|
Since 1991, we have been the only organization promoting a pro-liberty agenda within the Republican Party. We work hard to help elect principled Republican candidates, from libertarians to constitutional conservatives.
2016 is a pivotal year not only in politics, but for America. We'll let you know which candidates we support, inform you on where your representatives stand on the issues, advocate for liberty legislation, and keep you updated on local happenings.
|
|
|
|
TODAY is Election Day America, it's time to VOTE!
|
|
It's vital that libertarians and conservatives vote for the most principled candidates in Congress. Since Ron Paul ran for Congress in 2008, our size and influence has only grown. Though still a minority, today there are more libertarians and constitutional conservatives serving in Congress than ever before in our lifetime. If liberty is to truly take foothold we must be resilient and continue voting in principled and dedicated public servants, not self serving career politicians. Vote for individual rights, limited government and free markets.
Click the buttons below to find your polling location, lookup your sample ballot or view election results.
|
|
|
|
Federal Candidates: Endorsements,
Recommendations and Past Endorsees
|
|
This year we officially endorsed 14 candidate for both chambers of Congress:
Dr. Rand Paul (KY) and Colonel Rob Maness (LA) in the Senate
Justin Amash (MI), Thomas Massie (KY) , Ted Yoho (FL), Walter Jones (NC), and Sue Googe (NC) in the House
Endorsees who lost in their primaries were fighters Dr. Rex Rammell (WY), Dr. Greg Brannon (NC), Tim Donnelly (CA), Dan Bongino, Rebekah Johansen Bydlak, Pat Mooney and Mark Bircher all of Florida.
Since 1989 longtime RLC legend Clifford Theis has compiled the "Liberty Index," an in depth scorecard for all members of Congress. Theis is a Professor of Finance and Economics at Shendendoah University, an author at the Independent Institute and the Chairman of the RLC of Virginia.
This year Rand Paul (KY) and Justin Amash (MI) scored the highest. Rand topped the Senate with a 93 and Justin Amash scored a perfect 100%
Senators who scored a 90 or above:
Rand Paul (KY), 93
Mike Enzi (WY), 92
Ted Cruz (TX), 92
Mike Lee (UT), 91
Steve Daines (MT), 90
James Lankford (OK), 90
Representatives who scored a 90 or above
Justin Amash (MI), 100
Jeff Duncan (SC), 98
Raul Labrador (ID), 98
Thomas Massie (KY), 98
Scott Perry (PA), 97
Rod Blum (IA), 95
Mo Brooks (AL), 95
Tom McClintock (CA), 95
Mick Mulvaney (SC), 95
Dana Rohrabacher (CA), 95
Mark Sanford (SC), 95
Dave Brat (VA), 93
Jody Hice (GA), 93
Louie Gohmert (TX), 93
Jim Jordan (OH), 93
*Cynthia Lummis (WY), 93
Barry Loudermilk (GA), 93
*Reid Ribble (WI), 93
*Curt Clawson (FL), 92
Scott DesJarlais (TN), 90
John Duncan (TN), 90
Scott Garrett (NJ), 90
*Tim Huelskamp (KS), 90
David Schweikert (AZ), 90
*Matt Salmon (AZ), 90
Least principled members of Congress
*Senator Harry Reid (NV), 12
Senator Angus King (ME), 8
Representative Emmanuel Cleaver (MO), 11
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL), 8
Past Endorsees from 2014
Tim Scott (SC) - Senate
Mike Lee (UT) - Senate
Ted Cruz (TX) -Senate
Pat Toomey (PA) - Senate
Dana Rohrabacher (CA)
Tom McClintock (CA)
Mark Sanford (SC)
Bill Posey (FL)
Raul Labrador (ID)
Jeff Duncan (SC)
*Tim Huelskamp (KS)
Mick Mulvaney (SC)
John Duncan Jr (TN)
Louie Gohmert (TX)
Alex Mooney (WV)
Jim Jordan (OH)
*lost primary or retiring
|
|
|
|
State Chapter News
|
|
Florida: We recently announced our slate of endorsed candidates for the Florida Senate and House of Representatives for 2016. The majority of our endorsed candidates were victors in their primaries and we expect similar results in the General Election. One of our own members Rosy Palomino is running for State Representative in the 112th district in southern Miami, she is the former Vice Chair of the Miami Republican Party.
In September, the RLC of Central East Florida hosted its annual Constitution Day Dinner in Melbourne with keynote speakers Dan Bongino and Loren Spivack and successfully raised over $11,000. The Jefferson Cup Award was given to Phil Blumel, the President of U.S. Term Limits, current member of the RLC of Palm Beach County and one of the original founders of the RLC in '91. In February we will be hosting our annual pilgrimage to Tallahassee to lobby the legislature for liberty and present legislators with our agenda for the upcoming session. Please send us an email here to register or inquire about the trip
Ohio: Liberty-minded Ohio Republicans met for the Republican Liberty Caucus of Ohio 2016 Convention on Saturday, September 24th at King Avenue Five in Columbus. Top leaders from all over Ohio were in attendance – Republicans who believe that Ohio should be a state that stands on Constitutional and free market principles. The keynote address was given by the newest member of the United States House of Representatives, Warren Davidson. Congressman Davidson replaced Speaker John Boehner in Ohio’s 8th Congressional District. Rep. Davidson spoke about his commitment to the oath that he has taken, “to serve, protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic”.
The first panel, “What can citizens do in the fight for a better Ohio?” looked at activism and what works to make a change at a local and state level. Panelists included: Garrett Kehr, Ohio President, Young Americans for Liberty, Greg Lawson, Senior Policy Analyst, Buckeye Institute. Maurice Thompson, Executive Director of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law and Tom Zawistowski, President of the We the People Convention, President of the Portage County TEA Party and former Chair of the Ohio Liberty Coalition. The second panel, “Liberty in the Legislature” focused on Ohio’s General Assembly and politics in the State of Ohio that have moved us closer or farther away from Liberty. Panelists included: Former State Rep John Adams, State Rep John Becker, State Rep Tom Brinkman, State Rep Ron Hood and State Senator Kris Jordan
We presented the “Champions of Liberty” award to State Senator Kris Jordan, and State Representative Tom Brinkman as the legislator with the most consistent, liberty minded voting record. The Chairman’s Choice Award for Inspirational Volunteer was also presented to Public Relations Chairman Mathew Erickson. RLCOH members elected a new governing board: Chairman – Bill Yarbrough of Columbus, Vice-Chairman – Chris Sawicki of Medina, Secretary – Kelly Sanders of Pickerington and Treasurer – Jim Rovenski of Columbus. At Large Board Members: Ann Becker of West Chester – Chairwoman of the Field Development Committee, Mathew Erickson of North Canton – Chairman of the Public Relations Committee, Scott Jeryzk of Columbus – Chairman of the Candidates Committee and Michael Newbern of Delaware – Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee. Videos of the event can be found on the RLCOH YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK4xpE-iynG2EEnC4lrfUnw
Oklahoma: We have endorsed Jason Murphey for State Representative. Jason Murphey is a third generation life-time resident of Logan County. He has been married to wife Raleah for 20 years and they have two sons. He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree from Charter Oak State College in May of 2006 with National Honors, attends church at Church of God Outreach in rural Logan County and has achieved Toastmasters International's highest award for communication and leadership (DTM). In 2001, Murphey was elected to the Guthrie City Council where he worked to place government proceedings on television and the Internet, defeated property and sales tax increases and called for spending reductions. In 2006, Murphey campaigned for State Representative on a platform of never accepting contributions or gifts from lobbyists or groups that employ lobbyists. Since 2006, as a state legislator, he has sponsored successful legislation to open up access to government spending and performance data, created the data.ok.gov and documents.ok.gov web portals and removed statutory barriers to government agency use of social media.
On September 17th we hosted a meeting at Gage's Steakhouse in Guthrie with Marc Hyden of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. If you're interested in Marc coming to speak to you and your group about the dangers of the death penalty, please send us an email.
South Carolina: The RLC of South Carolina hosted its biennial convention on Saturday, September 24th at the Capstone Center in Columbia. Video addresses were received from Representative Mark Sanford, Representative Mick Mulvaney, Senator Lee Bright and newly elected SC representative Steven W Long. We also heard from Jeff Davis from Palmetto kids first Scholarship program discussing School Choice, R Josiah Magnuson newly elected Representative spoke eloquently about State Sovereignty. and Stewart Jones, who is a County Councilman from Laurens County and SC RLC Board member spoke to us about the importance of making a difference in local Government. National Board member and former SC Regional Director Steve Hoffman spoke about the direction of the RLC, and it's progress in fundraising, chapter formation and electing Liberty minded individuals to office.
The Board presented three awards: Statesman of the Year Award to Senator Tom Davis, Freshman of the Session to Representative Jonathon Hill and Lifetime Liberty Award to Senator Lee Bright. Elections were held for the new Board: Chairman - Mike Wallace, Vice Chairman John Katsanos, Treasurer - Nick Katsanos, Secretary - Kathryn Chasity Jones Douglass. New Board of Directors was also elected: Jordan Pace, Will Eddis Freeman, Stewart Jones, Dan Douglass and Jason Clouse
Texas: We are gearing up for the 2017 Texas Legislative Session. This session’s focus will be on at least two issues of major importance to liberty advocates everywhere: property tax reform and civil asset forfeiture reform. Property Tax Reform: Liberty advocates worked diligently during the Texas convention season to push for the addition of a section of legislative priorities to the Platform of the Republican Party of Texas. The list of priorities would signal to the legislators what Republicans wanted them to focus on while they were in session. The property tax reform priority item reads: “To replace the property tax system with an alternative other than the income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden.” On Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform: One of the most overlooked issues of civil liberties in our time is the deplorable practice of Civil Asset Forfeiture. RLC of Texas is also designating the reform of the CAF system in Texas a major legislative priority for the 2017 session. Several legislators are already working on crafting bills to rein in or otherwise curtail these practices, and the RLC of Texas will be working to increase the number of legislators backing reform.
We hope to see such reforms in upcoming bills as:
- provisions to require exact accounting for funds and assets seized by municipalities and LEOs
- provisions for raising the burden of proof required to permanently seize assets
- provisions for property owners to contest the seizure of their assets
- protections for innocent owners
What You Can Do:
- Follow RLC TX on Twitter and Facebook
- Learn about the issues
- Bookmark this website to stay on top of the legislative session as it happens
- Find your legislators HERE
- Contact your legislators to let them know you support property tax and civil asset forfeiture reform
- Join us when we travel to Austin during the session to speak with legislators face-to-face
|
|
|
|
JOIN the RLC and DOWNLOAD our App
|
|
Since 1991, we've remained an all volunteer organization relying solely on membership dues and donations from angels and activists.
We are the lifeblood of the liberty movement in the United States, we've help elect libertarian stalwarts like Thomas Massie and Justin Amash and helped promote liberty at the national level by supporting Ron and Rand Paul for President.
Our primary goal: help elect libertarian and constitutional conservative Republicans at the local, state and national level. For $45 per year you can join the largest network of liberty Republicans or start a local chapter in your community. You'll have access to experienced and dedicated activists, grassroots campaigns across the country and an army of liberty of lovers standing next to you.
Download our app for FREE to connect with other members and learn about current issues we tackle as an organization.
|
|
|
|
RLC Joins the 1st Amendment Alliance
|
|
|
On October 1, the congressional deadline to prevent the IRS from trampling over the free-speech rights of nonprofits will expire. In early August, the Tax Revolution Institute (TRI) — a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes “justice and integrity in the tax system” — launched the First Amendment Alliance (1AA): a nonpartisan effort to protect the free-speech rights of nonprofits. The Alliance now has over 50 groups that represent every segment of the political spectrum and civil society. The 1AA’s mission is to prevent the IRS from implementing Regulation 134417–13, otherwise known as the IRS “muzzle rule.”
Some of the organizations that currently form the 1AA include: Ax the Tax, Blue Republican, Christian Party of America, Christian Party of North Carolina, Citizens In Charge, Coffee Party USA, Common Ground Movement, Fight for the Future, Free the People, Legal Immigrants for America, Liberty Guard, Liberty Initiative Fund, Liberty Justice Center, Move to Amend, Muslims For Liberty, National Association of Parents, Our America Initiative, Parents Teachers and Advocates, Patriot Coalition, People Against the NDAA, Popular Resistance, Put Growth First, Restore the Fourth, Taxpayer Education Foundation, Taxpayers United of America, and many more. See the full list at 1stAA.org
In November 2015, Congress intervened to defund the IRS from taking action on this new rule, but those protections are set to expire on October 1 of this year. TRI has previously called on concerned citizens and organizations affected by this rule to act now by joining the First Amendment Alliance and taking the fight back to Congress.
"The IRS disregards the rights of citizens, businesses and non-profits on a daily basis," said RLC Chairman Matt Nye. "The Republican Liberty Caucus is gladly joining the First Amendment Alliance to lead the fight against crony bureaucrats who threaten our most important freedom. We will always stand to protect the First Amendment, and ask other non-profits to join the 1st Amendment Alliance to stop this abridgment."
|
|
|
|
OPINION: We Should Have Nominated Rand Paul
|
|
By  Brandon Morse, RedState
If you pay any attention to politics, I’m sure you’ve seen a few articles floating around with headlines like “Hillary Was Afraid of Rand Paul.” The articles talk about the leaked emails and how the Hillary campaign analyzed the different candidates they would have to face. They wanted to face people like Trump, and Cruz. The last person they wanted to put Hillary up against was the Senator from Kentucky. Many of my friends and I supported Rand Paul from the beginning, and now I’m happy to see that we were correct in our assumptions.
According to the leaked Clinton campaign emails, Paul was terrifying because he appealed to everyone Hillary goes to for easy votes. Her campaign’s strategy was to attempt to make him seem like someone whom those groups would not have voted for, but that would have been a very tall order.
“What to undermine: the idea he is a “different” kind of Republican,” said the email. “His stance on the military and his appeal to millennials and communities of color.”
Hillary was already up against the wall with the black vote, seeing as how she and her husband championed measures that put so many young black men in jail, tearing apart families, and.....
|
|
|
|
