Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus works to advance the principles of limited government, free markets and individual liberty within the Republican Party.

The inaugural event of the Nebraska Chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus took place at the Double D Ranch outside of Ashland, Nebraska on Friday evening, July 11.  The event, which included dinner, social time, and introductions of the organizational Officers and Board of Directors, marked the first time that the group had assembled as a group—and indeed the first time that many of our folks had actually met one another face to face, in spite of many phone conversations and e-mail communications which had taken place.  All 21 of the charter members (those who had paid their dues by June 30) were in attendance, and several new charter members joined the group, as well.  A total of 39 members and guests were in attendance for this first event.

The event, deliberately held this year in conjunction with the Nebraska GOP Convention the next day, included discussions of how we might be most effective in promoting the cause of liberty in the Republican Party.  The Nebraska RLC welcomed a guest, Don Waggoner, a local businessman who has a long history as a political “operative” in Nebraska, and who worked in the Goldwater movement toward the end, and served as an advance man for Ronald Reagan for his brief presidential run in 1968.  Waggoner, and a couple of other local Goldwater-era folks, agreed to help our group navigate convention politics the next day, and to add their experience to our efforts.

The consensus was that our next Convention, to be held in 2010, would take place several weeks prior to the Party Convention, and would include debate on proposals to the State GOP Platform so that the Nebraska RLC could submit proposals as a block of the state party.

At the Convention, the RLC had a booth. According to Nebraska RLC Chair Laura Ebke, “I saw a lot of people walking around with our literature and a few even picked up our RLC buttons and were wearing them.”

Three Nebraska RLC charter members were elected on Saturday—outside of the McCain organization slate—as uncommitted delegates (2) and alternates (1) to the National GOP Convention.  Our newly chartered chapter was recognized formally by the Nebraska state Republican Party Chair, and Nebraska RLC members were welcomed as (mostly) new participants in the process.  All in all, a great weekend to be part of the Nebraska RLC!

Many thanks to Laura Ebke for her experience and enthusiasm in the Nebraska RLC charter process.