MILWAUKEE – RLC-WI Chairman, Michael S. Murphy, publicly announced today that he will not seek another term as RLC-WI Chairman when his current term expires in January 2012.  In a statement issued by Murphy, he explains:

“Although I have had an exciting and knowledgeable experience acting as Chairman of the RLC-WI, I have made a personal decision not to seek re-election as the RLC-WI Chairman, come January 2012.  This is a decision that took quite sometime for me to consider, but now I must stand firm with my choice.”

Murphy further stated,

“Let it be known that my decision to step down as Chair has nothing to do with the RLC or its mission.  I shall always stand by the efforts of the RLC in trying to help foster the Liberty message within the Republican Party.”

Murphy did not elaborate extensively on why he is choosing to step down, but only briefly mentioned that he arrived at the decision because of “personal reasons”. 

Murphy, who held the office of Vice Chair at the time the Wisconsin Chapter was created in December 2009, assumed command of the RLC-WI when former State Chair, Ted Story, abruptly resigned from the organization in February 2010.  Since then, Murphy proceeded in growing the chapter, while also getting the RLC-WI active in the 2010 elections.

In the start of his term, Murphy assisted in making the first public appearance of the RLC-WI at the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s State Convention on May 22, 2010 in Milwaukee, WI. At the convention, Murphy and other RLC-WI board members conducted candidate outreach, promoted the RLC-WI chapter, and conducted general recruitment for the RLC-WI. 

For several months after the convention and leading up to the November 2010 elections, Murphy helped facilitate the endorsements of twenty Liberty-Minded Candidates for offices ranging from Senate to Sheriff in 2010, and an additional two in 2011 thus far.  From those endorsements, seven RLC-WI endorsed candidates went on to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

During the 2010 campaigns, with the help of the Dan Sebring For Congress Campaign, Murphy was instrumental in helping to publically expose the WI Congressional Delegation’s “Unwritten Rule” on endorsements.  The “Unwritten Rule” is a Ruling Class protectionist agreement between current WI Congressional Members, not to endorse any challenger who campaigns against another sitting Congressional incumbent regardless of partisanship. This agreement has been ongoing for several years amongst the entire Wisconsin Congressional Delegation. From the time the “Unwritten Rule” was publicly exposed, Murphy also saw to it that a resolution was crafted at his own County Republican Party in Milwaukee denouncing the “Unwritten Rule”, and ensured that the resolution made it all the way to a vote on the floor at the 2011 Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention in Wisconsin Dells, WI., on May 21, 2011.

When not focusing on endorsements and helping to be the “Conscience of the Republican Party”, Murphy assisted in efforts to help champion legislation regarding the legalization of raw milk, the passage of Constitutional Carry in Wisconsin, and promoting WI Governor Scott Walker’s Budget Reform Bill.  On a couple occasions, Murphy also gave statements on behalf of the RLC-WI to national news sources such as “Politico” and the “Wall Street Journal” relating to Wisconsin politics.

With all the activism Murphy helped create and assist with, his efforts led him to receive the award for “Outstanding Activist for 2010” presented by the Republican Liberty Caucus at their National Convention, which was held in Arlington, VA., on February 12, 2011.

Murphy’s term, as well as all other RLC-WI Board Member terms, will soon expire at the RLC-WI’s Regular Convention in January 2012.  The exact date, time and location have not been set as of yet. According to RLC-WI bylaws, candidates for Officer shall have been Regular members of the Charter for at least one year prior to their nomination. Candidates for Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall have been Regular members for at least two years and members of the Board of Directors for at least six months prior to their nomination.

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CONCORD, N.H.–To bolster Republicans’ progress toward responsible government in the House of Representatives, the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire is endorsing David Simpson for state representative in a Hillsborough District 3 special election on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Simpson, who is running for a vacant House seat representing the towns of Peterborough, New Ipswich, Sharon and Greenville, would bring important experience to reinforce the already impressive efforts of the Republican majority in restoring the common sense principles of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free enterprise and adherence to the state and federal constitutions.

“The Republican majority has demonstrated that they are dedicated to bringing prosperity back to New Hampshire, and David Simpson will be a valuable addition to that effort,” said Andrew Hemingway, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “David’s experience, primarily in the areas of finance, budgets and small businesses, will be important as we continue to undo the economic damage wrought by years of Democrat control and public mismanagement.”

On his Web site, www.davidlsimpson.org, Simpson makes clear his commitment to improving the business climate in New Hampshire, which will lead to economic and job growth. He says he wants to work to protect the New Hampshire Advantage by maintaining a reasonable regulatory balance, making business tax rates more competitive and protecting individuals right to work free from union coercion.

“David Simpson will strengthen Republican efforts to restore common sense government in Concord,” said Hemingway. “He is unwavering in his commitment to the welfare and prosperity of our state, and he understands that the only way to get the state back on the path to prosperity is by returning to our legacy of responsible, honest and limited government.”

In general, endorsed RLCNH candidates are strong proponents of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise. They have shown their dedication to these ideals with their score on RLCNH’s 20-question candidate survey and their reputation among liberty activists. Endorsed candidates must score 80 percent or higher on the survey and they must have a strong character recognized by their peers.

For more information about David Simpson’s candidacy, please visit www.davidlsimpson.org.

For Immediate Release: May 17th, 2011
Contact: Dave Nalle, National Chair: (512) 656-8011 or chairman@rlc.org

REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS CALLS ON CONGRESS TO HOLD THE LINE ON DEBT
Congress Should Cut Spending Now, Balance the Budget and Not Raise the Debt Ceiling

AUSTIN, TX – Ironically, on Friday the 13th, the government ran out of money.  Some numbers were juggled to buy a few months of time, but this means that this week the House of Representatives has to decide what to do about the chronic problem of spending which exceeds government income.  The easy “solution” promoted by government bureaucrats and many special interests is to raise the debt ceiling yet again, despite the fact that it already stands at $14.3 trillion. The Republican Liberty Caucus believes that the fear mongering about the debt ceiling is not justified and that we should not be bullied into taking on more debt when there are other responsible solutions that don’t merely kick the can further down the road.

Last week, the Republican Liberty Caucus board unanimously passed a resolution opposing any increase in the debt ceiling, and endorsing immediate spending reductions as a sensible solution to this crisis.  The resolution demands that Congress “shut down non-essential government programs and limit operational expenses to incoming revenue until a balanced budget can be passed.”

The resolution is accompanied by explanations of the situation for our members, and clear proposals explaining how to implement immediate spending reductions without causing a default or major crisis.  By paying debt service first and then prioritizing other spending, essential government services can be maintained.  Cutting funding to some low priority programs will buy time to implement the reductions necessary to balance spending with incoming revenue on a month to month basis until the Congress can put together a balanced budget.

“Congress hasn’t been doing its job to produce a balanced budget.   Hitting the debt ceiling ought to be a wake-up call for them,” said RLC board member Bill Westmiller.  “This may be a crisis, but it’s also an opportunity to apply immediate solutions that will bring spending under control right now and stop putting it off and making the situation worse. It’s like they’re waiting for some magical pixie to fix our budget crisis and plan to just keep spending at an ever increasing level until that magic moment comes.”

“We’re putting on a full-press to make Congress aware of our concerns. The RLC is tirelessly promoting a message of fiscal responsibility and encouraging supporters to contact their representatives. It’s time we demand that they stop mortgaging the prosperity of future generations to pay for past political deals,” said RLC Executive Secretary Corie Whalen.

“We may not win this battle, but the war to restore liberty and fiscal responsibility will go on,” said RLC National Chairman Dave Nalle.  “The entire House is up for reelection next year  and how they perform in this situation and what they do about balancing the budget in the next year will tell us who to support and who to oppose.  A lot of seats changed hands in 2010.  Based on the lack of fiscal responsibility shown by  congressional leaders in this situation, 2010 may have just been a preview of 2012.”

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See the full text of the resolution at http://www.rlc.org/2011/05/17/resolution-in-opposition-to-raising-the-debt-ceiling/

Further information on this campaign can be found at http://www.rlc.org/2011/05/15/tell-congress-to-hold-the-line-on-debt/

To contact a local or national spokesperson call 512-656-8011

The Republican Liberty Caucus is a 527 political organization founded in 1991, committed to protecting the principles of individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise that once defined the Republican Party. The Caucus recruits and endorses candidates who support our agenda, works to elect limited-government Republicans to political office, and seeks to change the direction of the Republican Party to reflect members’ vision of liberty, peace and prosperity.  The RLC currently has local affiliates in more than 40 states and hundreds of endorsed office holders nationwide, including in the US House and Senate.

Friends of Liberty:

The long-awaited elimination of Osama bin Laden is a tribute to the persistence of our military and the effectiveness of our intelligence community. We can now honestly say “mission accomplished” and put to rest the post 9/11 era and its policies.

We should look on this victory as a new beginning and an opportunity to dismantle our overblown domestic security apparatus, including the elimination of the Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Safety Administration and repeal of the remaining elements of the Patriot Act. The death of Osama bin Laden should mark the end of the War on Terror.  We should transition to a new set of priorities that emphasize foreign intelligence gathering and a foreign policy of defending our country and protecting American lives and liberties.

Let us make this the beginning of a new era where we should embrace our love of liberty and no longer be ruled by fear, leading the world by example rather than being driven by revenge.

Dave Nalle

Chairman, Republican Liberty Caucus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2011
CONTACT: Dave Nalle at 512-656-8011 or chairman@rlc.org

Grassroots Republican Caucus Calls for Government Shut Down
Americans Are Tired of Paying for Irresponsible Leadership

WASHINGTON, DC — Speaking for thousands of grassroots activists nationwide, Dave Nalle, Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, advised lawmakers not to compromise on the budget or to expect to be held accountable.

“Republicans who were elected to significantly cut the size of government should listen to the will of the people — or expect to be held accountable in the next election,” said Nalle.  “The proposed cuts are too little and too late and further compromise with Democrat politicians who are not serious about downsizing government will betray the results of last November’s elections.  If standing up for fiscal responsibility means the government must be shut down, then it is on the heads of the big spenders and let them pay the political price for it.  Shut it down!”

Nalle’s statement came in response to the revelation that Republican House Speaker John Boehner is trying to make a back-room deal with moderate Democrats to pass a budget with only $33 billion in cuts for the fiscal year.  Chairman Nalle’s outrage was echoed by grassroots leaders of the Republican Liberty Caucus, who conferred to discuss a response to the failure of party leaders and determined to remind their representatives that the Republican grassroots elected them to end the era of out of control spending and dramatically downsize government.

Florida RLC Chairman Matt Nye observed that “spending at every level of government is out of control, but nothing compares to the fiscal insanity we are witnessing in Washington, D.C. This new batch of Republicans was elected to get America’s financial house in order, but to date they have failed utterly and completely. It is hard to understand how such a simple fact of reality – that you cannot consume more than you produce – is so hard for our elected officials to understand and act on when regular Americans do it every day in their own households.”

At-Large RLC Board member William Westmiller of California asked, “Why shouldn’t Republicans support the shutdown all non-essential government services?  If the Democrats refuse to cut those marginal services, GOP leaders should be promoting creative solutions like privatization. For example, if the government can’t afford to run national parks, they should be sold to the highest bidder and the receipts applied to reduce the national debt.”

David Williams, Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of North Carolina, said, “Last year North Carolina voters made it clear that they want sweeping budget cuts and a government that lives within its means. The new Republican majority Congressional delegation, the state’s first in over 100 years, will earn the respect and continued support of North Carolina voters if they follow through on their pledge to restore fiscal discipline without tax increases.”

And Michael S. Murphy, Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Wisconsin, observed that, “The message sent by the American voter was not heard clearly enough by the Republican Congressional leadership. With the exception of a few Liberty Republicans that emerged from the Tea Party Movement, the Republican establishment has proven yet again that they can’t be trusted with responsible budgetary governance. The only way to halt runaway deficit spending is to shut down the government to save our Republic from the irreversible financial abyss it’s about to dive into.”

Concluded Dave Nalle, “Today the National Republican Congressional Committee sent me a fundraising email signed by Speaker Boehner. Why would grassroots GOP donors take a donation request seriously from the ‘leader’ who is about to compromise with the Democrats on a totally unacceptable budget? The House GOP Leadership is making a mockery of the peoples’ call to cut spending.”

“Shut the government down. Come home to your districts for a week or two and hold some town hall meetings.  Give us a chance to remind you face to face why we’re so fed up with the way you’re spending our money and ignoring the debt problem,” said Nalle

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The Republican Liberty Caucus is a nationwide grassroots organization which promotes individual liberty and limited government within the Republican Party.   You can find more information about the Republican Liberty Caucus at www.RLC.org.

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2011

Republican Liberty Caucus Condemns U.S. Military Action Against Libya
Attacks Violate Constitutional Requirement to Obtain Approval from Congress

Contact: Dave Nalle, RLC Chairman

WASHINGTON, DC — The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) National Committee has voted unanimously to condemn the Obama Administration’s military action against Libya.

The RLC resolution notes that the situation in Libya does not constitute a direct threat to the United States and that military action has not been authorized by Congress as required by the War Powers Act and the United States Constitution.

“At a time when we should be cutting back our foreign military involvement, the president’s action is as irresponsible as it is unconstitutional.” said RLC National Chair Dave Nalle of Austin, Texas.

As RLC member and Congressman from Michigan’s Third District Justin
Amash recently noted, “It’s not enough for the President simply to explain military actions in Libya to the American people after the fact — as though we are serfs. When there is no imminent threat to our country, he cannot launch strikes without authorization from th American people, through elected Representatives in Congress. No United Nations resolution or congressional act permits the President to circumvent the Constitution.”

In an interview in the Boston Globe in 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama shared his view on the matter, saying, “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.” Why are those words any less true today than they were when he spoke them only four years ago?

“President Obama seems to have taken this action solely on the authorization of the United Nations without consideration of the best interests of the United States or the limits which the Constitution places on the power of the president,” said RLC Chairman Dave Nalle. “The greatest threats to the safety of our citizens today are the reckless spending and dangerous fiscal policies of this administration. The President should do what he swore in his oath — uphold the Constitution. Instead, he continues to push a Big Government, freedom-crushing agenda that has not resulted in economic prosperity in our country.”

The Republican Liberty Caucus is working to raise awareness of the problems with United States intervention in Libya. As Congressman Amash observed, “The cost to American taxpayers will be substantial. We cannot spend money we don’t have on a war we don’t need.”

According to RLC Chairman Dave Nalle, “Our state chapters and our nationwide network of activists will be contacting their legislators to remind them of the traditional Republican foreign policy and the party’s historical commitment to constitutionally limited government. Our members demand an immediate end to military action by U.S. forces in Libya,” concluded Nalle.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2011

REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS WILL HOST NATIONAL CONVENTION IN ARLINGTON, VA: Convention Will Mark Twenty Years of Organization and Will Be Largest Gathering of Liberty-Minded Republicans in the Country

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – On Saturday, February 12 at the Hilton Hotel-Ballston in Arlington, the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) will host its biennial Convention. The Convention will mark 20 years of the Republican Liberty Caucus, which was founded in 1991 to advance libertarian ideas in the Republican Party. The keynote speakers at the Convention will include David Boaz of the Cato Institute, Congressman Justin Amash from Michigan, financial analyst Peter Schiff, former New Mexico Governor Gary E. Johnson, and Georgetown University Professor of Law Randy E. Barnett.

Republican Liberty Caucus Convention Delegates from over 30 states will be in attendance, including many local or state officers from RLC chapters throughout the nation. The over 100 attendees will participate in panel discussions, hear remarks from liberty-minded elected officials, and learn training from experts in communications and campaigns. The Convention will also include a business meeting at which new officers will be elected and organizational bylaws will be revised.

The banquet luncheon will feature a presentation from Professor Randy Barnett entitled “Rediscovering the Libertarian Roots of the Republican Party” and the banquet dinner will explore how former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson implemented libertarian principles while serving as the Republican Governor from 1994 to 2003.

Every two years since 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus has hosted its National Convention. This year marks the first time the Convention has returned to the DC area since 1996. Interested parties may learn more about the Convention at http://www.rlc.org/2011-national-convention/. A full agenda is below.

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The Republican Liberty Caucus is a nationwide grassroots organization which promotes individual liberty and limited government within the Republican Party. You can find more information about the Republican Liberty Caucus at www.rlc.org.

Convention Agenda
Saturday, February 12

8:30 to 9am: Convention Registration and Booth Setup (2nd floor of the hotel)

9am: Welcome to the Convention!
….Introduction and Welcome – Dave Nalle and Aaron Biterman
….Recognition of Convention Sponsors (Become a sponsor!)
….Update on Virginia Health Care Lawsuit from Rich Nilsen

9:10 to 9:45am: “Introduction to Libertarian Ideas” with David Boaz of The Cato Institute

9:45 to 10:25am: “Tea Parties and the Ron Paul Revolution”
….Panel with Ron Paul 2008’s Joe Seehusen, former candidate Dr. Murray Sabrin, columnist Todd Seavey, and Roanoke Tea Party President Chip Tarbutton

10:25 to 10:30am: Break

10:30 to 11:25am: Breakout Sessions** on Changing the Direction of the Republican Party
….Session 1: “Building Your RLC Chapter and How To Change the Republican Party”
……….Panel with Laura Ebke of the Nebraska RLC, Cindy Jones, and Lois Kaneshiki of the Pennsylvania Precinct Project
….Session 2: “Thoughts from Elected Liberty Republicans”
……….Panel with former OH State Rep. Jamie Callender, NYC Councilman Dan Halloran, and former WI Rep. Terri McCormick

11:30am to 12noon: “Effectively Communicating Our Liberty Message”
….Presentation by Christopher Doss, The Leadership Institute

12noon to 12:20pm: Congressman Justin Amash

12:20 to 1pm: Presentation by Professor Randy Barnett: “Rediscovering the Libertarian Roots of the Republican Party”

1:05 to 2:00pm: Breakout Sessions** on War and the Health of the State
….Session 1: “War, the State, and You: Debating Foreign Policy and Civil Liberties”
……….Panel with Dr. Cliff Thies, John Dennis, and Will Haun of the Young Conservatives Coalition
….Session 2: “Topics in Liberty: Privacy and the War on Drugs”
……….Panel with the Marijuana Policy Project’s Rob Kampia, former Md. Delegate Don Murphy, and former NC Congressional candidates Dr. Dan Eichenbaum and Nathan Tabor

2:05 to 3pm: Breakout Sessions** on Campaigns and Political Reforms
….Session 1: “Electoral & Constitutional Reforms: What Should We Support?”
……….Panel with Paul Jacob, Citizens in Charge; Philip Blumel, U.S. Term Limits; and Bill Redpath, Libertarian Party
….Session 2: “How to Run a Winning Campaign”
……….Presentation/Seminar with Vic Berardelli, “The Politics Guy”

3 to 3:15pm: Break

3:15 to 5pm: Convention Business
….“Parliamentary Procedure” – Presentation by Louis William Rose
….Officer, Bylaws Committee, Credentials Committee Reports
….Nominations for National Committee
….Bylaws and Statement of Principles Revisions
….RLC Elections
….State Chapter Reports

5:00 to 5:20pm: Candidate Lightning Round (or Convention Business extended)
….Elected officials and current/past candidates may introduce themselves.

6:30pm: Dinner Check-in

7 to 9pm: Dinner Program

….7pm to 7:30pm: Welcoming Remarks / Dinner

….7:30pm-7:45pm: “Celebrating 20 Years” Video Montage with Laura Crockett

….7:45pm-7:55pm: Clifford Thies, Ph.D.

….7:55-8:15pm: Peter Schiff

….8:15pm-8:45pm: Special Address from Governor Gary E. Johnson

….8:45pm-8:55pm: RLC Awards Presentation

….8:55-9pm: Departing Remarks

AUSTIN, TX — The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) denounces the recent changes in the airport passenger screening practices of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

RLC Chairman Dave Nalle said the intrusive nature of new TSA procedures draws attention to the fundamental flaws in the government’s strategy of attempting to address the threat of terrorism through increasingly draconian domestic security measures.

“In the name of public safety, government agencies have been given more and more power at great cost to our civil liberties and in violation of the Bill of Rights,” Nalle said.  “The emergence of an unaccountable state security apparatus in America is a reminder of Ben Franklin’s maxim that ‘they who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.’”

“The new TSA procedures of giving randomly selected passengers a choice between a full body, backscatter x-ray scan and an intrusive, hands-on body search are unacceptable,” Nalle contends.  “These searches are a clear violation of our 4th Amendment rights, because they are not reasonable and are carried out with no probable cause.”

“The increase in security at airports with more technology and more violation of the privacy rights of passengers cannot be justified on the basis of any increase in the threat of terrorism, because there has been no such increase,” Nalle explained.

The RLC believes that the level of power and authority granted to agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration is out of proportion to any actual threat against the American people.  Terrorism is not a significant threat on flights within the United States and basic security measures instituted immediately after 9/11 have been sufficient to deter any similar attacks since that time.

The Republican Liberty Caucus believes that the people of the United States have had enough and calls on the federal government to curb abuses by the TSA and other agencies.  We recommend putting control of passenger security in the hands of the airlines, which have a vested interest in making sure that flights are safe.  We also support the passage of Representative Ron Paul’s “American Traveler Dignity Act” (H.R. 6416), which would make TSA employees accountable for their actions.

Nalle observed, “With the increasing level of government intrusion into our lives in the name of security, America reminds me too much of what I saw in the Soviet Union, where I lived as a teenager.  How long will it be before police will be stopping us in the street at random to ask for our identity papers?”

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AUSTIN, TX — In an election with extraordinarily high voter turnout, candidates endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus won an impressive number of victories. The Republican Liberty Caucus advocates constitutionally limited government, individual liberty and free enterprise. Our candidates represent those values and have a dedication to principle which makes them stand out as representatives of the best interests of the people whether serving in state or federal office.

Particularly notable in this election were the victories of two new Liberty Republican State representatives. Jason Isaac will be representing the people of Hays county and communities like Kyle and Buda in Texas House District 45. David Simpson will be representing Gregg County and part of Smith County, including the towns of Longview and Kilgore in District 7. They will be joining a much expanded Republican majority in the state legislature in a year when they well have vital business before of them, including balancing the state budget, dealing with threats from an overreaching federal government and redistricting. The RLC also endorsed four incumbent representatives with outstanding records: Randy Weber (District 29), Ken Paxton (District 70), Jodie Laubenberg (District 89) and Debbie Riddle (District 150). All won reelection by large margins.

In Austin, RLC National Chairman Dave Nalle observed, “Texas already has the most fiscally conservative delegation in the U.S. House and it looks like the Texas legislature is finally getting back on track as well. Isaac and Simpson will be joining a core group of Liberty Republican legislators who can take the lead in getting our state government under control and perhaps do something to address the abuses of government by the leftist elite in places like Travis County and Washington, DC.”

We’re also very pleased that RLC Advisory Board member Melissa Goodwin will be continuing her distinguished judicial career in a new and higher office as a Justice on the Third Court of Appeals. No one has worked harder this year or did more to earn the support of voters in a a such a large and diverse district. Fellow RLC Advisory Board member Jerry Patterson also won reelection as Texas Land Commissioner.

Texas has the largest number of incumbent RLC endorsees serving in the U.S. House of Representatives of any state. All seven won reelection, including Louie Gohmert (HD1), Jeb Hensarling (HD5), Ron Paul (HD14), Kenny Marchant (HD24), Michael Burgess (HD26), John Carter (HD31) and Pete Sessions (HD32) — who are part of a contingent of more than 20 Liberty Republicans in the U.S. House in the next session.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas is grateful to all of our endorsed candidates. We know that they will always to set an example for others to follow and continue to work to advance individual liberty and limit the excesses of government.

ARLINGTON, VA — The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC), a membership organization that exists to promote the principles of individual liberty and limited government, has six endorsed Congressional candidates who are on paths to victory this November as evidenced by poll numbers and leading experts in the field. The candidates include Justin Amash of Michigan, Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, Doug Cloud and John Koster of Washington state, Chip Cravaack of Minnesota, and Steve Chabot of Ohio.

“With the exception of 1994, the Republican Liberty Caucus has never seen a slate of candidates who have the potential to knock of incumbents like this slate,” said RLC Chair Dave Nalle of Texas. “These candidates are principled and committed to the Republican Liberty Caucus vision of a free nation with limited, efficient government,” said Nalle. In addition to a full slate of endorsed Congressional candidates (including many not mentioned above), the RLC has also endorsed incumbent members of Congress Jeff Flake (AZ), Roscoe Bartlett (MD), Adrian Smith (NE), Scott Garrett (NJ), Jim Jordan (OH), John Duncan (TN), and a slate from the Texas Congressional Delegation.

According to RLC Vice Chair Aaron Biterman, “Justin Amash is a conservative Republican running in a right-leaning Grand Rapids district; Mick Mulvaney is polling even with incumbent John Spratt (D) in South Carolina 5; Steve Chabot is polling even or ahead of Steve Driehaus (D) in a suburban Cincinnati district. Spratt and Driehaus rubber-stamped the entire Obama Big Government agenda and will have to face the voters on November 2.”

Additionally, a Public Opinion Strategies poll from early October showed RLC endorsed candidate Chip Cravaack at 42 percent to incumbent Democrat Jim Oberstar’s 45 percent. RealClearPolitics ranks John Koster’s bid against incumbent Democrat Rick Larson a “toss up” after several polls showed them within 3 points of each other in Washington’s 2nd District. Finally, a Wenzel Strategies poll released last week shows Democrat incumbent Norm Dicks trailing RLC candidate Doug Cloud in Washington’s 6th District.

“If Doug Cloud and Justin Amash in particular advance to Congress, they will be RLC Advisory Board member Ron Paul’s foremost allies in Washington,” said Biterman, adding that, “If our other candidates — Mulvaney, Koster, Cravaack, and Chabot — also succeed, there will be a significantly larger coalition for limited government in Congress.” The Republican Liberty Caucus is urging its members to volunteer for and donate to these candidates in particular.

The Republican Liberty Caucus, founded in 1991, exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party. The RLC will hold its 2011 Convention in Arlington, Virginia on February 12, 2011 and encourages media, liberty-minded citizens, and other interested parties to attend. Learn more about the organization at http://www.RLC.org/. A full list of endorsed candidates is available at http://www.rlc.org/endorsed-candidates-2010/.

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