Republican State Attorneys General to Co-Host FOX Republican Presidential Forum with Mike Huckabee
Alexandria, Va. (November 29, 2011) - The Republican Attorneys General Association, a program of the Republican State Leadership Committee, announced today that members of RAGA will join FOX News’ Mike Huckabee in co-hosting a Republican presidential candidate forum on Saturday, December 3, 2011.
The participating Attorneys General include Pam Bondi (Florida), Ken Cuccinelli (Virginia) and E. Scott Pruitt (Oklahoma). The event will be moderated by former Arkansas governor and host Mike Huckabee and will air live from 8 - 10 p.m. (EST).
“This forum is an excellent opportunity to engage each of the candidates in a candid conversation about issues that are important to voters in our state and across the nation,” Bondi said. “This will be a historic election, and I am excited to play a part in helping voters gain a better understanding of candidates’ beliefs on fundamental issues such as constitutionalism and the role of government.”
The forum is an opportunity for state attorneys general and the presidential candidates to elevate the discussion of constitutional issues and the federal government’s overreach into state matters. The format will be one-on-one questioning of the candidates directly from the attorneys general.
“What excites me most about this forum is that my colleagues and I will have the time to engage in meaningful discussion on complex issues like immigration, federal overreach and sanctity of life issues with each candidate one-on-one to get to the core of candidates’ beliefs” Pruitt said.
Cuccinelli stated, “Although we are Republican attorneys general posing questions to Republican presidential candidates, we are going to put the tough questions to them to test their fidelity to limited government. Voters care deeply that their individual freedoms are protected by the federal government, not diminished by it. The next president will have a major role in reversing the current course of an overreaching federal hand."
In addition to the ongoing health care litigation, attorneys general are on the front lines of checking the power of the federal government and monitoring the constitutionality of laws passed by Congress. They often challenge arbitrary actions and rules of unelected Washington bureaucrats at federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Labor Relations Board.
“Through their efforts to challenge the constitutionality of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, Republican attorneys general have provided the American people with an effective voice to challenge the president’s massive explosion of government and overreach into the states,” said Chris Jankowski, RSLC President.
Confirmed candidates include Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
About the RSLC
The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders and the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot, state-level Republican officeholders. Since 2002, the RSLC has been working to elect candidates for the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. The RSLC has more than 100,000 donors in all 50 states. The RSLC raised more than $30 million for the 2009-2010 cycle as part of an effort that picked up 20 legislative chambers, six Attorneys General, three Lieutenant Governors and seven Secretaries of State.
