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Article snippet: A senior official from the political network affiliated with billionaire conservative businessman Charles Koch sent a letter to donors on Friday saying the network stands by its decision not to support Republicans that break from their free market ideology on issues like spending and trade. The letter, from Koch Industries general counsel Mark Holden, says the network “has never been an appendage of the Republican Party” and is proud to hold elected officials accountable when they fall out of line, regardless of party identity. Holden also accused the Republican National Committee (RNC) of “woefully” mischaracterizing Koch’s political activities after the network announced it would be more selective in choosing the GOP candidates it will support. “What we have always been — and will continue being — is a network of business and philanthropic leaders that is focused on solving society’s biggest problems,” Holden writes in the letter, obtained by The Hill. “That includes issues where only long-term solutions will do, like getting our country’s spending and entitlement crisis under control, fixing our broken criminal justice system that is making communities more dangerous, reforming regulations that are crushing innovation, and more.” The letter comes after several days of brewing tension between MORE and the Koch network, an influential group of predominantly conservative and libertarian activists who are expected to spend $400 million on politics and policy this... Link to the full article to read more