Last week, the Kochs effectively admitted what we’ve argued for years: their supposedly non-partisan “constituency groups” are in reality fronts for promoting the brothers’ selfish agenda and buying off their puppet politicians.
By announcing the consolidation of the groups under the Americans for Prosperity banner, the Kochs are conceding that the LIBRE Initiative, Concerned Veterans for America, and Generation Opportunity, have always been partisan shams, despite the organizations’ persistent claims to the contrary.

The reshuffling won’t take place until after the election. In the meantime, the Kochs are using their “non-partisan” groups to funnel millions to their favorite puppets — most recently, in Florida on behalf of Marco Rubio. But it isn’t just Florida; Americans for Prosperity and Koch front groups are ramping up their ground game investments to boost Donald Trump and down-ballot Republicans across the country, from Pennsylvania to Nevada.

American Bridge 21st Century Vice President Eddie Value issued the following statement on the Koch Network’s front group consolidation:

“We’ve always said the Koch front groups were expendable. These ‘constituency groups’ that the Kochs set up only serve one purpose, and that is to allow them to spend tens of millions of dollars to deceive Latinos, veterans, and young people to organize them against their own self-interests for the benefit of the billionaires’ agenda.”
Background:

KOCHS BETRAY FRONT GROUPS’ POLITICAL PURPOSING

The Koch Network’s Consolidation

The Koch Network Planned To Merge All Their Groups Into Americans For Prosperity

The Washington Post Reported That The Koch Network Planned To Merge “All” Their “Conservative Advocacy Groups” Into Americans For Prosperity. According to The Washington Post, “Billionaire Charles Koch is consolidating the array of conservative advocacy groups financed by his donor network, merging all the organizations into the main political arm, Americans for Prosperity, officials announced Friday.” [Washington Post, 9/16/16]

Koch Network Leaders Said The Merge Was Intended To Make The Groups More Efficient And Coordinated For The Networked Increasing Focus On Organizing.According to The Washington Post, “Billionaire Charles Koch is consolidating the array of conservative advocacy groups financed by his donor network, merging all the organizations into the main political arm, Americans for Prosperity, officials announced Friday. Network leaders cast the surprising move as a way to operate more efficiently and better coordinate their organizing reach on the ground, which has increasingly become the focus of the operation.” [Washington Post, 9/16/16]

The Merger Was Scheduled To Begin After The 2016 Election And Be Completed By Inauguration Day 2017

The Koch Network’s Merger Was Planned To Begin After The 2016 Elections. According to a post by The Hill national political reporter Jonathan Swan for The Hill’s Ballot Box blog, “The conservative network led by billionaires Charles and David Koch plans to dramatically expand its long-term targeting of veterans, young people and Hispanics. […] To execute the expansion, which will begin after the elections, the Kochs will exploit the fact that their biggest grassroots group, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), is already in 35 states.” [TheHill.com/Blogs/Ballot-Box, 9/16/16]

The Hill National Political Reporter Jonathan Swan Reported That “Nothing” Would Change For The Koch Network Before Election Day 2016. According to a post by The Hill national political reporter Jonathan Swan for The Hill’s Ballot Box blog, “Nothing will change for the Kochs, however, between now and Election Day. They won’t spend a penny on the presidential race, given their policy disagreements with GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, though their Senate turnout efforts may help the top of the ticket.” [TheHill.com/Blogs/Ballot-Box,9/16/16]

The Merger Was Planned To Be In Effect By Inauguration Day 2017. According to NBC News, “The merge will go into effect after Election Day but be in place by the inauguration of a new president in January.” [NBC News, 9/16/16]

A Koch Network Official Said The Network Aimed To Be In A Strong Position To Impact The 2018 Midterm Elections

A Koch Network Official Told NBC News That The Networked Aimed To Be In A Strong Position To Impact The 2018 Midterm Elections. According to NBC News, “The Koch-backed network is making changes to their organization to ensure their weight and influence is felt beyond the 2016 election, regardless of who wins the White House. The organization is working to ensure they have a head start in policy battles they expect in 2017 and to be in a strong position to impact the 2018 midterm elections, according to an official at the organization.” [NBC News, 9/16/16]

AFP Said That The Merger Facilitated A “Doubling Down” On Grassroots Activities

AFP Regional Director Mark Lucas: The Merger Represented The Koch Network “Doubling Down On Grassroots Activity And Expanding Our Volunteer Army.” According to a Facebook comment by AFP regional director Mark Lucas, “I’m excited about this merger. The Koch network is doubling down on grassroots activity and expanding our volunteer army!” [Mark Lucas – Facebook, 9/18/16]

AFP Spokesperson Levi Russell On The Announcement That CVA, GenOpp And LIBRE Would Become A Part Of AFP: “We’ve Always Said This Is A Long-Term Fight. The Biggest Impact We Are Going To Have Is On The State And Local Level, And We’ll Let That Drive What Happens In Washington.” According to USA Today, “The political network controlled by billionaires Charles and David Koch is reorganizing its sprawling grassroots operation as it readies itself for post-election battles over the direction of the conservative movement. Three smaller groups in the network — Concerned Veterans for America, Generation Opportunity and LIBRE Initiative — now will become part of the Koch’s largest field group, Americans for Prosperity, network spokesman James Davis said Friday. Davis said the move will help the smaller organizations “rapidly expand” into the 35 states where Americans for Prosperity now operates. The organizations each were established to spread the Koch’s free-market message to specific demographic groups. Generation Opportunity, for instance, courts Millennials, while LIBRE has sought to win over Hispanic voters by offering drivers’ license classes and tax preparation in crucial battleground states, such as Nevada and Florida. […] ‘We’ve always said this [is] a long-term fight,’ said Levi Russell, a spokesman for Americans with Prosperity. ‘The biggest impact we are going to have is on the state and local level, and we’ll let that drive what happens in Washington.’” [USA Today, 9/16/16]

The Merger Meant Each Of The Kochs Issue Groups Would Have A Presence In AFP’s 35 Chapter States

Washington Post: The Merger Of LIBRE, CVA And GenOpp Into AFP Meant “Each Of The Groups Will Have A Presence In AFP’s 35 Chapter States.” According to the Washington Post, “Billionaire Charles Koch is consolidating the array of conservative advocacy groups financed by his donor network, merging all the organizations into the main political arm, Americans for Prosperity, officials announced Friday. […] Holden said he did not anticipate layoffs as part of the changed structure, which he said would allow the groups to better target different constituencies and avoid duplicating efforts. The changed structure, which will not be finalized until later this year or early next year, will mean that each of the groups will have a presence in AFP’s 35 chapter states. Luke Hilgemann, AFP’s chief executive, will oversee the expanded organization.” [Washington Post, 9/16/16]

CVA

Concerned Veterans For America Had Offices In 16 States. According to the Hill, “Currently, the three Koch groups — Concerned Veterans for America, Generation Opportunity, and the Libre Initiative — have offices in 16, four and 10 states respectively, according to Davis.” [The Hill, 9/16/16]

The Koch Network Announced That After The Expansion, Concerned Veterans For America Will Be In 36 States. According to the Hill, “Following these operational changes, Concerned Veterans for America and Libre will be in 36 states because they are the only two Koch groups currently in New Mexico. AFP, and Generation Opportunity might end up joining them in New Mexico, Davis said.” [The Hill, 9/16/16]

Concerned Veterans For America Vice President of Policy and Communications Dan Caldwell On GenOpp, LIBRE, CVA, And AFP’s Merger: “This Doubles Concerned Vets Reach. Opponents Of VA Accountability Are Going To Have To Deal With A Bigger Army Now.” According to a tweet from Concerned Veterans for America Vice President of Policy and Communications Dan Caldwell, “[STEVEN CRUZ] Today, freedom won! @LIBREinitiative, @AFPhq, @GenOpp & @ConcernedVets merge to advance prosperity in 35 states.twitter.com/carrasquillo/s… [DAN CALDWELL] This doubles @ConcernedVets reach. Opponents of #VAAccountability are going to have to deal with a bigger army now.” [Dan Caldwell – Twitter, 9/18/16]

GenOpp

GenOpp Had Offices In 4 States. According to the Hill, “Currently, the three Koch groups — Concerned Veterans for America, Generation Opportunity, and the Libre Initiative — have offices in 16, four and 10 states respectively, according to Davis.” [The Hill, 9/16/16]

The Koch Network Announced That After The Expansion, GenOpp Could Be In As Many As 36 States As They Might Join CVA And LIBRE In New Mexico. According to the Hill, “Following these operational changes, Concerned Veterans for America and Libre will be in 36 states because they are the only two Koch groups currently in New Mexico. AFP, and Generation Opportunity might end up joining them in New Mexico, Davis said.” [The Hill,9/16/16]

LIBRE

The LIBRE Initiative Planned To Have A Presence In AFP’s 35 Chapter States. According to The Washington Post, “The leaders of the LIBRE Initiative, Concerned Veterans for America and Generation Opportunity are all expected to remain in place, but will be running their organizations as branded projects under the AFP banner. […] The changed structure, which will not be finalized until later this year or early next year, will mean that each of the groups will have a presence in AFP’s 35 chapter states.” [Washington Post, 9/16/16]

The Hill National Political Reporter Jonathan Swan Reported That LIBRE Would “Initially” Move Into AFP Offices. According to a post by The Hill national political reporter Jonathan Swan for The Hill’s Ballot Box blog, “Currently, the three Koch groups — Concerned Veterans for America, Generation Opportunity, and the Libre Initiative — have offices in 16, four and 10 states respectively, according to Davis. To execute the expansion, which will begin after the elections, the Kochs will exploit the fact that their biggest grassroots group, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), is already in 35 states. The other groups will keep their names and move into AFP offices initially.” [TheHill.com/Blogs/Ballot-Box,9/16/16]
Following The Planned Koch Network Merger, The LIBRE Initiative Would Be Present In 36 States, Since AFP Was Not Active In New Mexico. According to a post by The Hill national political reporter Jonathan Swan for The Hill’s Ballot Box blog, “Following these operational changes, Concerned Veterans for America and Libre will be in 36 states because they are the only two Koch groups currently in New Mexico. AFP, and Generation Opportunity might end up joining them in New Mexico, Davis said.” [TheHill.com/Blogs/Ballot-Box,9/16/16]

AFP Considered Expanding Into New Mexico Where CVA And LIBRE Were Active

Koch Network Spokesman James Davis: AFP Might Expand To New Mexico, Where CVA And LIBRE Were Already Active. According to The Hill, “Following these operational changes, Concerned Veterans for America and Libre will be in 36 states because they are the only two Koch groups currently in New Mexico. AFP, and Generation Opportunity might end up joining them in New Mexico, [network spokesman James] Davis said. ‘We’re looking ahead to 2017,’ he added. ‘And these changes will put us in a position to lead on policy when, no matter what the outcome of the election, the country will be looking for leadership.’” [The Hill, 9/16/16]

AFP Said That The Network May Add To Their 1,200 Field Staff

Koch Network Spokesperson James Davis Said That The Koch Network May Add To Its 1,200 Field Staff During The Merger, But That It Was Too Early To Estimate. According to a post by The Hill national political reporter Jonathan Swan for The Hill’s Ballot Box blog, “To execute the expansion, which will begin after the elections, the Kochs will exploit the fact that their biggest grassroots group, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), is already in 35 states. The other groups will keep their names and move into AFP offices initially. In so doing, the network could add to its 1,200 field staff, but Davis said it’s too early to estimate cost, staff or office changes.” [TheHill.com/Blogs/Ballot-Box, 9/16/16]

The Koch Network Said Concerned Veterans For America’s Brand Will Continue To Exist But Their Leaders Will Join AFP’s Leadership Team To Put Them In A Place To Lead On Policy In 2017.According to Politico, “While the brands will continue to exist, their leaders will join AFP’s leadership team. ‘These changes will put us in place to lead on policy in 2017, no matter the outcome of the election,’ said Koch network spokesman James Davis.” [Politico, 9/19/16]
The Koch Network Said GenOpp’s Brand Will Continue To Exist But Their Leaders Will Join AFP’s Leadership Team To Put Them In A Place To Lead On Policy In 2017.According to Politico, “While the brands will continue to exist, their leaders will join AFP’s leadership team. ‘These changes will put us in place to lead on policy in 2017, no matter the outcome of the election,’ said Koch network spokesman James Davis.” [Politico, 9/19/16]

AFP CEO Luke Hilgemann Was To Oversee The Expanded Organization

Washington Post: AFP CEO Luke Hilgemann Would Oversee The Expanded Organization. According to the Washington Post, “Billionaire Charles Koch is consolidating the array of conservative advocacy groups financed by his donor network, merging all the organizations into the main political arm, Americans for Prosperity, officials announced Friday. […] Holden said he did not anticipate layoffs as part of the changed structure, which he said would allow the groups to better target different constituencies and avoid duplicating efforts. The changed structure, which will not be finalized until later this year or early next year, will mean that each of the groups will have a presence in AFP’s 35 chapter states. Luke Hilgemann, AFP’s chief executive, will oversee the expanded organization.” [Washington Post, 9/16/16]