NH INSIDER

FORMER GOV. GARY JOHNSON TO PROMOTE LIMITED GOVERNMENT PRINCIPLES AT RLCNH FORUM

Maverick businessman and politician latest in liberty caucus series to promote new thinking in government

CONCORD, N.H. ― Maverick New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who is also known for building a multi-million dollar construction firm from scratch, will speak this month in Concord as part of a series of educational forums on innovative and principled governance sponsored by the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

The unusually popular, maverick politician and businessman will speak at the Grappone Center in Concord on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. about his experience bringing a common sense, liberty approach to the governor’s mansion in his Southwestern state.

 “Our forums, which are geared toward educating the public on a liberty-oriented approach to government, are open to everyone,” said Jim Forsythe, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “While Johnson is the latest speaker advocating for personal responsibility and smaller, more efficient state governments, we will continue to showcase thinkers from politics, academia, the media and elsewhere who advocate innovative and principled thinking in government and politics.”

The appearance by Johnson follows a previous RLCNH forum that drew a large, enthusiastic crowd to hear speeches from best-selling author Thomas Woods Jr. and nationally known investment advisor Larry Lepard. This month’s forum promises to be just as educational and engaging.

Back in the 1970s, Johnson built his business as a door-to-door handyman into a multi-million dollar construction firm called Big J Enterprises that employed about 1,000 people by the time he sold it in 1994. That same year, Johnson, running as a Republican, defeated New Mexico’s incumbent governor by a 10-point margin. Vastly popular for his common-sense business approach to governing, Johnson was reelected in 1998 and was only limited in 2002 by the state’s term-limit law from serving four more years.

During his tenure as governor, Johnson cut the growth of state government in half, eliminated the state’s budget deficit and created a budget surplus without raising taxes. He privatized half of the state’s prisons and reformed the state’s Medicaid system. He vetoed more bills passed by the state Legislature than all other U.S. governors combined. He also advocated for the legalization of marijuana, calling the War on Drugs “an expensive bust.”

Today, Johnson serves as the honorary chairman of the Our America Initiative, a Salt Lake City, Utah-based Political Action Committee that seeks to increase the amount of discussion of and involvement in current topics of national importance. In that role, he has been a strong advocate for efficient government, lower taxes, civil liberties, economic revitalization, entrepreneurship and privatization.

Tickets to hear Gov. Johnson speak at the RLCNH Forum on January 23 cost $35 for individuals and $50 for couples. They can be purchased online by visiting the RLCNH Web site at www.rlcnh.org or by contacting the RLCNH at info@rlcnh.org.  

About The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire

RLCNH, a state chapter of the national Republican Liberty Caucus, was launched in December 2004 to promote and advance traditional Republican Party values, such as small government, low taxes and spending, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free market capitalism and loyalty to the Constitution.

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