The ACA isn't perfect, but it demonstrated the government's ability to make concrete improvements in people's lives. That is enough to make it a target for Koch attacks, along with successful government programs like Social Security and Medicare.
The Koch Brothers love Paul Ryan nearly as much as they hate government. A 2011 internal email between Wisconsin Americans for Prosperity staff and Tim Phillips, uncovered in the course of an investigation into whether or not Scott Walker was illegally coordinating with dark money groups, put it bluntly:
"... We have one of the brightest and strongest minds in America in Paul Ryan. A poll just released today shows him with an approval rating at 38 percent in his district. While he is doing the heavy lifting for our cause in Washington, we can't let him slip back home. Supporting him through educational efforts across the state will help him and our two vulnerable freshmen members of Congress..."
An interesting memo from an organization that has declared to the IRS that it does not engage in campaigns and elections. The use of the word "educational" doesn't change the fact that this paragraph appears to say that a tax-exempt educational organization is working to re-elect three members of Congress, including Ryan.
The Koch Brothers and their allies are determined to use their billions to permanently change the political landscape. As a Koch operative told the New York Times in 2014,
"We're focused on optimizing our efforts ... Being in the field and testing during the slower periods, and in smaller areas, allows you to refine strategy and tactics so that you can make the larger investments with confidence."
Another Koch official added, "What we took from studying it was that we have to have a bigger, more permanent infrastructure on the ground in these states, and this takes time."
It also takes money -- lots of money. The Kochs are happy to throw their billions behind politicians like Paul Ryan. They're even happier when they can get a tax break for it.
As for Ryan, one thing is clear: He's determined to raise as much money as possible to fuel his own rise, and his party's, no matter how many people's health may suffer in the process.
CMD's Mary Bottari contributed to this article.
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