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RLC VIDEO:

The GOP and the libertarian vote -- part one

The role of the RLC in the GOP -- part two

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First Principles: Restoring the Republic

RLC NATIONAL CONVENTION -- DETROIT SEPT. 12-14

          In the wake of the GOP National Convention two weeks earlier, the RLC will hold its 8th biennial National Convention the weekend of Sept. 12-14 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Detroit Airport. Speakers will include Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, a prominent advocate of individual liberty, and Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

         

AFT president Grover Norquist and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson

          The Convention Committee has invited many prominent libertarian Republicans to participate in panels, debates and seminars. RLC advisors and state legislators are expected to be in attendance and RLC national business -- and elections -- will be conducted.

         Join us in Detroit! For more information about the convention, go here. To register, go here.

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Kimberly Abelon, Sarah Lovett and Mike Durden; Neal Conner, rear

RLCers bring freedom message to Tallahassee

          Over 40 RLCers from around the state converged on Tallahassee on March 25-26 for the RLC’s annual grassroots lobbying trip to the state capitol and two busy days of organizing, lobbying and rallies.

          RLCers started arriving around noon on March 25 and participated in a rally for tax cuts on the state house floor which included a supportive talk by House Speaker Marco Rubio.  Then, led by RLCer and political consultant John Hallman, RLCers went legislative office to office to agitate for lower taxes, spending restraints and a free market in property insurance.

     

Rick Shepherd and Bill Tinneman; John Hallman with Rep. Adam Hasner

          Notable among the meetings were those with Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Sen. Mike Haridopolos, Rep. Gayle Harrell, Majority Leader Rep. Adam Hasner and Majority Whip Ellyn Bogdanoff.  RLCers also met legislators or staffers in the offices of Gov. Charlie Crist, Sen. Jeff Atwater and others.

 

Eric Wall, Sherman Platt and Bobby Bucur; Bryan Donnelly and Rick Sippel with Rep. Don Brown

          On the evening of March 25, an RLC meeting was held at a hotel near the Capitol, which served as a legislative briefing for RLC lobbyists as well as the kick-off meeting of the Tallahassee RLC Meetup. RLCer Adam Guillette of Americans for Prosperity updated the group on the status of the Taxpayer Protection Amendment while Francisco Gonzalez and Thomas Perrin of the James Madison Institute gave an overview of other important issues of the 2008 session.

 

RLCFL Chair Lisa Bullion at RLC Meetup; RLCer Dan McDaniel at the Capitol

          The next morning, RLCers waved signs outside the Burns Transportation Building nearby as the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission met and considered the Taxpayer Protection Amendment. The proposal, CP-45, has successfully escaped two subcommittees and was up for the final vote. Instead, after 50 or so testimonials from RLCers and others in favor, the TBRC postponed the vote for April 4. RLCers are encouraged to show up to wave signs and again speak in favor at the next, sure final, meeting at the same location. For more information, call Adam Guillette at (800) 398-4061 or email adam.guillette@afphq.org.

  
Austin and David Hobbs; Rep. Gayle Harrell with RLCers

          For a more detailed recap of the Tallahassee trip by RLCFL Chair Lisa Bullion, go here and choose 'Tallahassee Recap." For a slideshow of these and other photos, go here. If you are not a member of the RLCFL Yahoo Discussion Group and would like create a username and password, go here.

     

Tom Gaitens, Francisco Gonzalez of the James Madison Institute and Adam Guillette

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Santoro Switches to State Senate Race

          After discussions with Republican Party leaders in Miami-Dade County, RLCer Dean Santoro has decided to drop his bid for the U.S. Congress and run instead for the State Senate District 35 in Miami. As a result, he avoids a primary fight and enters the race with a GOP unified behind him.

Lisa and Dean Santoro

          Santoro announced the switch at a Miami press conference on April 3 in the Opera parking lot at 245 NE 14th Street, across from the Carnival Performing Arts Center and the Miami-Dade Board of Education building. RLCers and other Santoro supporters attended and held supportive signs.

          Santoro said that with the entry of former Hialeah mayor Raul Martinez into the race against Lincoln-Diaz Balart, the dynamic of the race had changed.

          “While I have significant differences with Diaz-Balart, I certainly have more in common with him than Martinez,” Santoro said. “I don’t want the democrats to use me against him. I believe it is better for Florida, the Republican party and for me to seek a different office.”

          Party leaders recruited him instead for the open State Senate seat district 35. Due to term limits, entrenched incumbent Sen. Gwen Margolis cannot run again. Santoro will face state Rep. Dan Gelber in the general election, who is term-limited out of the House.

         Gelber, currently Democratic minority leader in the House, thundered against budget cuts at a press conference March 27 calling for tax increases or dipping into reserves to keep spending soaring in spite of a slowing economy and lower state revenues.

         Santoro is a Connecticut-born third-generation American with Italian roots now living in Miami. The MBA-educated computer specialist founded and sold his technology consulting firm and is now a technology manager for an international retailer and host of a weekly podcast and radio show. Dean is organizer of the RLC Meetup of Miami-Dade County.

          For more info on Santoro’s race, go here. To join the Miami-Dade RLC Meetup, go here.

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RLC at the Capitol, March 25-26

          Join us for two days in Tallahassee to meet with dozens of legislators, including the leadership of both houses and the governor's office, as part of the RLCFL's annual grass roots lobbying trip.

          In 2008, our chief legislative goal is the passage of the Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA), which would limit the increase in spending -- by both the state and counties -- to the growth in inflation and population, a recipe for restraint that would have prevented the current spending crisis and will prevent the next one.  The TPA has made it successfully through two subcommittees of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission and is headed for the final hearing and vote on March 26. The RLC will be there; join us!

The RLC has the opportunity to play a decisive role in the fate of the Taxpayer Protection Amendment. Join us!

          The two days will be kicked off by noon property tax reform rally on March 25 in the courtyard in front of the Capitol.  Then, we have meetings with legislators in the afternoon. In the evening, there will be a state RLC meeting and legislative briefing at the Best Western on Apalachee Parkway near the Capitol. One highlight 0f the meeting will be the kickoff of the new Tallahassee RLC Meetup group.

          On March 26, we will begin the day with more legislative meetings and then attend the TBRC hearing on the TPA.

          The RLC has the opportunity to play a decisive role in the fate of the TPA, just as it did in our Kelo and term limits efforts of previous sessions (scroll down for stories). Please join us; you do not have to be a member of the RLC to participate.

          This is a great opportunity for new RLC members and friends to meet each other, veteran RLCers and the state RLC leadership on a fun and productive trip.

          For more info or to RSVP, call John Hallman at (561) 392-4432. For more info on the TPA, go here. For up-to-date TPA news, see here.

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RLCFL state board expands along with the RLC

          After the Florida primary, the Ron Paul for president campaign was largely finished, but many supporters of Dr. Paul's limited government message are not. And now they have found a new vehicle for their activism -- the RLC of Florida!

Steven Talcott Smith,Woody Engle, Steve Burden, Nick Egoroff, Nick Sherman, Katie Luck and Chris Dillard at the March 1 RLCFL strategy meeting in Kissimmee

          Several of the key organizers of Florida Ron Paul Meetups -- the volunteer network that coordinated support for Paul's candidacy -- have joined the state board that runs the RLC in the state.  Six new board members were voted in so far in 2008, including Will Pitts of Jacksonville, Steven Talcott Smith of Boca Raton, Nicholas Egoroff of Orlando, Eric Wall of Panama City, Christopher Dillard of Gainesville and Woody Engle of Naples.

    

 Eric Wall and R.B. Lee

          Geographically, the new board represents far greater coverage of the state, providing leadership in areas of the state with historically little RLC activism, including the Panhandle.

          At a meeting in Kissimmee on March 1, the new and existing board members discussed strategy and set priorities for the year. At the top of the list were the lobbying trip to Tallahassee March 25-26, informing Ron Paul supporters about the RLC and recruiting and aiding candidates for both county Republican Executive Committees and public offices. There was also discussion of the creation of a Florida PAC and the creation of a campaign school program.

          To join the RLC, please go here. Welcome aboard!

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TPA YES!

RLC joins Florida tax (and spending) revolt

          After a frenzy of spending by county governments over the past half decade, taxes in Florida are at an all-time high. As a result, a tax revolt is brewing across the state -- and the RLC is part of it.

        At a state board meeting following the Jan. 26 Americans for Prosperity Summit in Orlando (see story below), the RLC endorsed the concept of the Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA) as outlined by the James Madison Institute and committed itself to pursuing its adoption in 2008. In doing so, the RLC is joining a growing statewide coalition for serious property tax and spending reform.

  

          Grover Norquist, Philip Blumel and Rep. Tom Feeney; RLCFL Chair Lisa Bullion         

          In its annual grassroots lobbying trip to the capitol in Tallahassee in mid-March, RLCers from around the state will meet with Republican leadership in both houses and the governor's office to press for a TPA.  As currently conceived, the TPA would limit the increase in spending to the growth in inflation and population, a recipe for restraint that would have prevented the current spending crisis and will prevent the next one.

 

      R.B. Lee and Armando Grundy; Steven Burden at RLC table and with Neal Connor

          All RLCers are encouraged to read the James Madison Institute Backgrounder #54 to educate themselves about the problem and proposed solution, the TPA. Feel free to order additional copies of this publication for distribution at your monthly Republican club meetings.

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RLC to Congress:

Make it Flake

          At the RLC of Florida state board meeting Jan. 26 in Orlando, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida voted to endorse RLCer U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for the open House Appropriations Committee seat.

           Over the last eight years under a Republican Congress and president, federal spending has been increasing at a rate last seen under the Democratic administration of Lyndon Johnson. Rep. Jeff Flake has been an activist for appropriations reduction and reform and is exactly who is needed to get spending under control and restore our party's credibility on fiscal issues.

                                

                                     RLCer and U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

          On Jan. 28, the RLC of Florida sent a letter signed on behalf of our state board to all the relevant committee members and Florida's Republican Congressional delegation asking them to help Rep. Flake win the post.

          You can help! Go to www.makeitflake.com and send a message now to Congress.

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RLC heeds Americans for Prosperity's

Call to Action

Saturday, Jan. 26 Orlando

          Americans for Prosperity is a nationwide grass roots lobbying organization that is launching its operations in Florida with a ambitious project: securing a Taxpayer Protection Amendment for our state.

          To do this, they are pulling together a coalition of Florida organizations, from the grass roots to the well-heeled, to lobby the legislature for serious institutional restraints on spending, much like Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

         On Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., we'll be converging on Orlando for a AFP and RLC co-sponsored "Defending the American Dream Summit" focusing on this and other pro-market projects. Join us!

          Invited speakers include several presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul, as well as House Speaker Marc Rubio, radio host Neal Boortz and U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney. Plus, there will be experts on grass roots mobilization with information about Florida's tax and spending crisis, and what we're going to do about it in the 2008 legislative session.

          After the Summit, at 5 p.m., the state board of the RLC of Florida will be meeting to discuss our priorities for 2008. The meeting will be open to the public. For more information, call (561) 254-8458.

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'GOP, RLC and the libertarian vote'

Ron Paul HQ, Miami, Jan. 10

VIDEO:

The GOP and the libertarian vote -- part one

The role of the RLC in the GOP -- part two

Join the RLC here!

          According to a 2006 study by the Cato Institute, approximately 13% of the American electorate can be described as libertarian, as opposed to liberal or conservative. This is a large and growing group Cato says the number was closer to 9% back in 1990 that has a higher-than-average propensity to vote.

          When these libertarians vote, they overwhelmingly vote Republican -- but not reliably. According to the study, about 72% of libertarians voted for George Bush in 2000 versus 20% for Al Gore, but only 59% voted for Bush in 2004 versus 38% for John Kerry. That’s a big swing, a much larger swing than one would expect from other voting blocs.

          Why? And who are these libertarians anyway? Where did they come from? What do they believe? What does their emergence portend for the GOP?

                            

RLCer Philip Blumel often uses the two-dimensional 'Nolan chart' as an aide in explaining the libertarian philosophy to Republican Party activists

          These are questions that RLCer Philip Blumel is helping GOP groups answer with his talk, "What is libertarianism?," that he has presented to Republican clubs around Florida, including those in Delray Beach, Fort Myers, Palm Beach, Miami Beach, St. Augustine and Orlando.

          Interest in this subject has exploded since the emergence of Ron Paul's campaign for president in 2007.  On Jan. 10 in Miami, Blumel introduced these ideas -- and the RLC -- to supporters of Dr. Paul at his Miami campaign office, 5760 SW 8th Street.

          In his presentation, Blumel looks at libertarianism from three angles (historical, philosophical and political), identifies the most prominent individuals and institutions of the modern libertarian movement and discusses the role the libertarian minority plays in the GOP currently and could play in the future.

          Specifically, we will discuss how to keep the momentum for liberty going after the current election is over to elect libertarian Republicans to party and public offices in our state and affect public policy.

          If you would like Blumel to make a presentation at your local GOP club, please call 561-254-8458.

          Providing educational speakers to GOP clubs is a ongoing project of the Florida RLC. For other RLC speakers available to your club, see: http://www.rlcfl.org/RLC_speakers.htm.

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Bob Burg: Give and you will receive

          Noted business author and speaker -- and Florida RLCer -- Bob Burg has done it again. Best known for his bestselling first book, Endless Referrals, Burg has just released his latest, The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea with John David Mann.

          The book is garnering immediate praise. "This is the best little business book I have ever read," said Raymond James financial advisor Paul Rampolla of West Palm Beach.

                           

          The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man named Joe who yearns to be successful.  Joe learns that putting the other person first and focusing on how he can help others, instead of on how he can get ahead of the competition, can ultimately lead to unexpected returns. The Go-Giver is a heartwarming and inspiring tale that brings new relevance to the old proverb “give and you shall receive.”

         Burg is a staunch defender of the free enterprise system and, while not a political book, his appreciation of the libertarian values of individual initiative, peaceful cooperation, productive work and genuine tolerance and concern for others shows through on every page.

          Congrats, Bob!

          To buy The Go-Giver -- perhaps as a holiday gift -- click on the Buy the Book icon above.

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RLCers reach out to the Ron Paul 'revolution' at Clearwater rally

          Ron Paul supporters from all over Florida converged on Clearwater to promote Ron Paul’s presidential bid on Nov. 17 – and the RLC was there to greet them and invite them to join the permanent GOP libertarian movement.

          Florida RLC members, including Jim Riis, Mark Cross and Steven Burden, were there with a table and plenty of literature and membership applications. Over the course of the day, over 1,000 liberty lovers attended the Ron Paul Freedom Rally at Coachman Park.

    

            RLCers Jim Riis and Steven Burden at the RLC table at the Clearwater Rally

          Although some of the attendees were already members or had heard of the RLC many had no idea – yet! -- that a libertarian-Republican organization such as the RLC existed or that Ron Paul was the chairman of the RLC in the mid-1990s before being reelected to Congress in 1996.

          The Ron Paul Freedom Rally was the culmination of a complex operation.  Billed as the largest political rally in Florida to date for presidential hopeful Ron Paul, the event was hosted by the Clearwater Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group with the assistance and participation of the more than 80 Florida Ron Paul Meetup groups across the state.

 

Ron Paul and supporters in St. Petersburg, Nov. 28

          As part of the event, Coachman Park was also the final destination of six independent “Ron Paul Road Rallies” organized by Meetup groups all across the state, and originating as far away as Miami, Jacksonville and Pensacola. Along each of the road rally convoy routes -- Suncoast  (Gulf), I-4 Corridor, I-10 Corridor, I-75 Corridor, Southeast and Southwest -- individual Meetup group rallies were held at selected locations. These individual rallies were timed to begin Saturday morning at specific locations along each convoy route. As the growing convoy of supporters passed, each individual Meetup group rally join the growing convoys enroute to Coachman Park. All were sporting Ron Paul signs and banners.

 

          The rally was a family event and included everything from food to face-painting, and featured live music by several nationally known bands -- as well as a speech by RLCer John Conway. In addition to the RLCFL booth, there were also booths providing information on a range of issues important to citizens of every political persuasion, as well as voter registration and party-switching.

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All the major GOP presidential candidates -- from Fred Thompson to Ron Paul -- were represented at the Florida GOP's Prez IV convention.

Prez IV:

Big weekend for RLC

          In a fun and productive weekend at the Republican Party of Florida's Presidency IV event, RLCers met each other, recruited new members, conducted RLC business, heard from and met with top GOP presidential candidates, attended a nationally televised presidential debate and cheered their favorite candidates at pre- and post-debate rallies.

   

RLCFL Chair Lisa Bullion of Orlando with Duncan Hunter; Will Davis of Miami with Ron Paul

          The Presidency IV rally was a two-day convention put on by the Republican Party of Florida held Oct. 21-22 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. At its peak during the Sunday night debate, over 3,000 Republican 'Ambassadors' and guests were in attendance. Ambassadors were chosen and vetted by the local Republican Executive Committees, with every county sending delegates. Sponsors of the event, such as the Florida Association of Realtors and certain presidential campaigns also had a significant number of delegates in attendance.

Jesse Benton with RLCer Will Pitts of Jacksonville

          The RLC sent out a mailing to its membership in June to encourage attendance and about over 50 RLCers and friends made the cut.

          On Saturday afternoon, a candidates rally was held in which the four candidates who ponied up the requisite $100,000 could address the Ambassadors. Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Fred Thompson were met with large roomful of cheers and signs, with each giving their pitch for Ambassador support.  Rally goers also sported about 50 signs for Texas Congressman and former RLC National Chairman Ron Paul. Many of the Paul signs were distributed by RLCer Hector Roos of Miami who carried a stack through the crowd and handed them out to anyone who asked.

  

          The sign-waving made rendezvous easy for RLCers in attendance and many spent Saturday evening chatting and getting acquainted or reacquainted and discussing the weekend's events.

       

          Florida RLC Chair Lisa Bullion led the RLCFL board meeting on Sunday morning, in which many new members introduced themselves. Many new prospects committed to joining the group. To the new members, both at the meeting and throughout the weekend, RLCFL board member Steve Burden emphasized the importance of getting active in local GOP clubs and particularly Republican Executive Committees.

          Two attendees were Neil Conner and Alex de la Paz of Gainesville, both writers for North Florida’s Liberty Sentinel. They announced they are working on a story about the RLC of Florida.


Alex de la Paz of Gainesville; Hector Roos of Miami addresses the RLCFL board meeting Sunday morning

          In the afternoon the RLCers split up, with some RLC leaders -- including state chair Lisa Bullion -- attending the Club Presidents reception on the premises and others heading out to the nearby
Celebration hotel for a fundraising reception for Rep. Ron Paul. About 50 people attended the $500 a ticket Paul reception. RLCers distributed RLC brochures to all attendees and urged the Paul supporters to get active in their local Republican Party. Many were already members of the RLC.

Group shot of RLCers at the Headwaters Bar at Presidency IV

          While it was clear that Ron Paul was the first choice of most RLCers at the event and in the RLC's internal polling, there are exceptions. RLCer John Hallman of Boca Raton was at Presidency IV working for the Fred Thompson campaign and Ernesto Martinez of Cutler Bay near Miami was spotted sporting a Mitt lapel sticker. RLCer Frank Bubb of Boca Raton is a vocal supporter of Rudy Giuiliani. The RLC as an organization has not officially endorsed any candidate for president.


RLC veteran Tom Walls at the candidates rally while Fred Thompson speaks

          While the debate was going on, in a downtown Orlando bar called "One-Eyed Jacks" was packed with primarily young people who gathered to watch the debate and cheer Dr. Paul. Since 2 p.m. that afternoon, alternative and rap bands performed at the rally and debate party called "Paullapalooza" and Orange Boulevard was lined with Ron Paul supporters with banners and signs. Several hundred Ron Paul fans, most under the age of 40, attended. The venue exploded in cheering when Dr. Paul dropped by after the debate to address the rally. Sean Grebey of Orlando and other RLCers were on hand to hand out RLC brochures. Nick Egoroff of Orlando organized the event.



Ron Paul is mobbed by supporters after leaving Paullapalooza in downtown Orlando. The street party continued until about 2 a.m.

          After the debate, RLCers followed the throng to the hotels' Headwaters bar, where debate goers watched the post-debate interviews on TV and to see who 'won' the debate in the Fox News poll. As it turned out, Ron Paul won with 34%, Huckabee came in second with 27%, Giuliani third with 11%, Romney 10%, Thompson 9%, McCain 5%, Hunter 1% and Tancredo with less than 1%. Ironically, most of the debate attendees couldn't vote in the poll since cell phones were prohibited from the debate and hence were locked away in the Ambassadors hotel rooms and cars.

          "Presidency IV was even bigger for the RLC than the YRNC," said Steve Burden, referring to the July's Young Republicans National Convention held in Hollywood (see story below).


Steve Gagne, Lisa Bullion, Philip Blumel and Steve Burden

          Politics can be frustrating and even ugly, and there were moments of that, such as when debate goers booed Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul during the debate, and when the RLC was denied a vendor booth by RPOF staffers for purely ideological reasons. But clearly most RLCers had a good -- and productive -- time and left Orlando motivated to keep up the intra-party fight for lower taxes, less government and expanded personal and economic freedom.

          If you agree with our goals and want to participate in effective political action, join us!

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Cross Joins Ron Paul 'Revolution'

RLC treasurer Mark Cross named state coordinator for Ron Paul  presidential campaign

          RLC treasurer Mark Cross has joined the staff of the Ron Paul campaign as the Florida state chair.

          As chair, Cross will be responsible for developing a network of leaders within Florida, including district chairmen, precinct coordinators and block captains. He will also be working closely with the 55 Ron Paul Meetups that have spontaneously sprung up across the state.

          Cross has been a Republican Party activist in Florida for over 20 years. He has served as a county party chairman, as an appointee on several RPOF committees, and was part of the transition team for former state chair Carole Jean Jordan. He has served as treasurer of the RLC of Florida since May 2004.

          For more information about the Ron Paul campaign in Florida, see www.ronpaulflorida.com or www.ronpaul2008.com.   

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U.S. Term Limits names Philip Blumel new president

          (Fairfax, VA) The Board of Directors of U.S. Term Limits (USTL) announced the unanimous election of Florida RLCer Philip Blumel of Florida as president of the national organization.  

          “Phil has been a longtime advocate for term limits and has built a strong reputation for principled activism in Florida and nationally,” said USTL Chair Howard Rich. “His character is of the highest rank and I am elated with his election and his willingness to serve.”

          Blumel worked as a signature gatherer for term limits referenda inside and outside Florida in the early 1990s. A decade later, Blumel was the campaign manager for the successful 2002 referendum to limit the terms of Palm Beach County commissioners to eight years in office.

          In 2006, the Florida legislature voted to place a referendum on the ballot that would the voter-approved 8-year term limits on the state legislature to 12 years. Blumel was a leader with a statewide citizen effort, Stop the Politicians, which led to the retraction of the referendum from the ballot.

          Blumel, 42, is a certified financial planner and has also worked in journalism, public relations and sales. He is a two-time graduate of the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master’s degree in economics.

          “Term limits are one of the few checks in place to control corrupt politicians, and USTL has been the front line of defense for term limits nationwide,” Blumel said. “I look forward to aggressively fighting to extend term limits to all politicians, from state representatives all the way to Congress.”

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1930:

Will history repeat?

17 Florida economists among 1,028 opposing protectionist tide

          In 1930, Congress passed and President Hoover signed into law the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. At the time, this protectionist measure was vigorously opposed by 1,028 of the nation's top economists. They rightly predicted the tariffs would devastate the economy. And, in fact, the country subsequently plunged into the Great Depression.

          Now some in Congress are considering ways to enact similar protectionist policies against China, a nation that will soon be America's second largest trading partner. Once again, 1,028 of America's top economists, including 17 from Florida, have signed this petition sponsored by the Club for Growth in opposition to protectionist policies against China.

          In the petition, the economists proclaim:

There is no foundation in economics that supports punitive tariffs. China currently supplies American consumers with inexpensive goods and low-interest rate loans. Retaliatory tariffs on China are tantamount to taxing ourselves as a punishment. Worse, such a move will likely encourage China to impose its own tariffs, increasing the possibility of a futile and harmful trade war. American consumers and businesses would pay the price for this senseless war through higher prices, worse jobs and reduced economic growth.

          The 17 Florida signatories include RLCer Don Bellante at the University of South Florida and RLC advisor Randall Holcombe at Florida State University.

          The others are Mina Baliamoune-Lutz, University of North Florida;
Bruce L. Benson, Florida State University; Joseph Calhoun, Florida State University; Jim Cobbe, Florida State University; Dave Denslow, University of Florida; Joseph S. DeSalvo, University of South Florida; Mark Flannery, University of Florida; James Gwartney, Florida State University; John W. Rowe, Jr., University of South Florida; Mark Rush, University of Florida;
Stephen L. Shapiro, University of North Florida; Dean Stansel, Florida Gulf Coast University; Jeffrey W. Steagall, University of North Florida; Teresa Tharp, Florida Southern College; and John Zdanowicz, Florida International University.

          The RLC of Florida sent personal thank you notes to all the Florida signatories for taking a stand on this vital issue.

          For the RLC's position on free trade and other issues, see the RLC's Statement of Principles and Positions.

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 RLC brings libertarian message to YRNC 2007

          The Republican Liberty Caucus raised its flag in Hollywood – and, by extension, nationally -- over the long July 4 weekend as a Governor’s Level sponsor and active participant in the Young Republicans National Convention at the Westin Diplomat Resort.

     

RLCFL Chair Lisa Bullion with Florida GOP Chair Jim Greer; Cristian Mihai Adomnitei, the minister of education for Romania, takes the RLC quiz while RLCer Philip Blumel chats with RLCFL Vice Chair Steven Burden.

          For the length of the convention, the RLC manned an outreach table utilizing the World’s Smallest Political Quiz as a way to identify libertarian-leaning YRs as prospects for RLC membership. Those who scored in the ‘libertarian’ quadrant will receive follow-up letters shortly. The RLC also distributed hundreds of its new RLC tri-fold brochure and materials generously donated by the Atlas Society and the Reason Foundation.

          The convention was attended by many RLC members and alumni including Lisa Bullion, Steven Burden, Jeff Palmer, Jeff Odgis, Steven Alcott Smith, Alan Turin, Philip Blumel, Ethel Rowland, Laura Kotelman, Ernie Martinez and Dan McDaniel. Over 600 attended the convention.

     

RLCers Steven Burden (left) and Jeff Palmer (right) assist conventioneers as they take the World's Smallest Political Quiz at the RLC exhibit booth

          The RLC found enthusiasm for libertarian ideas among many YRs, including Sam Roth of Washington DC, who in a platform committee debate over civil unions referenced “the libertarian in me” in making his case to the assembly. Also, an embrace of British-style snooping with public security cameras went down in flames on libertarian grounds.

          Outside the resort as the delegates arrived, a sign-waving rally in support of former RLC national chair Ron Paul was held, attracting approximately 50 enthusiastic supporters. The event, sponsored by the Broward and Palm Beach Ron Paul Meetup groups, also spilled over into the next morning when approximately 15 or so showed up to catch the late-arriving delegates. By the evening of the 5th, footage of the event was appearing on YouTube.

   

Ron Paul supporters rally for their candidate outside the YRNC 2007 event on July 4 

          RLCer Alan Turin, who attended the Ron rally on the street outside said the response from the public was very positive (lots of waves and honking horns) with only four negative responses out of about 900 drivers.  “No other candidate at the convention had any presence to the general public except for Ron Paul,” said Turin.

          Both the Florida Federation of YRs Chair Todd Goberville and national Executive Director Jon Woodard came out to check out the rally.

          Ron Paul was also ubiquitous inside the convention center where several sported Ron Paul lapel pins and hundreds of Ron Paul tri-fold brochures were distributed by pro-Ron conventioneers.

  

Jeff Odgis; Steven Talcott Smith with GOPAC Chair Michael Steele; another Ron fan

          As the RLC has not endorsed Ron Paul, none of the campaigning took place at the RLC booth. However, the campaign did spark interest and questions from YRs about libertarian Republicanism. So, there was a good deal of symbiosis between the two projects.

          But for the Ron Paul campaign, there was not enough. In the straw poll which finished off the week, Dr. Paul came in sixth (just ahead of John McCain and behind Duncan Hunter, who attended the convention). While the Ron Paul volunteer activist base was larger and more enthusiastic than any of the other candidates, insufficient groundwork had been laid within the established GOP to be a challenger in the competitive poll. To change this, Ron Paul supporters are invited to join the RLC and lend a hand in building the machine that will make winners of the party’s libertarians.

           

          In addition to the YRNC 2007 event, the RLC also participated in the National Taxpayers Union convention in Washington, DC, and FreedomFest in Las Vegas in its most current efforts to accomplish this goal.

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TABOR, now!

          As the special legislative session on property tax reform opens in Tallahassee, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida renews its call for immediate cuts in property taxes and genuine caps on state and local spending for the future.

          RLCer John Hallman pulled together individuals from numerous Florida grass roots organizations to craft a unified response to the weak and rapidly weakening tax reform proposal emerging in the state legislature's special session.

          The coalition accuses lawmakers of ignoring the fundamental needs of Floridians in favor of the political needs of local governments who have waged war on real tax relief. Business owners, second homeowners, seasonal residents and recent home buyers have borne the largest burden. They are forgotten and left out as Tallahassee designs a plan to largely benefit homesteaders. Indeed, many homesteaders need tax relief and protection but not at the expense of other Florida taxpayers.

          As RLCFL Vice Chair Steven J. Burden, a signatory to the coalition's June 14 press release, put it: "I was disappointed to see that our representatives have decided -- after the first day -- that a political solution that only provides superficial relief to the property tax crisis is all Floridians can expect ... Once again, this simply proves that Florida needs a Constitutional Taxpayer Bill Of Rights (TABOR) with real teeth: The politicians have again demonstrated that they cannot be trusted with decisions on spending our money."
 

                                          

                                                Steven J. Burden, RLCFL vice chair

          According to the release, the legislature needs to scrap their overly complex and politically motivated plan and deliver the following straightforward changes this month:

  1. Rollback local budgets to 2000-2001 levels adjusted for inflation and population growth.
  2. Establish a 3% cap on all government expenditures growth.
  3. Establish a 3% cap on all government revenue growth.
  4. Voter approval of any taxes beyond these caps our local governments can no longer be trusted with this responsibility.
  5. Surplus revenues should be returned to taxpayers.
  6. School funding would be exempt from both caps.

          The coalition threatens that failure of the legislature to enact actual reform will result in the advancement of several constitutional amendment initiatives to enact the reforms as outlined a Florida Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Additionally, the proposed "super homestead" amendment as proposed would be strongly opposed in January 2008.

          In addition to the RLCFL, representatives of the following organizations have announced their opposition to the current plan and their support for meaningful property tax reform in addition to capping all government spending and revenue: Ax the Tax (Florida); Cut Taxes Now (Pinellas); Lower Hernando County Taxes (Hernando); Fair Government for Levy County (Levy); Boynton Intracoastal Group; Peace & Prosperity; Broward Activists for Tax Equity and the National Federation of Republican Assemblies/Florida Chapter.

          The organizations are contacting their members and Florida taxpayers to urge that contact be made with the Florida Legislature to express taxpayer opposition to the compromise legislation. For more information on the coalition, contact Tom Gaitens, Florida coordinator for FreedomWorks, at (941) 725-4450.

          ACTION ITEM: Tell the entire legislature you support a Florida TABOR using a single link: LEGISLATORS@myfloridaroundtable.com

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RLC to legislators: Spending is the issue

          There is change afoot in Tallahassee. RLCers returned from their annual Days at the Capitol March 7-8 invigorated from meeting and working with fellow RLCers, impressing their views on legislators and seeing firsthand how Florida government works. But they left with some concern too – with the change in administrations from Bush to Crist there is a changed political climate in the state capitol.

             

RLCers meet with Rep. Adam Hasner and Rep. Peter Nehr

          Once again, the trip was made in conjunction with  FreedomWorks and organized by RLCer John Hallman and Tom Gaitens.  Joining them were RLCFL Chair Lisa Bullion, RLCFL Vice Chair Steven Burden, Frank Bubb, Tom Walls, Rick Gaber, Philip Blumel, John Parsons, John Earley, David Wood and Bill Tinnerman.

          The group met with legislators or their legislative aides in the offices of Sen. Rhonda Storms, Rep. Carl Domino, Senate President Ken Pruitt, Rep. Dennis Baxley, Sen. Mike Haridopolos, Sen. Daniel Webster, Speaker Marco Rubio, Rep. Bob Allen, Rep. Adam Hasner, Rep. Peter Nehr, Rep. Andy Gardiner and Gov. Charlie Crist.

          At the top of the agenda, the RLC crew impressed upon legislators the need for institutional restraints on spending, the ultimate cause of the explosion of property taxes in the state. Specifically, the group pointed to a Colorado-style Taxpayer Bill of Rights – or TABOR – that would cap both state and county spending growth to a combination of population growth and inflation.

                

Meetings with Jerry McDaniel, director of the Office of Management and Budget, left, and with Lori Scott, legislative assistant for Sen. Mike Haridopolos

          There is no doubt Florida needs TABOR. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Jan. 28, 2007, "the total taxes levied at the local level climbed from $16.6 billion in 2001 to $30.4 billion last year, an 83% increase that outpaced the 12% population growth in the same period."

          To give an example of how TABOR could protect taxpayers, consider the case of Palm Beach County. There, the adopted $4.41 billion 2007 budget resulted in a 14% percent increase in property taxes, nearly triple that of combined population and inflation growth (4.0%) and more than double that of personal income (7.5%) growth.

          The message was timely, as some legislation to deal with the issue is nearly certain, but the details are currently being debated. There are dozens of plans and provisions on the table and a consensus has not yet formed around any one of them. Some are tweaks in the system (such as portability of Save Our Homes assessment caps and extending the caps to non-homesteaded property, etc) and some are quite radical (such as scrapping property taxes altogether and increasing the sales tax by 2.5% or so).

          Rep. Adam Hasner, in particular, took time to go over what is being called the Rubio two-part plan to give immediate property tax relief and then replace the property tax with a sales tax. Rep. Hasner met twice with the group and made a persuasive case that the plan would reach its goals.

          “To us, the most important issue is spending,” said RLC Chair Lisa Bullion. “We are concerned that legislators are seeking to shift the burden of taxes, rather than address the core issue – how much money is being spent.”

          Other issues discussed included the prospects for school vouchers, property rights, Florida’s reaction to the federal Real ID act and paper-trail voting. The group also shared its serious objections to the recent insurance reform, considered an egregious expansion of government intervention in the market that will come back to haunt the state in the future.

          At a nearby hotel, the group received a briefing from Bob Sanchez, chief policy analyst for the James Madison Institute, to prepare us for the legislative meetings.  We also heard from Dave Mica at the Florida Petroleum Council to brief us on energy issues, particularly permitting the expansion of offshore energy exploration.

          We had some encouraging experiences in Tallahassee. Seeing our white-on-blue “libertarian Republican” lapel stickers generated mostly positive reactions, with one staffer in an elevator telling us the Florida RLC has “a great website” and then asking if we had read Neil Boortz’s new book. Executive director of the Port of Palm Beach Lori Baer, among others, stopped to ask “what does that sticker mean?” We were happy to explain.

          There were also some ominous signs that thinking had changed. The group was told by one legislator that a TABOR-style spending restraint was dead on arrival.

          Another disconcerting omen appeared in the office of the governor. Gov. Crist was called out of town and was unable to meet with the group as planned, but we sat down to address our concerns with Jerry McDaniel, the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

          McDaniel informed us that Gov. Crist will pick up where Gov. Bush left off on school vouchers, but this was not a “first year priority.” In discussing Florida’s tax structure, RLCer Steven Burden referred to the work of the James Madison Institute on the subject and McDaniel – a 17-year Tallahassee resident and a top advisor to the governor -- professed to be unfamiliar with Florida's premiere Tallahassee-based free market think tank! 

           Things have changed in Tallahassee. Our work in presenting the libertarian alternative there is more important than ever. Join us!

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RLC to push TABOR at 2007 Day at the Capitol

           During the 2006 Florida legislative session in Tallahassee, the RLC played a key role in several issues, most notably in the passage of Florida's strict ban on Kelo-style property takings and the preservation of Florida's 8-year term limits on legislators. (Scroll down for the full story.)

           For 2007, the executive committee of the RLC of Florida met at the Disney Swan Hotel in Orlando in February to pick its battles for the year. At the top of the list is a campaign to enact a Florida Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR. TABOR is a statute that would limit the growth of state and county budgets to the increase in inflation and population. To spend more than the TABOR cap would require voter approval.

          RLCer John Hallman is working with the James Madison Institute and other organizations in promoting a TABOR bill. Hallman will lead a group of RLCers to Tallahassee March 7-8 to lobby for the bill for our annual Day at the Capitol in conjunction with FreedomWorks.

            

RLCers and friends meet with House Speaker Marco Rubio during last year's Day at the Capitol.  To join us in Tallahassee March 7-8 this year, call John Hallman ASAP at (561) 392-4432.

          RLCers will be arriving in Tallahassee in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 7. Rooms are reserved at a discounted rate ($84.95 plus tax) at the Best Western/Pride Inn & Suites, 2016 Appalachee Parkway. A briefing will be held at 7 p.m. at the Best Western meeting room. Meetings with legislators will be scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 8. There is no cost to participate. To reserve your room or for more information, call Hallman as soon as possible at (561) 392-4432.

          In the meantime, Hallman and Tom Gaitens, both field reps for FreedomWorks, are taking advantage of town meetings that state leaders are currently holding around the state to ask for public input about the state's property tax explosion. RLCers and other concerned citizens will be showing up and asking for TABOR protection from skyrocketing property taxes.

          For more information on any aspect of this campaign, please contact John Hallman ASAP at  johnhallman@johnhallman.org or 561-392-4432.

          Input is also being sought from RLC members for other pieces of legislation worthy of support. Join the ongoing discussion of these and other matters in our statewide Yahoo Discussion Group (see the icon in the left-hand column of this page).

 

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Ron Paul explores presidential bid

          U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), a former national chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus, has opened an exploratory committee and is considering a run for the Republican nomination for president of the United States.

          Since he was first elected to the U.S. House in 1976, Rep. Paul has long been an icon of libertarian Republicanism, a mix of stubborn principle and successful electoral politics. In the RLC’s Liberty Index,

            

Mike VanDyk of Miami with Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) at a 1998 RLC-hosted event with Ron Paul at the home of Ray Flow in Palm Beach

Rep. Paul’s voting record consistently ranks at or near the top of the U.S. House and as a result Ron is the largest Congressional beneficiary of contributions from the RLC’s PAC.

          In a Jan. 22 Reason Online interview with Brian Doherty, Rep. Paul was asked what his campaign theme would be. "I think the biggest thing for Republican primary voters is that most Republicans are turned off right now," Rep. Paul answered. "They’ve had a beating and are reassessing their values. They have to decide what they believe in. The

Now is the time to lay the groundwork for a Ron Paul campaign. Join the RLC and let's get to work!

Republican Party has become about big government conservatism, and Republicans need to hear the message they used to hear: [they] are supposed to be for small government."

          This is a key message of the RLC, and if Rep. Paul officially declares his candidacy the national RLC will quite naturally consider an endorsement. According to national RLC bylaws, an endorsement

               

Rep. Ron Paul speaks to friends and supporters at a RLC-cohosted event in downtown West Palm Beach

requires a vote of the national executive committee of the RLC and ratification by a majority of chartered RLC state affiliates. In Florida, there is likely to be a non-binding vote of the membership to guide the state RLC’s decision.

          The RLC has only endorsed one presidential candidate since its inception in 1990, magazine publisher Steve Forbes in his first primary attempt in 1996.

          If endorsed, the RLC network -- with members in all 50 states who attend their local GOP meetings and many who serve on county GOP executive boards can serve as a foundation for the Paul

 

Rep. Ron Paul meets with contributors at the Flow home in Palm Beach

campaign. To help lay the groundwork, all friends of Ron Paul are invited to join the RLC and all RLCers urged to start regularly attending their local Republican Club meetings. In a primary campaign, this direct connection with active and influential primary voters early in the campaign may make all the difference.

          Those who would like to see a 2008 Ron Paul for President campaign are encouraged to contact his exploratory committee. At the Jan. 27 Florida RLC excom meeting in Orlando, the current unofficial consensus was that the Florida RLC will jump on the Rep. Paul bandwagon if he officially announces, runs on traditional libertarian themes and does not face primary competition from another notable libertarian Republican candidate.

          In preparation for a potential Paul campaign, RLCer Tom Walls set up a unofficial Ron Paul campaign news and blog site.

          The Florida RLC keep you up to date on how you can assist Ron’s campaign. Let’s be ready for what is likely to be the RLC’s biggest year ever in 2008!

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The GOP and the libertarian vote

          According to a 2006 study by the Cato Institute, approximately 13% of the American electorate can be described as libertarian, as opposed to liberal or conservative. This is a large and growing group Cato says the number was closer to 9% back in 1990 that has a higher-than-average propensity to vote.

          When these libertarians vote, they overwhelmingly vote Republican -- but not reliably. According to the study, about 72% of libertarians voted for George Bush in 2000 versus 20% for Al Gore, but only 59% voted for Bush in 2004 versus 38% for John Kerry. That’s a big swing, a much larger swing than one would expect from other voting blocs.

          Why? And who are these libertarians anyway? Where did they come from? What do they believe? What does their emergence portend for the GOP?

                            

RLCer Philip Blumel uses the two-dimensional 'Nolan chart' as an aide in explaining the libertarian philosophy to Republican Party activists

          These are questions that RLCer Philip Blumel is helping GOP groups answer with his talk, "What is libertarianism?," that he is currently presenting to Republican groups in South Florida. In November, Blumel addressed the Latin American Republican Club of Palm Beach County in Delray Beach and the Biscayne Bay Young Republicans in Coconut Grove (Miami).

          In his presentation, Blumel looks at libertarianism from three angles (historical, philosophical and political), identifies the most prominent individuals and institutions of the modern libertarian movement and discusses the role the libertarian minority plays in the GOP currently and could play in the future.

          If you would like Blumel to make a presentation at your GOP club, please call 561-254-8458.

          Providing educational speakers to GOP clubs is a ongoing project of the Florida RLC. For other RLC speakers available to your club, see: http://www.rlcfl.org/RLC_speakers.htm.

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1912-2006

Milton Friedman on libertarian Republicans

"I am a Republican with a capital 'R' and a libertarian with a
small 'l.' I have a party membership as a Republican...because that's the way I am the most useful and have most influence. My philosophy is clearly libertarian."

'The Best of Both Worlds,' Reason Magazine, June 1995
 

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RLCFL Calls for New GOP Leadership in House

          On Nov. 13, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida sent a letter to each Republican member of Florida's delegation to the U.S. House urging them to vote for Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) for minority whip and Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) for minority leader in Friday's House leadership election.

                            

                 RLCers Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

          According to the letter, such a move is needed to "refocus on what is not only one of our party’s central principles, but also our best selling point at the polls: fiscal responsibility. The Republican Party has to regain our credibility in this area by pursuing earmark reform, spending cuts, presidential vetoes, opposing tax increases -- and by choosing solid fiscally conservative leadership."

          The endorsement of Reps. Shadegg and Pence echoes that of U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), an RLC Advisory Board member, as well as the Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore, U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), the National Taxpayers Union, the Club for Growth and a growing list of fiscally conservative organizations and individuals.

          Rep. Shadegg is a member of the RLC and has a career rating of 'libertarian' in the RLC's Liberty Index.

          Voters clearly were not enamored with Republican big spenders who try to preserve their conservative credentials by aggressively pandering to social conservatives or the close-the-borders crowd. Of the 19 Republican U.S. House reps that lost their job on Nov. 7, only two had better than average (for Republicans) spending ratings from the National Taxpayers Union.

          "While the voters handed over leadership in the Congress to the Democratic Party, we do not believe that this shift represents a rejection of the limited government philosophy that the GOP has traditionally championed," wrote RLCFL chair Lisa Bullion on behalf of the RLC state executive committee. "On the contrary, we believe the Republican Party is being punished because the voters perceive that the GOP has rejected it. To win back the Congress, we must shatter that perception with genuine reform in the Congress and in our party."

          RLCers are encourage to call or email their Republican House reps this week and urge them to support the Shadegg/Pence ticket.

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BACK TO THE FUTURE

At 2006 RLC convention, GOP libertarians call for renewed emphasis on limited government, individual liberty

          From U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris to the Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore, diverse elements of the GOP's big tent gathered at the 2006 national meeting of the libertarian-oriented Republican Liberty Caucus Sept. 15-17 in Orlando. But their message was unified: the GOP must rediscover its winning commitment to individual rights, limited government and free enterprise.

          Since the RLC was founded in 1990, the Orlando meeting was the first RLC national meeting ever held in the state. The meeting attracted approximately 125 participants over the course of the weekend.

 

It was a full house at the Orlando Renaissance Saturday night for Stephen Moore. At right, Moore chats with an unexpected dinner guest, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris.

          One of these was U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris who dropped by to speak at the meeting's pre-banquet reception. Harris elicited cheers with her call for cuts in taxes and government spending and a call for a radical flattening of the U.S. tax code. She was introduced by State Sen. Mike Haridopolos, once identified by that day's luncheon speaker Florida State University economist Randy Holcombe as perhaps the most libertarian member of the Florida legislature.

          At the banquet event, Stephen Moore -- economics writer for the Wall Street Journal editorial page, a co-founder of the Club for Growth and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute -- pointed to the presidency of Ronald Reagan as evidence that committed advocates for limited government can achieve real change through the Republican Party. In this, he cited the drop of the highest federal tax bracket from over 70% to 28% during the 1980s as a fundamental GOP-led change that reversed America's 1970s economic malaise.

          As well as lower taxes, Moore called for a return to the Reaganesque combination of lower taxes, less government spending and expanded free trade and immigration.

          Billed by the RLC in its marketing material as the "most influential libertarian Republican in America," Moore embraced the label and announced "Yes, I am a a libertarian" to an appreciative crowd.  "We need to have ten thousand, a hundred thousand, members of this organization," said Moore, "because it is the guidepost for where the Republican Party should be headed."

 

 FSU economics professor Randy Holcombe and delegates Jeff Palmer (NC) and Dan McGuire (NH). At right, Paul Jacob speaks while RLC Chair Bill Westmiller looks on.

          Convention participants also heard from elected RLCer Rep. Ken Lindell of Maine, Bob Sanchez of the James Madison Institute, Bob Burg of the Stop the Politicians term limits campaign, economist and author Mark Skousen, Ivan Osorio of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Paul Jacob of Americans for Limited Government, Cheryl Moore representing U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, former Florida police chief Jerry Cameron of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Orlando-area radio talk show host Doug Guetzloe, national Libertarian Party vice chair Chuck Moulton, RLC Liberty Index editor Dr. Clifford Thies, and James Madison Institute writer Adam Goldman. Former Floridian Eric Dondero Rittberg of Texas -- effectively the founder of the RLC -- also attended the event.

          On the business side of the convention, the RLC made the initial steps to re-launch a national RLC newsletter after several years of experimenting with state-based newsletters published by the RLC's state affiliates. While this resulted in some excellent state newsletters, the consensus is it also left some smaller affiliates -- and potential affiliates -- out in the cold.

         The delegates also gave its national board discretion to hold its biannual conventions in odd years in order to avoid conflicting with elections. They also considered holding its next national meeting in conjunction with Mark Skousen's Freedom Fest or other national libertarian or Republican gathering.

    

Florida State Sen. Mike Haridopolos speaks at the pre-banquet reception; At right, national Libertarian Party vice chair Chuck Moulton calls for LP/RLC dialogue.

          Jerry Cameron of St. Augustine, among others, was elected to the national board. Chair Bill Westmiller was reelected by general affirmation as was former Floridian Jeff Palmer of North Carolina as treasurer. Aaron Biterman of Wisconsin received the 2006 Liberty Award for his work organizing college campuses and setting up new RLC state affiliates.

          After lengthy discussion, the RLC tabled a clarification of its position on immigration. The purpose of the clarifying resolution was to reaffirm and to add detail to the simple embrace of expanded legal immigration enshrined in the RLC's Statement of Principles and Positions. In the end, in part due to differing opinions over details,