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    Republican Liberty Caucus

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    Republican Liberty Caucus
    Republican Liberty Caucus.png
    Basic facts
    Location:Washington, D.C.
    Type:527 group
    Affiliation:Republican
    Top official:Matt Nye, Chair
    Year founded:1991
    Website:Official website

    The Republican Liberty Caucus is a 527 group "dedicated to working within the Republican Party to advance the principles of individual rights, limited government and free markets."[1] The group also has an affiliated political action committee, RLC-USA PAC.

    Mission[edit]

    The website for the Republican Liberty Caucus of Ohio lists the following mission statement:[1]

    “ The mission of the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) is to return the Republican Party to its ideological roots of limited government, free enterprise and personal liberty and responsibility.[2] ”

    Work[edit]

    The Republican Liberty Caucus is a grassroots 527 group that works within the Republican Party to advance its mission of limited government and personal liberty. The group was organized officially in 1991 and has attempted "to have an influence within the Republican Party rather than to go the third party route."[3] Past national chairs of the group include Roger MacBride (former Libertarian Party presidential candidate), Chuck Muth (former executive director of the American Conservative Union) and Ron Paul (former U.S. Representative from Texas). In election years, the group is active in endorsing candidates based on their answers in an issues survey.

    In 2015, the group announced that former Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate Wayne Allyn Root would assume the role of advisory board chair. Upon his appointment, Root said, "Given the popularity of the Tea Party message, it makes sense to work within the Republican Party to return the GOP to the ideology of Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater and Jack Kemp. That is exactly the mission of the Republican Liberty Caucus, and I’m here to inject a dose of world-class energy and enthusiasm!"[4]

    The group's PAC, RLC-USA PAC, donates to Republican candidates who "stand strongly" for the principles outlined in the group's mission statement. The PAC gives preferential consideration for candidates who sign "The Liberty Compact," a pledge to work in accordance with the group's principles. The compact reads:[5]

    “ I pledge to the citizens of this State, and to the American people, that as their elected representative I will work to: Restore liberty, not restrict it; Shrink government, not expand it; Reduce taxes, not raise them; Abolish programs, not create them; Promote the freedom and independence of citizens, not the interference of government in their lives; and Observe the limited, enumerated powers of our Constitution, not ignore them.[2] ”

    In the 2014 election cycle, the PAC contributed $7,250 to committees, including those of Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).[6]

    Leadership[edit]

    The organization lists the following individuals as officers and board members for the Republican Liberty Caucus:[7]

    • Matt Nye, Chair
    • Dave Nalle, Vice Chair
    • Aaron Day, Treasurer
    • John Dennis, Secretary
    • Jeff Larson
    • Steve Hoffman
    • Luis Vargas

    Presidential preference[edit]

    2016 presidential endorsement[edit]

    ✓ Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed Rand Paul for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[8]

    See also: Endorsements for Rand Paul

    See also[edit]

    External links[edit]

    Footnotes[edit]

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Republican Liberty Caucus, "About the Republican Liberty Caucus," accessed August 27, 2015
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    3. ↑ Republican Liberty Caucus, "History of the RLC," accessed August 27, 2015
    4. ↑ Personal Liberty, "Republican Liberty Caucus announces Wayne Allyn Root as chairman of National Campaign Committee," March 9, 2015
    5. ↑ Republican Liberty Caucus, "RLC-USA PAC," accessed August 27, 2015
    6. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "FEC Form 3X for Republican Liberty Caucus Political Action Committee (2014)," accessed August 27, 2015
    7. ↑ Republican Liberty Caucus, "Officers & Board Members," accessed February 14, 2016
    8. ↑ The Washington Post, "Rand Paul wins support of GOP ‘liberty’ caucus," January 12, 2016
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