Washington warned the people that political factions may seek to obstruct the execution of the laws created by the government or to prevent the branches of government from exercising the powers provided to them by the constitution. Such factions may claim to be trying to answer popular demands or solve pressing problems, but their true intentions are to take the power from the people and place it in the hands of unjust men
MARK MECKLER - Jeckell or Hyde?
Why has Meckler been allowed to basically control the whole COS agenda? Why is he refusing to tell Americans where the donations are coming from to COSA and how it is being spent?
Why have we not been told the goal for the chosen amendments?
Are we truly to feel comfortable with the relationship between COSA and ALEC?
Meckler's vision of constitutional revision is one in which states can defy Supreme Court rulings they believe stray from the Constitution's original intent. The upshot is that, if a right-wing constitutional convention is held, voting rights, the Civil Rights Act, the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal minimum wage, abortion rights, marriage equality, and many other rights could be placed at risk.
Meckler has stated that it was not his intention to curtail any particular power of the federal government, but the intent is "to create a convention where the American people can have a discussion of these issues." Meckler added that, he does not "propose, support, or oppose, any particular amendments," and that COS "doesn’t have a particular agenda."
However, a 2016 Convention of States mock convention passed amendments on the rightwing's bucket list, such as easing the process to repeal federal regulations, requiring approval to increase the national debt, imposing congressional term limits, repealing the 16th Amendment's authorization for an income tax, limiting the Commerce Clause, and requiring a supermajority to impose federal taxes.
Meckler "refused to identify the out-of-state corporate interests that funds his efforts to elevate the power of corporate America over the power of everyday citizens
Meckler has stated that it was not his intention to curtail any particular power of the federal government, but the intent is "to create a convention where the American people can have a discussion of these issues." Meckler added that, he does not "propose, support, or oppose, any particular amendments," and that COS "doesn’t have a particular agenda."
However, a 2016 Convention of States mock convention passed amendments on the rightwing's bucket list, such as easing the process to repeal federal regulations, requiring approval to increase the national debt, imposing congressional term limits, repealing the 16th Amendment's authorization for an income tax, limiting the Commerce Clause, and requiring a supermajority to impose federal taxes.
Meckler "refused to identify the out-of-state corporate interests that funds his efforts to elevate the power of corporate America over the power of everyday citizens
Meckler's COS Nonprofits (as of 2020)
Meckler leads three nonprofits around the COS effort: Convention of States Foundation (COSF), formerly Citizens for Self-Governance/John Hancock Committee of the States, Convention of States Action (COSA), and CSG Action (CSGA).
According to the latest available tax filings, COSF brought in $4.6 million, COSA brought in $3.3 million, and CSGA brought in $22,000 in 2017.
Wisconsin"s Eric O’Keefe serves on the board of all three organizations. O'Keefe is a right-wing political operative with strong ties to Charles and the late David Koch.
In state, O'Keefe is well known for being a target of the 2012-2015 "John Doe"
riminal investigation into possible illegal campaign coordination between Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin Club for Growth (of which O'Keefe is a director), and numerous other dark money groups, until it was ended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in July 2015.
Funding sources for COSA are hard to uncover, but through a search of IRS filings, CMD found that COSF received $14.7 million from 13 foundations, donor conduits, and other nonprofits between 2010 and 2018. Over $12 million was funneled through three donor advised funds: Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program ($7.6 million), the Koch network-tied Donors Capital Fund ($2.5 million), and the Greater Houston Community Foundation ($2 million).
SO WHERE IS ALL THIS MONEY BEING SPENT & TO WHOM?
Meckler leads three nonprofits around the COS effort: Convention of States Foundation (COSF), formerly Citizens for Self-Governance/John Hancock Committee of the States, Convention of States Action (COSA), and CSG Action (CSGA).
According to the latest available tax filings, COSF brought in $4.6 million, COSA brought in $3.3 million, and CSGA brought in $22,000 in 2017.
Wisconsin"s Eric O’Keefe serves on the board of all three organizations. O'Keefe is a right-wing political operative with strong ties to Charles and the late David Koch.
In state, O'Keefe is well known for being a target of the 2012-2015 "John Doe"
riminal investigation into possible illegal campaign coordination between Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin Club for Growth (of which O'Keefe is a director), and numerous other dark money groups, until it was ended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in July 2015.
Funding sources for COSA are hard to uncover, but through a search of IRS filings, CMD found that COSF received $14.7 million from 13 foundations, donor conduits, and other nonprofits between 2010 and 2018. Over $12 million was funneled through three donor advised funds: Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program ($7.6 million), the Koch network-tied Donors Capital Fund ($2.5 million), and the Greater Houston Community Foundation ($2 million).
SO WHERE IS ALL THIS MONEY BEING SPENT & TO WHOM?
MARK MECKLER'S RESIGNATION LETTER TTP
https://knco.com/tea-party-co-founder-mark-meckler-resigns/
ERIC O"KEEFE - KOCH DARK MONEY MAN
Eric O’Keefe is redeploying Wisconsin Alliance for Reform (WAR) in the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Through WAR, O’Keefe is reportedly spending at least $500,000 attacking Judge Janet Protasiewicz,1 who graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1988 and has been a Milwaukee circuit court judge since 2014. Some of WAR’s attack ads have the same content as those of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC/hydra),2 a long-time ally of O’Keefe and his agenda.
https://truenorthresearch.org/2023/02/untangling-the-war-machine-led-by-right-wing-dark-money-operative-eric-okeefe/
O’Keefe has a documented history of moving millions in dark money through an array of groups to influence Wisconsin voters, primarily with attack ads that aid right-wing candidates.
https://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/01/12714/eric-okeefe-james-okeefe-mike-ellis
Eric O’Keefe is redeploying Wisconsin Alliance for Reform (WAR) in the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Through WAR, O’Keefe is reportedly spending at least $500,000 attacking Judge Janet Protasiewicz,1 who graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1988 and has been a Milwaukee circuit court judge since 2014. Some of WAR’s attack ads have the same content as those of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC/hydra),2 a long-time ally of O’Keefe and his agenda.
America First Works (AFW), is a 501(c)(4) rightwing advocacy group that was founded in 2017 under the name America First Policies. The group was established following former president Trump's 2016 election and rebranded to America First Works after he lost reelection in 2020. The nonprofit supports conservative policy and legislation initiatives and releases video content about issues they are involved in. It works closely with America First Policy Institute according to executive director Ashley Hayek. AFPI is legally obligated to be nonpartisan under its IRS tax code.[1]
Key issues AFW is engaged in include: voter suppression[2], school privatization,[3] suppressing LGBTQ awareness and activism[4] and restricting women's bodily autonomy.[5]
AFW also funnels money through the Koch political network's favorite donor conduit DonorsTrust and to rightwing allies like Heritage Action for America.[6
Key issues AFW is engaged in include: voter suppression[2], school privatization,[3] suppressing LGBTQ awareness and activism[4] and restricting women's bodily autonomy.[5]
AFW also funnels money through the Koch political network's favorite donor conduit DonorsTrust and to rightwing allies like Heritage Action for America.[6
