For IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 10, 2008

– MANY REPUBLICANS ALREADY RETURNING PAY INCREASES, CUTTING BUDGETS –

ALEXANDRIA, VA – As state government leaders across the country are working to balance budgets due to the recent economic downturn, the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), the nation’s largest caucus of Republican state leaders, today applauded elected officials who will forgo their 2009 pay increases that were set to take place in many states. Among others who have already done so, just this week Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett and Georgia lawmakers stated they would freeze their salaries and not take 2009 cost-of-living increases.

“The people of America are facing tough times and having to readjust their personal budgets, and they expect their state government officials to do the same,” said RSLC President Scott Ward. “It is encouraging that many state leaders across the country have taken this step already, such as Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett and the Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, we hope and believe that more will recognize the need to do the same.”

A list of some of the Republican state officials who are tightening their office budgets, forgoing cost-of-living adjustments or cutting their salary are as follows:

1. 1. Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett and state legislative officials are forgoing their 2009 cost of living increases
   2. Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell cut his office budget, his salary and returned his state vehicle
   3. Virginia Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling cut his office budget
   4. Georgia lawmakers are forgoing their 2009 cost of living increases

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.