As the conflict between American workers and the Republican party spreads and continues, we now have more definitive proof that Republican claims that this is about budgetary issues are out and out lies. Americans for Prosperity is a front group for the Koch brothers. Their Executive Director for Michigan explained both their goal and the reason for it at CPAC.

In a speech earlier this month at the Conservative Political Action Committee’s annual conference, Americans For Prosperity-Michigan Executive Director Scott Hagerstrom revealed the true goal of his group and its allies like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) efforts. Speaking at CPAC’s “Panel for Labor Policy,” Hagerstrom said that AFP really wants to do is to “take the unions out at the knees”… …Watch it: Taking “the unions out at the knees” has long been a goal of the Koch brothers and their many front groups. In the run-up to the 2010 elections, the Kochs worked with other anti-labor billionaires, corporations and activists to fund conservative candidates and groups across the country. Now after viciously opposing pro-middle class policies for years, Koch Industries is trying to eliminate the only organizations which serve as a counterweight to the well-oiled corporate machine… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

Note here that the reason Hagerstrom gave for taking unions out is “so they don’t have the resourses to fight these battles”. How do they fight battles for workers rights? A big way is by opposing Republicans and supporting Democrats. And what resources did he mean? Two come to mind. Union money and union members volunteering for campaigns. Republicans want to establish permanent one-party Republican rule.