Generation Opportunity

possibly neglected, just gets cranked up for elections? important as incubator?<div>=</div><div>2/18</div><div>
</div><div>ith midterm elections on the horizon and congressional majorities up for grabs, outside groups have jumped at the opportunity to control messaging on tax reform — the one piece of major legislation passed by Congress in 2017.Corry Bliss, executive director of conservative group <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000060058" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">American Action Network</a> (AAN), said selling the landmark legislation to voters should be Republicans’ top priority in the coming months.“Every member of the Republican Party should be spending all of their time selling the tax plan,” Bliss told <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">The Washington Post</a>. “Everything else is a waste of time and money.”Conservative groups have done their best to corner the market on tax messaging based on pure volume and size of expenditures, but liberal groups too have asserted themselves since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s enactment in late December.On Jan. 2, the liberal coalition Tax March released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqpxHBrTSjyoYbXHD9mLag/videos" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">TV ads</a> in 23 Republican-held congressional districts — 14 of which Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 — admonishing representatives for their support of a bill they claim “raises taxes on 36 million middle class families.” Tax March has promised to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/20/democrats-ready-year-long-assault-against-tax-cut-package/?utm_term=.17cb525c530f" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">double</a> its spending from last year to $10 million on the issue in 2018 as a part of its Not One Penny campaign.Not to be outdone, AAN launched its own ads the next day in 23 districts, thanking Republican representatives who voted for the bill, which ads published on their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AmericanActNet/videos" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">YouTube page</a> claim “will save a typical family more than $2,000.” AAN, which pumped millions of dollars into the bill’s passage, plans to spend another <a href="https://americanactionnetwork.org/press/american-action-network-continues-tax-reform-blitz-releases-1-million-digital-campaign/" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">$10 million</a> defending it.Republican megadonors Charles and David Koch are promising the financial support of their powerful political machine. Four Koch-funded groups —<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00564765" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;"> Freedom Partners</a>, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000024046" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Americans for Prosperity</a>, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C90016239&cycle=2016" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">The Libre Initiative</a>, and General Opportunity — have already announced their intentions.According to a <a href="https://freedompartners.org/latest-news/look-back-2017-look-forward-2018/" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">release</a> on the Freedom Partners website, the four groups “will be participating in a full scale nationwide education campaign” to “demonstrate the tremendous benefits of pro-growth tax reform and show how this plan is directly helping Americans improve their lives.”The Kochs have promised to spend up to $400 million on the looming midterm election, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/27/koch-brothers-network-to-spend-400-million-in-midterm-election-cycle.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">CNBC reported</a> recently. That’s roughly 60 percent more than they said they dedicated to the 2016 cycle when they focused on down-ballot races instead of throwing their support behind Donald Trump.The brothers, whose organizations spent $20 million in support of the tax bill’s passage last year, announced at a recent donor summit that they will allocate another $20 million to promote its perceived benefits to an electorate that remains skeptical.According to the <a href="http://www.people-press.org/2018/01/24/public-has-mixed-expectations-for-new-tax-law/" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">results</a> of a Pew Research survey released last week, just 37 percent of Americans approve of the tax bill compared to 46 percent who disapprove. It also found that 29 percent of adults believe the overhaul will have “mostly positive” effects on themselves and their families in the coming years compared to 27 percent who anticipate “mostly negative” effects.In a number of critical districts, it’s not just middle class voters who are concerned with the implications of the overhaul. Wealthier households in more affluent districts will be hit with the downsizing of key tax breaks such as the mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions (SALT).Graeme Boushey, political science professor at the University of California Irvine in the state’s 45th District, said this poses an interesting dilemma for some Republicans.“For many Republican voters, this has been an objective — something they’ve desired for a very long time,” Boushey said. “But it’s intermingled with the concern that they will be personally injured by the bill.”Republican congresswoman Mimi Waters, who represents the 45th District, voted in favor of the bill. Boushey said that, in defending Waters’s vote, GOP tax messaging in the district will have to appeal to voters’ belief that the overhaul will benefit the country at large.According to the Pew survey, 35 percent of adults expect the overhaul to have “mostly positive” effects on the country at large compared to 40 percent who anticipate “mostly negative” effects.Landmark legislation is oftentimes mired by unfavorable public perceptions. The Affordable Care Act, which passed in 2010, was largely <a href="https://www.kff.org/interactive/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-the-publics-views-on-the-aca/#?response=Favorable--Unfavorable&aRange=all" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">unpopular</a> during President Obama’s tenure. It has enjoyed its highest levels of support only since Obama left office, in the wake of Republican attempts to repeal it.Boushey said there are striking political parallels between the passage of the Affordable Care Act  — commonly known as Obamacare — and the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He cited the pressure placed on both parties to enact landmark legislation on ideological principles when in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.“This is very similar to the Democrats’ ACA vote,” Boushey said. “Once in 40 years, you get a chance with unified government to enact a sacred cow for the party — pass tax reform here. I think for some of these representatives, there’s a consequences-be-damned attitude to it, even if they know it’s going to cost them in their election.”Republicans <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2014/05/20/314366027/study-obamacare-buried-by-avalanche-of-negative-ads" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">drastically outspent</a> Democrats on healthcare messaging after the passage of Obamacare — using it as a valuable piece of political propaganda even in 2016 when many congressional leaders were elected on promises of repeal and replace. Sensing the potential for a Democratic wave election this year that could threaten congressional majorities, Republicans cannot afford to let the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act follow the same trajectory.With millions being poured into TV ads, some groups are resorting to more out-of-the-box methods of messaging. The <a href="https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/press_releases/job-creators-network-launches-multi-million-dollar-campaign-supporting-tax-cuts-now/" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1e+06px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Job Creators Network</a> is embarking on a nationwide bus tour to sing the praises of the bill, and Democratic leaders are hosting teach-ins to convey its perceived pitfalls to constituents.</div><div></div> ===
<span style="font-size:16px;font-family:'Times New Roman';color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;" id="docs-internal-guid-2f92ea48-b3cc-714a-c70b-a343bd7dc8ee">McConnell hired policy chief, koch lobbyist<div class="entry-content">

     
     <p><span style="color: #000000;">Mitch McConnell owes the Kochs big

time. The Kochs bought McConnell a slew of GOP Senate seats in the 2014

midterms and handed him his post as Senate Majority Leader. In

addition, Koch Industries gave <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000186" target="blank">over $10,000</a> to buoy McConnell in his own Senate battle. Now McConnell is hiring a Koch crony to push the Koch agenda through Congress. <a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/05/18/mitch-mcconnells-policy-chief-previously-lobbied-koch-industries/" target="blank">McConnell has hired</a><a href="https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/05/18/mitch-mcconnells-policy-chief-previously-lobbied-koch-industries/" target="_blank"> Hazen Marshall</a>, a former lobbyist on behalf of Koch Industries, to serve as his new policy director.

Koch Industries spent a hefty <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/client_reports.php?id=D000000186&year=2014" target="_blank">$13 million</a> on

influencing the federal government last year. Marshall previously

served as partner of the Nickles Group where he worked on behalf of Koch

Industries. There, he lobbied on the Kochs’ pet issues,

including against the Wind Production Tax Credit. The wind PTC has been

crucial to the growth of the wind energy industry as it has boomed in

recent years, providing more affordable energy, supporting thousands of

new jobs, and protecting our environment. But self-interested fossil

fuel titans like the Koch brothers are lobbying to crush the wind

industry. The Kochs will stop at nothing to stave off threats to their

petrochemical empire.

Since the midterms, Koch lieutenants have been dispatched to work in

offices across Capitol Hill — demonstrating the deep ties between

Koch-world and the GOP. <a href="http://realkochfacts.com/koch-crony-joni-hires-koch-crony-lisa-goeas-as-her-chief-of-staff/" target="blank">Joni Ernst</a> hired her chief of staff from the Koch-backed National Federation of Independent Small Business, <a href="http://realkochfacts.com/two-more-republicans-in-congress-give-key-posts-to-koch-cronies/" target="blank">Jim Inhofe</a> tapped his Environment and Public Works Committee press secretary from the Koch-funded Generation Opportunity, and <a href="http://realkochfacts.com/would-you-believe-tom-cottons-spokesman-is-going-to-work-for-the-kochs/" target="_blank">Tom Cotton’s</a> former

spokesman is the new director for Americans for Prosperity-Arkansas.

It’s getting harder and harder to separate the Koch shills from the GOP.

       </div><h3 class="r"><a href="https://theintercept.com/2015/05/18/mitch-mcconnells-policy-chief-previously-lobbied-koch-industries/">Mitch McConnell's Policy Chief Previously Lobbied for Koch Industries</a></h3><div class="s"><div><div class="f kv _SWb" style="white-space:nowrap"><cite class="_Rm">https://theintercept.com/.../mitch-<b>mcconnells</b>-<b>policy</b>-<b>chief</b>-previously-lobbied-<b>koch</b>-in...</cite></div></div></div><div class="g"><div class="rc" data-hveid="29"><div class="s"><div><span class="st"><span class="f">May 18, 2015 - </span>Mitch <em>McConnell</em>, R-Ky., appointed Hazen Marshall, a <em>lobbyist</em> for <em>Koch</em> Industries<wbr />, as his new <em>policy chief</em>. Marshall, whose <em>lobbying</em>&nbsp;...</span></div></div></div></div><div class="g"><div class="rc" data-hveid="36"><h3 class="r"><a href="http://realkochfacts.com/mcconnell-names-koch-shill-to-key-senate-post/">McConnell Names Koch Shill to Key Senate Post | Real Koch Facts</a></h3><div class="s"><div><div class="f kv _SWb" style="white-space:nowrap"><cite class="_Rm">real<b>koch</b>facts.com/<b>mcconnell</b>-names-<b>koch</b>-shill-to-key-senate-post/</cite></div></div></div></div></div><span class="st"><span class="f">May 20, 2015 - </span><em>McConnell</em> has <em>hired</em> Hazen Marshall, a former <em>lobbyist</em> on behalf of <em>Koch</em> Industries, to serve as his new <em>policy</em> director. ... Joni Ernst <em>hired</em> her <em>chief</em> of staff from the <em>Koch</em>-backed National Federation of Independent Small&nbsp;...</span><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span id="docs-internal-guid-371fb379-b430-0d60-b1b9-c89717c490d2"><span style="font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">===</span></span></font></p><p><strong><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman">==<br /></font></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman">lee fang</font></span></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">gen opportunity vs obamacare&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">50 mil$ vs aca since 2009; tells young ppl they will be healthier if they don't sign up (scary gyno ads)</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); cursor: pointer; display: block; padding: 7px 18px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3A6vXYuTgU" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3A6vXYuTgU</a></span></p><p><strong><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Times New Roman">==</font></span></strong><br/>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity" style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Generation Opportunity</a> (Gen Opp), a "nonpartisan" youth group funded by the Koch brothers "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Freedom_Partners" style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Freedom Partners</a>" conduit, is backing one of the Koch's favorite politicians and thanking him for his support for a Koch-approved ALEC model bill.<div class="section field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><div class="field-items" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Arlington, Virginia, astroturf group recently asked Wisconsinites to sign a petition thanking Governor Scott Walker for signing "The CASE for Jobs Act." The tweets signal that the group is trying to capture names in Wisconsin perhaps for use in the election cycle. As <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/07/12524/koch-youth-group-generation-opportunity-weighs-senate-races" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">CMD previously reported</a>, the group has been spending big money in federal races for the U.S. Senate.The tweets from @GenOppWI went viral <a href="https://twitter.com/GenOppWI/status/488847595364941824" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">on Twitter</a>, but not for the reasons the group would have hoped. Rather, Wisconsinites reacted viscerally to the call to thank Wisconsin's governor for making progress on jobs."@GenOppWI Is this a joke?" was one of the milder and more common responses pouring into the Gen Opp account, prompting one Walker supporter to lament, "I can't believe the negative replies."<h2 style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.25;">Wisconsinites Aren't Buying Gen Opp Spin on Jobs</h2>Gen Opp signaled its support for Walker by thanking him "for giving our generation an opportunity to build our own future." How are Wisconsin youth building their future? Apparently by "crowdfunding" capital.Just a few months before the election, Gen Opp has begun peddling a <a href="https://freethefuture.org/petition/the-case-for-jobs-act/" target="blank" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">petition</a> to thank Walker for signing the <a href="https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/related/lcactmemo/act052.pdf" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">CASE for Jobs Act</a>, which he signed into law eight months ago. The bill in question was co-authored by Wisconsin ALEC members Rep. David Craig, Rep. Chad Weininger, and State Senator Leah Vukmir. Vukmir, an ALEC Board Member, was <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/06/12140/cmd-files-open-records-suit-against-alec-board-member-sen-leah-vukmir" target="blank" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">sued</a> by the Center for Media and Democracy for failure to respond to our open records requests. The state attorney general <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/03/12430/after-unprecedented-claim-legislative-immunity-vukmir-releases-alec-records-pays" target="blank" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">settled the case</a> with CMD in 2014, paying penalties and fees.Drafting documents obtained by CMD reveal that the CASE Act was modeled on a <a href="http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2013&BillID=h680" target="blank" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">North Carolina bill</a>, the "Jump-Start Our Business Start-Ups Act" (JOBS Act). It, too, was introduced by a passel of ALEC politicians, including Kelly Hastings, Tom Murry, and Tim Moffitt. So it's not surprising that the bill then moved to ALEC and became <a href="http://www.alec.org/model-legislation/local-investment-made-easy-lime-act/" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">ALEC's Local Investment Made Easy (LIME) Act</a>, which was on the ALEC agenda in Kansas City in April 2014. It was approved as a "model" by ALEC's board, which includes Koch Industries, on July 1, 2014. Under the bill businesses are granted exemptions from state securities law and allowed to raise as much as $1 million from investors without an audited financial statement and up to $2 million with an audit (what could go wrong?). In case that was not worrisome enough, the Wisconsin version lowers the threshold to be an accredited investor. The <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2013/10/10/wisconsin-crowdfunding-bill-raises.html?page=2" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Milwaukee Business Journal </a>raised concerns that the changes would create risk for unsophisticated investors.Although the bill passed long ago, Gen Opp is trotting it out again to foster the notion that Walker is busy on the jobs front. In June 2014, CMD did an <a href="http://host.madison.com/news/opinion/column/mary-bottari-only-actual-jobs-from-walker-s-wedc/article_d4f3f937-6e5b-5734-b08c-694431b18f06.html" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">analysis</a> that showed that the Wisconsin Economic Development Authority, Walker's flagship jobs agency which he chairs, had only created 5,800 jobs in the past three years. During the same period Wisconsin's WARN database indicates that 13,000 jobs were lost to plant closings and mass layoffs. Federal data puts Wisconsin in the 37th spot of all 50 states for new job creation and dead last among its Midwestern neighbors in job creation.But the facts haven't stopped the Koch spin machine. Koch's American's for Prosperity Group recently spent <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/05/12490/americans-prosperity-charity-pours-900k-walker-race" target="_blank" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">nearly $900,000</a> on another round of TV ads sticking to their old mantra regarding the Walker agenda -- "It's Working!" after spending millions on the same message during Walker's 2012 recall election. And, a Koch-controlled foundation helped underwrite ALEC's "Rich States, Poor States" report which <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/04/12447/reporters-guide-koch-funded-rich-states-poor-states-report-due-be-released-april" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">pumped up</a> Wisconsin's purported economic grade despite the state's actually dismal economic performance. In 2010, Koch Industries PAC contributed $43,000 to Walker's campaign directly.Wisconsinites who've had the misfortune of living through Walker's divisive and ineffective economic policies, were quick to respond to the Gen Opp spin with snark, facts and outrage, as can be seen below.<h2 style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.25;">Bankrolled by Billionaires</h2><a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/07/12524/koch-youth-group-generation-opportunity-weighs-senate-races" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">As PR Watch reported earlier this month</a>, Gen Opp launched a massive, nearly $2.3 million ad buy against Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Mark Udall (D-CO) – all vulnerable Democrats in tough reelection fights that could determine the control of the U.S. Senate in the next session. Its support for Walker shows it will now be weighing into state races, too.Where does Gen Opp get all this cash?In 2012, Gen Opp received $5 million from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Freedom_Partners" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Freedom Partners</a>, a key part of the Koch political apparatus which raised some $256 million for the 2012 election cycle from deep pocketed donors many of whom have donated <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Network#Donors_highlighted_at_Vail_summit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">a million dollars or more</a> to the Koch network in response to appeals from the Kochs at their donor retreats. It was almost a year after that election that tax filings first <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12247/breaking-new-list-dark-money-shell-game-groups-connected-kochs" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">revealed</a> the existence of Freedom Partners, which is <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12244/revealed-extensive-koch-links-new-right-wing-250-million-mega-fund" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">stocked with Koch operatives</a>, had <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12247/breaking-new-list-dark-money-shell-game-groups-connected-kochs" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">bankrolled</a> almost the entirety of the "grassroots" opposition to "Obamacare." Gen Opp also received over $2 million from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">TC4 Trust </a>another Koch-tied conduit in 2012.Stay tuned.It is early days for Gen Opp, and analysts anticipate they are likely to jump into more states where hot races are looming this fall.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; clear: both; line-height: 20px; background-image: url(http://www.progressive.org/sites/all/themes/tb_nex/images/bg-ico-categories.png); background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Section: <ul class="field-items" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="field-item even" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px !important;"><a href="http://www.progressive.org/section/news" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">News</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-field-topics field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; clear: both; line-height: 20px; background-image: url(http://www.progressive.org/sites/all/themes/tb_nex/images/bg-ico-categories.png); background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Topics: <ul class="field-items" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="field-item even" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px !important;"><a href="http://www.progressive.org/topics/alec-exposed" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">ALEC Exposed</a></li> <li class="field-item odd" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px !important;"><a href="http://www.progressive.org/topics/economy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Economy</a></li> <li class="field-item even" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px !important;"><a href="http://www.progressive.org/topics/politics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Politics</a></li></ul></div>- See more at: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/07/187794/shocker-koch-youth-group-backs-koch-politician-signing-koch-approved-alec-bill#sthash.4siBaxWs.dpuf===

<a href="http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/07/187765/koch-tied-youth-group-weighs-senate-races">http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/07/187765/koch-tied-youth-group-weighs-senate-races</a>

Generation Opportunity (Gen Opp), the "millennial" group behind the "creepy Uncle Sam" ads which attempted to scare America’s youth away from health care coverage, is weighing in on the fight for control of the U.S. Senate in a big way. The "nonpartisan" group, which has received almost all of its funding from two conduits tied to the billionaire Koch brothers, has dropped nearly $2.3 million on TV ads since mid-June. The ads, attacking Senators Kay Hagan (D-NC), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Mark Udall (D-CO), indicate that the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Front_groups" target="_blank" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">front group</a> is going to spend a lot of money in the fight for control of the Senate.

<h2 style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.25; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);">"Nonpartisan" Group Bashes Democrats</h2>

One slick ad, running in North Carolina and Colorado, depicts a young woman criticizing Hagan and Udall. After four years of college, "why is it harder than ever to start a career?" the actress laments. Rather than blaming the unacceptable youth unemployment rate on the big banks that crashed the economy, the young woman blames unspecified "massive spending bills that cripple [the] economy." The overall message -- "stop spending our generation’s future".

Another, even more generic ad, <a href="https://freethefuture.org/cyo/landrieu/" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">attacking Udall and Landrieu</a>, drops the characters portraying the Senators in a shopping cart slamming "Washington politicians" with "a spending problem." Gen Opp spent a total of $900,000 against Udall, $825,000 against Hagan, and $550,000 against Landrieu, bringing the ad buy to $2.275 million.

The ads are clumsy attempts to convince American youth that government spending is more of a threat to their future than the slow recovery or student debt, when the opposite -- more government spending on education and Pell grants, plus jobs programs for youth and adults would greatly improve their economic outlook.

<p style="border: 0px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);">In 2012, Gen Opp received $5 million from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Freedom_Partners" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Freedom Partners</a>, a key part of the Koch political apparatus which raised some $256 million for the 2012 election cycle from deep pocketed donors many of whom have donated <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Network#Donors_highlighted_at_Vail_summit" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">a million or more</a> to the Koch network. It was almost a year after the election that tax filings first <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12247/breaking-new-list-dark-money-shell-game-groups-connected-kochs" target="_blank" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">revealed</a> that Freedom Partners had bankrolled almost the entirety of the "grassroots" opposition to "Obamacare." The group also received over $2 million from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">TC4 Trust </a>another Koch-tied conduit in 2012.

Tim Phillips, the head of the Koch’s Americans for Prosperity group, tipped his hand when he told the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/us/politics/koch-group-seeks-lasting-voice-for-small-government.html?r=0" target="blank" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">New York Times</a> that Koch opposition to the Affordable Care Act was mere prelude to the looming showdown over climate change.

"We have a broader cautionary tale," said Phillips. "The president’s out there touting billions of dollars on climate change. We want Americans to think about what they promised with the last social welfare boondoggle and look at what the actual result is."

Polling <a href="http://www.lcv.org/issues/polling/recent-polling-on-youth.pdf" target="_blank" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">shows</a> that young people, both Republicans and Democrats, are hugely concerned about climate change and the future of the planet. Not only is climate change a big problem say 66 percent of youth, 80 percent want the President to take executive action to tackle it. 79 percent want to vote for politicians who share these views. Now Obama’s EPA is <a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/23594-climate-change-report-sets-the-table-for-new-emissions-rules" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">cracking down</a> on emissions from coal fired power plants. Team Koch knows that to continue to pollute the planet and reap huge rewards from fossil fuel industry, it has to convince young people to look the other way.

Are America’s youth buying what Gen Opp is peddling? Hard to say. Gen Opp has only 1,961 followers on Twitter. The group boasts millions of followers on Facebook, but <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-Revealed-18" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">it was caught</a> using a variety of deceits to swell its Facebook followers, including creating pages with generic names such as "Being American." After all, who doesn’t like Being American?

The astroturf youth group brings back fond memories of "<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/The_Can_Kicks_Back" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">The Can Kicks Back</a>," the front group bankrolled by Wall Street billionaire Pete Peterson’s Fix the Debt gang that thought a man in a tin can suit and grassroots road <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2014/02/12391/fix-debt%E2%80%99s-last-hurrumph" style=" border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">tours in a Mercedes van</a> (not kidding) would foment grassroots enthusiasm for austerity.

Will there be more mascots, road shows, wrapped tour buses, student chapters, and other fun gimmicks as Gen Opp reaches out to the masses? One can but hope.

<span style=" font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);">- See more at: http://www.progressive.org/news/2014/07/187765/koch-tied-youth-group-weighs-senate-races#sthash.MAsHdGQ2.dpuf

===

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity

Generation Opportunity (GenOp) is a conservative non-profit 501(c) 4 organization targeting young people based in Arlington, Virginia. On the group's website, they describe themselves as "a free-thinking, liberty-loving, national organization of young people promoting the best of Being American: opportunity, creativity and freedom."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-0">[1]</a>

<h2>Contents</h2>

[<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#" class="internal" id="togglelink">hide</a>] </div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Ties_to_the_Koch_Brothers">1 Ties to the Koch Brothers</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Strategic_Use_of_Social_Media">2 Strategic Use of Social Media</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Obamacare_Opt-Out_Campaign">3 Obamacare Opt-Out Campaign</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Advertisements">3.1 Advertisements</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#College_Campus_Campaign">3.2 College Campus Campaign</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Affiliated_Sites">4 Affiliated Sites</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Personnel">5 Personnel</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Staff">5.1 Staff</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Former_Staff">5.2 Former Staff</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#Contact_Information">6 Contact Information</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#References">7 References</a></li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>Ties to the Koch Brothers</h2>

As a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/501%28c%29%284%29" title="501(c)(4)">501(c)(4)</a> organization, Generation Opportunity is not required to disclose its donors.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-1">[2]</a> However, Generation Opportunity has been referred to by the New York Times as "a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_brothers" title="Koch brothers" class="mw-redirect">Koch</a>-financed group focusing on young voters," and by Mother Jones as "a Koch-backed group targeting young voters."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-2">[3]</a><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-3">[4]</a>

Self-described as a, "nonprofit, nonpartisan organization," Generation Opportunity espouses a right-leaning agenda and shares the aims of other notable organizations funded by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Brothers" title="Koch Brothers">Koch Brothers</a>.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-4">[5]</a>

In 2012, a Koch Brothers funding group,<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Freedom_Partners" title="Freedom Partners">Freedom Partners</a> invested $5 million dollars in Generation Opportunity. The investment was part of a larger $250 million dollar campaign by Freedom Partners to "shape policy and political debate nationwide."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-5">[6]</a>

<h2>Strategic Use of Social Media</h2>

Based on their use of misleading social media tactics, Generation Opportunity claimed in 2011 that it was "one of the largest and fastest growing organizations targeting young Americans through social media, issue education, and grassroots mobilization."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-6">[7]</a> In August 2011, blogger Kevin Bondelli posted a breakdown on <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://futuremajority.tumblr.com/">Future Majority</a> explaining how GenOp appeared to have grown so quickly.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-Revealed-7">[8]</a> The following timeline was constructed by Bondelli:

<dl>

<dd>

<ul>

<li>"In November of 2010, someone associated with what is now Generation Opportunity created a non-profit page called "Being American" in order to mislead people into becoming fans."</li>

<li>"On May 28, 2011, the page publishes a post about a new organization called Generation Opportunity asking people to sign up for the email list on the website. The profile picture is changed to add the Generation Opportunity logo at the bottom, though the thumbnail remained unchanged." (see image on right)</li>

<li>"On May 31, 2011, the page again solicits list sign-ups for a new organization, not mentioning to their fans that they themselves are the new organization."</li>

</ul>

</dd>

<dd>"Anyone who has liked "Being American" on Facebook because they like being American is unwillingly being counted as a supporter of this organization, and Generation Opportunity is using these people as 'evidence' that they are legitimate and 'one of the largest and fastest growing organizations targeting young Americans.' This is astroturfing 2.0."</dd>

</dl>

Since this article was released, Generation Opportunity has deleted the posts on May 28 and May 31 used in Bondelli's timeline.

In press releases and other public statements, the organization frequently refers to Generation Opportunity's "over 4 million young adult followers."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-8">[9]</a> However, this number appears to refer to the 'likes' on the group's numerous Facebook pages, including "Being American by GO", "The Constitution by GO", "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High", and "Keep Texas Awesome," among others. There is no indication that this number is anything other than the sum of all of these likes, which may or may not be controlled for users who may like more than one of these pages. In May 2013, the "Generation Opportunity" page itself had 714 'likes'.

<h2>Obamacare Opt-Out Campaign</h2>

<h3>Advertisements</h3>

</div>

<div class="thumbcaption">"Opt Out- The Glove"</div>

</div>

Generation Opportunity is perhaps best known for their web and television advertisements urging young people to "opt out" of Obamacare. As Time reporter Kate Pickert described:

<dl>

<dd>"The spots feature a creepy, clownish Uncle Sam character performing gynecological and prostate exams on patients who signed up for insurance under the [Affordable Care Act]. 'Don't let the government play doctor. Opt out of Obamacare,' the ads tell viewers."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-Time-9">[10]</a></dd>

</dl>

In these ads, Generation Opportunity characterizes the Affordable Care Act as an invasion of private health services. Many commentators, including Lucia Graves of the National Journal, have critiqued the commercials for their use of scare tactics, by drawing on the imagery of "forcibl[e] rape".<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-National_Journal-10">[11]</a>

This intrusive depiction of Obamacare has also been criticized for its irony. As Eric Ferrero, vice president for communications at Planned Parenthood Federation of America stated:

<dl>

<dd>"These are the same extreme Koch-funded political groups who have tried to pass transvaginal ultrasound laws and other laws allowing politicians to interfere with people's personal medical decisions. These videos are the height of hyprocrisy, but more importantly they are irresponsible and dangerous, designed to spread misinformation and discourage people from getting access to high quality, affordable health care."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-MSNBC-11">[12]</a></dd>

</dl>

Generation Opportunity's message is simple: young people are better off paying a penalty for being uninsured than they are purchasing health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Generation Opportunity says they aim only to, "educate [young people] on their options..." claiming, "most young people will find it a better deal (and a lot less creepy) to opt out of Obamacare." <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-The_Atlantic_Wire-12">[13]</a>

However, Generation Opportunity's communications director, David Pasch, "wasn't able to confirm that buying a plan on the individual market would be cheaper than buying one under Obamacare." As Pasch told the Atlantic Wire, "We're a small non-profit,without the funds to do research about plans in every state." Allie Jones of the Atlantic Wire argues the group cannot confirm that "opting out" of Obamacare is a better deal, because the "math" does not support that assertion. According to her calculations, even the cheapest plan recommended by Generation Opportunity would, after "opting out", be more expensive for purchasers than a "bronze level plan" under the Affordable Care Act. Not to mention, the "bronze" plan would offer greater coverage of services, and would be available to a wider range of young people than the unapproved private plan.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-The_Atlantic_Wire-12">[13]</a> Without the calculations to back up their position, Generation Opportunity relies heavily on their own advertisements to persuade viewers to be concerned about the "creep" factor of government approved healthcare.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-The_Atlantic_Wire-12">[13]</a>

<h3>College Campus Campaign</h3>

Generation Opportunity spends a significant amount of funds on "youth targeted" events. In September of 2013, the group announced plans to spend "up to $750,000 on a 'messaging push and tour'" to encourage young people to 'opt out' of the Affordable Care Act. The tour includes:

<dl>

<dd>"...host[ing] events at college football tailgate parties", "where 'brand ambassadors' (read: hot young people) will pass out beer koozies that read 'opt out,' pizza and literature about the health care law. Some events may have impromptu dance parties with DJ’s, complete with games of cornhole and competitions for prizes, organizers said."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-13">[14]</a></dd>

</dl>

The "tour of 20 college towns" included a stop at a bar near Virginia Tech University's campus on October 12, 2013. Students were given "free beer, gift cards and the chance to win an iPad." Generation Opportunity plans to upload pictures of participating young people, "signing petitions to opt out" on to "Twitter, Facebook and Instagram."<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-14">[15]</a>

<h2>Affiliated Sites</h2>

In order to reach their target demographic who they identify as "Millennials ages 18-29", Generation Opportunity utilizes a number of profiles.

<ul>

<li>Facebook.com - "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/GenerationOpportunity?fref=ts">Generation Opportunity</a>"</li>

<li>Facebook.com - "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/BeingAmericanByGO?fref=ts">Being American by GO</a>"</li>

<li>Facebook.com - "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/TheConstitutionByGO?fref=ts">The Constitution by GO</a>"</li>

<li>Facebook.com - "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/TheGasIsTooDamnHigh">Gas Prices Are Too Damn High</a>"</li>

<li>Facebook.com - "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/KeepTexasAwesome?fref=ts">Keep Texas Awesome</a>"</li>

<li>Twitter.com - "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fgenerationopportunity.org%2Fblog%2F&region=following&screen_name=GenOpportunity&tw_p=followbutton&variant=2.0">GenOpportunity</a>"</li>

<li>Pinterest.com - "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://pinterest.com/genopp/">Generation Opportunity</a>"</li>

</ul>

<h2>Personnel</h2>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Paul_Conway&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Paul Conway (page does not exist)">Paul Conway</a>, the former president of Generation Opportunity, has worked with the conservative <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Heritage_Foundation" title="Heritage Foundation">Heritage Foundation</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Leadership_Institute" title="Leadership Institute" class="mw-redirect">Leadership Institute</a> and served as chief of staff for former Bush Labor Secretary and current Heritage employee <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Elaine_Chao" title="Elaine Chao" class="mw-redirect">Elaine Chao</a>.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-Deep_Roots-15">[16]</a>

After the 2012 elections, Paul Conway was replaced as president by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Evan_Feinberg&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evan Feinberg (page does not exist)">Evan Feinberg</a>. The group has not released information on the composition of their board of directors.

<h3>Staff</h3>

<ul>

<li>Evan Feinberg - President<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-16">[17]</a></li>

<li>Matthew Faraci - Senior Vice President for Communications<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-17">[18]</a></li>

<li>David Pasch - Communications Director<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-18">[19]</a></li>

<li>Terence Grado - Director of National and State Policy<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_note-19">[20]</a></li>

</ul>

<h3>Former Staff</h3>

<ul>

<li>Paul Conway - Former President</li>

</ul>

<h2>Contact Information</h2>

Mailing Address:

Generation Opportunity

PO Box 100716

Arlington, VA 22210

Email: info@generationopportunity.org

Phone: (703) 566-9800

Web: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://generationopportunity.org/">http://generationopportunity.org/</a>

<h2>References</h2>

<li id="cite_note-0"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-0">↑</a> Generation Opportunity, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://generationopportunity.org/who-we-are/">Who We Are</a>, organizational website, accessed May 24, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-1">↑</a> Susan Webb, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/generation-opportunity-another-republican-stealth-group/">Generation Opportunity: Another Republican Stealth Group</a>, Peoplesworld.org, August 6, 2012.</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-2">↑</a> Nicholas Confessore, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/us/politics/koch-brothers-plan-more-political-involvement-for-their-conservative-network.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">Koch Brothers Plan More Political Involvement for Their Conservative Network</a>, New York Times, April 30, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-3">↑</a> Andy Kroll, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/02/koch-brothers-americans-for-prosperity-makeover-2012-election">Extreme Makeover: Koch Brothers Edition</a>, Mother Jones, February 21, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-4">↑</a> Fredreka Schouten, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/19/affordable-care-act-advertising-exchanges-health-care-president-obama-americans-for-prosperity-koch-brothers/2833979/">Koch-Backed Group Launches New Attack On Healthcare Law</a>, "USA TODAY", September 19, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-5">↑</a> Mike Allen and Jim Vandehei, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/behind-the-curtain-exclusive-the-koch-brothers-secret-bank-96669.html#ixzz2hikK4t8Q">The Koch Brothers Secret Bank</a>, POLITICO, September 11, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-6">↑</a> Generation Opportunity, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/7/prweb8617836.htm">As Americans Prepare To Celebrate July 4th – Majority Of Millennials Embrace American Exceptionalism</a>, organizational press release, July 1, 2011.</li>

<li id="cite_note-Revealed-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-Revealed_7-0">↑</a> Kevin Bondelli, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20110925090051/http://futuremajority.com/node/13847">Generation Opportunity Revealed</a>, Future Majority blog, accessed via Wayback Machine, posted August 22, 2011, archived September 25, 2011.</li>

<li id="cite_note-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-8">↑</a> Generation Opportunity, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://generationopportunity.org/press/page/2/">Press Releases</a>, organizational website, accessed May 29, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-Time-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-Time_9-0">↑</a> Kate Pickert,<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nation.time.com/2013/09/19/spread-your-legs-for-uncle-sam/">Spread Your Legs for Uncle Sam: The Real Meaning of the Creepy New Anti-Obamacare Ads</a>, "Time", September 19, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-National_Journal-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-National_Journal_10-0">↑</a> Lucia Graves,<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/right-wing-ad-equates-obamacare-and-rape-20130919">Right Wing Ad Equates Obamacare and Rape</a>, "National Journal", September 19, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-MSNBC-11"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-MSNBC_11-0">↑</a> Irin Carmon,<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/09/19/creepy-uncle-sam/">'Creepy Uncle Sam' Would Like to Give You a Pelvic Exam</a>, "MSNBC", September 19, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-The_Atlantic_Wire-12">↑ <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-The_Atlantic_Wire_12-0">13.0</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-The_Atlantic_Wire_12-1">13.1</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-The_Atlantic_Wire_12-2">13.2</a> Allie Jones, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/10/group-telling-young-people-opt-out-obamacare-still-working-math/70079/">The Group Telling Young People to Opt Out of Obamacare is Still Working On Its Math</a>, October 2, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-13"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-13">↑</a> Chris Moody, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.yahoo.com/obamacare-battle-moves-to-college-campuses-200027191.html">Obamacare Battle Moves to College Campuses</a>, Yahoo News, September 19, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-14"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-14">↑</a> Alex Leary, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/conservative-groups-message-to-young-people-opt-out-of-obamacare/2146905">Opt Out of Obamacare is Conservative Group's Message to Young People</a>, Tampa Bay Times, October 13, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-Deep_Roots-15"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-Deep_Roots_15-0">↑</a> John Dunbar, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2011/11/01/7216/nonpartisan-youth-movement-has-deep-gop-roots">‘Nonpartisan’ youth movement has deep GOP roots</a>, The Center for Public Integrity, November 1, 2011, updated May 14, 2012.</li>

<li id="cite_note-16"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-16">↑</a> Hank Richards, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.examiner.com/article/youth-unemployment-rate-hovers-at-16-1-percent?cid=PROD-redesign-right-next">Youth unemployment rate hovers at 16.1 percent</a>, Examiner.com, May 6, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-17"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-17">↑</a> Generation Opportunity, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://generationopportunity.org/press/decembers-millennial-jobs-report-youth-unemployment-at-11-5-percent/">December’s Millennial Jobs Report: Youth Unemployment at 11.5 Percent</a>, press release, January 4, 2013.</li>

<li id="cite_note-18"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-18">↑</a> Brian Hughes, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/the-3-minute-interview-david-pasch/article/2516734">THE 3-MINUTE INTERVIEW: David Pasch</a>, Washington Examiner, December 23, 2012.</li>

<li id="cite_note-19"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity#cite_ref-19">↑</a> Generation Opportunity, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://generationopportunity.org/press/millennial-jobs-report-youth-unemployment-reaches-13-1-percent-as-u-s-economy-shrinks/">Millennial Jobs Report: Youth Unemployment Reaches 13.1 Percent as U.S. Economy Shrinks</a>, press release, February 1, 2013.</li>

</ol>

</div>

<div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Category</a>:

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Category:Dark_money" title="Category:Dark money">Dark money</a></li>

</ul>

</div>

===

<div class="byline story"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/">The Guardian</a> [1] / By <a href="http://www.alternet.org/authors/sadhbh-walshe">Sadhbh Walshe</a> [2]</div>

<h1 property="dc:title" datatype="" class="node-title">Beer Offensive: The Koch Brothers Try to Bribe College Students Not to Sign Up for Obamacare with Brewskies</h1>

</div>

<div class="story-date">October 17, 2013  |  </div>

What's a family values conservative to do when every effort to protect millions of Americans from the scourge of affordable healthcare fails?

Break out the beer, of course. The latest campaign to kill off Obamacare in its infancy is now playing out on college campuses where a conservative group known as Generation Opportunity (GO), who are funded in part by the billionaire <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/koch-brothers" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Koch brothers">Koch brothers</a> [3], is using the <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/14/3689755/young-are-being-recruited-to-help.html">lure of free beer</a> [4] and "opt out" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_koozie">beer koozies</a> [5] to persuade young <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/students" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Students">students</a> [6] not to buy health insurance – or, at least, not to buy it from the Obamacare exchanges.

Traditionally, one might expect God-fearing conservatives to be warning youth about the dangers of alcohol consumption, rather than plying them with free liquor, but these are desperate times. The determined Koch brothers have already spent <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12247/breaking-new-list-dark-money-shell-game-groups-connected-kochs">hundreds of millions of dollars</a> [7] trying to derail the president's healthcare law. So far, though, despite their best efforts, Obamacare has proved as <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-01/will-the-young-invincibles-join-obamacare-.html">"invincible" as the young people</a> [8] it needs to enroll. While it's unlikely that the beer exchanges, shall we call them, will be the game-changer, the Kochs may well end up driving many of us to drink with their relentless and futile vendetta to undo the law – not just the college students.

Nearly every movement to "educate the public" about the "dangers" of Obamacare can be linked in some way to the Koch brothers, and this latest college campus effort is no different. Last month, <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/koch-brothers-heritage-action-donation-98054.html">Politico revealed</a> [9]that GO has received $5.04m from the Koch-funded entity known as Freedom Works. This "grassroots" movement is now about to embark on an "<a href="http://optout.org/">Opt Out</a> [10]" tour of 20 college towns across the country as part of its effort to steer <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/youngpeople" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Young people">young people</a> [11] away from the Obamacare exchanges. As GO's 29-year-old president, Evan Feinberg, put it:

<blockquote>What we're trying to communicate is, 'No, you're not actually required to buy health insurance' … you might have to pay a fine, but that's going to be cheaper for you, and better for you.</blockquote>

After coming under criticism for this statement, Feinberg (who previously worked at the Charles Koch Institute) has since clarified that GO is not trying to persuade young people to opt out of buying insurance altogether, just from buying it through the healthcare exchanges.

Maybe, I'm naive to think that most young Americans will not fall for this cynical ploy, no matter how much free beer they are plied with. It seems to me that any campaign that is based on a false premise – in this case, that young people could get cheaper insurance before Obamacare or since – seems destined for failure.

According to a report released in September by the Department of the Health and Human Services, <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/09/20130917b.html">56% of the people</a> [12] who are applying for health insurance today will be able to get coverage through the health insurance marketplace for less than $100 a month. This means that a large percentage of the youth market that GO are targeting would be able to get comprehensive health coverage under Obamacare for a very low rate.

If Feinberg or any other GO employee genuinely knows about better insurance deals than that for students, it would be really helpful if they listed them on their Opt Out website. Surely, that would be a far better use of their Koch dollars than buying more crates of beer?

As it is, the Opt Out website contains no information beyond vague and unsubstantiated claims about Obamacare being a "bad deal", and two embarrassingly poorly made ads featuring a "Creepy Uncle Sam" character who pops up between a woman's legs as she undergoes a gynaecological exam and asks a young man to roll over while he pulls on a surgical glove. The message – that government should stay out of healthcare – is about as subtle as Miley Cyrus' recent sledgehammer licking antics.

Whether Creepy Uncle Sam and his creepier backers will succeed in bringing down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains to be seen, but the prognosis is not good. Since the ACA was signed into law in 2010, it has miraculously managed to withstand "Hitler death panel" comparisons, state by state efforts to block its implementation, a US supreme court challenge to its constitutionality and, most recently, a defunding effort that led to the federal government shutdown.

As the New York Times recently reported, the Koch brothers <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/us/a-federal-budget-crisis-months-in-the-planning.html?_r=0">have been heavily involved</a> [13] in all of these separate efforts through their generous funding of groups like Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action and, of course, Generation Opportunity. But so far, their efforts have been in vain. Not only is Obamacare still the law of the land, but the law has actually <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/gop-plummets-obamacare-soars-shutdown">gained a major bump</a> [14] in support since the shutdown stand-off.

As it happens, even the Koch brothers have begun to realize that their attempts to stop the ACA are getting them nowhere. Last week, a representative of Koch Industries sent a <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/10/koch-industries-doesnt-want-be-tainted-obamacare-prompted-shutdown/70350/">letter</a> [15] to members of the Senate distancing the company from efforts to defund Obamacare, while still making it clear that Koch really does not like the law.

Does this mean the Koch brothers are done with their various and multifaceted efforts to bring it down? Probably not, but if they at least scale back their efforts to just distributing free beers, that might not be such a bad thing.

After what they have put us all through, we deserve one.

</div>

<div class="tags">See more stories tagged with:

<div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/tags/koch-brothers-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel">koch brothers</a> [16],</div>

<div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/tags/obamacare-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel">obamacare</a> [17],</div>

<div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/tags/generation-opportunity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel">Generation Opportunity</a> [18]</div>

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<div class="print-source_url">Source URL: <a href="http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/beer-offensive-koch-brothers-try-bribe-college-students-not-sign-obamacare">http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/beer-offensive-koch-brothers-try-bribe-college-students-not-sign-obamacare</a></div>

Links:

[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/

[2] http://www.alternet.org/authors/sadhbh-walshe

[3] http://www.theguardian.com/world/koch-brothers

[4] http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/14/3689755/young-are-being-recruited-to-help.html

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_koozie

[6] http://www.theguardian.com/education/students

[7] http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12247/breaking-new-list-dark-money-shell-game-groups-connected-kochs

[8] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-01/will-the-young-invincibles-join-obamacare-.html

[9] http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/koch-brothers-heritage-action-donation-98054.html

[10] http://optout.org/

[11] http://www.theguardian.com/society/youngpeople

[12] http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/09/20130917b.html

[13] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/us/a-federal-budget-crisis-months-in-the-planning.html?_r=0

[14] http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/gop-plummets-obamacare-soars-shutdown

[15] http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/10/koch-industries-doesnt-want-be-tainted-obamacare-prompted-shutdown/70350/

[16] http://www.alternet.org/tags/koch-brothers-0

[17] http://www.alternet.org/tags/obamacare-0

[18] http://www.alternet.org/tags/generation-opportunity

[19] http://www.alternet.org/%2Bnew_src%2B

</div>

===

3. Koch brothers: Cervical cancer is a small price to pay to defeat Obamacare.

In their abject desperation to forestall the implementation of Obamacare, right-wing zealots released some ads this week that are bound to go down in history as some of the most absurd pieces of political video ever created.

The ad campaign created by <a href="http://generationopportunity.org/#axzz2fHQev3hU">Generation Opportunity</a> [3], which is funded by the ultra-conservative Koch brothers, specifically targets young people with the rather irresponsible message that they really don’t need health insurance. Better to “opt out,” pay the fine, it’s cheaper. Also, for young women, it avoids those uncomfortable gynecological exams, the ones that might save you from cervical cancer. The somewhat deranged looking advertisement features the legs of a woman in stirrups, presumably ready for her potentially life-saving pap smear, when all of sudden a wooden marionette Uncle Sam pops up between her legs. Uncle Sam apparently wants her. In the final scene, Uncle Sam is shown holding a speculum.

Young men can also get in on the invasive healthcare action with Obamacare. Another ad features a young man about to receive a prostate exam. He is told to take off his pants, and Uncle Sam appears behind him.

We knew right-wing Republicans had an unhealthy obsession with our orifices, from advocating mandatory vaginal probes for abortion seekers to seeking reinstatement of anti-sodomy laws, but these ads are truly hitting a new low. The good news is that the young people seeing them are not so easily fooled.

Caution: If you see the ads you might make the mistake of thinking you are watching "Saturday Night Live" parodies, even if it is the middle of the day on Tuesday. alternet

...

Ravel’s commission has already forced the disclosure that, before the $11 million made its way from an Arizona nonprofit called Americans for Responsible Leadership (the originally disclosed donor) to the California committee, it <a href="http://images.politico.com/global/2013/02/17/cppr_11m_cfppc_110512.html" target="blank">passed from a Virginia-based nonprofit</a> called Americans for Job Security <a href="http://images.politico.com/global/2013/02/17/amersforrespleadership_11m_cfppc_110512.html" target="blank">to an Arizona 501(c)4</a> called the Center to Protect Patients Rights.

The latter group, run by the Kochs’ top ad man, Sean Noble, has played a key role in steering money to other Koch-backed groups, along with another mysterious 501(c)4 group called TC4 Trust.

Between 2009 and 2011 (the most recent years for which the groups’ tax returns were accessible), the two nonprofits combined to steer more than $75 million to Koch-linked groups including $18.1 million to the 60 Plus Association, $8 million to Public Notice and its subsidiaries, $7.1 million to American Commitment, $6.8 million to Themis and its subsidiaries, and $500,000 to Generation Opportunity. They also donated $4.8 million to Americans for Job Security and $900,000 to Americans for Responsible Leadership.

Americans for Responsible Leadership — which is <a href="http://images.politico.com/global/2013/02/17/torchinsky_amersforrespldrshp_response_102412.html" target="blank">represented by the lawyer</a> for Americans for Prosperity, American Commitment, the Center to Protect Patients Rights and other Koch-backed groups — contends that Ravel’s commission is ��bowing to political pressure,�� ignoring the Supreme Court’s 2010 <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31786.html" target="blank">Citizens United decision</a> allowing unlimited corporate political expenditures and trying to scare the group and its donors.

The commission’s efforts “utterly discount the legitimate interest that donors to non-profits have in maintaining their privacy” and have had a “deterrent effect on the activities of both ARL and its donors,�� wrote Americans for Responsible Leadership in a <a href="http://images.politico.com/global/2013/02/17/amersforrespldrshp_response-noexhbts_102512.html" target="_blank">legal brief </a>filed just before the election.

Beyond the California investigation, Noble has come under scrutiny in the brothers’ post-election audit, sources say. His consulting firm, DC London, though technically independent, is widely regarded as almost a subsidiary of the Koch political operation. Its performance in 2012, when it handled advertising and other paid media for a number of the groups that get their cash through the Center to Protect Patients Rights and TC4 Trust, was seen as a weak link by some in Koch World.

Since the election, Gentry, who runs the donor seminars, has sent several emails to a list of operatives at other conservative groups asking them to study various aspects of Obama’s advertising and messaging strategies, becoming captivated this year with a 2012 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkmJ4gIa8ek" target="_blank">ad featuring Jennifer Lopez</a>, whom he called “the #1 public celebrity for young Latinas.”

It created “peer pressure to the target audience that if they don’t join their fellow Latinos in ‘getting Obama’s back,’ then they will not be part of the in-crowd,�� he wrote....

<a href="http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=C3F3B132-A7E6-44F4-A173-03E912635A0C">http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=C3F3B132-A7E6-44F4-A173-03E912635A0C</a>

===

Kevin Lunny and his family purchased the former Johnson’s Oyster Farm in 2005, when seven years remained on the 1972 “special use” permit, which allowed the oyster operation to stay on the National Park land for a maximum of 40 years. But the Lunny’s, along with many supporters in the area, had hoped to persuade the Department of the Interior to continue the lease for another 10 years, an option created through an appropriations bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a vocal supporter of Drake’s Bay Oysters.

But Salazar last week announced he would allow the lease to expire and "return the Drake's Estero to the state of wilderness" designated by Congress. "I believe it is the right decision for Point Reyes National Seashore and for future generations who will enjoy this treasured landscape," Salazar said.

But today it was announced that Drake’s Bay Oysters has retained the services of a “government accountability” group called Cause of Action, as well as legal firm Stoel Rives LLP.

Evan Feinberg, a 28-year-old former aide to Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Rand Paul (R-KY), is challenging Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) in the April 24 Republican primary. Although Murphy is a fifth-term incumbent, Feinberg has received significant support from Tea Party groups and the far-right wing on the Republican Party.

Yesterday, former Rep. Dick Armey’s (R-TX) FreedomWorks for America Super PAC reported that it has spent <a href="http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00499020/778221/se">$26,500 on a media buy</a> in support of Feinberg. The group has <a href="http://www.freedomworksforamerica.org/candidate/evan-feinberg">endorsed him</a>, calling him a “strong supporter of a smaller, limited, and more fiscally responsible government,” and labeling the occasionally moderate incumbent as “big government Republican Tim Murphy.”

But an examination of Feinberg’s <a href="http://evanfeinberg.com/turning-the-lights-back-on-restoring-the-shining-city/">23-page fiscal proposal</a>, “Turning the Lights Back On: Restoring the Shining City,” reveals a candidate who not only wants to eliminate the Departments of Energy and Education, but also wants to do away with some of the most important federal programs to our nation’s security.

Some of his controversial policies show how the anti-government Tea Party agenda’s goes:

<ul>

<li>Complete elimination of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. As part of his plan to eliminate the entire Department of Energy, he proposes we eliminate the emergency supply of crude oil stocked by the nation to protect our energy supply in a time of crisis. Without this supply, foreign countries could exert unimaginable influence over our by threatening to disrupt the supply of crude oil — or actually doing so.</li>

<li>Elimination of several key parts of the Department of Homeland Security. Among the things he wants to eliminate: the Emergency Operation Centers, the Office of Bombing Prevention, and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.</li>

<li>Elimination of federal anti-gang efforts from the Department of Justice. He proposes to eliminate National Gang Intelligence Center and the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement, and Coordination Center.</li>

</ul>

</blockquote>

Feinberg’s more than $9 trillion in proposed cuts, over ten years, would not only decimate the federal government as we know it, they would destroy vital programs needed to keep America safe and secure.

<ul>

<li><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/tag/election-2012/">Election 2012</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/tag/evan-feinberg/">Evan Feinberg</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/tag/freedomworks/">FreedomWorks</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/tag/pennsylvania/">Pennsylvania</a></li>

</ul>

</div>

</div></div>

Generation Opportunity

Attachments