FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sue Winchester
801.303.7924
media@ouramericainitiative.com
NEWS RELEASE
Gary Johnson, Honorary Chairman of OUR America Initiative, to visit New Hampshire for a fifth time; says
2011 Congress must get spending under control
Former Governor of New
Mexico to speak at various political events; focus on lowering taxes and restraining federal spending
December 27, 2010, Santa Fe, NM —Gary Johnson,
former Governor of New Mexico and Honorary Chairman of the OUR America Initiative, announced today he will visit New Hampshire
for a fifth time in early January, speaking at public events and meeting with various political organizations, where he
will call for fiscal restraint as Congress prepares to convene for the new year.
Governor Johnson, a hard line budget
watcher, and self-proclaimed ‘most fiscally conservative Governor’ in the country, believes the U.S. government
must focus on aggressively cutting spending – as soon as possible. “This is a crucial time in American politics,
as we look to a newly elected Congress in 2011 to stop the insanity of federal spending,” Governor Johnson stated.
“Republicans in Congress must be vigilant as never before when it comes to the nation’s pocketbook – we
need to get our spending under control. From putting an end to the exorbitant costs of the war in Afghanistan, to
ensuring that the Bush Tax-Cuts become permanent for all Americans, now is the time to make the difficult financial decisions
to put our country back on track. I truly believe that our national debt is currently our greatest threat to national security.”
During the January trip, Governor Johnson will meet with various political and liberty organizations in New England, where
he will continue to focus on key issues such as: lowering taxes, cutting deficits, calling for the end of the war in Afghanistan,
reasonable immigration reform, the failure of the war on drugs, and other timely public policy issues.
As Governor
of New Mexico, from 1994 to 2002, Johnson was known for his common-sense business approach to governing. He eliminated New
Mexico’s budget deficit, cut the rate of growth in state government in half and privatized half of the state prisons.
During his term, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state’s history. Additionally,
Governor Johnson vetoed 750 bills (which was more than all the combined vetoes of the other 49 governors in the country
at the time) and exercised thousands of line item vetoes.
Since launching OUR America in 2009, Governor Johnson, a
well-respected advocate of responsible government spending and limited government intervention, has traveled to 32 states
around the country, engaging the public in open dialogue regarding pertinent issues of the day, including: lowering taxes,
reducing deficits and creating jobs. Governor Johnson also supports marijuana legalization, immigration work visas and ending
the war in Afghanistan, a conflict he has repeatedly stated the United States can no longer afford.
Governor Johnson
will be in the state from January 3rd through January 8th, visiting the following areas:
Portsmouth, Seacoast, Concord, Keene, Lebanon, Manchester, Golden Triangle and Nashua. Please contact Sue Winchester
at media@ouramericainitiative.com or 801.303.7924 to schedule an interview with Gary Johnson.
# # #
The OUR America Initiative is a national issue based advocacy committee. Key issues include: Solving
the Economic Crisis and Creating Jobs; Lowering the Federal Deficit; Civil Liberties; Fighting the War on Drugs; Immigration
Policy; and Taxes. Additional information can be found at www.ouramericainitiative.com. Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/govgaryjohnson
About Honorary Chairman Gary Johnson: Gary Johnson, a Republican and two-term Governor of New Mexico from 1994-2002,
has been a consistent and outspoken advocate for efficient government and lowering taxes.
While visiting with Gary Johnson in Potomac, MD on December 7, 2010, I took these notes on his statements and answers to
constituents questions:
One-half of all money spent on courts, law enforcement, and prisons are spent on drug enforcement.
1.8 million (the whole population of NM) are arrested each year. 2.3 million are incarcerated in US more than any country.
Defining legalized pot does not mean legalizing impaired driving or kids using drugs. Marijuana is a
lot safer than alcohol. Regardless it will never be legal to do harm to others. 46% of Americans support legal marijuana.
This issue does well in the light of day. The biggest harm from drugs is the prohibition. Taking the money out of the drug
trade would take much of the violence out of it. Had Prop 19 passed in CA, the price of an ounce would have dropped from $390
to $39.
Those addicted to drugs are fighting a health issue, not a criminal justice issue. Addiction
goes away, but is compounded because people go to jail. The two countries that decriminalized drugs (Holland and Portugal)
have both experienced 60% less drug use. Last ten years have seen a reduction in heroin use in Portugal.
