Koch brothers give maximum to Scott Brown

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

The Koch brothers, conservative billionaires known for their interest electoral politics, have continued their strong financial backing of US Senator Scott Brown, donating $5,000 on June 30, the last day of the financial reporting quarter, according to Brown’s most recent campaign finance report.

That brings the total donated to Brown from their political action committee to $10,000 -- the maximum allowable under the law for his upcoming reelection campaign --- since the Massachusetts Republican was elected in 2010.

The brothers are popular among libertarians for their outspoken promotion of free market think tanks and candidates. Liberals loathe them, particularly for their efforts to cast doubt on climate change science and environmental regulations and their efforts to weaken public sector unions in Wisconsin and other states.

In March, a liberal blog, Think Progress, video-taped Brown thanking conservative billionaire David Koch for supporting Brown’s campaign last year — and asking him for help in his re-election.

“Your support during the election, it meant a ton,” the Massachusetts Republican is shown telling Koch. “It made a difference and I can certainly use it again.”

According to Think Progress: “David Koch directly gave the National Republican Senatorial Committee $30,400 in November 2009, [two months before Brown was elected] and the Koch Industries PAC threw in $15,000 to NRSC plus $5,000 more directly to Brown right before Brown’s special election.”

The Koch brothers PAC has also given to Democratic candidates including a total of $60,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee over the last two elections.