CHRISTIE AND LEPAGE ON KOCH

Chris Christie, as the chairman of the Republican Governors Association, is already spending more than one million dollars to re-elect Paul LePage. Christie has called the Koch Brothers “great Americans,” met with David Koch privately in New York, and has spoken at the Koch Brothers’ secret seminars. The Koch Brothers have backed Christie’s efforts in states like , contributing nearly $1.8 million to the Republican Governors Association this campaign cycle.

CHRIS CHRISTIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS RACE IS ALREADY SPENDING MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO RE-ELECT LEPAGE

Chris Christie Is The Chairman Of The Republican Governors Association. “He promised in May that Maine would be seeing a lot of him this campaign cycle, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is making good on that pledge when he lands in Bangor on Tuesday to stump and fundraise for the re-election of Gov. Paul LePage. Christie, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, has said Maine’s gubernatorial election — in which the incumbent LePage faces Democratic U.S. Rep. and independent businessman Eliot Cutler — is one of the RGA’s key races in 2014.” [, 8/11/14]

The Republican Governors Association Has Already Spent $550,000 To Elect LePage. “The group already has poured $550,000 into Maine, according to its most recently filed campaign finance report. In 2010, the group spent more than $1.8 million to elect LePage, and many observers expect RGA — and its Democratic counterpart — to smash through that total this year.” [Bangor Daily News, 8/11/14]

The Republican Governors Association Announced It Is Going Up With A $496,000 TV Ad-Buy. “The Republican Governors Association has reserved almost half a million dollars in Portland TV time starting Tuesday and running through Sept. 1, a media-tracking source said. Broadcast ($262,000) and cable ($234,000) are included, with minute-long spots reserved for cable. A spokesman did not respond to questions about the scope of the association’s plans or the content of the ads, but executive director Phil Cox said last month that the group was ‘fully committed’ to defending Gov. Paul LePage.” [Campaign Pro, Politico, 8/11/14]

THE KOCH BROTHERS HAVE GIVEN $1,775,000 WHILE CHRISTIE WAS CHAIRMAN

The Koch Brothers And Koch Industries Given $1,775,000 To The Republican Governors Association In 2014 Election Cycle. According to data from the Center For Responsive Politics, David Koch gave the Republican Governors Association $1,250,000 and Koch Industries Inc. gave the Republican Governors Association $500,000 in the 2014 election cycle. [Center For Responsive Politics, accessed 8/11/14]

CHRIS CHRISTIE SAID THE KOCH BROTHERS WERE “GREAT AMERICANS” AND HAS SPOKEN AT THEIR SEMINARS

Chris Christie: The Koch Brothers Are “Great Americans.” “New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie spoke to thousands of conservative activists Thursday, burnishing his Republican credentials by touting his efforts to stand up to unions, reform entitlement programs and oppose abortion. Christie also defended Charles and David Koch, the billionaires who have helped sustain the conservative movement and have come under attack from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). ‘What they’re for in Washington, D.C., is that the leader of Senate Democrats stand up and rail against two American entrepreneurs who have built a business, created jobs, and created wealth and philanthropy in this country. Harry Reid should get back to work and stop picking on great Americans who are creating great things in our country,’ said Christie at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference. His audience applauded.” [Huffington Post, 3/6/14]

Christie Gave A Speech At A Koch Brother’s Seminar And Had Previously Met Privately David Koch At Koch’s New York City Office. “On the morning of June 26, Chris Christie, New Jersey’s flamboyant, tough-talking Republican governor, appeared on NBC’s Meet The Press. He then jetted out to Colorado, delivered a keynote speech at Charles and David Koch’s ultra-exclusive seminar at the Ritz- Carlton resort near Vail, and returned home the same night, all without breathing a word about his adventure to his constituents… ’ (The two had previously met in private at Koch’s New York City office, he revealed.)” [Mother Jones, 9/7/11]

 David Koch: Chris Christie Is “My Kind Of Guy.” “With security extraordinary on the seminar’s opening night—audio speakers around the periphery of the outdoor dining pavilion blasted out static to thwart eavesdroppers—David Koch introduced Gov. Christie as ‘my kind of guy.’ (The two had previously met in private at Koch’s New York City office, he revealed.) Before long, seminar attendees were roaring with laughter as Christie regaled them over dessert, telling them how, in his first weeks in office, he’d exercised extraordinary executive powers to impound billions of dollars in planned spending.” [Mother Jones, 9/7/11]