The Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois has announced the endorsement of the Put-Back Amendment, a citizen-driven initiative to amend the Constitution of the State of Illinois to enact badly needed reforms to the state legislature.

Bruno Behrend, state chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois, said the following in endorsing the Put-Back Amendment, “The culture of corruption and dysfunction plaguing Illinois starts in the State Legislature. It is a part-time job that politicians made into a lifetime career. Term limits and ending gerrymandering, as well as the other reforms, will help return the legislature to being accountable to the voters.”

Illinois RLC vice-chairman John Bambenek is the principal author of the amendment. He announced that he was “delighted to have the support of the Republican Liberty Caucus in championing these badly needed reforms such as term limits. The Republican Liberty Caucus has always functioned as an ‘outsider’ organization in the Republican Party pushing the establishment towards reform and the will of the people and with this endorsement they continue this proud tradition.”

Getting the amendment on the ballot requires 500,000 signatures  to be filed by May 2nd, 2010. The Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois will be helping to gather those signatures.

The amendment would implement essential reforms to clean up state government, including:

• Term Limits
• Seven-Day Public Viewing of All Legislation
• End Gerrymandering
• Equal Ballot Access
• Unicameral Legislature with 3-Member Districts

Dave Nalle, National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus congratulated the Illinois chapter for launching this effort and observed that “this shows how liberty activists can take the initiative to work for more open and more honest government in their states. If this can succeed in the home state of some of our most corrupt politicians it will send a message to the back-room deal makers and influence peddlers nationwide that their days are numbered.”

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois is one of the newest chartered affiliates of the nationwide organization which promotes limited government, free enterprise and individual liberty within the Republican Party. The RLC is a rapidly growing voice for a grassroots network of American citizens who champion our country’s Founding Principles.

You can see the full text of the Put-Back Amendment at PutBackAmendment.com and get more information on the Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois at www.rlcil.og. For more information, and to schedule interviews with Mr. Behrend or Mr. Bambenek contact them at (217) 493-0760 or jcb@putbackamendment.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2009

CONTACT: William Westmiller, (866) 752-5423

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Republican Liberty Caucus Encourages Mark Sanford to Pursue Presidency
South Carolina Governor Would Restore American Commitment to Founding Principles

Thousand Oaks, CA — The National Board of the Republican Liberty Caucus has passed a resolution encouraging South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. President in 2012.

“Governor Sanford had an outstanding record in Congress, often voting his conscience on tough issues rather than just following the party line,” said RLC National Chairman Dave Nalle. “In Washington, Sanford opposed pork barrel projects even when they benefited his own district and he honored his term limits pledge and stepped down in 2000. In his two terms as governor of South Carolina, Sanford has shown independence and creativity and acted as a vigilant guardian of taxpayer interests,” said Nalle.

Sanford was the first U.S. Governor to reject a portion of the federal stimulus money earmarked for his state last March. Sanford also worked out a compromise with state legislators to accept federal funds, provided that the politicians eliminated the state’s debts.

Mark Sanford has consistently been one of the strongest voices in the nation for fiscal and individual responsibility. At a Cato Institute event in 2008, Governor Sanford explained that “there’s a battle line in our society: with government on one side and liberty – the hallmark of the American experiment – on the other.”

He also earned the endorsement of the Republican Liberty Caucus when running for Congress and Governor. Consistently ranked at the top of the RLC’s “Liberty Index” – which began tracking votes in Congress on social and economic liberty in 1991 – Sanford’s overall rating was 82%.

“The nation needs a champion of fiscal responsibility and individual liberty now more than ever,” added National RLC Secretary Aaron Biterman, and “Sanford has demonstrated his commitment to those ideals and an ability to communicate them to voters.”

Although it is still early in the process and Governor Sanford has not yet announced his intentions for 2012, the Republican Liberty Caucus urges its members and other concerned citizens to encourage Governor Mark Sanford to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. President in 2012.

Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus exists to promote individual rights, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party by promoting those ideals among Party officials and its various organizations, identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with them, and promoting Caucus membership among Republican Party registrants, officials, and officeholders.

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RLC SANFORD RESOLUTION

Adopted by the RLC National Committee on 6/8/2009

WHEREAS Washington is fundamentally broken;

WHEREAS wasteful government spending is out of control;

WHEREAS puppet politicians are promising to spend trillions of dollars we don’t have;

WHEREAS Americans continue to lose their freedoms as our nation creeps toward socialism;

WHEREAS the American people are looking for bold leadership to renew our republic; and

WHEREAS the Republican Liberty Caucus Statement of Principles should be implemented to solve these problems;

RESOLVE THAT the Republican Liberty Caucus Board of Directors encourages Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina to run for President of these United States in 2012;

That Governor Sanford is a bold, independent leader who is able to fend off Washington’s culture of corruption;

That Governor Sanford has a vision that will protect America while safeguarding individual liberty and reducing government power;

That Governor Sanford has a stellar record as South Carolina Governor and a former member of Congress;

That Governor Sanford has not only embraced the label ‘libertarian’, but his actions logically follow his words; and

That Governor Sanford should be the choice of all Americans who want to return the country to its Founding principles.

Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas Urges Governor Perry to Veto SB 1440

Statewide caucus expresses alarm that a “last minute” amendment attempts to overturn legal precedents and constitutional rights

AUSTIN, TX – The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas (RLC-TX) calls on Governor Rick Perry to veto SB-1440 as an abuse of administrative authority that dangerously erodes due process and constitutional rights accorded to our citizens and the family.

The last minute amendment to SB-1440 strips away due process and Fourth Amendment protections by granting Child Protective Services (CPS) the power to access the medical and mental health records of a child and to access and transport that child for interrogation and even strip searches without parental notification or a court hearing. CPS may obtain this order without establishing probable cause or even “for good cause shown” which is the present standard applied AFTER notice to the parents and the holding of a hearing before a Judge which includes the participation of parents. Current law already provides Child Protective Services (CPS) with powers for the emergency removal of a child in cases of obvious and provable abuse, which the RLC-TX supports.

“Due process is a key tenant of our nation’s constitutional governance. It is alarming to me that Texas legislators would even consider a law that grants powers of unreasonable search and seizure to state administrative authorities that include custodial intervention, physical examination and the interrogation of a child without probably cause simply to “build a case” when their investigative findings are not sufficient to follow the normal deliberative process,” L. Pierre de Rochemont said. “This lays the foundation for bringing “witch hunts” into the legal mainstream.”

The RLC-TX asks the Governor to consider recent rulings by the Texas Supreme Court and the 5th Court of Appeals that struck down a similar overreach of CPS authority in Gary W. Gates et al. v. Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services et. al.

“While no one wants to promulgate or permit child abuse, it is important that our society clearly recognize that unwarranted state intimidation is also traumatic to the family and a child’s wellbeing,” Mr. de Rochemont went on to say. “Backroom political wheelings and dealings in the dead of night never lead to sound or just law.”

The objectionable language contained in SB 1440 was originally filed by Senator Kirk Watson (Democrat-Austin, Travis County-part) as SB 1064, which did not make passage, and was later re-introduced as an amendment to SB 1440 by Representative Patrick Rose (Democrat-Dripping Springs for Blanco, Caldwell, and Hays Counties) at the very end of the legislative session. The dubious manner in which the amendment was introduced into an innocuous bill misrepresents legislative support that clearly did not advance its extreme provisions.

More information regarding the history of SB 1440 can be found at http://www.rightintexas.com/2009/06/giving-cps-blank-check.

December 12, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: William Westmiller, (805) 493-4332

Liberty Caucus: Auto maker Bailout Rewards those Responsible for Financial Collapse, Penalizes all Americans

Thousand Oaks, CA — A national caucus of Republican activists is urging members of Congress to oppose the Big Three automakers bailout of a corrupt financial regulatory system. “This proposal is a government takeover of yet more of the already stifled U.S. economy,” said Republican Liberty Caucus Chairman William Westmiller, “and when and where will the bailouts stop?” he asked.

“For decades, auto makers have been forced to comply with arbitrary congressional dictates that are not supported by consumers,” said Michigan RLC Chairman and National Board member Dan Sheill. “The solution is to cut regulations, not to give taxpayer dollars for the continuation of poor government mandates. The auto industry doesn’t need a dictatorial ‘czar’ to run their businesses,” said Sheill, “but the industry needs the freedom to respond to consumer demands for safe, efficient, and inexpensive transportation.”

The Caucus [www.RLC.org] opposes any taxpayer payoff to rescue those who made bad investments in any sector of the economy. “This plan violates basic principles of honest business practices and free-market capitalism by transferring money from taxpayers directly to three failed automakers,” said Westmiller. “Individuals and firms can only be held to account if they are allowed to both succeed and profit, to sustain losses and sometimes even fail.”

The Republican Liberty Caucus favors clear legislation protecting individuals against fraud, misrepresentation, and theft. It opposes any law that benefits one class of Americans at the expense of another, including any form of financial guarantee or subsidy that rewards failure or encourages foolish investments.

The RLC applauds the stamina and fortitude of multiple Republican members of Congress who have opposed any corporate bailout, expansions of government fiscal20power, new burdens on taxpayers, or any further assaults on the value of the dollar through inflation. “Those Republicans voting for this package and other similar bailouts need to pause, reflect, and ask themselves to reexamine their core beliefs,” said Westmiller. “If these Congressional ‘leaders’ don’t change their willingness to spend away Americans’ savings, they are simply going to be voted out of office,” he warned.

The Republican Liberty Caucus is a political membership organization working within the Republican Party in support of individual rights, limited government, and free enterprise. The Caucus has members in all 50 states and 20 chartered state chapters. The RLC has urged all of its members to communicate to their representatives in Congress their total opposition to any auto maker bailout.

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References:

RLC Statement of Principles and Positions:

“We oppose all restrictions on the voluntary and honest exchange of value in a free market … We oppose all legislation that concedes Congressional power to any regulatory agency, executive department, or international body. We support the phase out of any government subsidies and incentives that support or favor any business or special interest … We favor the privatization of all government assets an a transition to free market management and services for all programs that exceed the enumerated powers of the Constitution.”

Pro-Liberty Republican Caucus Announces State Candidate Endorsements:
Candidates will fight for limited government, living within our means

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2008

CONTACT: David FitzSimmons,
rlcminn@gmail.com

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota, a state affiliate of the Republican Liberty Caucus [www.RLC.org], announced endorsements for 32 Republican candidates who will restore fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and reduced size to government at the federal and state levels.

Founded in 1990, the Republican Liberty Caucus works to advance the principles of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise within the Republican Party. In 2008, the Caucus has endorsed over 220 principled candidates in 42 states.

“Our state government is living well beyond its means, and the people are feeling the consequences of government run amok,” said state RLC Chair David FitzSimmons. Congressional candidates endorsed by the Caucus include Ed Matthews, District 4; Barb Davis White, District 5; and Michael Cummins, District 8.

“This is truly an honor,” said Barb Davis White, who is running against first term incumbent Keith Ellison in urban Minneapolis’ District 5. “Let’s fight to maintain the little piece of liberty that we have manged to hold onto. Let our voices be heard together,” urged Davis White.

Eric Franzen was endorsed in his bid for State House, District 60A. According to Franzen, “From schools to energy to health care, government is not the solution. I will work to take the power out of St. Paul and give it back to you.”

Incumbent State Representatives endorsed by the Caucus include Steve Gottwalt, District 15A; Sondra Erickson, District 16A; Ron Shimanski, District 18A; Bruce Anderson, District 19A; Tom Emmer, District 19B; Steve Drazkowski, District 28B; Joyce Peppin, District 32A; and Tom Hackbarth, District 48A.

Challengers endorsed by the Caucus include Allan Kehr, District 7B; David Allan Pundt, District 12A; Joshua Behling, District 15B; Mary Kiffmeyer, District 16B; Jason Johnson, District 29B; Jake Dettinger, District 30A; Rhett Zenke, District 31A; Judy Lindsay, District 37B; Bill Jungbauer, District 39A; Gene Lotts, District 46A; Troy Buchholz, District 47A; Peggy Scott, District 49A; Tim Utz, District 50A; Kathy Lohmer, District 56A; Grant Cermak, District 58A; Felix Montez, District 59A; Adam Martin, District 60B; Andrew Sheppard, District 61A; Kirsten Lindberg, District 61B, and Gilbert Higuera, District 66A.

“The largess of this slate proves that liberty-loving Americans are fighting to preserve our freedoms here in the North Star State,” concluded Chairman FitzSimmons.

To learn more about the Republican Liberty Caucus, visit www.RLC.org .

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