RLC National Committee member Terry Nelson, a veteran law enforcement officer whose career has spanned three decades, recently testified before the El Paso City Council in Texas. Nelson, a speaker with Law Enforcement Officers Against Prohibition, is convinced the War on Drugs is a failed policy.

In January, El Paso’s City Council unanimously voted to call for an open debate on ending drug prohibition; however, the mayor vetoed the resolution. The City Council responded by calling for an override of the veto. Unfortunately, the Mayor’s veto was upheld; four of the eight council members who originally supported the resolution reversed their votes under significant federal pressure that threatened state and federal funding.

Mr. Nelson’s service includes the U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security. Below is his testimony.

As more governors declare their opposition to the Stimulus Bill — which is now estimated to include more than $1 trillion in unfunded mandates for the states above and beyond the initial $800 billion cost — more and more state legislators across the nation have been introducing bills to assert state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment in an effort to assert the rights of their citizens and the authority of state governments against unwarranted interference by the federal government.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Idaho Governor Butch Otter stated their support for the position against the stimulus taken by Texas Governor Rick Perry and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford this week. Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska has been speaking publicly against the bill and when it passed her office issued a statement praising Alaska’s congressional delegation for voting against it:

“Congressman Young and Senator Murkowski did their best to achieve the right balance in the bill, but in the end the majority allowed the spending to balloon and encompass support for programs that don’t respond to the problem at hand.”

Meanwhile, Governor Palin made the bizarrely optimistic suggestion that President Obama should Veto the bill to five lawmakers a chance to at least read the bill and specifically citing the problem for the states in the huge amount of unfunded mandates in the bill.

The push for state sovereignty laws has really gone nationwide. Texas has gotten on board with a bill submitted this week with six sponsors. It is basically the same as the Oklahoma resolution rather than the more radical New Hampshire resolution, which gives it a better chance of passage. Texas is a big state, and having it in the fight adds a lot of serious weight.

Although it is not yet confirmed on their legislature’s website, the story is circulating that Tennessee is the first state to pass a sovereignty resolution through both of its legislative houses, in only 2 days from its introduction on Wednesday. Their version is a non-binding resolution which doesn’t require the governor’s signature or have the force of law, but it is a significant statement nonetheless.

In Pennsylvania, State Representative Sam Rohrer is leading the charge, and has made a very impassioned video statement which lays out exactly what the problem is and urges other states to join him in reasserting their sovereignty and rejecting federal mandates, stressing the very real concern that the spendthrift federal government will take the fiscally responsible states down with them.

There’s also news from Oklahoma, where a quick phonecall to State Representative Charles Key confirms that the sovereignty resolution which he got through the house last year was approved unanimously by the rules committee and on Wednesday was passed by the Oklahoma House by a 83-13 majority and may be voted on by the state Senate as early as next week, with high hopes of passage.

Missouri, as always, is marching to its own radically conservative drummer, with a state sovereignty bill up for consideration which is unique in that it specifically takes exception to the pro-abortion proposed federal Freedom of Choice law. This is conceptually similar to the bills being considered in Indiana, Wyoming and Oregon which reassert state sovereignty with a special emphasis on gun owners rights in response to a bill currently being considered in the House of Representatives to require licensing of all firearms nationwide.

Because of these articles a lot of concerned citizens are contacting me from various different states about what their states are doing. Sources in Maine inform me that they have also had a sovereignty bill proposed, but because of the structure of their legislative session it likely won’t even be looked at for months. A sovereignty bill was introduced in Minnesota on Thursday as HF997. Arkansas joined in with a bill in its state House of Representatives on Friday morning as well.

Some states have yet to get state legislators on board and are trying alternative methods. In Florida there is a pettition which will be submitted to the state legislature, which may not sit terribly well will stimulus-embracing Governor Charlie Crist. In Massachusets under a provision of their state constitution any citizen can request that a legislator submit a bill on their behalf. Ron Bokleman is struggling to get his bill, which is a version of the New Hampshire bill, past bureaucratic red tape so that it will actually be considered by the legislature. One correspondent also pointed out that a number of states passed or at least considered sovereignty bills in the past, starting with the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions authored by Madison and Jefferson back in 1799, but with some much more recent, like Utah’s 1995 bill which passed their House, a reminder that concern over unfunded mandates isn’t new, though it’s growing ever more critical.

It now looks as if at least half the states will have some sort of sovereignty bill up for consideration this year. Combine that with governors and legislators who are worried about how they’ll ever be able to pay for the massive unfunded mandates included in the so-called stimulus bill, and you have a volatile rift developing between the relatively fiscally responsible and citizen-friendly state governments and the incredibly fiscally irresponsible and increasingly autocratic government in Washington, DC. If we stand together and make our voices heard, we can stop further federal stimulus and bailout spending. If we can reassert control by 2010 we can stop at least two thirds of the current stimulus money from ever being spent. It’s time to storm the gates of power and let our elected leaders know that we do not want to see our country bankrupted and driven into socialism out of desperation and expediency.

Newly elected Texas speaker of the House Joe Straus tells Texas Monthly that he has “some pretty strong libertarian leanings, and sometimes that causes a conflict.”

While Republicans around the country are licking their wounds and advocacy groups are bombarding us all with press releases about how they have the secret formula for bringing the Republican Party back from the brink of the abyss, politicians in Texas are quietly making changes which may define the future of the GOP.

What appears to be happening in Texas is a substantial political shift away from the religious right and towards increased influence within the Republican Party for social moderates and libertarian-leaning Republicans, a shift which is taking place despite the outraged cries of extreme right groups like the psychotic biddies at Texas Eagle Forum.

The first really big sign of this change comes in the results of the just-concluded election of a new Speaker of the House to replace the iron-fisted Tom Craddick (R-Midland). Passing over more than a dozen other candidates, House Republicans selected relative newcomer Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) as their final choice for Speaker, and on Tuesday he officially won the office with unanimous support from both parties in the legislature.

What makes the selection of Straus remarkable is that he was the choice of a group of moderate and libertarian-leaning legislators which the press had dubbed the “gang of 11″ and described as “dissident” and “insurgent” Republicans, and among that group he was one of the least experienced with only two terms in office.

Extreme conservatives attacked him viciously claiming that he would sell out the party to liberals and Democrats. Cathie Adams of Texas Eagle Forum declared that “He’s not a conservative. He’s out of step with the Republican Party and its platform,” which may explain why he won so much support since the Texas Republican Party Platform is one of the most ridiculous expressions of pure extremist craziness ever put into print.

Straus was even condemned by five members of the GOP state Executive Committee in a public letter. All of which suggests that Straus may be out of touch with the party leadership and conservative interest groups, but that may mean that he’s representative of the dissatisfied grass roots of the party which they have been ignoring for years.

Straus’s voting record and issue positions are intriguing. He belongs to a reformed Jewish synagogue in San Antonio that enthusiastically performs gay marriages. He has voted in favor of abortion rights several times and is one of very few Republican lawmakers with a 100 rating from NARAL. He also has a history as an advocate for legalized gambling which has to irk anti-gambling fanatic Governor Rick Perry.

His issue ratings from various advocacy groups suggest that he is genuinely socially libertarian and fiscally conservative. Economic conservative groups give him high numbers, like a 90 from Americans for Prosperity and 71.43 from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. He gets similarly positive ratings from civil liberty oriented groups like an A rating from the NRA and endorsements from gambling advocacy groups. He opposed a ban on gay foster parenting and his candidacy has gotten a very positive response from gay and lesbian groups.

That Straus can take the Speaker’s seat with overwhelming bipartisan support and with the religious right screaming, ignored on the sidelines, is a very positive sign, but it’s not the only sign of sanity returning to the Republican Party of Texas. Earlier this month, Governor Rick Perry finally publicly acknowledged that his pet boondoggle the Trans-Texas Corridor was a dead issue, a sign that his reign of fiscal insanity and right-wing extremism may be coming to an end.

A more telling sign may be that moderate Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is clearly planning to challenge him for the governorship and has been drawing away a lot of his financial suppport. Hutchinson is more of a soft conservative than a libertarian and hardly as appealing as Straus, but she’s also no darling of the religious right and would be a marked improvmeent over Perry.

When Hutchison runs for Governor she will have to give up her Senate seat, which would be filled in a special election. Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Wiliams has already declared his intent to run for her seat.  His campaign website is fairly generic, but rumors suggest that he is libertarian-leaning.

All of these things suggest a substantial shift in the orientation of the Texas Republican Party. It seems like there is a resurgence of more traditional republicanism and a rejection of the policies of the theocratic element of the party.

Pressure from the libertarian grassroots from below and more moderate elected leaders from above might be just what it takes to break up the cabal of religious conservatives who have held onto positions of power within the state party for too long. With them gone, Texas might lead the way to a nationwide rededication of the GOP to the principles of individual liberty and fiscal responsibility on which it was founded.

Texas RLC Seeks Local Leaders for PLGILFM Initiative

The Texas RLC is looking for local leaders and teams to be built in an effort to promote its Principles of Limited Government, Individual Liberty and Free Markets (PLGILFM) initiative throughout Texas. If there is a PLGILFM group in your area, please work with them to build a team. If there is not a PLGILFM group in your area, please consider starting one.

Currently 18 local Republican Liberty Caucus leaders throughout Texas are working toward PLGILFM, but since there are 254 counties in Texas, many more are needed.

Please contact contact Don Zimmerman for more information or to volunteer.

Texas RLC Encourages Liberty Candidates in May Elections

Be sure that your local group ‘adopts’ and campaigns aggressively for local candidates. The May elections are smaller and it is easier to have an impact on smaller elections and campaigns. This will build your credibility in your area among future candidates. This will also provide much needed experience and network building.

The RLC wants to track its local Texas candidates. Please report the names of candidates as well as reports on campaign efforts. Send all reports, stories, or articles to newsletter@RLCtexas.org.

Texas RLC Seeks Executive Committee Members

There are several counties that are being represented on the RLC Executive Committee by a Committeeman who works within their county or district to promote the PLGILFM (principles of limited government, individual liberty and free markets) initiative and participate in quarterly phone conference calls to share ideas and make decisions facing the RLC.

A listing of contacts is available Online. If you are interested in building a group in your local area, please contact Don Zimmerman.

Texas RLC Encourages Attending Regional Pro-Liberty Grassroots Conventions

A series of district meetings are being called for Texas in early 2009 to facilitate the grassroots freedom movement in Texas. Meetings will discuss what will be needed to advance liberty in Texas. The only requirement for attendees include a passion for the cause of liberty.

These meetings will be organized by SD (State Senatorial District) and held as Mass Meetings under Robert’s Rules of Order. Each SD will elect delegates to attend a statewide meeting in February. At the statewide meeting, each SD will have a proportional voting strength equivalent to the votes cast for Dr. Ron Paul for President in the March 2008 primary in that SD divided by the total statewide vote for Dr. Ron Paul for President in the March 2008 Texas Republican Primary.

The current schedule of meetings follows:

1/10/09 - Dallas and Waco
1/17/09 - Harlingen and San Antonio
1/24/09 - El Paso and Houston
1/31/09 - Lubbock
February – State convention

If you are interested in volunteering to help with a meeting that will be held on a day other than the day your home SD meeting is being held, please send you name, contact information and the date/location of the meeting that you are interested in helping with to Convention@OCATI.org.

In 2008, the Texas RLC focused on partisan efforts in the smallest GOP primaries, with even more focus on small non-partisan races like city councils, utility districts, and school boards. These non-partisan races are perfect for gaining experience in local campaigning with small budgets and low vote counts, and our winning candidates can be tested in “farm team” offices before making decisions on whom to promote into partisan primaries.

Texas RLC Electoral Victory

The first Texas RLC success using this model was Jerri Lynn Ward of western Travis County, who won her precinct chair race and then won election to her Travis Water Control Improvement District #17 Board in May of 2008, beating two incumbents by one vote! Our outreach tactics focus on fiscally conservative issues — we have already won new independent and even Democrat friends by working fiscal issues, like loud public opposition to the fall 2007 “Proposition 15″ State Cancer bonds, and the local Round Rock ISD school bonds on the Nov 4, 2008 ballot.

The 2008 State Convention was the best ever for the Texas RLC membership, no doubt because of the high profile Presidential race that included Congressman Ron Paul. The Texas RLC hosted a premium exhibit booth for the fourth consecutive Convention and sold t-shirts and memberships with the remarkably generous help of Penny Langford-Freeman.

Texas RLC Convention 2008

The RLC Texas State Convention on June 13 was packed and new, proven activists were elected to the Executive Committee core, like Brian Crumby at Secretary and Lisa Mallory at Treasurer. Of course Ron’s great popularity also came with a GOP cost. The controversy over Nueces County state delegates, reportedly caused by efforts to block new Ron Paul Republicans from “taking over” key GOP delegate positions, was not given fair treatment at the State Convention. According to Don Zimmerman, RLC Texas Executive Director, “In my experience of attending all State Conventions since 1996, this was not only an unjust manipulation of the rules, it was also business as usual for Convention organizers who MUST provide an abundance of positive media for the financial donors and candidates who sponsor the outrageously expensive affair.”

Don continued: “In my experience it is naïve to think that establishment political people are going to “play by the rules” or to allow fresh faces, with relatively empty pockets, to make a significant impact on a $million dollar convention party, which the sponsors intend to be for fluff, hype, good advertising and positive press. My suggestion is for us to use our people skills and make as many friends as possible, building a consensus of voters, and planning to WIN ELECTIONS as precinct and county chairs, instead of engaging in the efforts to make corrupt incumbents ‘follow the rules’. There is a difference in winning independence and building a consensus and collaborations among voters and activists.”

New Texas RLC Headquarters in Austin

The RLC-TX has established a new headquarters office in Austin. The office was leased in summer 2007 by Don Zimmerman to support grassroots activists working on Ron Paul’s presidential campaign and subsequently served as Don’s campaign headquarters for through the November 2008 election. Lisa Mallory and other Austin-area grassroots activists have joined together to keep the office open through the November 2010 elections and are making space available to the Texas RLC to provide a base of operations to conduct outreach and training for liberty-minded grassroots activists across the State.

Photos of the new Texas RLC headquarters:

Membership Renewal

The Texas RLC is asking all of its members to take a moment to renew their membership and continue to support our efforts to promote liberty-minded candidates and causes throughout 2009.

For 2009, we’ve also introduced a new recognition program. Members who renew or upgrade to Premium membership ($50 per year or an automatic payment of $5 per month via paypal) will be recognized on a display in the lobby of the new headquarters and our new 2009 brochure as “Friends of Liberty.”

Additionally, members who make a one-time contribution of $100 or subscribe for 12 months of automatic payments of $10 per month (via paypal) will be will be recognized as “Advocates of Liberty.” Members who make a one-time contribution of $250 or subscribe for $25 per month will be recognized as “Pillars of Liberty.” Members who contribute $500 or more or subscribe for $50 per month will be recognized as “Patriots” and will also receive an autographed copy of Ron Paul’s book The Revolution: A Manifesto.

Supporters who become Roundtable members will receive special recognition and VIP passes to all RLC Texas events. To renew your membership or subscribe, please send your donation by paypal to hq1@rlctexas.org or by mail to: RLC-TX PAC, 13219 Research Blvd., Suite I, Austin, TX 78750. Contributions are not tax deductible. Join online.

Two members of Congress have proposed sound bailout alternatives.

First, regarding the Wall Street bailout already approved by Congress: Representative Louis Gohmert of Texas has proposed returning all 2008 income taxes to American taxpayers as a solution to boost the ailing economy, as he believes taxpayers, rather than the government, should be using their hard-earned money to choose the economy’s winners and losers. Gohmert is preparing a bill to declare the tax holiday for January and February of 2009. According to Gohmert, “We can save more home mortgages, increase employment, and boost economic growth for a lower price tag with this plan than with any centralized bureaucratic program, all by giving the power back to the taxpayers. I am demanding that not another penny goes to executive bailouts, but these billions of taxpayer dollars should go to the taxpayers who earned them.”

According to American Solutions, citizens pay $101.6 billion per month in personal income tax and $65.6 billion per month in FICA tax. Under Gohmert’s proposed plan, all of these taxes would not be paid during January and February of 2009, and the money would stay in the hands of American taxpayers. There is a petition you can sign in support of the Gohmert plan at https://redstate.kimbia.com/taxholiday.

Additionally, Colorado Congressman Doug Lamborn has proposed an alternative to the soon to be approved Big Three automakers bailout. The bill, HR 7928, would provide incentives for people to buy cars and reduce the inventory. Lamborn’s plan would give up to a $10,000 tax deduction to each American who buys a new automobile manufactured in the United States — including Ford, Chrysler, GM and foreign auto companies that build cars in this country. The plan would also help small businesses by increasing expense limits from $250,000 to $500,000 with a phase-out cap of $1 million.

In short, there are sound alternatives to Bailout politics, but few Congressional members are willing to look toward alternatives that provide long-term solutions rather than short-term quick fixes.

“It’s gratifying to see term limits continue to spread across the country a city and county at a time,” said Philip Blumel, RLC activist and president of U.S. Term Limits, a Virginia-based advocacy group. “And also that another state affirmed their existing term limits in South Dakota, where over 75% of voters voted to retain term limits on the state legislature.”

“Yes, there is a backlash against term limits in New York and elsewhere,” said Blumel. “But only among politicians and lobbyists. The voters continue to reaffirm their support for limiting political power whenever they get the chance.”

South Dakota (J) – repeals term limits on state legislature.

YES: 87,361 (24.27%)

NO: 272,551 (75.73%) TERM LIMITS WIN!

Memphis, TN (1) – Places a maximum of two terms on the city council, mayor and other constitutional offices.

YES: 177,571 (78.23%) TERM LIMITS WIN!

NO: 49,420 (21.77%)

Shelby County, TN (365) – Places term limits on various city charter offices to match limits on county commission and mayor

YES: 273,107 (78.59%) TERM LIMITS WIN!

NO: 74,409 (21.41%)

San Antonio, TX (1) – Extends term limits for city council

YES: 190,417 (51.6%) TERM LIMITS EXTENDED FROM 4 TO 8 YEARS

NO: 178,611 (48.4%)

Tracy, CA (T) – Places a 2 four-year term limit on the city council and mayor

YES: 12,613 (67.21%) TERM LIMITS WIN!

NO: 6,154 (32.79%)

What’s next for term limits? With Congressional approval ratings at historic lows of about 10%, the focus is turning on Congress. To sign a petition for Congressional term limits, please see www.termlimits.org.

I track political races all across the country — with an emphasis on the races that libertarian Republicans can win or have a significant impact on. The following is a list of races that you should pay attention to.

ARIZONA: Sydney Hay is a traditional limited government conservative with a long track record of leadership in Arizona. Now, Sydney wants to replace Republican Rick Renzi in Congress. Sydney has an uphill battle because of Renzi’s corruption charges and because the DNCC is targetting this seat for her opponent, State Representative Ann Kirkpatrick. The race will be a nail-biter come Nov. 4.

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The RLC-USA PAC has donated $1,000 to Sydney Hay’s campaign.
Above, Sydney poses with RLC Adviser Barry Goldwater, Jr.

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CALIFORNIA: Tom McClintock has, for over 20 years, been the conscience of the ultra moderate Republican Party of California. Tom is running for Congress in Placer and Modoc Counties, which traditionally trend conservative, but is having trouble because of George W. Bush and other neo-conservatives who have literally ruined the Republican brand. The race is rated “toss-up,” but libertarian Republicans across the country should be rooting for Tom McClintock.

INDIANA: Ron Paul campaign activist, businessman, and RLC member Bill Johnson is the Republican candidate for State Represenative in District 19, running against a one-term Democrat incumbent in a swing district. This is a race to watch!

MAINE: Former State Representative and RLC State Chair Ken Lindell is running for State Representative in the district he formerly represented.

MICHIGAN: Justin Amash is running for State Representative in a conservative district in suburban Grand Rapids. Justin is a longtime RLC member and supporter, and is considered a “rising star” in Michigan GOP politics. Look for Justin to win in November.

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RLC endorsed Nevada State Senate candidate Lindsay Madsen.

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NEVADA: Lindsay Nicole Madsen, a young rising star in the state GOP, is running for State Senate in Clark County (Las Vegas). How much damage can an outspoken, attractive and principled limited government candidate have in a traditionally Democrat district?

NORTH CAROLINA: There are three races to watch for libertarian Republicans interested in the Tar Heel State. B.J. Lawson, a favorite of libertarian Republicans, has waged an amazing uphill battle for Congress against David Price in District 4. Similarly, Asheville City Council member Carl Mumpower is targetting Heath Shuler in District 11; Shuler was elected by a small margin in 2006 in this swing district. Finally, State Auditor Les Merritt (Incumbent), who the state RLC has been in close contact with, is fighting off a challenge from accountant Beth Wood.

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RLC endorsed incumbent, North Carolina State Auditor Les Merritt.

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PENNSYLVANIA: Long-time State Representative Sam Rohrer (Incumbent) is in a tough re-election battle, and needs your support. Rohrer has been firm about preserving individual rights, and fought hard against the federal government on REAL ID.

TEXAS: State RLC Executive Director and all-around great guy Don Zimmerman is running for Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector.

WASHINGTON: Former State Representative and RLC State Contact Toby Nixon is running for State Representative in the district he formerly represented.

These are the races to watch as the election nears. Please help the above candidates succeed!

A good number of RLC-endorsed candidates advanced through their primaries and on to the general elections in 2008, in what could be considered a breakout year for libertarian Republicans.  A listing of all of the RLC’s candidates is available here.

Each of the below candidates endorsed by the RLC ended up advancing in their respective primary race.  Congratulations!

• Alaska: Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, who was endorsed by the RLC, looks likely to lose in his race against Don Young. Both men are vying to represent Alaskans in Congress. Even if Parnell does lose, he will remain Lt. Governor. If McCain-Palin are successful in November, he will become Governor.

• Arizona: Sydney Hay, who is currently the underdog to replace Rick Renzi in Arizona’s First Congressional District. Hay received a donation from the Republican Liberty Caucus PAC.

• Colorado: George Lilly, who was inspired to run for Congress by Ron Paul.  Lilly is running in District 1 and is not favored to win the race due to district demographics.

• Florida: Ritch Workman, who is running for State Representative in District 30.

• Georgia: Dr. Paul Broun, who won his first campaign for Congress in 2007 and then faced a challenge from the establishment GOP in 2008.  Additionally, incumbent State Senator Jeff Chapman and State Representative Steve Davis, both RLC-endorsed, fended off challengers.

• Idaho: Elizabeth Allan Hodge, a former State Representative, won the GOP primary for State Representative in district 16B.

• Indiana: GOP challenger Bill Johnson narrowly lost his primary for State Representative in District 19.  However, in a victory for the RLC, the GOP challenger dropped out of the race for personal reasons and the county GOP decided that Johnson would be the ideal replacement.

• Maryland: The RLC has endorsed several victorious primary challengers in Maryland, including Richard Matthews (CD 02), Peter James (CD 04), Collins Bailey (CD 05), Roscoe Bartlett (CD 06), and Dr. Michael Hargadon (CD 07).  Unfortunately, all of the challengers are likely to lose due to district demographics.  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is likely to retain his seat.

• Michigan: Three RLC candidates were victorious in their primaries in Michigan, including Justin Amash for State Representative (District 72), Bob Genetski for State Representative (District 88), and Tyler Whitney for Bash Township Trustee.

• Montana: RLC-endorsed candidates Greg Hinkle and Mike Miller won their races for State Senate and State Representative, respectively.

• Nevada: Kris Pickering won her primary for State Supreme Court and up-and-coming GOP rock star Lindsay Nicole Madsen won a tough primary for State Senate in District 7.

• North Carolina: Dr. B.J. Lawson won his primary and will face incumbent David Price for U.S. Congress, District 4.

• Oregon: Delia Lopez won her primary in Oregon, District 3 and will face veteran Earl Blumenauer in November.

• Texas: Dr. Ron Paul won his primary in Congressional District 14 and will return to Congress come January.

• Washington: Michael Delavar won his primary against an establishment GOP candidate in Congressional District 3. He will face incumbent Democrat Brian Baird in November.

• West Virginia: Edward R. Burgress, the RLC contact for West Virginia, won his primary in District 30 (St. Albans) for the House of Delegates. Seven individuals, all of them currently Democrats, represent this large district.