(Arizona) – The Koch brothers acted decisively, and secretly to defeat non-partisan Open Primary reformers in Arizona. The Koch brothers funneled more than half a million dollars to fund the partisan attack on Proposition 121. The money powered an aggressive “No” campaign, led in a bipartisan manner by the leaders of the Republican, Democrat, and even third parties in Arizona.

The Koch brothers also funneled millions of dollars into California to oppose Proposition 30 and in support of Proposition 32. In a press release issued by the FPPC:

Americans for Responsible Leadership, the Arizona non-profit corporation that made an anonymous $11 million donation to a California campaign committee, today sent a letter declaring itself to be the intermediary and not the true source of the contribution. It identified the true source of the contribution as Americans for Job Security, through a second intermediary, The Center to Protect Patient Rights. Under California law, the failure to disclose this initially was campaign money laundering. At $11 million, this is the largest contribution ever disclosed as campaign money laundering in California history.

Former Phoenix Mayor, Paul Johnson, lead the “Yes” effort, but was outgunned and out campaigned by the state’s Republican and Democratic establishment.

The Koch brothers cash was distributed by Americans for Responsible Leadership Chairman Robert Graham. Graham  is also campaigning for the chairmanship of the Arizona Republican Party. So, Graham’s interest in preserving a system that concentrates both money and power in the hands of the state’s majority party is not surprising.

No comment yet about how the Democratic leaders explain their secret alliance with the same financial interests that they have publicly lambasted for bankrolling the country’s most far right wing causes and candidates.