Koch Industries dismissed accusations it has endorsed the
Republican tactic of linking language to defund ObamaCare to government
spending bills.
“Koch has not taken a position on the legislative tactic
of tying the continuing resolution to defunding ObamaCare nor have we
lobbied on legislative provisions defunding ObamaCare,” Philip Ellender,
Koch’s government and public affairs president, wrote in a letter to
Senate lawmakers Wednesday.
Koch Industries is a
conglomerate of companies including Dixie Cups, Lycra and Brawny paper
towels — all owned by the billionaire Koch brothers.
Charles and David Koch, a recent New York Times report
says, have been funneling money into the GOP’s effort to destroy
President Obama’s healthcare law. They have been major backers of the
Tea Party movement, which has led the push to defund ObamaCare in
Congress.
Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, a group
linked to the Koch brothers, has paid more than $200 million to groups
working to defund the law, the report says. But it also adds the group
hasn’t promoted the fight itself.
“By
shutting down the government — and that is what has happened — we are
satisfying the Koch brothers and Ed Meese, but millions of people in
America are suffering,” Reid said.
Those comments, however, are misleading, Ellender wrote to senators.
“Indeed,
there was false information presented about Koch on the Senate floor by
Senate Majority Leader Reid, who claimed yesterday that Koch was behind
the shutdown of the federal government in an effort to defund the
Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare.”
Koch has only
focused on educating the public about reducing the government’s debt,
Ellender added. He urged senators in his letter to reduce government
spending so that it no longer becomes necessary to constantly raise the
debt ceiling.
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