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

Lisa Bullion (above, right), who oversaw the Florida RLC’s growth and legislative successes since 2006, resigned as chair of the organization on March 6 for personal reasons. Ms. Bullion lead the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida through an astounding period of growth. RLC Treasurer Mark Cross stepped up to fill the position until new elections are held at the upcoming RLC convention this weekend in Jacksonville.

Bullion took the chair position after Alfonso Gutierrez stepped down as RLC Chair in December 2005. Bullion was known throughout the state for her efforts on behalf of individual liberty, including stints as a campaign manager in a State House race, a past Libertarian Party Chair, and an employee of Citizens for a Sound Economy (now FreedomWorks) as well as an elected public official. As with many RLC’ers, her partisan route was circuitous: she started out as an independent, later joined the Libertarian Party, and finally registered as a Republican.

“It has been a learning process. I made the switch because I realized after all these years that the best chance to elect libertarians into public office and to enact libertarian policy ideas into law is through the GOP,” Bullion said in 2006. Similar to other RLC members who were once members of the LP, Bullion said “my philosophy has not changed, only my strategy.”

Her first action as chair was to organize a RLC outreach effort at the Young Republicans quarterly convention in Orlando in January 2006. But Bullion’s most lasting achievements are likely to be the buildout of the RLC and the RLC’s legislative successes. After months of letter writing, public speaking, phone calls, visits to Tallahassee, media work, and intra-party intrigue, the RLC of Florida scored many legislative victories since Bullion assumed her position.

In 2006, the RLC of Florida chose two legislative priorities: advocating a state ban on government takings of private property for private redevelopment and defeating a legislative effort to extend Florida’s voter-approved term limits from eight to 12 years. Both were successful. (For details, click here and here.)

“Our experience during the 2006 session is evidence that the RLC’s principled and practical strategy is the right one to advance libertarian policy,” said Bullion. “The RLC took a lead role in two important issues of the day and our efforts were rewarded.”

Bullion also oversaw the first national RLC convention held in Florida the same year, which earned coverage in The Wall Street Journal and featured WSJ editorial writer Stephen Moore. Notable Florida politicians attended looking for support from RLC’ers, including RLC ally Sen. Mike Haridopolos and then-U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris. Elected RLC’ers attended from across the country, such as Dade County (Georgia) Commissioner Ben Brandon and then-State Representative Ken Lindell of Maine.

As part of the RLC Day at the capitol in 2007, Bullion launched the Florida RLC’s ongoing effort to enact a constitutional spending restraint — called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) or Taxpayer Protection Amendment (now retitled ‘SmartCap’) for the state. The idea was floated by the James Madison Institute, but it was the RLC that became its primary grassroots advocate, pushing the idea in Tallahassee and across the state throughout 2008 and 2009.

In summer of 2007, Bullion helped organize the RLC’s outreach efforts at the Young Republicans National Convention held in Hollywood, Florida. The effort recruited new RLC members and greater awareness of the organization among young Republicans, who have always been the RLC’s best market for new members. RLC members also were a presence at the Republican Party of Florida’s Presidency IV Convention in Orlando, part of the process of nominating the 2008 presidential candidate. It was under Bullion that RLC speakers began bringing its message to GOP clubs throughout Florida.

Speaking of the primaries, under Bullion’s leadership, many RLC’ers active with the Ron Paul campaign recruited new members from the campaign ranks, bringing in a new breed of RLC’ers. New informal RLC Meetups sprung up across the state including in Tallahassee, Palm Beach, Miami, Lee County, Tampa Bay, and — most notably — Northeast Florida. All of these Meetup groups from the Ron Paul campaign were converted to functional RLC affiliates that are in the midst of growth.

In February 2008, many of the new crowd was invited to join the Florida RLC Board of Directors, broadening its scope in geography and passion. RLC activity continued non-stop throughout 2008, up to her departure, and will continue under the new RLC Chair to be elected this weekend in Jacksonville. Bullion will remain active in the RLC and will be attending the Convention in Jacksonville this weekend.