Senate President Bill Cadman speaks at an AFP Colorado event Thursday at the Capitol as other state lawmakers look on. (Photo by John Frank, Denver Post)
The top Republican lawmaker in Colorado on Thursday credited a political advocacy group funded by the conservative Koch brothers with the GOP takeover in the state Senate.
I can tell you this, Senate President Bill Cadman told an Americans for Prosperity rally at the Capitol, I don t think I would be the president of the Senate if it wasn t for the efforts you and yours did over the previous elections. And we look forward to continuing our partnership with you.
The 2014 election gave Republicans control of the Senate — by a narrow 18-17 majority — for the first time in a decade.
Cadman s comment drew immediate reaction from Democrats, as Sen. Jesse Ulibarri tweeted: Wealthy & well-connected to blame for Senate Republican majority. If you don’t trust me, take it from them…
Wealthy & well-connected to blame for Senate Republican majority. If you don’t trust me, take it from them…
— Jessie Ulibarri (@jessie4CO)
Ulibarri and other Senate Democrats expressed disdain at the start of the day s legislative session when they found a copy of the organization s agenda on their desks.
All senators were given the Koch brother’s guide to protecting the wealthy this morning
— Jessie Ulibarri (@jessie4CO)
Americans for Prosperity is in Colorado, where it works as part of a nationwide network funded by billionaires Charles and David Koch to advocate .
A number of lawmakers attended the Colorado AFP rally in the Capitol, including Reps. Paul Lundeen, Gordon Klingenschmitt, Janak Joshi, Tim Leonard and Kevin Van Winkle, and Sens. John Cooke, Laura Woods and Kevin Lundberg.
AFP Colorado director Michael Fields said the organization is getting more involved at the legislative level this year to give voice to people not represented by special interests.
The group s 6 for 16 agenda calls for protecting the Taxpayer s Bill of Rights; holding the state s health exchange accountable; blocking President Barack Obama s new carbon emission standards in the Clean Power Plan; defending the state s oil and gas industry by opposing fracking bans; shifting more money to the state s public charter schools; and repealing the tax on business personal property.
