Mission and Overview
After decades of New Deal and Great Society social activism; combined with the rapid decline in civics and American history education in our government schools; mixed with a growing population of ill-informed and apathetic voters; government at every level in this country continues to be too big, too intrusive, and too expensive.
Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party by:
(a) promoting these ideals among Party officials and its various organizations,
(b) identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with these ideals, and
(c) promoting Caucus membership among Republican Party registrants, officials, and officeholders.
While rolling back decades of government “nannyism” will require a great deal of public education and grassroots lobbying, the most important means of changing public policy is to change public officials. Therefore, the Republican Liberty Caucus works to elect pro-liberty Republicans to offices at all levels, partisan and non-partisan, in both primary and general elections.
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Programs and Activities
The RLC has an ongoing list of projects and programs that enable us to pursue our mission. By education and outreach for liberty, changing the Republican Party from within, influencing elected officials, and forming pro-liberty coalitions, the RLC has been able to achieve solid results.
• The Liberty Index: The Republican Liberty Caucus maintains a liberty rating system, The Liberty Index, to track and identify the pro-liberty voting records of Members of Congress. The Index began in 1991 and is compiled and distributed annually by the RLC.
• Public Outreach for Liberty: The Republican Liberty Caucus sponsors efforts at state and national GOP events to educate our fellow citizens about the Founding principles and recruit new members for our Caucus.
• Candidate Promotion: In addition to sponsoring training and fundraising events for prospective candidates, the Republican Liberty Caucus has a Political Action Committee (RLC-USA PAC) to provide direct financial assistance to qualified, like-minded candidates. When appropriate, the RLC-USA PAC makes independent expenditures on behalf of candidates.
• Issue Advocacy: Throughout the country, Republican Liberty Caucus affiliates and members are engaging their legislators on the issues of the day. By forging relationships with legislators, we are able to have our agenda discussed in select legislatures across the country.
• Liberty Compact: The Republican Liberty Caucus sponsors and distributes The Liberty Compact, a pledge signed by local, state, and national candidates to identify those who support the RLC’s mission.
• Monthly Newsletter: The RLC publishes a national newsletter and works with local activists in all 50 states to restore core Republican principles that have been lost in recent years.
• Political Training: The Republican Liberty Caucus hosts, presents and sponsors various training programs for RLC state/local chapters, grassroots activists, party leaders, and candidates across the country. The seminars focus on a variety of topics including voter identification, candidate training, recruiting volunteers, and political messaging.
Additionally, many of our members serve actively in their local Republican Party organizations and several of our members have been elected and re-elected to political office.
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Additional Information
The following information is provided to answer your questions about the organization:
- Introduction to the RLC (YouTube)
- Introducción en Español (Yahoo!)
- Bylaws and Rules (PDF)
Please join us and become active in your local affiliate.
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Republican Liberty Caucus National Board
David Nalle, Chair (term expires 2011)
Mark Cross, Vice-Chair (term expires 2011)
Eric L. Wall, Secretary (term expires 2011)
Bill Westmiller, Treasurer (term expires 2011)
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Click here for Board biographies, a listing of appointed positions
and committees, and additional National Board members.
Click here for organizational contact information.
