State Rep. Cushing files election law complaint against Charles and David Koch
State House Rep. Renny Cushing (D-Hampton) has filed a complaint with the state attorney general alleging billionaires Charles and David Koch are the “ultimate source” of the funding for a political mailer that violated the state’s election laws.
The mailer, which Cushing says contained “false and misleading information,” was paid for by New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, a non-profit organization led by Corey Lewandowski, national director of voter registration for the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity and founder of the New Hampshire AFP chapter.
The mailer claimed Cushing “refuses to stop welfare abuse” by opposing legislation “to finally end the use of EBT welfare cards from being used to purchase alcohol and tobacco.” In fact, Cushing and the House voted to send the referenced legislation to a study committee “due to the multiplicity of oversight resources needed to ensure the card is used for only the purposes intended.”
Cushing claims those responsible for the mailer – the Koch brothers, New Hampshire Advantage Coalition and “persons unknown” – violated provisions of state election law that require groups making expenditures promoting the success or defeat of a candidate to register as a political committee and disclose receipts and expenditures.
New Hampshire Advantage Coalition is registered with the state as a non-profit organization and does not disclose contributors – though Susan Bruce uncovered a $20,000 contribution to the group from Americans for Prosperity in 2012.
In its October 2011 Creation Filing, NHAC stated its objective is to promote “ideas, policies and issues such as limited and localized government, individual liberty and responsibility, the separation of governmental powers, fiscal restraint and low taxes, which create the New Hampshire Advantage.”
In 2012, Kevin Landrigan reported Lewandowski and others had reorganized the group of the same name that had previously been led by former state Sen. George Lovejoy. The original incarnation of the Advantage Coalition had been dedicated to fighting a broad-based state tax and supporting more domestic energy production.
Cushing, an incumbent in Rockingham District 21, tied for the district’s fourth and final seat with Republican Ken Sheffert. The Secretary of State will hold a recount on Thursday. If the candidates are still tied after the recount, the House will hold a floor vote to select the winner after the newly elected members are sworn in.