David Koch: Lamenting Cancer Research Cuts—and Bankrolling the GOPers Behind Them

[Zephie]

On Friday, conservative billionaire David Koch lamented the deep federal cuts that are expected to impact both the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute—and, by extension, MIT's new David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. "If the cutbacks happen, it will significantly diminish the level of research that can be carried on at the Koch Institute," he said, speaking at the opening of the research center. Koch, the executive vice president of Koch Industries, implored the deep-pocketed attendees of the ceremony to fill the gap with personal donations: "I earnestly ask you to do all you can to help maintain the superb research at the Koch Institute at its maximum level."

But who's responsible for making these crippling cutbacks? Some of the very Republicans that David Koch and his brother, Charles, have bankrolled in their deep-pocketed—and successful—effort to help the GOP win back the House.

House Republicans axed $1.6 billion in NIH funding in the budget bill they passed last month—5.2 percent of the agency's budget—which will deliver a significant blow to the agency's National Cancer Institute, according to government officials. Spearheading the effort has been Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the party's budget-slashing golden boy, whose office tells Bloomberg that the NIH has received enough spending increases—and that "the Democrats' 'spending spree' must stop and that priorities need to be set."

Over the years, Koch industries has invested heavily in Ryan's poltical career. The company is the sixth-largest donor to the Wisconsin Republican, contributing more than $60,000 to his campaign and political action committee since 2000, including $10,000 in the 2010 election cycle. The company also donated $17,000 to Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has proposed an even more radical 37 percent cut in NIH funding. Overall, Koch Industries gave over $1.5 million to federal Republican candidates in 2010 alone, along with $1.2 million to the Republican Governors Association.

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/03/david-koch-cancer-research-gop-nih

[wilt the stilt]

1. They don't really care

Their true desire is to get their names on buildings and seem to be good guys. In reality they believe in poor houses and people going without healthcare and dying in the streets.

[Zephie]

4. At the end of the article he goes on to acknowladge he's a bad person

Then says he gets by with it because people kiss his ass.

[kenfrequed]

5. I disagree...

His real motives are contained in his actuary tables. He knows at his age cancer is his likeliest killer and he is probably hoping to insulate himself from that cause of death.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[icnorth]

3. Hey Davey, here's a thought...

take that 1.5 mil you send to the federal repubs and that other 1.2 mil you send to the repub governors and reroute it to your cancer institute. Oh and quit whining it's not very becoming.