On February 28th, 2010, a group of concerned citizens gathered at Brickell Place II to discuss the reformation of the Miami/.Dade Republican Liberty Caucus.

Largely a group of newbies to the RLC, the evening consisted mostly of an explanation of who the Republican Liberty Caucus is and its history in South Florida. Each of the attendees had a few minutes to introduce themselves and discuss briefly what brought them to the event. The general motivation was definitely frustration with the direction of the country and, even to some degree, the Republican Party.

The meeting, which lasted almost two hours, was led by Hector Roos and supported by Philip Blumel of the Palm Beach County RLC, included a lively discussion of issues and possible initiatives for the South Florida group. Longtime RLC member Jackie Lee Fernandez also attended.

With a directive to each person to bring at least two guests with them to the next meeting, the evening was adjourned.

The Miami RLC’ers are lucky to have several local candidates who are actively promoting the RLC agenda, including Marcus Rivchin running for State Representative in district 117.

To learn more about the Miami RLC, contact Hector.

Yesterday, the Board of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia voiced its support of SB 66, a bill which prohibits different types of discrimination in public employment — including discrimination against same-sex attracted workers. The bill defines “sexual orientation” as a person’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression.

Several Virginia RLC members have been vocal on the issue, including David Lampo, who penned an op-ed in The Richmond-Times Dispatch, and RLCVA Board member Rick Sincere, who spoke at a press conference organized by Equality Virginia on the bill’s passage.

Said Lampo in his op-ed, “… Republicans could lose it all again if we let our party go back to the culture wars and religious extremism that some in our party seem to relish. Not only must we resist the divisive urges of the more extreme elements of our party; we need to restore the image of our party to one of social tolerance and support for individual liberty, two of the important values it was built on.”

He continued, “One of the ways to do this is to implement a policy of employment nondiscrimination for all government employees, including gays and lesbians. Virginia currently has no statute establishing a statewide policy against discrimination in employment for any public employees.”

Rick Sincere, a longtime RLC member, spoke on the issue:

The RLC received press hits in the Washington Post, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Fredricksburg Free-Lance Star. Governor Bob McDonnell has stated repeatedly that he opposes discrimination in state employment, including discrimination based on sexual orientation — affirming the RLC’s position on the issue.

It is official. The Florida chapter of the RLC and other liberty organizations including the Campaign for Liberty will be converging on Tallahassee on March 22-23 with the message that government is best when it governs least.

Political activist and longtime RLC ally John Hallman of the Florida Taxpayers Union is once again in charge of legislative briefing, securing inexpensive accommodations, setting up meetings with legislators and the governors office and showing RLC members around the capitol.

At the top of the Liberty Day agenda is the Health Care Freedom Act. Based on model legislation crafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, the act would permit Florida to opt out from any particular national health care plan and, most importantly, protect individual Floridians from individual mandates to buy health insurance a la RomneyCare/ObamaCare. Other issues Florida RLC’ers will lobby on include taxes, spending, and term limits.

Jason Hellenberg of the North Central Florida RLC has volunteered to coordinate the 2010 Liberty Day at the Capitol and is working with Hallman. The annual grassroots lobbying trip to Tallahassee has become a signature project of the RLC that has yielded some legislative successes over the years and trained many RLC’ers on how to lobby effectively.

The tentative schedule for 2010 includes starting around noon on March 22 and finishing up in early afternoon on March 23. There will be a discounted block of rooms for us at the Baymont Inn near the Capitol (tentative).

For a recap of last year’s trip, go here. For 2008, go here. 2007? Try here.

For more info and to RSVP, contact John Hallman via e-mail.

The California GOP is hosting a statewide meeting on March 13 in Santa Clara, and the California RLC affiliate will again be conducting outreach at the Convention and holding a separate Convention for RLC’ers.

Popular Congressional candidate John Dennis will be among the participants.  Dennis is running against Nancy Pelosi and is the founder of the San Francisco chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus.  He recently was endorsed by Congressman Ron Paul in his race.

Learn more about the Convention at http://www.rlcca.org/dw/doku.php/public:notices and RSVP on Facebook. There is still time (although not much) to apply to join the California RLC Board, so please review the details and contact California RLC Secretary Parke Bostrom if you have any questions. To become a delegate to the California GOP Convention, you must print off, fill in, and postmark the Pre-Registration form by March 4.

This weekend, the Michigan chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus held its annual Convention in the Detroit suburbs.  Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and State Representative Justin Amash were the featured speakers.

Amash is running for U.S. Congress in District 3, a Republican seat recently vacated by Vern Ehlers.  The Michigan RLC will be issuing its endorsements in the coming months.

This particular event was the best attended event in the Michigan RLC’s recent memory, with around 50 supporters.  The chapter also elected new officers, including Mike Hewitt, Chair; Rob Johnson, Vice-Chair; Ty Whitney, Secretary; Alice Benbow, Treasurer; and several At-Large Board members.

Justin Amash is the past Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Kent County. His successor to that post, Dr. Eric Larson, will be running for State Representative in the seat Amash is vacating.

Last night some members of the Republican Liberty Caucus of DC braved the 20 inches of snow that hit the nation’s capital this weekend to hear remarks from former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.

Below are Bradley Jansen, Governor Johnson, and Pranav Badhwhar.

Adam Andrzejewski is one of six Republicans running to become the standard bearer for the party’s upcoming statewide gubernatorial race.

Unlike each of his opponents, Andrzejewski is a common citizen — a father and businessman rather than a career politician.

The Illinois primary is today, ridiculously early, and catches us all off guard.

Illinois politics is unique, to be sure. It’s filled with a corrupt cesspool of self-aggrandizing politicians — in the Rod Blagojevich mold — each hoping to out-power one another to become king of the citizenry. It’s power politics, to be sure, and is filled with name-calling, manipulation, and maneuvering.

Adam Andrzejewski is a rare political outsider with common sense and commitment to limited and transparent government.  All of this is rare in Illinois politics, which is usually filled with special interest candidates or those with a solid family tree of political history.

Whatsmore, Adam is gaining traction and could be the GOP nominee for Governor.

As the Republican Liberty Caucus choice for Governor, we hope Illinois voters see in Adam what Rush Limbaugh and former president of Poland Lech Walesa see; both endorsed his candidacy in the last week.

In addition to being profiled at the popular conservative blog RedState, Adam was recently featured in Politico article and at National Review online.

Depending on what poll you believe, Adam is either in first or second place in the tough primary field.

Will the Tea Party impact today’s Illinois GOP gubernatorial race? If so, Adam will be the Republican nominee.  Illinois will be a better place if that happens.

Larry Reed, the keynote speaker at the Republican Liberty Caucus Convention in 2009, will be addressing the Young Republicans of Southwest Florida on Feb. 2 in Fort Myers, Florida.

Dr. Lawrence Reed is the President of the Foundation for Economic Education, the oldest libertarian organization in the country. He will be speaking on “Great Myths of the Great Depression.” Prior to becoming President of FEE, he was President of one of the largest libertarian think-tanks in the country, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan.

Anytime Republicans have an opportunity to hear from prominent liberty advocates, there is a tremendous net impact of moving folks within the Republican Party in a libertarian direction. Learn more about the event and RSVP.

Three more Republican Liberty Caucus affiliates are hosting Conventions in the coming months. These three Conventions are in addition to the four state RLC conventions I previously blogged about that are coming up in Arizona, California, Michigan, and Utah. The three other RLC state affiliates hosting spring Conventions include DC in February, Tennessee in March, and Nebraska in May.

District of Columbia RLC Convention: February 8

Join the Republican Liberty Caucus of DC for our biennial Convention on Monday evening, February 8.

Gary Johnson, former two-term New Mexico Governor, will be joining us.

The event will be held at the Old Dominion Brewhouse (9th and M St, near the Convention Center) from 7:00 to 8:30pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Tennessee RLC Convention: March 15

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Tennessee is holding its annual Convention on March 20, 2010 in the Chattanooga area. In order for the our group to grow and be effective, we need people willing to commit to the time and energy required to make an impact. The future of the RLCTN depends upon you. RSVP to attend the RLCTN Convention on Facebook.

Nebraska RLC Convention: May 15

On Saturday, May 15, 2010 (time TBA) in Omaha (site TBA), the Republican Liberty Caucus of Nebraska will host special guest Governor Gary Johnson. Gary E. Johnson recently founded, and serves as the honorary chair of the Our America Initiative. He is a longtime member of the National RLC’s Board of Advisers. As Governor of New Mexico from 1994-2002, Johnson vetoed 750 pieces of legislation–more than all of the 49 other governors combined during the same time frame. Stay tuned to the Nebraska RLC 2010 Convention page for details and registration.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Illinois has endorsed Adam Andrzejewski for Illinois Governor and David Ratowitz for Congress in District 5. The primary for both races is coming up rapidly: February 2, 2010.

According to Illinois RLC Vice-Chair John Bambenek, after thorough research into all the candidates, Adam Andrzejewski had the best credentials to reform state government, bring jobs back to Illinois and resolve the lingering budget crisis.

Responding to the endorsement, Andrzejewski said, “The mission of the Republican Liberty Caucus is to serve as the conscience of the Republican Party. No more is that needed than in Illinois and their endorsement is a validation of my campaign as the true outsider to bring reform to Illinois.” Learn more about Adam at www.adamforillinois.com.

David Ratowitz was also endorsed by the RLC.  He is running for Congress to restore freedom to the Fifth Congressional district and has also been endorsed by Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica and the political arm of the National Taxpayers United of Illinois. In addition, Ratowitz has been featured on Judge Andrew Napolitano’s “Freedom Watch” program on FOX News several times.

Ratowitz faces two Republican opponents, each vying to take on freshman Rep. Mike Quigley (D) in the Chicago suburbs. Learn more about David at www.ratowitzforcongress.com.

Bruno Behrend, RLC Chairman, said last week on Chicago talk radio, “If the Republican Party nationally had listened to the members of the Republican Liberty Caucus, they would not have lost their majorities in 2006 and 2008.”

He’s right.

And if Illinois voters listen to the Illinois RLC in 2010, they will be well on their way to reforming state government by electing Andrzejewski Governor, sending Ratowitz to Congress, and passing the Putback Amendment.