Koch brothers investing in state-level Wisconsin lawmakers

 

August 20, 2016

by Louis Weisberg

After apparently shrugging off the 2016 presidential election, Charles and David Koch are focusing their campaign dollars further down the ballot to maintain control over state governments, according to the Center for Media and Democracy;

CMD intern David Armiak reported that the billionaire brothers, who are the bedrock of the modern Republican Party, have already spent $400 million this year on influencing campaigns around the nation. Some of that money is believed to have gone to Verona Swanigan’s failed campaign to oust Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm.

Chisholm and other district attorneys conducted a “John Doe” probe of Koch-backed groups they suspected of illegally coordinating their campaign activities with those of Gov. Scott Walker during his recall race. Justices who’ve received millions of dollars in campaign contributions from those same Koch-backed groups ruled unconstitutional the law under which the probe was conducted. They ordered the case closed and, in what many called an unprecedented move, they ordered the files destroyed.

The DAs appealed the case the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to hear it.

As this election year heats up, Wisconsin is once again in the Koch brothers’ sites.

Below are candidates for state office — all Republicans —  in whom the industrialist titans have already invested this year, Amiak's research revealed.

• Joel Kitchens (WI-01) is receiving campaign help from Americans for Prosperity’s door-to-door operation. Kitchens also received $500 from KochPAC to Joel Kitchens for Assembly.
• André Jacque (WI-02) received $500 from KochPAC to his Jacque for Assembly.
• Majority Leader Rep. Jim Steineke (WI-05) received $500 from KochPAC to his Steineke for Assembly.
• Gary Tauchen (WI-06) received $500 from KochPAC to Tauchen for Assembly.
• Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Daniel Knodl (WI-24) received $500 from KochPAC to Knodl Assembly 24.
• Mark Born (WI-39) received $500 from KochPAC to Born For Assembly
• Michael Schraa (WI-53) received $500 from KochPAC to Michael Schraa for Assembly.
• Mike Rohrkaste (WI-55) received $500 from KochPAC to Rohrkaste for Assembly.
• Speaker of the House Rep. Robin Vos (WI-63) received $500 from KochPAC to his Friends & Neighbors of Robin Vos.
• John Spiros (WI-86) received $500 from KochPAC to Spiros for Assembly.
• John Macco (WI-88) received $500 from KochPAC to Friends of John Macco.
• John Nygren (WI-89) received $500 from KochPAC to Taxpayers for Nygren.
• Above is from:  http://wisconsingazette.com/2016/08/20/koch-brothers-investing-in-state-level-wisconsin-lawmakers/