Americans for Prosperity sets up shop in Minnesota
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 11:54 am
- 11 Comments
Americans for Prosperity, a Koch brothers-funded political group, announced on Tuesday that it has formed a chapter in Minnesota. The Kochs, along with their state-based chapters of AFP, have been a major supporter of the tea party movement.
Minnesota’s new AFP chapter will be run by John Cooney, a political consultant who worked as political director for former U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, a moderate Republican representing the western Twin Cities suburbs.
“Minnesota is in desperate need of reforms which was clearly exemplified by our government’s shutdown,” Cooney said in a statement. “Excessive government spending, Governor Dayton’s push to increase taxes among all income levels, and a growing unemployment rate of almost 8 percent are just a few of the major threats to hard working Minnesotans.
“I will work hard to ensure Minnesotans are in-the-know about key issues affecting their family, paycheck, and homes. It is time to bring economic growth and individual prosperity back to the North Star State.”
Cooney also served as chief of staff to Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, and worked on the campaign of Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Ill. Cooney was an unsuccessful candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner in 2008.
AFP and the Koch brothers have become somewhat of bogeymen for progressive activists; allegations of voter suppression in Wisconsin’s special elections earlier this month helped fuel that characterization.
Aside from political interest in the state, the Koch brothers own the state’s largest oil refinery in Rosemouth just south of the Twin Cities.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter11 Comments
Comment posted August 31, 2011 @ 12:41 pm
Damn, the Tea Party cancer is in metastasis; not the diagnosis MN politics needs.
Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN
Comment posted August 31, 2011 @ 12:43 pm
Oh goodie. Just what we need, rich people telling us how much better off we’ll all be if only they were richer.
Comment posted August 31, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
“Governor Dayton’s push to increase taxes among all income levels,”
Pure BS, pure BS!!
If they are so arrogant as to start out with such a huge lie, God only knows what else they are going to lie about. I would say the sky’s the limit.
Comment posted August 31, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
The Koch Brothers remind me of Mr. Potter in the film, ” It’s A Wonderful Life”—scooping up armfuls of property and politicians wherever they go and trying to make life miserable for the rest of the cowering citizens.
Comment posted August 31, 2011 @ 4:07 pm
They need to be close to the Republican legislators to give them their orders.
Thye need to be in the state to get the right propaganda-laden ads on the air as bills come up for voting – like they did in WI.
Newspapers and TV stations had better hire more fact-checkers. They will be busy.
Comment posted August 31, 2011 @ 9:30 pm
Welcome to Minnesota, Scumbags.
I look forward to making your acquaintance, Mr. Cooney.
Comment posted September 1, 2011 @ 1:24 am
Americans for prosperity of corporations is setting up in MN. They must be after AL FRANKEN!! They already have the people tolerating the likes of Michele Bachmann, so their coming to town with their propaganda poison: love those corps, hate those laborers will fit right in. WORKFORCE REBELLION is in store or CORPORATE RULE. Which is it that americans want: THE US of America: imperfect democrayc or the tidy and neatly run TPARTY NATION?? Which shall it be??
Comment posted September 1, 2011 @ 10:14 am
What spin. Gov. dayton supports raising taxes on the top 2%, not all income brakets. That top 2% takes in over 90% of the nations wealth, yet doesnt want to pay the same tax rate you and I pay.
AFP is also basically the Constitution Party. Read up on it for an eye-opener.
Comment posted September 1, 2011 @ 10:43 am
What’s the deal with these staffers (Cooney) bopping from government (taxpayer paid) jobs to advocate jobs? They are just hired guns either way.
Comment posted September 1, 2011 @ 11:09 am
Heritage Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, Citizens United, Republican Party, refinery spills, pipeline leaks, stealing oil from the Native Americans, defamation of characters, anarchy; this is the baggage they have brought along.
Comment posted September 1, 2011 @ 11:00 pm
I think it’s great to have some competition in the MN political arena. It’s okay To have beliefs different than “needing government to support and guide you in many facets of life.” Hard work and determination is what this country was founded on. Stop wanting punish the over achievers whenever our government spends more money than what should be reasonably budgeted.
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