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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThwarted in Washington, the Koch network racks up conservative victories in the states
By James Hohmann June 27 at 7:39 AM
COLORADO SPRINGSThe wealthy donors who finance the Koch network are frustrated that national Republicans are not doing more to capitalize on having unified control of the federal government. But at their summer seminar here in the Rocky Mountains, which wrapped up last night, many were ecstaticeven giddyabout significant conservative gains that have been made this year in state capitals across the country.
Republicans now control the governorship and legislature in 25 states, compared to only six states for Democrats. Last November, the GOP seized all the levers of lawmaking in four new states Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and New Hampshire making it much easier to pass far-reaching legislation.
The network, led by the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on low-profile races and building out grassroots operations in 36 states over the past decade.
In 2017 alone, several of these states have reduced union power, scaled back regulations, cut taxes, blocked Medicaid expansion, promoted alternatives to public education, loosened criminal sentencing laws and eased requirements to get occupational licenses.
Because President Trump is such an all-consuming story, most of these moves received scant national attention. But the 400 donors who descended on the Broadmoor resort over the past few days have been paying close attention and are keenly interested in the outcome of these state-level fights.
Even in the past six months weve seen a lot of success: We have two new right-to-work states, school choice wins in five states, and a dozen states have reduced spending or taxes, Roger Pattison, director of member relations for the Koch network, said at a dinner on Saturday night. I could go on and on.
more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/06/27/daily-202-thwarted-in-washington-the-koch-network-racks-up-conservative-victories-in-the-states/5951647ce9b69b2fb981de5d/
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)EXTREMELY important subject. Thanks, as always, for posting, DonViejo.
awesomerwb1
(4,267 posts)Do the Dems have a game plan or anything remotely close to one?
I know Dems don't have their own Kochs or Mercers etc.
I hope I'm wrong, but if I'm not, the Dems lack of planning and vision is a disaster in the making.
HeartachesNhangovers
(814 posts)I have to admit that this seems to be true of the Koch family and the other, unnamed "wealthy donors" who are alluded to above. They seem to be focused on getting things done - working at the lowest levels of elected politics in states the national media doesn't care about - rather than getting their names in the paper. They're actually the opposite of Trump in this way. This is an important lesson for Democrats.
Ligyron
(7,624 posts)BTW, I think the Broadmore was the model for the hotel in The Shining?