For Immediate Release

 REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE BILL YARBROUGH ENDORSED BY REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS

NEW ALBANY, OHIO -- Today, Republican Liberty Caucus National Chair Dave Nalle announced the endorsement of Bill Yarbrough for Congress in Ohio’s 12 District.

 “Voters nationwide are starting to realize that our nation cannot survive when both parties allow government to grow out of control at the cost of our liberties,” said Nalle.  Of Bill Yarbrough, Nalle notes that he represents, “the new direction of American politics and the best traditions of the Republican Party. “

Bill is humbled by the acknowledgement and looks forward to representing the people of Ohio’s evolving 12^th District. “It should now be clear to voters what we’ve been saying all along,” says Yarbrough. “There is a significant difference between the two Republican primary opponents worth careful consideration.”

Bill Yarbrough is running on a platform of limited government, free markets, and individual liberty.

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About the Republican Liberty Caucus

Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus is a nationwide grassroots organization which promotes individual liberty and limited government within the Republican Party.   You can find more information about the Republican Liberty Caucus at www.rlc.org

Tha Yarbrough campaign stands united with Google, Wikipedia and others protesting today. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) would allow for government censorship of the web. Hearings are scheduled to begin next Monday on this legislation, and we will be watching.

We must retract a statement regarding the composition of Mr. Tiberi’s campaign donations.  Mr. Tiberi’s last available campaign finance report shows that nearly 6% of the roughly $380,000 for the 3^rd quarter was from small contributions ($200 and less).  The highly respected Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org) lists Mr. Tiberi incorrectly as having received $0, and does not have Mr. Tiberi listed among the Congressmen using an accounting standard where this figure would be incorrect.  We reported the $0 amount and regret the error. Thank you to the GOP leadership member bringing this to our attention.

Have you been keeping up with our 10-part video series on YouTube?  Every Monday we're releasing a new issue discussion video.  See the first two right here.

For Immediate Release

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE BILL YARBROUGH CRITICIZES CONGRESS FOR GIVING DEBT LIMIT AUTHORITY TO THE PRESIDENT

This week, President Obama will inform Congress of his $1.2 trillion debt ceiling increase.  In accordance with the debt ceiling deal struck in August, the President can only be stopped if both the House and Senate vote it down by a super-majority. 

Congress has abdicated its responsibility.  Instead of the House and Senate voting for a debt ceiling increase and presenting a bill to the President, we now have a President setting the statutory debt limit with Congress playing a spectator role.

Says Yarbrough, “As if the unconstitutional Super Committee weren’t enough, we see yet again how Congress failed us in August.  The Congress shirked its responsibility to decide how money is spent. It was all spin to make the debt look smaller through installment checks the President could self-administer.”

Bill continues, “Pat Tiberi voted for this Presidential authority, and had no problem with creating a Super Committee to do the job he is constitutionally required to do.  Perhaps it’s time to elect someone willing to do the job of Congressman.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REPUBLICAN BILL YARBROUGH DEMANDS TIBERI END HIS SELF-GRATIFYING CRONY CAPITALISM

NEW ALBANY, OHIO – This week, Representative Pat Tiberi (R-OH12), sponsored HR 3661 with Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and others as co-sponsors.  HR 3661 is a bill to permanently subsidize large construction and investment firms through Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs).

Since 2004, Tiberi’s 2 largest PAC contributors are the ones whose members benefit most from this legislation -- the National Multi-housing Council ($33,500 to Tiberi), and the Investment Company Institute ($44,500 to Tiberi). In addition, in just this single election cycle, Novogradac and Company employees have given more money to Tiberi ($10,500) than to any other elected Representative.  Novogradac and Company is the leading accounting/consulting firm for LIHTC clients, and stands to make millions-of-dollars.

According to economists Edward Glaeser and Joseph Gyourko, LIHTC developers effectively pocket the $4 billion or so in annual federal tax credits, while the rents in buildings constructed under the program are generally no lower than they would have been in the absence of the program. 

There is ample incentive in the private marketplace to ensure low-cost rental housing – especially after the housing bubble burst.  Says Yarbrough, “Tiberi should be careful not to tinker with free market supply and demand for housing.  The last time Tiberi attempted this, it was incredibly reckless.”  Tiberi sponsored the “Zero Down Payment Act of 2004.”  It never became law because other Republicans were much smarter. This bill would have required taxpayers to provide sub-prime borrowers with zero down payment home loans instead of the traditional 3-5% in order to promote more homeownership. As we now know, steering the economy in this way was a horrible idea. This bill would have fanned the flames of an already overheated housing market and even more homeowners would now be bankrupt and foreclosed upon.

We need a free market thinker representing the 12^th district, not a government central planner like Tiberi who supported Cash for Clunkers, farm subsidies, TARP bank bailouts, Amtrak expansion, and NPR funding.

For Immediate Release

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE BILL YARBROUGH CONDEMNS VOTE AUTHORIZING U.S. MARTIAL LAW

This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 1540. Buried in the routine “National Defense Authorization Act for 2012” is a reprise of something that hasn’t happened in the U.S. since the Civil War.  The military will have the power to arrest individuals on U.S. soil. 

After a likely Obama signature, the military can act entirely on their own, with no judicial concurrence on probable cause, and imprison people at Guantanamo with no right to a trial.  The definition of a “terrorist” the military can arrest is left to the president, with no right to appeal. 

While our constitution grants due process rights to any “individual” arrested in the U.S., our own citizens are no longer protected either.  Some say the final version of the bill exempts U.S. citizens.   This is controversial since a literal reading of the bill does not prohibit the arrest of U.S. citizens by the military, only keeps such action from being required.  Regardless, this is unchartered territory for the land of the free and home of the brave.  Says Yarbrough, “Anyone who has ever read their passport knows that if the government deems you have taken-up arms against the U.S., you forfeit your citizenship. Now, the accusation is all that matters, and you disappear. “

Regardless of whether or not these new protections in HR 1540 are sufficient, they are unimportant to Representative Pat Tiberi.  Mr. Tiberi voted for the version of this bill passed in May 2011 where no such protections were present.  Bill comments, “Pat Tiberi fails to grasp that our constitution was crafted to prevent the very things he votes for.  Whether it’s banning incandescent light bulbs, Cash for Clunkers, bank bailouts, farm subsidies, or now legalized martial law, Tiberi has proven he cannot adhere to his oath of office.”

Dear Editor,

The Congressional redistricting mess has made one thing abundantly clear.  Politicians are picking their voters instead of voters picking their politicians.  Right here in Central Ohio, the new 12^th Congressional District is a slam dunk for Republicans.

The Washington Post recently called Ohio’s 12^th district one of the 10 most gerrymandered in the country.  It goes from what was 54% Obama in 2008 to what would have been 55% McCain had the new lines been in effect. This is about as “red” a district as it gets. As voters, this means we need to look to the primaries as the only way to get our voices heard.

When the Columbus Dispatch endorsed Pat Tiberi in 2010, it commented that “(voters) don't want their nation bankrupted and their children and grandchildren burdened with massive public debt.”  Since then, Tiberi’s voted for 3 different debt limit increase bills, and sustained funding for NPR.  This is in addition to Cash for Clunkers, TARP bank bailouts, farm subsidies, AmTrak expansion, doubling of Education Department funding and much much more.

We cannot wait to become interested in politics next fall.  The new congressional districts mean the battle is being waged right now.  

Bill Yarbrough

Republican Congressional Candidate for Ohio’s 12^th District

Pat Tiberi appears in the Saturday Wall Street Journal, commenting on the impending failure of the "Supercommittee" he voted for,"

 "Most Americans don't believe that we can come up with something anyway, so I don't know that the markets are going to react to us not being able to get the $1.2 trillion."

Have you seen stocks today?  Are you ready for change yet?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REPUBLICAN BILL YARBROUGH LOUDLY CRITICIZES CONGRESS VOTE ON SPENDING BILL -  HR 2112

NEW ALBANY, OHIO – Republican candidate for the Congress, Bill Yarbrough, decries the vote on House Resolution 2112 in Congress this week. Specifically, Bill’s primary opponent, Pat Tiberi, voted for the resolution.

HR 2112 spends $24 billion more than the Republican-passed House budget proposal this year.

Operating without a budget for over 2 years, Congress relies on continuing resolutions to keep government running. “Continuing Resolutions get very little press,” says Bill.  “They get little scrutiny compared to a full budget, and that’s a shame because the devil is clearly visible in these details.”

HR 2112 authorizes nearly $25 billion in loan subsidies to borrowers through the Rural Housing Service.  Over $1 billion is earmarked for the Agricultural Research Service. Millions more are allocated for marketing agricultural products, high speed rail subsidies, and a new mini-stimulus in highway funds.  

Says Bill, “The nation is broke.  With Congress unwilling to pass a budget, continuing resolutions must be put under the microscope. While the so-called ‘Super Committee’ reviews possible spending cuts over 10-years, continuing resolutions offer the opportunity to test real fiscal courage in the here-and-now.”

Pat Tiberi failed the test.

Dear Editor,

In response to your article, “Brace for Impact” (Columbus Dispatch, November 13), I must disagree with your characterization of what’s at stake with the congressional supercommittee.  Sure, if they fail, the agreement is that $500 billion must be cut from Defense spending.  However, let’s introduce some reality to the conversation.

There is a reason that rating agencies are threatening another downgrade should the supercommittee fail – even with all the cuts promised.  They understand the “mandatory” cuts are unlikely to happen.  First, cuts don’t begin until after the 2012 elections.  Second, they are spread over 10-years, when several successive congresses will weigh-in on spending bills.

Even if cuts were implemented, we need not cut training, personnel, and equipment.  There’s more than enough savings available by forcing rich nations to pay for their own defense, and realigning our bases overseas from the current Cold War “outpost” mentality.   The doomsday effect you discussed would only happen if our leaders purposefully prioritized the defense of South Korea over the defense of the United States.

Here’s really what’s at stake.  We are being led into economic oblivion by a Congress playing games.  No real cuts are on the table – regardless of what the supercommitee does or does not do.  That the supercommittee was even created is emblematic of the dysfunction in Washington.  I, for one, would like to see Congress simply do their jobs through the existing constitutional legislative process.

My congressman, Pat Tiberi, leads the House Ways and Means sub-committee on Select Revenue and has abdicated his constitutional responsibility by voting for the supercommittee and doing nothing with his committee until after the supercommittee comes back with their unconstitutional dictates.  Enough.  Propose legislation with real cuts, establish a new transparent tax code (Mr. Tiberi’s purview), and unleash private enterprise from gross over-regulation.

Bill Yarbrough

Republican Congressional Candidate for Ohio’s 12^th District

Planning is underway for parades, fundraisers, speaking engagements, and neighborhood activities of all shapes and sizes.

Liberty requires action and action requires taking that first step.  Be sure to volunteer on this page, or at least keep informed by submitting your email address.  Also, be sure to "like" us on Facebook and "follow" us on Twitter.

We need a constitutional conservative in Congress, and to do that, Bill Yarbrough needs you.

Thanks to those attending our campaign kick-off event and starting something exciting in Central and North Central Ohio!