Koch Political Network to Spend Millions Selling Tax Overhaul

(Bloomberg) -- The political network backed by billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch is planning a “multi-million dollar” effort in 2018 to promote the tax overhaul legislation passed this week by Congress that so far is polling poorly with American voters.

The network says the campaign will try to demonstrate to Americans that the legislation, which President Donald Trump is expected to sign into law soon, is pro-growth and will improve their lives. Seminars, workshops, town-hall style events, phone banking and door knocking are planned, in addition to targeted advertising on television, radio and digital platforms.

"We’re going to make sure that Americans understand how they and their community stand to benefit," Tim Phillips, president of the Koch-affiliated group Americans for Prosperity, said in a statement. "That means activating our grassroots infrastructure in 36 states to get the word out, having hundreds of thousands of direct conversations that cut through the rhetoric and misinformation.”

So far this year, the Koch network says it has spent more than $20 million to support the tax legislation nationally.

To contact the reporter on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at jmccormick16@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sara Forden at sforden@bloomberg.net, Michael B. Marois, John Harney

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