The Koch Brothers are Texas multi-billionaires with the goal of privatizing our democracy; favoring the abolishment of everything from Social Security to compulsory education to all forms of taxation. They are implementing their agenda through the House of Representatives in every state, including Michigan.

Americans For Prosperity is the money arm of the operation. Thanks to “Citizens United” (corporations are people) AFP can spend unlimited money on candidates in the form of print, radio and TV ads as long as they don’t say to vote for a candidate, just contact them. They spent 45 million on the 2012 election and are headed that way in this one. They funded the series of large, colorful postcards we all received during the recent primary election. Stay tuned for lots more cards like those.

ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Committee) is the legislative arm of the Koch Brothers. ALEC has written over 400 “model bills” (Right to Work, Stand Your Ground, Prison Privatization, Women’s Health, Pension Tax among them) that they pass onto their members in State Legislatures who vote for them. Most if not all Republicans in the Michigan State House of Representatives vote yes on ALEC bills. Some have said that if they don’t vote yes, they will face a Tea Party challenger in their next primary election.

The Tea Party is the political arm of the Koch Brothers — they created and fund the group. The Koch Brothers Tea Party has infiltrated the Republican Party and uses the GOP to achieve their goals.

In summary, Americans for Prosperity uses the Republican Party to elect their Tea Party candidates to the State House; who then vote for and sign into law Model Bills written by ALEC. All controlled by the Koch Brothers and their corporate donors, including the DeVos family here in Michigan. Very tidy, and very effective.

The Michigan Director of Americans for Prosperity, Scott Haggerstrom, appeared with Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley and Michigan State House candidate Aaron Miller (R-59th District) at a Tea Party meeting on Sept. 11th at Grace Christian Center in Berrien County. Lt. Governor Calley said he was there to ensure that the administration and the Tea Party go forward together in this election.

So, unless we change Lansing, we will continue to see more of the Koch Brothers’ private agenda become law in Michigan. Aaron Miller has said publically that he likes what is happening in Lansing. Do you agree? We need a Michigan State House that writes its own bills and Representatives that vote for the people they represent, not the party line. Learn more about the Koch Brothers in the documentary “Koch Brothers Exposed” and be sure to check the return address on all those postcards you get in the mail.

 

Cathy LaPointe

Cassopolis