For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, December 8, 2008

– FEDERAL LEADERS ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO STATE LEADERS FOR MOST HELPFUL SOLUTIONS FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY –

ALEXANDRIA, VA – With the recent economy recovery announcement by President-elect Barack Obama and the multi-billion dollar proposal by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders, encouraged federal leaders to listen to and work with state leaders of both parties to ensure that new infrastructure programs are implemented effectively.

“President-elect Obama started to lay the groundwork for his economic recovery plan and we encourage him to not only listen to the Governors but also the state legislative leaders who are closest to the people and the issues the states are facing,” said RSLC President Scott Ward. “In announcing his recovery plan, Obama said ‘We won’t do it the old Washington way. We won’t just throw the money at the problem.’ His new deal-type programs appear to be just that.”

“While some of the infrastructure proposals, such as broadband connectivity, are essential to expanding our economy, the states do not need new government deals to nowhere,” added Ward. “We hope as more details come forth from the national democrat leaders’ proposals that we are doing more to create an environment for economic opportunity rather than just putting band-aids on the problems.”

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State legislator. The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country – making a national impact one state at a time.

The RSLC has over 70,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC’s goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda, including: reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies. During the 2008 election the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors across the U.S. In addition, the RSLC was able to deliver new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives.