individual Donations to Federal Candidates, Parties, and PACs (1989 to 2014) Koch Brothers: $2.58 million George Soros: $1.74 million Individual Donations to 527 Organizations (1989 to 2010) Koch Brothers: $1.5 million George Soros: $32.5 million Totals Koch… [130][131], The Koch brothers' Lambe Foundation has donated to the American Energy Alliance, an offshoot of the Institute for Energy Research. [147], The Koch brothers have advocated reform of the United States' criminal justice system. In a statement, Philip Ellender, the president and chief operating officer at Koch Companies Public Sector said "Sen. Reid's divisive remarks were not only disrespectful and beneath the office he holds, they were indicative of what lengths he and his Democratic allies will go to eliminate and silence their political opposition. [57] ", "Congress's big, bipartisan success that might be just beginning", "Forfeiture reform aligns likes of billionaire Charles Koch, ACLU", "Obama, Koch Brothers in Unlikely Alliance to Overhaul Criminal Justice", "Rare White House Accord With Koch Brothers on Sentencing Frays", "Koch World Faces Year Two of the Trump Era – and the 2018 Midterms", "Koch brothers to launch pilot project to tackle prisoner reentry", "Koch network says Sessions 'on board' with prison reform", "Paul Ryan Praises Koch Seminar for Tax Reform Passage", "Koch brothers introducing new criminal justice reform initiative", "Koch network targets Texas in push for prison reform in Trump era", "AIER Hosts Top Epidemiologists, Authors of the Great Barrington Declaration", "Covid-19: Group of UK and US experts argues for "focused protection" instead of lockdowns", "Why herd immunity strategy is regarded as fringe viewpoint", "Climate Science Denial Network Behind Great Barrington Declaration", "Koch-Funded PR Agency Aided Great Barrington Declaration Sponsor", "Koch brothers fire back at Reid's remark", Koch Industries webpage, "Koch Facts" section, "Koch Industries Responds to New Yorker Claims", Koch brothers collected news and commentary, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Political activities of the Koch brothers, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Political_activities_of_the_Koch_brothers&oldid=1000886461, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from December 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 January 2021, at 06:12. [134][135], The Kochs have also funded efforts to stop the growth of solar power. [148][149] The Kochs, along with their partners, seek to aid those suffering from systemic overcriminalization and overincarceration, who are generally from low-income and minority communities. Since 2015, Boston College has already accepted $15,000 from the Charles Koch Foundation, largely for fellowships for graduate students in political science. [21], A group associated with the Kochs announced plans to raise $889 million leading up to the 2016 elections. Those donations from Koch Industries Inc. David Koch died in 2019. The report purported to show that, from 2005 to 2008, the Kochs vastly outspent ExxonMobil in giving money to organizations fighting legislation related to climate change, underwriting a huge network of foundations, think tanks, and political front groups. But, we don't have any sources for the FSU donations being "political", either. In the two years up to 2018 it is estimated to have spent $400 million on "policy and politics", and "millions more on educational and philanthropic initiatives". Scott Walker: Funded by the Koch Bros", "Names in the News: David and Charles Koch", "Bid to suspend California global-warming law gets million from billionaire brothers' firm", Koch Brothers pledge to defeat Obama in 2012, "The Koch Brothers Pledged $60 Million to Defeat Obama", "At Least 1 in 4 Dark Money Dollars in 2012 Had Koch Links", "When it comes to political donations, the Koch Brothers trump all", "The Koch brothers alone gave twice as much money to Scott Walker as the total amount of money raised by Tom Barrett", "David Koch intends to cure cancer in his lifetime and remake American politics", "Money flows into Wisconsin governor recall fight", "Protesters raise cloud of sand as Romney raises $3 million in N.Y.", "Mitt Romney hits the Hamptons and adds $3 million to his campaign war chest", "The Republicans' $3 Million Weekend in the Hamptons", "'Mitt Romney Has A Koch Problem' Say Protesters At Billionaire's Hamptons Fundraiser", "The Koch Brothers Are Reportedly Ready To Back Scott Walker", "Donald Trump won't be getting Koch brothers money", "Charles Koch says rumours he will support Hillary Clinton are 'blood libel, "Koch brothers lead billionaire resistance against Donald Trump", "Billionaire Koch brothers take on Trump over tariffs", "Trump tariffs assailed at Koch network gathering", "The Weekend Interview with Charles Koch: Private Enterprise", "Billionaire Brothers' Money Plays Role in Wisconsin Dispute", "Invitation to Seminar, Understanding and Addressing Threats to American Free Enterprise and Prosperity", "Liz Koch talks about foundation's benefits to Kansas", "Charitable Gifts From Wealthy Koch Brothers Often Prompt Partisan Reactions", "Nonprofit Organization Report: Claude R. Lamb Charitable Foundation", "One of the Koch Family-Controlled Foundations Has Quietly Folded", "Koch brothers now at heart of GOP power", "Inside the Koch brothers' campus crusade", "The players in the Koch-backed $400 million political donor network", "The Tea Party movement: deluded and inspired by billionaires", "Fraser Institute accepted $500K dollars in funding from oil billionaires", "Whitaker ran conservative group funded by dark money", "The New Acting Attorney General Was Previously a Dark Money–Funded Clinton Antagonist", "Billionaire Brothers In Spotlight In Wis. Union Battle", "Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity plans $125 million spending spree", "The Billionaire's Party: David Koch is New York's second-richest man, a celebrated patron of the arts, and the tea party's wallet", "David Koch Seeded Major Tea-Party Group, Private Donor List Reveals", "Money In Politics: The Companies Behind David Koch's Americans For Prosperity", "Tea Party movement: Billionaire Koch brothers who helped it grow", "Koch-backed Group Vows To Hold GOP's Feet To The Fire", "Americans for Prosperity: Koch brothers' advocacy gets local in Colorado", "Tea Party Funding Koch Brothers Emerge From Anonymity", "Billionaires List: Koch Brothers, Right Wing Bankrollers", "Cato Institute Is Caught in a Rift Over Its Direction", "Koch Brothers' Attempted Takeover Of Cato Could Be Part Of Bold Plan (UPDATE)", "Cato Goes to War: 'The Koch brothers have launched an extraordinary campaign to take control of America's most respected libertarian think tank. 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