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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 30 January 2018

Kochs warm to Trump policies, not behavior

By STEVE PEOPLES The Koch network’s chief
Associated Press lieutenants renewed their
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — vow this weekend to spend
For the Koch brothers and up to $400 million on poli-
their powerful donor net- tics and policy to shape
work, the trouble with Presi- November’s midterm elec-
dent Donald Trump isn’t tions nationwide.
what he’s doing. It’s how That’s more than the com-
he’s doing it. bined resources spent by
Huddled at a private retreat the Republican National
in the California desert, the Committee, the National
conservative movement’s Rifle Association and the
moneyed elite worried Chamber of Commerce in
aloud this weekend that the 2016 election cycle.
the Republican president’s They outlined plans on
undisciplined behavior is Monday to spend big on
clouding his achievements political advertising now
— and making it harder for through the end of July on
the GOP to protect its grip as many as 14 key Senate
on Congress heading into races and 15 gubernatorial
the 2018 midterms. elections. Their goal: Flood
“President Trump is not the airwaves with political
helping get many Repub- messaging early to help
licans elected,” said Tom shape voters’ opinions long In this May 22, 2012 file photo, Charles Koch speaks in his office at Koch Industries in Wichita,
Shepherd, a Cincinnati- before the election sea- Kan.
based businessman who son’s final months. Associated Press
joined roughly 550 Koch “We need to be on offense luxury resort outside Palm that his style and policies of the plan. “He hasn’t got
donors at a private retreat starting now,” said Emily Springs for a three-day re- might undermine conser- it down yet,” Lynch said of
in the California desert this Seidel, CEO of the Kochs’ treat that ended Monday vative priorities. the president, noting that
weekend. “I think he’s do- political arm, Americans for acknowledged a difficult “I didn’t support him,” said he doesn’t mind Trump’s
ing more harm than good Prosperity. road ahead. Some blamed Frank Baxter, a retired in- style personally.
because he’s distract- She said the network has history more than the regu- vestment banker from Cali- Another former Trump crit-
ing people from the good already decided to play lar distractions from Trump. fornia who served as the ic, North Carolina-based
work which is happening, in Senate contests in Wis- The party in the White House ambassador to Uruguay donor Art Pope, said he’s
which is either happening consin, Indiana, Missouri traditionally struggles in the under former President warming to the president
because of him or in spite and Florida — all seats held first midterm election of a George W. Bush. “The re- as well. “The policies of this
of him.” The frustration with by vulnerable Democrats. new presidency. sults are kind of changing administration have really
the unorthodox president They expect to be active in “It’s a challenge regardless my mind.” benefited the American
comes as the Kochs begin many more. And on gover- of the president,” said Tim Like others, he praised the people,” Pope said. He’s
to implement their strat- nor’s races, they’re target- Phillips, president of Ameri- tax overhaul, Trump’s judi- still worried about the po-
egy to protect Republican ing Nevada, Wisconsin, Illi- cans for Prosperity. cial appointments and reg- litical climate heading into
majorities in the House and nois, Michigan and Florida But the donors who ulatory cuts. He added, “I the midterms: “It’s going to
Senate this fall. to start. pledged at least $100,000 still don’t like what he says be a tough election.”
The GOP has no more pow- The investment includes this year to the Koch net- or does.” Democrats need to pick up
erful ally than the vast po- $20 million to help sell the work — there were an es- Gary Lynch, whose Iowa at least 24 seats nationwide
litical and policy network recently adopted tax over- timated 550 on hand this livestock business employs this fall to claim the House
assembled by the Midwest- haul to a skeptical Ameri- weekend — were less cau- roughly 700 people, said majority for the last two
ern industrialist icons, long can public through a se- tious when asked about he and his business have years of Trump’s first term.
demonized by the left and ries of public rallies, phone the president’s leadership benefited from the Repub- Recent Democratic wins
revered by the right for their banking and paid advertis- Many opposed his candi- lican tax overhaul. He said, in Alabama and Virginia,
short- and long-term efforts ing. Despite the extraordi- dacy before the 2016 elec- however, that Trump’s be- backed by Trump’s low ap-
to reshape American poli- nary investment, the men tion. The Kochs refused to havior “doesn’t help” his proval ratings, suggest the
tics and culture. and women who filled the endorse Trump, fearing party promote the benefits GOP is in trouble.q