Koch-backed nonprofit raised $44 million in 2013
Americans for Prosperity, the conservative nonprofit backed by billionaires Charles and David Koch, raised more than $44 million in 2013 and spent nearly $35 million during the same period — both records for a non-election year for the group — according to a Center for Public Integrity review of recently filed tax documents.
By contrast, in 2011, the group — which ranks among the most active political players that does not disclose its donors — raised about $26 million and spent about $18 million.
Related: Americans for Prosperity's annual fundraising
Founded in 2004, Americans for Prosperity is organized as a “social welfare” nonprofit under the U.S. tax code. It has emerged as one of the leading critics of President Barack Obama and his policies — particularly his “ObamaCare” health care reform law.
In 2013, Americans for Prosperity spent nearly $22 million on “print, radio and television ads to increase their activist base and bring their mission to the public,” according to audited financial documents filed with the state of Massachusetts.
Related: GOP’s Senate hopes energized by Koch network ad blitz
Press releases indicate that much of this sum was spent on ads calling attention to lawmakers’ stances on ObamaCare, which the group calls “disastrous.”
Among those targeted in the fall of 2013: embattled Democratic Sens. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Kay Hagan, D-N.C. and Mary Landrieu, D-La. All ranked among the most vulnerable incumbents.
Related: Top 10 non-party groups airing ads in Senate races
On Nov. 4, Hagan lost her re-election bid to Republican Thom Tillis by less than 2 percentage points. Begich, meanwhile, appears to have been ousted by Republican Dan Sullivan. And Landrieu is headed to a Dec. 6 runoff election against Republican Bill Cassidy.
In 2013, Americans for Prosperity also spent nearly $9 million supporting its state chapters, financial documents indicate. Chapters in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia ranked highest, all receiving between $1 million and $1.4 million.
Related: Koch-backed nonprofit spent record cash in 2012
The nonprofit also contributed $200,000 to the Enterprise Freedom Action Committee, a Washington, D.C.-based social welfare nonprofit focused on overhauling health care regulations that also does business under the name Committee to Rethink Reform.
There’s more to this story. Click here to read the rest at the Center for Public Integrity.
This story is part of Primary Source. Primary Source keeps you up-to-date on developments in the post-Citizens United world of money in politics. Click here to read more stories in this blog.
Related stories
Copyright 2014 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
