During the 2012 election, the Koch brothers helped raise more than $400 million dollars,
mostly for the Republican party.
The 2016 election is likely to see as much as a billion dollars coming from Charles and
David Koch.
This partnership has seen significant influence in politics, but the brothers are known for
keeping a low profile.
So we wanted to know, how powerful are the Koch brothers?
Well, the Koch brothers are among the top ten richest people in the world, with a net
worth of about 42 billion dollars each.
Their company, Koch Industries, is one of the largest oil conglomerates, and the second
most profitable private corporation in the US.
Although the brothers regularly invest in Republican political campaigns, they are self-professed
libertarians.
They oppose social welfare, climate change legislation, and high taxation.
However, they have voiced support for gay marriage, abortion rights, and marijuana legalization.
Like many libertarians, they are in favor of free market competition and privatization
of programs like Medicare and Social Security.
The Kochs are well known for investing millions in lobbying efforts to overturn controversial
bills, like Obamacare.
In fact, they have donated more money than any other private individuals in order to
delay the enforcement of climate change regulations.
They have funneled so much money in the political system that they’ve been accused of attempting
to “buy the country."
Many of their donations come in the form of either funding political action committees
and conservative think tanks, or fundraising for similar causes.
They are known to fund groups like the Cato Institute, Americans for Prosperity and the
Tea Party.
Americans for Prosperity has donated millions to conservative political candidates like
Scott Walker, and in 2010, they contributed to his successful run for governor of Wisconsin.
For the 2012 presidential election, the Koch brothers were one of Mitt Romney’s most
instrumental donors.
Additionally, with their influence over members of congress, the Koch brothers are said to
be one of the main roadblocks for updates in climate change legislation.
Through political action committees, the Kochs have donated millions towards mudslinging
ads against Obamacare and Democratic congressmen.
Their actions have drawn ire from President Obama and other liberals, who think their
big money activism wields an unfair influence over government policies.
Democratic Senator Harry Reid has referred to them as “power drunk billionaires”
responsible for a “ flood of dark money into our political system."
The 2010 “Citizens United” US Supreme Court case has allowed the Koch brothers unprecedented
ability to mask huge political donations.
By funneling their donations through a corporation or labor union, they are able to give unlimited
amounts of money to political groups, and get around the personal limits..
This gives them considerable influence.
The network of donations from the Koch brothers and Koch industries to countless lobbying
groups on their behalf has been called “labyrinthian” and excessively complicated by many reporters.
With the Koch brothers’ plan to donate $889 million dollars to the 2016 presidential race,
many are worried how far the Koch’s influence will reach.
Clearly, having a small group of people with disproportionate political influence is far
from democratic.
The Koch brothers aren’t the only billionaires whose are getting involved in politics.
To find out more about that, watch this video.
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