"Austin --- Some of Texas' biggest trade groups are moving to counter tea party and anti-government forces that have dominated recent Republican primaries.
The Texas Future Business Alliance --- a mix of 10 major business groups, including the chemical industry, bankers, builders and contractors --- is sending out mailers and providing other support on behalf of GOP candidates who have supported water infrastructure development, highway construction and education spending.
Many of the incumbents have been pillories as big government spenders and liberals by fiscal hawk groups.
The movement mirrors the schism happening nationally between hard right and establishment Republicans. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently pledged $50 million to back pro-business Republicans in U.S. Senate primaries and fight tea party insurgents. Republicans leaders, such as House Speaker John Boehner, have castigates hard right groups, accusing them of wanting contributions more than solutions.
"It's part of the same trend you're seeing nationally. A lot of the business community is tired of people who don't want to govern," said a person involved in the Texas Future Business Alliance, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The group isn't talking about its efforts. Spokesman David Polyansky, who has worked on campaigns for Michele Bachmann and Mike Huckabee, said the business alliance aims to "recognize leaders dedicated to keeping Texas as the best state in the nation for business development and job growth.
Insiders won't say how much they are investing, but they describe it as the first major stirrings of business interests in GOP primaries. The first public report on its political spending won't be available until mid-January.
Slammed as moneyed.
Michael Quinn Sullivan, president of the fiscal-hawk group Empower Texans, said the Texas Future Business Alliance is nothing but a group of big-money interests wanting taxpayers dollars to flow into their pockets.
He described the consortium as a "fake group" of large trade associations masquerading as a grass-roots organization and sending out leaflets that give incumbents "A Rated" report cards.
"This is what we've come to expect coming out of Washington, anti-Ted Cruz movement," Sullivan said. "They want people who will vote for cronyism and corporate welfare." ..."
Texas business groups ally to counter tea party influence in GOP primaries
1/4/2014
And Reagan had John Sears (Nixon guy) in ‘76. These guys are hired guns. They provide advice regarding emphasis and strategy, and not typically positions.
Same advisor also worked on the Joni Ernst campaign.
The Crony Capitalist Crowd is trying to rig it, did ya here Beck talk about it the other day?
Yes, they want to limit the field, and the "Final 4" would be Jeb, Mitt, Ron Paul, and The Huckster.
Barf, just Barf...
Look, I can't speak for you all but you might agree with me We want Pence, Walker or Cruz, anything else Sucks on Ice.
It is time for us to walk if they don't, I am not gonna throw up in my mouth again pulling the lever for the wife of the candidate because she'd make a better 1st lady...
Awesome! We’re completely finished.
Sure, there are many out there that talk good rhetoric. But Scott Walker is the only one I have seen that is actually pushing forth a plan to drug test food stamp recipients. He is the only one who has taken on the unions head on. And he is the only one who has not wavered.