The Koch brothers plan to spend $200 million on elections in 2012 to buy a majority for their anti-tax, anti-regulation, anti-poor political agenda.

They’ve long been up and running in Arkansas, with a front group, Americans for Prosperity, busily working in effective coordination with the Arkansas Republican Party to win a majority in the Arkansas legislature and sweep congressional elections.

Advertisement

The Kochs and like-minded wealthy Republicans demonstrated what a fairly modest sum can achieve in Arkansas legislative elections in 2010. With $10,000, a candidate in rural Arkansas with a little voter ID work and some hot-button direct mail (Baby Killer Democrats! The Queers are Taking Over! Clean air rules will take your jobs!) can do wonders, particularly against a less-sophisticated good old boy riding his name recognition and little else. That seat representing the Yellville area (PETA is coming!) is worth exactly as much as a seat for a liberal warren of Fayetteville or Little Rock and much cheaper to purchase.

SPEAKING OF KOCHS: Why do they hate environmental regulation so much. Well, perhaps a look at their Georgia-Pacific operation would be instructive. Reporting here on a cancer cluster in the neighborhood, including a mention of the high risk of exposure to toxins experienced by Crossett school kids.

Advertisement

Help to Keep Great Journalism Alive in Arkansas

Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We've been battling powerful forces for 50 years through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing and supporting our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage. Together, we can continue to hold the powerful accountable and bring important stories to light. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community.

Previous article VIDEO: Occupy LR planning meeting, part 2 Next article What is a MOINK?