Once again, political consultant John Hallman will be organizing our annual grassroots lobbying trip to Tallahassee for Florida RLC members and activists. The Florida RLC’s members will visit dozens of legislators and maybe even the governor’s office to push our issues forward, including the Taxpayer Protection Act, or TABOR (which will be introduced again this session).

- A 10th Amendment resolution on state sovereignty;
- Insurance reform (trying to fix the governor’s broken reforms);
- Property tax reform; and
- Opposition to coercive union card-check organizing.

Students are welcome to participate, too. For logistics or to RSVP, call John Hallman at 561-715-7203.

RLC members have visited the Capitol for years now.
Above is a photo of RLC members at the Capitol in 2008.

The Republican Liberty Caucus operates a Political Action Committee to help our candidates get elected. The PAC, called RLC-USA PAC, can accept contributions from individuals or charitable foundations of up to $5,000. Donations are not tax deductible. The PAC has a new address:

Alan H. Cousin, Treasurer
Republican Liberty Caucus PAC
185 Main St., Apt. 14
Malden, MA 02148

Arizona RLC Interim Chair Roy Miller with Jeff Flake. Miller delivered a $1,000 check to Congressman Flake from the RLC-USA PAC in October 2008.

In an article from The Arizona Republic on Dec. 30, the newspaper opined that Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona may be exactly what the GOP needs if it wants a successful future. In its November issue, Esquire Magazine named Flake one of the 10 best elected officials in Washington. “A true conservative, Flake is as rare as the dodo. Republicans should learn from him, and liberals and libertarians will find in him a strong privacy-rights ally.”

In 2006, the Arizona RLC hosted a banquet for Rep. Jeff Flake at the Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. In both 2006 and 2008, the RLC-USA PAC contributed $1,000 to support Jeff Flake’s successful re-election efforts.

In 2008, the RLC-USA PAC also contributed to two unsuccessful candidacies: Sydney Hay for Congress in Arizona and Tom Feeney for Congress in Florida.

Roy Miller with Sydney Hay. Miller delivered a $1,000 check to Ms.
Hay in October 2008 from the RLC-USA PAC.

The RLC-USA PAC assists pro-liberty Republicans running for office who have been official endorsed by the RLC.

Please contribute to the PAC today!

Some photos from the Republican Liberty Caucus of the District of Columbia:

RLCDC Secretary Nancy Sellers (center) and member Tim Andrews (far left) protest the Bush Administration’s bailout proposal on September 29, 2008.

Stephen, Aaron, Tommi, and Clark at a happy hour.

Nancy and Aaron at a Ron Paul for President fundraiser in Georgetown.

RLCDC members Craig Max and Michael Zurat at the Log Cabin Republican gathering at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, September 2008.

Republican Liberty Caucus members were at the GOP National Convention earlier in the month.

Below are some photos of RLC members at the Convention.

North Carolina Republican Liberty Caucus members at the GOP Convention. Front Row: Pat Armstrong; Back Row: RLC North Carolina Board member Dana Mazer; Jeff Austin; North Carolina RNC Delegate Thomas MacMahon; former RLC Treasurer Jeffrey Palmer; and Jessica Hult.

Dana Mazer, Jeff Palmer, and two Texas RLC activists.

Left to right: Wisconsin RLC member, Jeff Palmer, two unknowns, and Georgia RLC member Bill Greene after the Thursday evening RLC meeting.

Florida Republican Liberty Caucus members at the GOP Convention.

Front Row: RLC At-Large Board member Steven Talcott Smith; Kimberly Abelon; Sarah Lovett; Unknown; Back Row: Unknown; John Charles Stevens; Harry Collins; Nick Egoroff (peeking out); Unknown; Will Pitts; Randall Henning; several unknowns; and RLC Treasurer Mark Cross.

RLC North Carolina activist Dana Mazer with former Congressman Barry Goldwater, Jr. at Ron Paul’s Monday night delegate reception.

RLC National Committee member Steven Talcott Smith with libertarian attorney Bruce Fein.

RLC Florida members Deborah Langdon and Kimberly Abelon.

RLC Florida members Kimberly Abelon and Sarah Lovett.

On September 2, 2008 in Minneapolis, Ron Paul’s “Rally for the Republic” kicked off with speeches from U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, former U.S. Rep. Barry Goldwater, Jr., former Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico, Tucker Carlson, Grover Norquist, and Olympic swimmer Erik Vendt.

Several RLC members were in attendance. Photos from the event follow.

Vincent Campos, left, a Ron Paul RNC delegate from Mineral Wells, Texas, and his friend hit the streets to check out the action.

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Supporters joyously promote Dr. Paul outside of the Target Center.

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Ron Paul book signing and rally at Rosedale Mall.

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Champion Olympic swimmer (and future RLC endorsed candidate?) Erik Vendt passionately makes the case for liberty.

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Emcee Tucker Carlson makes a point. Carlson objected when the John Birch Society’s President made the case for closed U.S. borders at the Rally for the Republic.

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Grover Norquist made the case for drowning government.

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RLC Adviser Governor Gary Johnson speaks to the crowd.
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Ron Paul addresses the crowd of 10,000+.
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RLC Mississippi Coordinator Jeff Powell (left).

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A family celebrates liberty.

Ron Paul speaks to the crowd.

RLC-endorsed candidate for Congress in North Carolina, Dr. William Lawson (right).

RLC-endorsed candidate for Congress in Maryland, Richard Pryce Matthews (left).

In June, the Arizona and DC chapters had their first affiliate meetings. The DC chapter is very close to chartering. [UPDATE Oct. 2008: The DC affiliate is now chartered. Join the RLCDC eGroup HERE to learn more.]

On July 15, the local chapter of the RLC — which is not yet chartered — sponsored a forum with RLC member Dick Heller of Heller v. DC, the Supreme Court’s recent gun case. The youthful audience asked questions of Mr. Heller and worked to formalize a charter.

RLC member Ken Rineer organized a meeting of RLC members and activists in Tucson, Arizona on July 29. Interested parties discussed chartering an RLC affiliate in Arizona. Additionally, Joe Higgins, Republican candidate for the Pima County Board of Supervisors (District 1), was the guest speaker.

DC and Arizona are expected to submit their charter paperwork to the RLC National Committee in short order.

In Indiana, a meeting was held at RLC organizer Kevin Van Linden’s house on August 17. The chapter submitted its Charter Application and affiliate by-laws to the National Committee for consideration shortly after their meeting. Photos from the meeting follow.

[UPDATE Oct. 2008: The RLC in Indiana is chartered and has its own web site.]

Additional chapters are working to charter RLC affiliates, including Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wisconsin.