Bridge Report Spotlights, Criticizes Koch Brothers' Latino Outreach With Libre Initiative; Libre's Daniel Garza Responds
The Koch brothers' potential influence on the Latino community has been criticized by liberal organizations. One organization with connections with the Kochs is Libre Initiative, which was the focus of a critical report by the Bridge Project, a group "dedicated to opposing the conservative movement's extreme ideology and exposing its dishonest tactics."
According to the Bridge Project, the Koch brothers have been trying to find methods to achieve their political goals, and it includes the Libre Initiative, a "501(c)4 non-partisan, non-profit grassroots organization" founded in 2011.
"[Libre Initiative] brand themselves as a "grassroots organization" founded "to empower Hispanics" and advance "liberty, freedom and prosperity," but they are run by Republican operatives and financed almost entirely by the Koch network," noted the Bridge Report's "Kochs' Libre Initiative Is Harmful to Hispanic Community."
Bridge Project claimed Libre Initiative's policies "hurt" the Latino community, and such policies range from immigration reform and the economy.
"An obvious example is immigration policy. LIBRE claims to be for comprehensive immigration reform, but their actual agenda seems to be providing political cover for the GOP's anti-immigrant agenda," the report continued.
Latin Post spoke with Libre Initiative Executive Director Daniel Garza about the organization's stance on immigration reform. Garza said he would like to see congressional immigration reform with a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. He also supported the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program of 2012. Garza said he still has concerns about DACA since the executive branch implemented it. He does oppose the November 2014 immigration executive actions that expanded DACA and created the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA).
"The problem with [DAPA] is that it doesn't honor our system of a republic," said Garza for Latin Post's "Turnout" series. "We elected our congressmen and our senators, and, as a president, you have to execute the law based on the consent and will of and approvals of Congress, and when you don't do that, you circumvent the process and put us in a position we're at now where a court may rescind or eliminate DACA or DAPA and then expose all these folks that signed on in good faith."
Bridge Report noted Libre Initiative spent millions on advertisements against the Affordable Care Act.
"The Koch network didn't put tens of millions of dollars into the LIBRE Initiative for altruistic reasons. Making inroads in the Hispanic community and spreading misinformation is really about fostering an environment that is favorable for the candidates who will implement the Kochs' profit-driven agenda," Bridge Report stated.
In response to the Bridge Report, Garza, in a statement to Latin Post on Thursday, said "We're going to stay focused on the issues that matter to the Latino community: expanding economic opportunity, enacting broad, pro-family immigration reform, improving our schools, and promoting access to quality health care at competitive prices."
Garza added, "It's sad that instead of debating these ideas, some are so heavily invested in the failed policies of the past that all they can do is attack. That's a disservice to the Latino community. We welcome a real debate of the issues - of how to help millions of families living paycheck to paycheck, unable to live out their American Dream. That's where we'll keep our focus."
According to the Bridge Report, the Kochs will spend $900 million supporting the Republican Party's bid for the White House.
The Bridge Report did highlight the "outwardly" work by Libre Initiative including local festival sponsorship, entrepreneurial seminars and helping undocumented citizens obtain drivers licenses.
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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
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