Although we believe that private citizens have the choice to freely enter into contracts on their own free will, this amendment is very vague and broad.  Our concern is that this amendment would give broad powers to the General Assembly and the courts that could potentially inhibit competition rather than increase it.

Amendment 2: RLC-GA Recommends a NO vote.

We believe that there are other avenues to fund trauma care besides levying another tax on the citizens of Georgia.  This purpose of this amendment is to fill in the budget hole from the lack of revenue generated by Georgia’s “Super Speeder” law.  We believe this is bad policy trying to fix bad policy.

Amendment 3: RLC-GA Recommends a YES vote.

We believe that allowing GDOT to enter into mulit-year contracts will allow the state to more easily pay for large projects over a span of time rather than trying to budget it into a single year.  This amendment will not allow a contract of this type to exceed more that 10 years.  This makes fiscal sense.

Amendment 4: RLC-GA Recommends a YES vote.

We believe that allowing state agencies to enter mulit-year contracts for projects that improve energy efficiency or conservation improvements with guaranteed savings is a fiscally conservative approach.

Amendment 5: RLC-GA Recommends a YES vote.

This will allow property owners to decide whether or not they want to remove their property from an industrial area.  Although this affects only a small portion of the state, we believe that we must allow all private property owners to do with their property as they see fit.

Referendum Question: RLC-GA Recommends a YES vote.

This is the portion of the JOBS Act that removes the property tax on the inventory of businesses.  We believe that businesses in Georgia can use that financial capital paid in taxes more effectively than the state government can.

The candidates that have been endorsed are:

Congressional District 5:  Kelly Nguyen

Congressional District 12:  Carl Smith

Congressional District 13:  Mike Crane

The Caucus believes that all the above candidates would, if elected, promote pro-liberty principles and would defend Georgia against the out-of-control federal bureaucracy that has taken control away from the states and citizens.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia works to advance the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets within the Republican Party and throughout Georgia. Our candidates focus on a broad range of issues, including taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism, and the proper role of government.  For more information and to join, visit GOPLiberty.org.

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Georgia has a bureaucratic maze in the Agricultural Commissioner’s office that has proven ineffective.  It is time for the citizens of Georgia to make a stand and demand change.  Georgia needs a change from a ten four-year term bureaucrat to someone who believes in the free market and efficient government.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia works to advance the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets within the Republican Party and throughout Georgia. Our candidates focus on a broad range of issues, including taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism, and the proper role of government.  For more information and to join, visit GOPLiberty.org.

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The Caucus endorsed the following candidates for the Georgia General Assembly:

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia works to advance the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets within the Republican Party and throughout Georgia. Our candidates focus on a broad range of issues, including taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism, and the proper role of government.  For more information and to join, visit GOPLiberty.org.

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“We believe that Gerry has sound principles and will use them to allow competition between insurance companies in the state of Georgia rather than building bureaucracies to inhibit it.  That is what we are looking for in our next Commissioner of Insurance,” Chairman Burgess continued.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia works to advance the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets within the Republican Party and throughout Georgia. Our candidates focus on a broad range of issues, including taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism, and the proper role of government.  For more information and to join, visit GOPLiberty.org.

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“Melvin is a lover of liberty and wants to get the government out of the way of businesses creating jobs.  He is a dynamic speaker and full of youth and energy.  He can easily communicate his plan and resonates with the conservative voter,” Chairman Burgess added.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia works to advance the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets within the Republican Party and throughout Georgia. Our candidates focus on a broad range of issues, including taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism, and the proper role of government.  For more information and to join, visit GOPLiberty.org.

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“Some may speculate that it’s ill feelings towards Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and the Senate leadership. However, we believe that what he said was just bringing light to the fact that many senators are sacrificing their principles to keep their power. It is our hope that the Preston’s words will ring in the ears of the lieutenant governor, the Senate leadership, and the other legislators when the new General Assembly meets in 2011,” said Chairman Burgess.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia works to advance the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets within the Republican Party and throughout Georgia. Our candidates focus on a broad range of issues, including taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism, and the proper role of government. For more information and to join, visit GOPLiberty.org.

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The Caucus is glad to see that Brian has continued the fight against the Obama justice department to uphold our state’s voter ID law.  Georgia needs a Secretary of State who will continue to ensure that Georgia has free and fair elections by validating all those who participate in the elections process.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia works to advance the principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets within the Republican Party and throughout Georgia. Our candidates focus on a broad range of issues, including taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism, and the proper role of government.  For more information and to join, visit GOPLiberty.org.

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ATLANTA, GA, May 16, 2007 – The Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia, a grassroots organization promoting individual freedom, limited government and fiscal responsibility, has awarded State Rep. Steve Davis (R-McDonough) its first annual Courageous Legislator of the Year Award for his strong stance against wasteful spending and his consistently pro-taxpayer record.

Rep. Davis, who was endorsed by the RLC in 2006, was the only member of the State House to vote against the FY 2007 budget. He based his vote on the nearly $200 million in pork barrel projects. After the vote, Davis wrote, “When the state takes the taxpayers’ money and spends those funds on unnecessary or improper expenditures, then it fails in supporting the legitimate functions of government.”

After a budget agreement was reached, Davis voted in favor of returning $142 million back to the taxpayers. He openly criticized the Governor for vetoing the return of the money. He stated, “The true commitment of a conservative would be to veto the budget because the refund was not large enough.” Davis also stood on the principle of fiscal conservatism by voting against the bloated $20.2 billion FY 2008 budget. Representatives Bobby Franklin and Martin Scott stood with him.

Representative Steve Davis has been the light of fiscal conservatism and responsible government under the Gold Dome. We are proud to be able to recognize him as a man of conservative principle and the best friend the taxpayer has in the Georgia General Assembly.

The Courageous Legislator of the Year Award goes to the Senator or Representative who shows the most courage in standing up to party leadership and special interests to do what is right by the people of Georgia. Also nominated this year was State Senator Seth Harp (R-Midland) for introducing legislation to allow local communities to decide whether or not to sell alcohol on Sundays.

The order of Business will be as follows:

• Welcome and what we’ve been up to
• Bylaws committee report and changes
• Officer and Board Elections
• Chair
• Vice-Chair
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Executive Committee Members
• Legislative Update – Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth)
• Legislator Awards
• Adjournment

The Convention will be held Friday, May 18th from 3-5pm at the Loafing Leprechaun right next to the Gwinnett Arena. You can register by emailing Chris Farris

I look forward to seeing you there,

Chris Farris
Chairman
Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia