Koch Group Shows Its Power

[Andy823]

NASHVILLE-

In December, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, got the deal he wanted from the Obama administration: Tennessee would accept more than $1 billion in federal funding to expand Medicaid, as allowed for in the Affordable Care Act, but Obama aides would allow Haslam to essentially write staunchly conservative ideas into the program's rules for the state. He dubbed the reformed Medicaid program "Insure Tennessee."

But the state's chapter of Americans for Prosperity, the national conservative group whose foundation is chaired by controversial billionaire David Koch, argued Haslam was just trying to trick conservatives into implementing Obamacare in their state by giving it a new name. AFP campaigned aggressively Haslam's plans for the next six weeks, even running radio ads blasting GOP state legislators who said they might vote for it.

On Wednesday, Haslam's bill died in a committee of the Tennessee state senate. The vote was one of the clearest illustrations of the increasing power of AFP and other conservative groups funded in part by the Koch brothers.

When the coalition of conservative groups allied with Charles and David Koch announced recently they would spend $889 million over the next two years, much of the discussion was about how that money could shape the upcoming presidential election. But AFP and other Koch-backed conservative organizations may be having their biggest impact on state politics, where targeted advertising and a strong organization can make a huge difference.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/rebuke-tennessee-governor-koch-group-shows-its-power-n301031

Once again this shows the importance of getting rid of republican control at local and state levels. The Koch brothers know that taking over state government will help them do their job of making life worse, not better, for the people of this country. All the have to do is "BUY" local governments just like the are doing at the national levels.

Democrats need to realize this, and start working to take back their state governments. As long as people stay home instead of voting, this will continue. The idea that both parties are the same is asinine, and articles like this prove it. We can't let the Koch brothers take over the entire country, we need to stop them at local, state, and national levels. I can't see any other way than getting voters out, putting issues like health care, higher minimum wages and many other issues on the ballot so voters can let their states know where they stand.

[pscot]

1. The most significant difference

is that the bad guys appear to be winning.

[Andy823]

2. Yes but,

That can change. Last years turnout shows what happens when voters stay home. When only around 38% or so turn out to vote, and republicans are the majority of those voters, republicans win, and that's never good for the states or the national government.

[earthside]

4. Yes, but in 2016 ...

... the Democrats seem intent upon running as the party standard bearer one of the least exciting and least engaging candidates since Walter Mondale.

So, low turnout looks to be in the cards again.

[Andy823]

7. I don't see a low turnout

No matter who gets the nomination. I don't support Hillary, and won't be voting for her in the primaries, but if she wins I will vote, and so will the vast majority of democrats. Until the primaries we won't know who is running, but whoever wins, I will vote for them, even if I don't really support all their views. No way in the world do I want to see republicans take over the WH, put new judges on the Supreme court, end Obama care, and take away everything we have gained since Obama took office. Even the worst democrat is a hundred times better than the best republican, and that's a fact.

[earthside]

11. I do see a low turnout--especially if it is Clinton vs. Bush.

I'll vote and you'll vote; I'll volunteer and you probably will, too.

But the average or below average voting participant is what matters particularly for Democrats.

A Clinton-Bush contest just screams boring; it will play right into a possible Koch strategy to go as negative a they can to get nominal Democrats disgusted and cynical ... and deciding it just isn't worth it to vote.

And even a non-Bush Repuglican presidential candidate will probably draw the same kind of campaign strategy. I'm just not so optimistic anymore.

[Andy823]

12. My view is

If Bush wins it will draw out more democrats, not less. After the mess his brother left this county in, I can's see anyone with a brain on the left "NOT" getting out to vote against him, even if they have to hold their nose to do it. While there may be some who are dumb enough to stay home and pout over Hillary being the nominee, the majority will not do that.

If one of the other clowns wins the nomination, I still see the majority of democrats voting to stop "any" republican from getting into the WH, and then being able to pick more right wing judges for the Supreme Court, tear apart the ACA, take away more rights for women, cut or privatize SS and medicare, and a whole lot of other things that would be a disaster for this country. Real democrats will do what needs to be done no matter who much the right tries to divide us.

[ChosenUnWisely]

3. Looks like the people of TN got what they voted for via their elected representives

If that is how TN wants to roll so be it.

Their lives, their choice.

[pscot]

9. Democracy in action

Ya get what ya deserve; good 'n hard.

[SharonAnn]

10. Yes, it's heartbreaking. The level of poverty and low-paid jobs means we need it badly here.

But the right-wingers seem to have total control of most of the voters, so these voters actually vote for people who will hurt them.

It is really heartbreaking.

[Orsino]

5. There's going to be plenty of "ring-kissing." n/t

[2naSalit]

6. We have exactly the same crap going on

in Montana. We have a Dem for a Governor but almost entirely teahaddists in the legislature, nothing changes unless it's bad for we the little people. Can anyone pronounce "Bakken Oil Play"? Oh yeah, and Hecla Mining? (There's more than Hecla, they're all I can think of right now but they are all connected to the Kochtopus in one way or another.) Therefore, we have no expanded medicare either.

[WillyT]

8. K & R !!!

[appalachiablue]

13. If you haven't met CLAIRE CONNER you might want to find her 1st post today about

the John Birch Society (JBS) association with the powerful Koch Family. She wrote a book last year about growing up as the daughter of the right wing group's founder, Robert Welch and the scope of the ultraconservative movement in the US. She got out and joined the left when older.

[Electric Monk]

14. link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6185341

[appalachiablue]

15. Thanks much.