The New Hampshire RLC is playing kingmaker in state politics.

In addition to having a tremendous say on specific legislative measures — such as the Right to Work and the House-approved budget — they’ve also advanced the RLC’s mission by helping elect a Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, and State GOP Chair who are each friendly to the liberty message.

Recently, the New Hampshire RLC aired radio advertisements on AM stations WGIR, WNTK and WKXL urging citizens and legislators to support the $700 million in cuts passed by the House being maintained by the State Senate. The RLCNH says that citizens should urge legislators to “support the House budget” and directs listeners to a new caucus website, NHBudgetFacts.org.

Conservatives view the state Senate as more moderate than the House, whose budget is about $700 million less than the current two-year budget. Senate President Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, has said the Senate budget will probably be the same size as the House-passed budget — but with different priorities. Bragdon also said the Senate appears to be opposed to the House-passed provision to remove collective bargaining protections for public workers when their contracts expire. The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday removed that provision from the House-passed budget.

Earlier today, with the support of the New Hampshire RLC, the New Hampshire legislature approved Right to Work for the Granite State.

“This veto-proof vote is a clear sign that the Senate is listening to the voters who sent them to Concord to attract jobs to New Hampshire,” said Andrew Hemingway, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

“A Right to Work law will make New Hampshire the only employee and business friendly environment in the Northeast. Everyone knows that a law that attracts new and growing businesses will attract good paying jobs.” States with similar Right to Work laws include Iowa, Virginia, and 20 other states.

If New Hampshire passes this law, it will create a magnet for businesses that will further enhance the New Hampshire Advantage, concluded the New Hampshire RLC.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire and its members have been following the Right to Work bill and consider it a high priority for job creation and protection of New Hampshire’s working families. The caucus will continue to follow this effort as it heads to a committee of conference between the Senate and the House and urges veto-proof House adoption of the compromise language.

According to the New Hampshire Union-Leader, “(Andrew) Hemingway’s profile continues to rise as the influence of the Tea Party and liberty groups also continue to rise in the state. Hemingway says he has been invited to speak at Harvard’s Institute of Politics on April 26 in a forum on the “impact of the Tea Party on the 2012 elections,” along with Jennifer Beth Martin, national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots.

Please get involved in the New Hampshire RLC today!

New Hampshire RLC Chairman Andrew Hemingway.

With tremendous influence from the Republican Liberty Caucus coalition in the New Hampshire legislature, the House passed a bill that allows the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes by terminally and seriously ill patients. The bill, HB 442, was introduced by RLC members, Reps. Jenn Coffey and John Reagan, and will be introduced by RLC member, State Sen. Jim Forsythe, in the Senate.

It allows an approved patient or caregiver to obtain one ounce of marijuana every 10 days, and to possess up to two ounces at any one time. Governor John Lynch (Democrat) vetoed similar legislation in 2009.

The bill passed 221-96, or by 69.7%, doing better than similar medical marijuana bills have done in previous Democrat-controlled sessions, proving conclusively that this is an issue that both parties can support. The bill now moves on to the Senate.

There are a host of upcoming Republican Liberty Caucus events that we want you to be a part of!

………………APRIL
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• Gary Johnson at South Michigan Area Republican Club
April 2, Berkley
RSVP/learn more.

• Central East Florida RLC Meeting
April 4, Indian Harbour Beach
RSVP/learn more.

• Orlando Area RLC Meeting
April 7, Winter Park
RSVP/learn more.

• Northeast Florida RLC Meeting
April 5, Jacksonville
RSVP/learn more.

• Los Angeles Area RLC Meetup with Governor Gary Johnson
April 7, Los Angeles
RSVP/learn more.

• Central Texas RLC Meetup
April 8, Austin
RSVP/learn more.

• Colorado RLC Organizing Meeting
April 9, Boulder
RSVP/learn more.

• Gary Johnson in Orlando, Palm Beach, Boca Raton
April 13-16
RSVP/learn more here, here, and here.

• Silicon Valley RLC Meetup
April 18, San Jose
RSVP/learn more.

………………MAY
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• Central East Florida RLC Meeting
May 2, Indian Harbour Beach
RSVP/learn more.

• Colorado RLC Organizing Meeting
May 7, Denver
RSVP/learn more.

• Michigan RLC Convention with U.S. Rep. Justin Amash
May 14, Wyoming (Grand Rapids area)
RSVP/learn more.

• Wisconsin RLC Outreach at State GOP Convention
May 21, Wisconsin Dells
Contact Michael to volunteer.

………………JUNE
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• Maine RLC Leadership Conference
June 4, Augusta
RSVP/learn more.

• Virginia RLC Convention
June 4, Arlington
RSVP/learn more.

• North Carolina RLC Outreach at GOP Convention
June 3-5, Wilmington
Contact David to volunteer.

• North Carolina RLC Convention
June 4, Wilmington
RSVP/learn more.

• Utah RLC Convention
June 16, Draper
RSVP/learn more.

Medical marijuana is currently legal in 15 states and DC. A coalition of libertarian Republicans and Democrats in the New Hampshire legislature are hoping to make medical marijuana legal in that state soon.

The Democratic-controlled Legislature passed a bill allowing medical marijuana in 2009, but Democratic Gov. John Lynch vetoed it. The House overrode the veto, but the Senate came up two votes short, according to The Concord Monitor.

According to the Monitor:

State Sen. Jim Forsythe, a Strafford Republican and former chairman of the state Republican Liberty Caucus, said the challenge for libertarian-leaning Republicans will be to convince more socially conservative party members that allowing medical marijuana fits with conservative values. “Conservatives traditionally oppose Obamacare because they want government out of doctor patient relationships, and medical marijuana helps satisfy that,” Forsythe said. “We believe in minimal regulation, and this helps toward that.”

The impetus behind the bill is individuals like Clayton Holton, who has muscular dystrophy, and Nicole Rockwell, who has spinal muscular atrophy. Rockwell, of Manchester, told the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee yesterday that marijuana helps her eat, sleep and alleviate the depression and pain she has suffered her whole life.

The bill would allow patients who suffer from debilitating medical conditions to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, with a doctor’s prescription and an identification card proving the patient is allowed to have marijuana. It would set up “alternative treatment centers” to distribute the marijuana, which would be subject to extensive regulations.

The bill is expected to advance through the House and may receive support from the Governor this time due to specific concerns it addresses. However, the Republican-controlled New Hampshire Senate — which has just five Democrats and 19 Republicans — is going to be a significant obstacle for passage. You can bet that Senator Forsythe will work to convince his colleagues of the bill’s merits. Contact other New Hamphire State Senators here.

According to the New Hampshire Union-Leader newspaper, Dr. Darren Tapp of Concord has given up his dream of being a successful mathematician because he refuses to consent to airport security measures. Dr. Tapp testified before the New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that the thought of an enhanced pat-down was enough to make him take the train home to visit his family instead of an airplane.

Backing up Dr. Tapp is a coalition of New Hampshire Republican Liberty Caucus legislators in the State House. The legislation being discussed, HB 628, would make the touching or viewing of a person’s breasts or genitals by a government security agent sexual assault. If passed, the law would require New Hampshire agents convicted of sexual assault to register for life as tier 3 sex offenders — the most serious classification.

RLC member and bill sponsor State Representative Andrew Manuse, R-Derry, called the new security procedures a slippery slope. “What’s next? Will they do body-cavity searches?” he asked, and noted he was told of a woman who lives with one of his constituents being strip-searched at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

Manuse (pictured, left) presented a petition to the committee with 145 signatures supporting the bill. The petition was up only one day on the Republican Liberty Caucus website, he said. Another bill sponsor and RLC legislator, Rep. Daniel Itse, R-Fremont, said, “Law enforcement officers should tell a citizen why the person is being searched. Randomly pulling someone out of line, or full-body screening everybody goes beyond the pale. That’s not what America is about. We’re surrendering our national character.”

Republican Liberty Caucus legislators in other states and in Congress have also fought the TSA regulations, without any success thus far.

From the New Hampshire Union Leader‘s John DiStaso:

“Tea Party leader and Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s schedule for Saturday, March 12: Bachmann will attend a coffee sponsored by the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire for lawmakers who are members of that group. It will be held at the new Liberty Harbor Academy, a new conservative educational institute in Manchester. The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire is expected to become an important stop on presidential candidate schedules this year.

We will post additional details as they become available. This event will mark the first time the RLC has hosted Michele Bachmann at any event.

The state chapter has already hosted Governor Gary Johnson and Sharron Angle.  They will again host Governor Johnson in late April.

Join RLCNH for a Special Reception
Featuring Sharron Angle

A leader in the TEA Party movement and long time defender of liberty, Sharron Angle has never shied from a fight. She is best known on the national scene for her courageous run for US Senate against public enemy #1—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Sharron finished with 45% of the vote, very nearly defeating Reid. However, she also has long been working to protect the interests of constitutional government. In 2003, Sharron led a judicial fight to protect the Nevada state Constitution against assaults by the Governor. The court case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where Sharron and the people of Nevada won this important battle.

Join RLCNH and Sharron Angle
When:
Friday, February 25

Time:
5:00-6:00 Reception with Sharron Angle
6:15 Genesis Code movie

Where:
Reception at the Hospitality Center at Southern New Hampshire University, 2500 N. River Road, Manchester
Movie screening at Hooksett Cinemagic, 1226 Hooksett Road, Hooksett

Ticket Cost:
$20 for reception with Sharron Angle
$30 for reception and screening of the Genesis Code

$5 discount available for RLCNH charter and family members
(Not a member? Join now!)

Reception ticket includes light dinner and refreshments

Click here to register online
or RSVP to events@rlcnh.org to pay at the door

A founding member of the New Hampshire Tea Party Coalition, Jack Kimball, has been selected to lead the New Hampshire Republican Party for the next term. Mr. Kimball was supported by the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire early in the race, citing his experience and ability to mobilize the grassroots. By a margin of 222-199 — voting members of the New Hampshire GOP Committee — Mr. Kimball defeated the establishment opponent.

At the end of the day long meeting to elect the NHGOP Chair was the announcement of results of a WMUR-ABC News straw poll taken throughout the event. The poll put 21 names of potential 2012 presidential candidates before the voters. With 273 votes cast by New Hampshire GOP insiders, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came out on top with 35 percent, followed by Ron Paul with 11 percent; former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty had 8 percent; former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had 7 percent; and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina had 5 percent each. Governor Gary Johnson received support from 2 percent.

Since January 17, the New Hampshire RLC has received the following notable media hits:

• “Tea Party Activist Takes Over New Hampshire G.O.P.“, New York Times, Jan. 22
• “Romney wins New Hampshire straw poll“, CNN Politics, Jan. 22
• “Romney keeps away from Tea Party”, Boston Globe, Jan. 21, 2011
• “Republicans Battling in New Hampshire”, The Caucus on NYTimes.com, Jan. 21, 2011
• “Chairman vote will indicate Tea Party influence on NHGOP“, Union Leader, Jan. 21
• “GOP vote barometer of party“, Concord Monitor, Jan. 17

New Republican House Speaker Bill O’Brien and new House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt both consider themselves affiliated with the RLC. In November, the RLC actively supported O’Brien in his race for House Speaker.

And on November 2, the New Hampshire RLC elected 81 of its endorsed candidates for the legislature, including two former RLCNH Chairmen, Jim Forsythe and Dan McGuire. Forsythe was elected to the State Senate, which only has 24 members.  The New Hampshire RLC has a total of 99 State House members, 6 State Senators, and one Executive Councilor.

Please join the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire on Facebook and join the RLCNH e-mail list.  The New Hampshire RLC is on the move!

The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, a state affiliate of the Republican Liberty Caucus, endorsed Bill O’Brien to become Speaker of the House earlier this week.

“To maximize Republican impact over the next two years, we must have leadership in the state House that is not only committed to traditional Republican principles, but is also able to unite a majority in the House behind those principles of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise,” said Andrew Hemingway, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “No one will get that job done better than Rep. Bill O’Brien, who will effectively repair the New Hampshire Advantage through a focus on the common goals of the GOP majority.”

Yesterday Mr. O’Brien, a Mont Vernon State Representative, was elected House Speaker over former House Speaker Gene Chandler in the second round of balloting. The New Hampshire RLC elected more than 75 of its endorsed candidates on November 2 — many of them for State House — so the Republican Liberty Caucus had a significant role to play in Mr. O’Brien’s new role.

RLC-endorsed State Representative Mark Warden of Goffstown, who is just beginning his first term, said O’Brien is fair, thoughtful, intelligent and “has a strong inclination towards the Constitution.” Warden said he believes O’Brien will focus on balancing the budget, reducing the size of government and protecting individual liberties while “getting rid of a lot of fluff.”

Voters elected 298 Republicans to fill three-quarters of the seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on November 2. “There is now a general recognition that the over-spending has got to stop. Bill O’Brien is a leader with new ideas, new solutions, and new strategies to make that happen,” concluded New Hampshire RLC Board member Tim Condon.

In one of the most exciting victories for the RLC this November, former Chair of the New Hampshire RLC and its PAC, Jim Forsythe, won election to the 24-member State Senate. Before winning election, Forsythe also chaired the Strafford town GOP and the Strafford Taxpayers Coalition. His campaign focused on making the state more business friendly, cutting spending, and ending the structural deficit.

Another former RLC Chairman in New Hampshire, Dan McGuire, was elected to the 400-member State House. He will join his wife Carol there.

In addition to these important victories, the following 81 New Hampshire RLC candidates were elected on Tuesday. Those with a star (*) are Officers or Board members, past or current, in the Republican Liberty Caucus.

David Wheeler, Executive Councilor District 5 (Milford)
Jeanie Forrester, State Senate District 2 (WON)
Jim Forsythe*, State Senate District 4 (WON)
Andy Sanborn, State Senate District 7 (WON)
Raymond White, State Senate District 9 (WON)
Gregory M. Sorg, State House Grafton 3 (WON)
Lester Bradley, State House Grafton 4 (WON)
Paul Mirski*, Grafton 10 (WON)
Charles E. Sova, Grafton 10 (WON)
Rob Huxley, Hillsborough 3 (WON)
William L. O’Brien, Hillsborough 4 (WON)
Bob Mead, Hillsborough 4 (WON)
Stephen Palmer, Hillsborough 6 (WON)
Gary Daniels, Hillsborough 6 (WON)
Robert H. Rowe, Hillsborough 6 (WON)
Mark Warden, Hillsborough 7 (WON)
Calvin Dean Pratt, Hillsborough 7 (WON)
Cameron DeJong, Hillsborough 9 (WON)
Mike Ball, Hillsborough 9 (WON)
J. Gail Barry, Hillsborough 16 (WON)
Jerry Bergevin, Hillsborough 17 (WON)
Keith R. Murphy, Hillsborough 18 (WON)
John Cebrowski, Hillsborough 18 (WON)
Lenette M. Peterson, Hillsborough 18 (WON)
Jeanine Notter, Hillsborough 19 (WON)
Sean McGuinness, Hillsborough 20 (WON)
Carl Seidel, Hillsborough 20 (WON)
Timothy Hogan, Hillsborough 23 (WON)
Bill Ohm, Hillsborough 26 (WON)
Kevin J. Brown, Hillsborough 26 (WON)
Jonathan Maltz, Hillsborough 27 (WON)
George Lambert, Hillsborough 27 (WON)
Andy Renzullo, Hillsborough 27 (WON)
Lynne Ober, Hillsborough 27 (WON)
Laurie Sanborn, Merrimack 5 (WON)
Jenn Coffey, Merrimack 6 (WON)
Seth Cohn, Merrimack 6 (WON)
Tony F. Soltani, Merrimack 8 (WON)
Brian Seaworth, Merrimack 7 (WON)
Carol McGuire*, Merrimack 8 (WON)
Dan McGuire*, Merrimack 8 (WON)
Jon Richardson, Merrimack 8 (WON)
J.R. Hoell, Merrimack 13 (WON)
Tom Keane, Merrimack 13 (WON)
Kathy Lauer-Rago, Merrimack 2 (WON)
Walter Kolodziej, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Charles E. McMahon, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Gary S. Azarian, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Jason P. Antosz, Rockingham 9 (WON)
Al Baldasaro, Rockingham 3 (WON)
D.J. Bettencourt, Rockingham 4 (WON)
David Bates, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Donna Mauro, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Rick Okerman, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Will Smith, Rockingham 18 (WON)
Bob Fesh, Rockingham 5 (WON)
Marilinda Garcia, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Mary E. Griffin, Rockingham 4 (WON)
John Sytek, Rockingham 4 (WON)
John Reagan, Rockingham 1 (WON)
Jim Headd, Rockingham 3 (WON)
Andrew Manuse, Rockingham 5 (WON)
Daniel Itse, Rockingham 9 (WON)
Daniel Tamburello, Rockingham 3 (WON)
Kyle Tasker, Rockingham 1 (WON)
Kevin Waterhouse, Rockingham 4 (WON)
Robert Introne, Rockingham 3 (WON)
Stella Tremblay, Rockingham 3 (WON)
David A. Welch, Rockingham 8 (WON)
Gary Wheaton, Rockingham 14 (WON)
Laura Jones*, Strafford 1 (WON)
Kyle Jones, Strafford 1 (WON)
Susan DeLemus, Strafford 1 (WON)
Warren Groen, Strafford 1 (WON)
Thomas W. Laware (WON)
Steve Cunningham, Sullivan 2 (WON)
Spec Bowers, Sullivan 3 (WON)
Steven Smith, Sullivan 5 (WON)
Colette Worsman, Belknap 3 (WON)
Robert Luther, Belknap 4 (WON)
Bob Greemore, Belknap 3 (WON)

Congratulations to the New Hampshire RLC for running such a great slate of candidates!