Koch Industries was founded in 1940 by Fred Koch and is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. It is one of the largest privately held companies in the world. And nearly one hundred years later wields much political power, thanks in large part to Americans for Prosperity (AFP). This is a politically conservative, libertarian advocacy group founded in 2004 and allied with Charles Koch and his (now deceased) brother David Koch, of Koch Industries.
AFP has been seen as one of the most influential conservative organizations in America. AFP was instrumental in securing the Republican majority in the Congress in 2010 and again for the Senate in 2014. AFP has chapters in 36 states and yes, NH is one of them.
The State Director of AFP and AFP Foundation in New Hampshire is Greg Moore, who advocates on behalf of over 29,000 AFP members to federal, state and local governments. He previously served as the Chief of Staff for the NH House of Representatives (2011-12), where he worked directly for the Speaker of the House to implement an agenda which included passing the largest budget reduction in state history, many business tax and fee reductions, a Medicaid managed care law and tough welfare reform requirements. Before that, he served as House Policy Director.
The founder of the “Free State Project” (FSP) is Texas born Jason Sorens, who lives in Amherst. In 2001, he organized a migration to NH of 20,000 Libertarians, anarchists, anarcho-capitalists, pacifists, even some like-minded Democrats and Republicans. There are currently a little over 6,000.
Sorens previously lectured in the Dept. of Government at Dartmouth College, was director of the Center for Ethics in Society at St. Anselm College and is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, a conservative libertarian think-tank in Massachusetts.
Free Stater House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, who moved to NH in 2010 from Defiance, Ohio, looks to be quite involved with the AFP group. Tonight, July 22nd in Derry, he and Moore will be guest speakers “for an in-depth look at why healthcare costs continue to rise in the Granite State, making care less affordable for families, small businesses, and taxpayers.” AFP-NH will pay for your dinner and a drink!
Can’t make tonight? Perhaps, you’re more interested in why NH has some of the highest energy costs in New England. On Aug. 5th join the same speakers in Manchester, again with dinner and a drink on AFP-NH. Somehow, I don’t think the topic of renewable energy bills the Free State majority in the House consistently voted down will make the discussion list. However, their panel will focus on practical solutions the NH Legislature can implement right now, such as cutting red tape on infrastructure projects.
Uh-oh!
Could that mean data centers?
The proposed data center for Nottingham was withdrawn after much public outcry. In rapid response to that, AFP-NH held a public discussion last month featuring the “pros and cons” about these centers. One of the panelists was Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy in Concord, an arm of The Heritage Foundation (Project 2025). He stated the best path forward is through the legislative process rather than outright bans on data centers.
He may be right, but this is not the correct legislature to do so!
And just look who AFP endorsed for the Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen! His dad, as Chief of Staff to Pres. George H.W. Bush singlehandedly steered him AWAY from renewables and clean energy! Setting the country back and further into fossil fuels. And his brother James is chair for the Josiah Bartlett Center.
Should we expect more of the same from John E.?
NH is not your “Free State Project”! | DemocracyNH