Four GOP presidential hopefuls have scored invitations to speak this weekend at the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit affiliated with billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch that seeks to promote the benefits of free markets in a free society.
According to
Politico, Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin have been invited to address the group of wealthy donors at the Palm Springs, California, event, though none of the men or their spokespeople have said whether they have accepted.
A spokesman for Freedom Partners also would not comment to Politico on the closed-to-the-press function.
Freedom Partners, based in Arlington, Virginia, bills itself as a nonprofit formed to educate the public about the critical role of free markets in the furtherance of economic prosperity, societal well-being and personal happiness.
The group focuses four main issues: healthcare reform, federal spending, energy policy, and cronyism.
Freedom Partners donor meetings bring together wealthy conservative business leaders for seminars led by key conservative "politicians, operatives and thought leaders, including American Enterprise Institute President Arthur Brooks, pundit Erick Erickson and pollster Frank Luntz."
The network values "small government, free market policies" over social issues and an interventionist foreign policy, positions that favor the likes of Paul, Walker and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, though Pence is not expected to take part in this weekend’s gathering, according to Politico.
The weekend wraps up with donors pledging large amounts — up to seven figures, according to Politico — in support of "policy and political efforts" raised at the meetings.
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