WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele today named Maryland RNC Committeeman and Budget Committee Chairman Louis Pope Treasurer of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2012 Republican National Convention and Indiana National Committeewoman Dee Dee Benkie RNC Members Finance Co-Chairwoman. “I am proud to announce the appointment of RNC Committeeman and RNC Budget Committee Chairman Louis Pope as Treasurer of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2012 Republican National Convention. The Committee on Arrangements is charged with putting together the Republican National Convention that will be held in Tampa, FL in the week of August 27, 2012.  Louis has been a conscientious steward of donor money while serving as Chairman of the RNC Budget Committee and his exceptional qualifications will help make the Republican National Convention in Tampa a huge success.” “I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Indiana National Committeewoman Dee Dee Benkie as RNC Members Finance Co-Chairwoman. She has been a tireless advocate of Republican principles and will make a great addition to an already very strong team. I look forward to working with both Louis and Dee Dee to continue to build on this past year’s electoral successes and work towards significant Republican wins this November and in the future.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele  

  WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) released the following statement today: “I am disappointed that the Supreme Court chose not to hear arguments in Republican National Committee v. Federal Election Commission. This was an opportunity to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to the First Amendment and to the right of citizens to join together and speak out for causes and candidates they support. As was proven with the Democratic House's decision to ram through the DISCLOSE Act, the Democratically controlled Congress has a vested interest in passing legislation that protects incumbents at the expense of the American public and their First Amendment rights. If left unchallenged, McCain-Feingold's severe restrictions on party efforts to register votes and get out the vote will continue to result in the unconstitutional encroachment on the rights of citizens to associate with each other and to speak out to express their beliefs. We are greatly disappointed that the Supreme Court is not giving us the opportunity to demonstrate this point before the Court.” – Theodore B. Olson, representing the Republican National Committee in RNC v. FEC

   WASHINGTON – Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-1) released the following weekly Republican address. The address is available in both audio and video format and is embargoed until 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, June 26, 2010. NOTE: The address is embargoed until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Audio of the address is available here. Video of the address is available here. TRANSCRIPT: “Hello – I’m Paul Ryan – I work for the people of Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District and I serve as the top Republican on the House Budget Committee.  Yes, Congress does have a Budget Committee, but I’m afraid it hasn’t been very busy this year. “In fact, this week the House Majority Leader announced that Democrats are canceling this year’s budget.  Instead of reining in out-of-control spending that has pushed our national debt past $13 trillion, Democrats have made clear their intention to raise taxes on middle-class families to fuel their continued spending spree. “Talk about a recipe for disaster: Democrats are offering no budget, no priorities, and no restraints – yet all their taxing, borrowing, and spending continues unchecked.   “With this budget failure – a first in the modern era – Democrats are missing a critical opportunity to provide the fiscal discipline economists say is needed to create private-sector jobs and boost our economy.  This unprecedented budget collapse also sends a clear signal to American families struggling to meet their own budgets that Washington still doesn’t recognize the severity of its spending problem. “Democrats say their decision is about what’s best for the future of our country.  It’s not.  With the political season upon us, Democratic leaders believe it’s better to take a pass than to pass a budget.  While Americans ask ‘where are the jobs?,’ they seem content to simply run out the clock and let their borrowing binge continue to drain resources from our economy. “The debt is on track to exceed the size of our entire economy in the next 18 months.  We have run out of road to kick the can down.  If this is really about the future of our country, then leaders should make the tough choices they promised they would, put moral obligation before political expedience, and focus on what’s in the best interests of the next generation, not the next election. “This is a time to make tough choices, not run from them.  To that end, Republicans on the Budget Committee have already identified $1.3 trillion in specific spending cuts we would implement right now to make Washington do more with less and help small businesses put people back to work.  These are specific, common-sense ideas, such as canceling unspent TARP bailout funds and ‘stimulus’ money, that would help us focus on creating more jobs, not more debt.  We also propose reducing federal employment and freezing government pay.  Instead of growing government, we need to restart the engine of economic growth. “Of course, this is just a starting point. Much more needs to be done to set our nation on a sustainable economic course.  We need to start reining in unnecessary spending now so that we can boost the economy and work together to address our nation’s long term fiscal challenges. “It is our shared responsibility to take on the challenges before us to make sure that our kids and our grandkids have a better life. Let’s begin this important work today.  Let’s make certain we do not simply retreat to the same failed policies.  Let’s make the tough, forward-looking choices that will restore the promise and prosperity of this exceptional nation - and let’s do it together. “Thanks for listening.”

  WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “The DISCLOSE Act is just another round of political gamesmanship designed to expand the influence of big labor and liberal special interests while discouraging other groups from engaging in political debate. It is regrettable that Democrats are more focused on blatantly stacking the electoral deck ahead of the midterms than they are about creating jobs and reducing the debt. Instead of trying to undermine the First Amendment for political gain, President Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi need to set their personal political fortunes aside and start putting the American people first.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

  WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: "Clearly Nancy Pelosi is scared of two things - the Obama Administration being held accountable through open and transparent oversight and voters holding Democrats accountable at the ballot box this November. But by telling everyday Americans to donate to the DCCC so the Obama Administration can avoid oversight, Pelosi also demonstrates the arrogance of power. As Rome is burning all around them – falling poll numbers for the Administration and Congress and key Republican wins – more and more voters want to fire Nancy Pelosi over the Democrat agenda of broken promises and out of control spending." –RNC Chairman Michael Steele

  WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: “Congratulations to Mike Lee on winning Utah’s senatorial primary.  Mike Lee is a true limited-government conservative who will fix Washington by working to rein in out-of-control spending, reduce our $13 trillion national debt, and lower the tax burden for families and small businesses. I am absolutely confident Mike Lee will be the next Senator from Utah and the Republican Party looks forward to his leadership in the Senate.”

  WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today following the South Carolina primary run-off election results: “I want to congratulate all of the Republican nominees in South Carolina who prevailed in their primaries this evening. South Carolinians made history today when they nominated Nikki Haley as the state’s first woman and Indian-American nominee for governor. And when he is victorious in November, Tim Scott will be the first African-American Republican Congressman to represent the Palmetto state in a century. These are exciting times for our Party. I know that Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, and the entire field of strong Republican candidates in South Carolina are committed to reigning in government spending, keeping taxes low, and fighting against the Obama Administration’s big-government agenda, and will

  WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today following the North Carolina primary run-off election results: “I want to send my congratulations to Harold Johnson, Greg Dority, and Bill Randall on their victories this evening. They join a solid delegation of exceptional Republican candidates who will stand up to the big-spending, big-government Obama agenda, and bring home wins for the GOP this fall.” “I am more confident than ever that Sen. Burr will resoundingly defeat Elaine Marshall in the race for the U.S. Senate. The newly minted Democrat nominee survived a contentious primary that has left the Democrat Party largely fractured. And Marshall’s support for the far-left, liberal policies championed by the Obama-Reid-Pelosi triumvirate puts her largely out of touch with the majority of voters in the state. Sen. Burr has routinely put the people of North Carolina first and fought for their interests in the United States Senate, and he will once again prove to be victorious in November.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

  WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced a new website and video today highlighting President Obama’s willingness to place Chicago-style politics over the transparency and open government he promised to give voters. The web page, entitled “Obama’s Chicago Network,” emphasizes the Obama Administration’s deep roots in Chicago politics from its ties to disgraced Illinois ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to its ethically and legally questionable dealings with Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Colorado Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff (D-CO). The site can be viewed here: http://www.obamaschicagonetwork.com/. “When Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States, he promised to usher in a new era of unparalleled transparency and open government in Washington.  Rather than putting a stop to ‘business-as- usual’, this White House has proved more than willing to employ disreputable, backroom, Chicago-style politics in order to further their own political goals.  Whether it’s senior Administration officials being named in the attempted sale of President Obama’s former Senate seat, the offering of administration jobs and positions to impact federal elections, or the deliberate obfuscation by the White House on all of the above, President Obama has not only fallen remarkably short of the high standards he has set for himself and his administration, but most egregiously, he has broken his word to the American people about bringing real change to Washington.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

  WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced a new website and video today highlighting President Obama’s willingness to place Chicago-style politics over the transparency and open government he promised to give voters. The web page, entitled “Obama’s Chicago Network,” emphasizes the Obama Administration’s deep roots in Chicago politics from its ties to disgraced Illinois ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to its ethically and legally questionable dealings with Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Colorado Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff (D-CO). The site can be viewed here: http://actnow.gop.com/obamaschicagonetwork/index.html “When Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States, he promised to usher in a new era of unparalleled transparency and open government in Washington.  Rather than putting a stop to ‘business-as- usual’, this White House has proved more than willing to employ disreputable, backroom, Chicago-style politics in order to further their own political goals.  Whether it’s senior Administration officials being named in the attempted sale of President Obama’s former Senate seat, the offering of administration jobs and positions to impact federal elections, or the deliberate obfuscation by the White House on all of the above, President Obama has not only fallen remarkably short of the high standards he has set for himself and his administration, but most egregiously, he has broken his word to the American people about bringing real change to Washington.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

  WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced a new website and video today highlighting President Obama’s willingness to place Chicago-style politics over the transparency and open government he promised to give voters. The web page, entitled “Obama’s Chicago Network,” emphasizes the Obama Administration’s deep roots in Chicago politics from its ties to disgraced Illinois ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to its ethically and legally questionable dealings with Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Colorado Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff (D-CO). The site can be viewed here: http://www.gop.com/obamaschicagonetwork. “When Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States, he promised to usher in a new era of unparalleled transparency and open government in Washington.  Rather than putting a stop to ‘business-as- usual’, this White House has proved more than willing to employ disreputable, backroom, Chicago-style politics in order to further their own political goals.  Whether it’s senior Administration officials being named in the attempted sale of President Obama’s former Senate seat, the offering of administration jobs and positions to impact federal elections, or the deliberate obfuscation by the White House on all of the above, President Obama has not only fallen remarkably short of the high standards he has set for himself and his administration, but most egregiously, he has broken his word to the American people about bringing real change to Washington.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

  WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement today: "As oil continues to spill in the Gulf and unemployment hovers at ten percent, the President can no longer take his eye off the "Oil". “While it is fitting and appropriate to look at the yachting activities of the BP CEO, with incredulity, it is equally incredible that President Obama finds himself on yet another golf course as oil continues to spew into the Gulf. Until this problem is fixed, no more golf outings, no more baseball games, no more Beatle concerts, Mr. President.  The stakes are too high for President Obama's lackadaisical approach to both his responsibilities and the challenges we face."

  WASHINGTON – National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman U.S. Representative Pete Sessions (TX-32), and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele issued the following joint statement announcing the Congressional Trust, a new joint fundraising agreement between the Republican committees in advance of the 2010 midterm elections: “The 2010 Congressional Trust is proof that Republicans are not only united in our goal of winning back the majority, we are also mutually committed to ensuring that we have the resources necessary to be successful. As with any other joint fundraising committees we are part of, this entity will be used in those races and states where all three committees stand to benefit. “The Congressional Trust is set up to directly benefit House and Senate candidates who will become part of the new leadership that voters are calling for in Washington. We are committed to working together to retire Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and make sure this Democrat majority pays the price for the radical and unpopular agenda it is imposing.”