Republican Governors Association

The Republican Governors Association (RGA), founded in 1963 is a 527 committee that "supports the election of Republican Governors and other nonfederal candidates, promotes Republican policies, and engages in other state election activities." The RGA's primary mission, according to their website, "is to help elect Republicans to governorships throughout the nation, but we are also dedicated to providing our governors with the resources to help them govern effectively."

Mission Statement

 * To assist in the election of Republican gubernatorial candidates and the reelection of incumbent Republican Governors.
 * To utilize the talent, knowledge, creativity of the governors to effectively debate and shape public policy on issues affecting the states; and
 * To enable Republican Governors to express, develop and promote the philosophy of the Republican party at the state and local levels nationwide.

Funding
The RGA is a 527 committee and does not disclose its funding. 527s are not regulated under state or federal campaign finance laws and there are no upper limits on contributions to 527s and no restrictions on who may contribute. There are no spending limits imposed on these organizations.

Biggest Outside Spender
The Republican Governors Association (RGA)'s Political Action Committee "Right Direction Wisconsin" (RGA-RDW) has been the biggest outside spender in this year's Wisconsin recall election between Governor Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. WDC reports that the group has spent $8.6 million since January 2012 with almost all of their spending going towards TV ads. RGA-RDW considers these ads to be "issue ads" and so does not file any disclosure about the donors whose funds make the ad buys possible. The RGA also operates a "527" group, which does disclose its donors to the IRS, and this may eventually provide some insight into the money behind RGA's messages.

RGA Runs Attack Ads
In late March, RGA-RDW ran three ads, one attacking Barrett, one attacking his main primary challenger Kathleen Falk, and one attacking both Barrett and Falk for their records as Milwaukee Mayor and Dane County Executive, respectively. Two weeks before the primary, the group sponsored another ad against Barrett, and after the May 8 primary, it ran three ads (here, here, and here) criticizing Barrett and praising Walker. One of RGA-RDW's most widely circulated ads claims to be all about the facts, but it omits key facts, such as the fact that unemployment rose 34 percent under Scott Walker during his term as Milwaukee County Executive, and it omits information about Wisconsin being ranked 50th out of 50 states in the nation on jobs.

Koch Funding
Koch money is the RGA's top source for contributions in the 2012 election cycle, with the corporation's co-owner David Koch donating at least $2 million and the company itself giving $25,000. In 2010, the RGA spent $3.4 million to help get Walker elected, with $1 million in help from David Koch and another $50,000 from Koch Industries for RGA to spend among the gubernatorial candidates it was backing, including Walker. In addition, Koch Industries PAC was one of the largest contributors to Walker's campaign for office in 2010.

RGA 'Key Investor' in Wis. Gov Scott Walker's Victory
The RGA spent $5 million in the November 2010 Wisconsin Governor's race between Scott Walker and Tom Barrett. The RGA focused its spending on TV ads attacking Walker's political opponent, Democratic Mayor Tom Barrett. As this photo shows, the RGA described itself as a "key investor" in Walker's victory. In its congratulations, the RGA notes that it "ran a comprehensive campaign including TV and internet ads and direct mail. The series of ads were devastating to Tom Barrett ... All told, RGA ran 8 TV ads and sent 8 pieces of mail for absentee, early voting, and GOTV, totaling 2.9 million pieces."

RGA Funds Kasich's Run for Ohio Governor
Building a Better Ohio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich received support from Make Ohio Great, a front group for the Republican Governors Association (RGA), which spent $11 million supporting Kasich in the 2010 election. Make Ohio Great did not reveal the amount of money it gave to Building a Better Ohio or spent on ads defending SB 5, but a look at its 2010 records revealed that the RGA middle-manned money from private health care companies and corporations like Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart, allowing out-of-state interests to silently support Kasich's campaign.

Activities in the 2012 Wisconsin Recall
The RGA created a wisconsin-based Political Action Group, "Right Direction Wisconsin", in order to influence the 2011-2012 Wisconsin Recall. Most of their activities were directed at keeping Walker in power. WDC reports that the group has spent $8.6 million since January 2012 with almost all of their spending going towards TV ads. In late March, RGA-RDW ran three ads, one attacking Barrett one attacking his main primary challenger Kathleen Falk, and one attacking both Barrett and Falk for their records as Milwaukee Mayor and Dane County Executive, respectively. After the primary, the group sponsored a major ad campaign against Tom Barrett, attacking his record on jobs

Past Leadership
Ronald Reagan was chairman from 1968-1970, Tommy Thompson led the RGA in 1991-1992, and John Engler served in 1995-1996.

Contributions
In August, 2010 Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, parent company of Fox News Channel, donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association.

Contributions to the RGA are posted online by CampaignMoney.com.

2012
In 2012, the RGA received $1,025,000 in donations from Koch Industries and another $1,025,000 from Las Vegas Sands.

Major Donors

 * David Koch
 * Rupert Murdoch
 * Las Vegas Sands
 * Stephens Pipe & Steel
 * Blue Cross Blue Shield
 * Perry Homes
 * Comprehensive Health Management
 * Citadel Investment Group

Executive Committee
Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) Gov. Nikki Harley (R-SC) Gov. Tom Corbett (R-PA) Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) Gov. Susana Martinez (R-NM) Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL)

Governors
Sean Parnell (AK) Robert Bently (AL) Jan Brewer (AZ) Nathan Deal (GA) Eddie Calvo (GU) Butch Otter (ID) Terry Brandstad (IA) Mitch Daniels (IN) Sam Brownback (KS) Paul LePage (ME) Rick Snyder (MI) Phil Bryant (MS) Jack Dalrymple (ND) Dave Heineman (NE) Benigo Fitial (NMT) Brian Sandoval (NV) John Kasich (OH) Mary Fallin (OK) Luis Fortuno (PR) Dennis Daugaard Bill Haslam (TN) Rick Perry (TX) Gary Herbert (UT) Matt Mead (WY)

Staff
Jane Batson, Corporate Events Director Monica Block, Governors Liaison Ethan Breitling, Finance Assistant Amy Burggraf, National Recruitment Coordinator Phil Cox, Executive Director Cara Edmundowicz, Executive Roundtable Deputy Director Joanna Evans, Governors Council and Roundtable Membership Director Ed Frank, Director of Film and Visual Media DiAnne Graham, Executive Roundtable Director Paige Hahn, Finance Director Alex Harrison, Political Assistant Ginny Clair Hitt, Executive Roundtable Assistant Daniel Huey, Deputy Political Director Charlie O’Neill, Events Coordinator Josh Robinson, Political Director Mike Schrimpf, Communications Director Zaina Shaath, Corporate Membership Coordinator Jon Thompson, Press Secretary Jodi Vaccarelli, Director of Events, Corporate Mary Ann Voigt, Statesmen, Cabinet and Board Director Tim Whiting, Chief Financial Officer Alden Wood, Executive Roundtable Assistant Larissa Ziemann, Executive Assistant

Contact Information
Republican Governors Association 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: 202-662-4140 E-mail: info@rga.org