The Guardian has a small report on a recent donor retreat sponsored by the nefarious Koch brothers. It has the critical clues as to why the GOP is so hellbent on repealing the ACA and replacing it with a major tax cut. The Koch brothers are saying their piggy bank is closed until their agenda (i.e. ACA repeal and tax cuts) is passed:
Koch brothers call the GOP shots
One passage from the article is particularly revealing about how GOP elected officials see the world:
Dave Brat, a Virginia Republican representative, predicted dire consequences in next year’s midterm elections should his party fail to deliver on its repeated promises.
“If we don’t get healthcare, none of us are coming back,” he said in a brief interview. “We said for seven years you’re gonna repeal Obamacare. It’s nowhere near repealed.”
It’s the same for tax reform, Brat said: “We don’t get taxes through, we’re all going home. Pack the bags.”
Note, Rep. Brat leaves unstated as to why failing to deliver on such unpopular policies would lead to dire electoral consequences. Few in the GOP base want their medicare cut or pre-existing conditions once again used as a reason to deny coverage. And in general, massive tax cuts for the 1% are not popular— indeed, Trump ran against these very policies. But, GOP officials are not concerned with representing the interest of their constituents nor are they worried about a voter backlash leading to a Democratic resurgence at the voting both (though that outcome would, in a sane world be the logical implication of passing unpopular legislation that disadvantages millions). No, they believe that their re-election (and personal perks) are assured so long as the Koch Brothers’ machine is pumping huge amounts of money into their campaigns and distorting issues through issue ads and attack ads on their political opponents. In a world of risk and rewards, they are betting that they can act with virtual impunity so long as the dark money is there to cover their @sses. So, GOP politicians don’t fear the retribution of manipulable voters; only the potential wrath of their sugar daddies gets their attention. A lot more work is needed to make the actual motivations of the GOP public knowledge in the US (as it seems to be everywhere else in the world).
Journalists like Harper Neidig have been writing about the massive influence that the Koch brothers have had on GOP policies, mainly with respect to energy and regulations pertaining to the fossil fuel sector: GOP as Bachelorette contestants.
However, those reports have not become a call to arms for the DNC and democratic candidates. Healthcare hits close enough to everyone’s home that a serious push back could arise when voters realize the GOP is simply doing the bidding of the Koch brothers in exchange for campaign contributions (i.e., you can die so I can get re-elected).