( CNN ) Charles Koch , the billionaire GOP donor whose money plays a big role in shaping Republican campaign efforts , said he plans to make criminal justice reform a priority of his as the country heads into the next presidential election . `` Over the next year , we are going to be pushing the issues key to this , which need a lot of work in this country , '' Koch , a Kansas native , told the Wichita Eagle in a story published this weekend . `` And that would be freedom of speech , cronyism and how that relates to opportunities for the disadvantaged . '' Koch 's comments might come as good news to Sen. Rand Paul , who 's made sentencing reform a major part of his agenda while he tries to appeal to nontraditional GOP voters ahead of a likely presidential bid . Gov . Chris Christie , who 's set to make his 2016 decision in the coming months , has been active in pushing for bail reform in New Jersey . And other prospective Republican 2016 candidates -- including Texas Gov . Rick Perry , former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , former Arkansas Gov . Mike Huckabee , Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas — have been supportive of sentencing reform for nonviolent drug offenders . Following the 2012 presidential loss , in which Republican nominee Mitt Romney won only 6 % support among African Americans and 27 % among Latinos , Republicans have been more vocal about making changes to the criminal justice system for nonviolent offenders -- an issue that resonates deeply within minority communities . Koch , according to the Kansas newspaper , said the criminal justice system needs reform `` especially for the disadvantaged '' as well as changes to make it `` fair '' and to make `` sentences more appropriate to the crime that has been committed . '' His chief counsel , Mark Holden , said the tough-on-crime efforts by lawmakers in recent decades have disproportionately affected minorities . `` It definitely appears to have a racial angle , intended or not , '' he said , according to the Wichita Eagle . Holden added that Koch also wants to address voting rights for former offenders and make it easier for nonviolent offenders to find employment after completing their sentences . Campaign observers pay close attention to the political interests of Koch and his brother , David . Political groups associated with the powerful duo spent $ 100 million on races in 2014 . According to the newspaper , Koch 's interest in criminal justice reform originated from a lengthy , expensive case defending his company , Koch Petroleum Group , against 97 felony indictments involving alleged environmental crimes at an oil refinery in the 1990s . All but six of the charges were ultimately dropped , and the case ended in a $ 10 million settlement .
GOP megadonor Ed Koch wants a bigger focus on criminal justice reform . Koch , and his son Rob , are key figures in the Republican donor class . Some former Republican presidential hopefuls have said they favor criminal justice reform .