Colorado Springs, Colo. (CNN) Frustrated with Republican lawmakers and recent policy developments out of Washington, the juggernaut Koch network appears poised to rethink or scale back its involvement in GOP politics in what would be a surprising shift as the midterm elections near.

In a rare question-and-answer session with reporters Sunday, the network's billionaire founder Charles Koch expressed "regret" over his network's past support for some candidates, who he believes have not done enough in office to defend its libertarian principles and policy priorities.

"So, we're going to be much stricter," Koch said, adding that the network would "hold people responsible for their commitments."

The shift would seem to confirm the worst fears of some Republicans, who have quietly worried about becoming too reliant on the Koch network, which is not a partisan group, but an ideological one. Politics and government are just one of several areas to which the Koch network commits its resources and collective energy, in addition to business, education and community programs.

Still, the network has loomed large in elections as a powerful and deep-pocketed ally of Republican candidates and interests, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf. But the tone of Koch network leaders this weekend suggested a possible retrenchment.

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