FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Elizabeth McKinstry, Vice President
Free State Project, Inc.
New Hampshire Governor Joins as a Friend of the Free State Project

Henderson, NV and Austin, TX - August 7, 2003 - In late June, Governor Craig Benson (R-NH) met with members from the Free State Project (FSP) who were visiting to explore New Hampshire as a possible choice for the FSP. Benson welcomed the visit and noted that he had much in common with Free Staters. After careful consideration, Governor Benson has decided to sign on as a supporter of the FSP. While making no commitment to move with the Free Staters, he supports their efforts to reform state and local government in order to create a truly free society.

The Free State Project (www.freestateproject.org) is a non-profit organization that is in the process of gathering 20,000 or more liberty-oriented people to move to a single state in the U.S. in the attempt to establish a truly free society. Rather than continuing the same failed strategies aimed at bringing the US Government to the light of liberty, the Free State Project aims at creating liberty in a single state. The success of the FSP would likely entail reductions in burdensome taxation and regulation, legal reforms, and an increased respect for and protection of people's rights, demonstrating the benefits of liberty to the rest of the nation and the world. The project's membership is currently conducting the vote to choose which state will become "the Free State."

Jason Sorens, founder of the FSP, said "As a grassroots organization, we draw support from many quarters. In addition to the nearly 5,000 members and hundreds of friends, it's wonderful to have an ally in this state's highest office."

The meeting, part of the "Escape to New Hampshire" getaway sponsored by the Welcome to the Granite State Committee (www.FreeStateNH.com), was arranged by John Babiarz, FSP member, Chair of the Libertarian Party of NH (www.lpnh.org), and Benson's appointee to the Efficiency in Government Commission.

When asked how he would feel about 20,000 small-government activists moving to New Hampshire, Benson replied, "Come on up. We'd love to have you."

Elizabeth McKinstry, VP of the FSP said, "It's impressive to see someone in political office who is encouraged, rather than threatened, by citizens who want to have a say in how government should be run."

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Pictures from the meeting are available upon request.