Republican Study Committee

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Republican Study Committee
ChairAugust Pfluger (TX–11)
Founded1973; 53 years ago (1973)
IdeologyPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Political positionRight-wing[2]
National affiliationRepublican Party
ColorsPage Template:Legend/styles.css has no content.  Red
Seats in the House Republican Conference
188 / Template:HouseRepublicanTally[a]
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Seats in the House
188 / 435[a]
Website
rsc-pfluger.house.gov
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The Republican Study Committee (RSC) is a congressional caucus of conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives.[3][4] In November 2024, Representative August Pfluger was elected as the chair of the RSC, effective as of January 2025.[5]

Although the primary functions of the RSC vary from year to year, it has always pushed for significant cuts in non-defense spending,[6] advocated socially conservative legislation,[7] and supported the right to keep and bear arms.[8] It has proposed an alternative budget every year since 1995.[9] In 2007, in conjunction with the unveiling of its "Taxpayer Bill of Rights",[10] it presented an alternative budget resolution that it claimed would balance the budget within five years without increasing income taxes.[11][12]

Entering the 119th United States Congress, the RSC was the largest conservative caucus in Congress with 188 members, of which 25 members were also members of the Freedom Caucus and 25 are also members of the Republican Governance Group.[5]

Initiatives

The RSC's legislative initiatives are detailed in the American Taxpayer Bill of Rights,[13] unveiled in March 2007.[14]

  1. Taxpayers have a right to have a federal government that does not grow beyond their ability to pay for it.
  2. Taxpayers have a right to receive back each dollar that they entrust to the government for their retirement.
  3. Taxpayers have a right to expect the government to balance the budget without having their taxes raised.
  4. Taxpayers have a right to a simple, fair tax code that they can understand.

History

The RSC was founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich and other conservative activists to keep a watch on the House Republican leadership, which they saw as too moderate. Their formation mirrored the rise of the Democratic Study Group, a liberal force in the Democratic Caucus founded in 1959.[15]

The group briefly dissolved in 1995 when Newt Gingrich abolished it and other similar groups [16] after the Republicans won control of the House for the first time in 40 years. It was soon resurrected as the Conservative Action Team (CATs) by Dan Burton of Indiana (the last chair of the original RSC), Sam Johnson of Texas, John Doolittle of California and Ernest Istook of Oklahoma. These four founders alternated as chairs throughout the following two Congresses until David McIntosh of Indiana became chair in 1998. The group was restored to its original RSC name when John Shadegg became chair in 2001.[17]

Paul Teller spent over ten years as Executive Director of RSC. He was fired in December 2013 by Steve Scalise for divulging member conversations.[18] Teller had been working with two outside groups in opposition to a budget deal forged by Paul Ryan and Patty Murray.[19]

Chairs

Start End Chair(s) District
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Former members

The RSC membership list is available on the group's website.[21] It counts former vice presidents Mike Pence, Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney and former House majority leader Tom DeLay among its former members. In addition, at least two sitting senators—John Boozman (AR) and Roger Wicker (MS)—were members of the RSC while serving in the House. At least three former governors–Pence (IN), Butch Otter (ID), and Bobby Jindal (LA)—were also members.

List of former members

Political issues

On June 16, 2010, the committee issued a press release critical of the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama for negotiating an agreement with energy company BP to waive the $75 million federal limit on oil company liability for oil spills. The statement called the agreement requiring BP to set aside $20 billion to pay damage claims for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill a "Chicago-style political shakedown" by the White House.[26]

In July 2013, the Republican Study Committee barred the Heritage Foundation employees from attending its weekly meeting in the Capitol, reversing a decades-old policy, over disagreements about the farm bill.[27]

In June 2015, the Republican Study Committee reacted to the Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that the U.S. Constitution guaranteed the right to marry to same-sex couples, calling it "a loss for democratic self-government" and stating "we should work to promote the truth of marriage between a man and a woman."[28]

In 2021, their policy positions included maintaining the Hyde Amendment, constructing a wall on the southern border, and ending perceived censorship of conservative-leaning content.[29]

In 2026, the Republican Study Committee unveiled its framework for a second reconciliation bill (following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2024) with the stated goal of making the American Dream affordable again. It argues that three things are pricing families out of the American Dream: housing costs, healthcare costs, and energy costs; it claimed its blueprint provides solutions for all three.[30]

Membership

File:Republican Study Committee in the 118th Congress.svg
Republican Study Committee in the 118th United States Congress

Current members

Since January 25th, 2025, the Republican Study Committee has not published its membership roster on its website.[31] In May 2025, the caucus had 189 members in total.[32] Currently, at least 25 members are also known to be part of the Freedom Caucus, which does not officially publish membership lists.

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Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Non-voting members


*Also a member of the Freedom Caucus.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b This figure does not include James Moylan, a non-voting Delegate who is a member of the caucus.

See also

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."About RSC". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Clarke, Andrew J. (July 2020). "Party Sub‐Brands and American Party Factions". American Journal of Political Science. 64 (3): 9. doi:10.1111/ajps.12504.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Republican U.S. Representative Walker urges rejection of planned tariffs". Reuters. March 5, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Like Elon Musk, Russ Vought wants to break Washington. Unlike the billionaire, the budget guru might just succeed". POLITICO. June 7, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brooks, Emily (November 15, 2024). "August Pfluger elected Republican Study Committee chair". The Hill. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Weisman, Jonathan (October 19, 2005). "House GOP Leaders Set to Cut Spending". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Davis, Michelle R. (June 6, 2006). "Conservative House GOP Group Flexes Policy Muscle". Education Week. ISSN 0277-4232. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brandon Moseley (January 10, 2017). "Palmer appointed to RSC Steering Committee". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Orr, Gabby (March 1, 2021). "The Republican trying to bridge the Trump-Pence divide". Politico. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Garrison, Trey (March 14, 2007). "A New Contract With America?". D Magazine. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Republican Study Committee Asks Taxpayers to Sign Online Petition | Tax Notes". www.taxnotes.com. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Conservative Groups Support RSC's 'Bold' Fiscal Plan | Tax Notes". www.taxnotes.com. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The RSC's Taxpayer Bill of Rights". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."RSC Leaders Rally to Support Taxpayers as Democrats Sanction Largest Tax Increase in American History" (PDF) (press release). Republican Study Committee. March 21, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 13, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  15. ^ https://era.ed.ac.uk/items/74915229-1073-4ac6-a192-4f4ebb52dc11
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Fall of the house of Newt - November 16, 1998". www.cnn.com. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  17. ^ https://archive.today/20231010164838/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/05/the-cabal-that-quietly-took-over-the-house/276213/
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Alberta, Tim (December 11, 2013). "RSC Fires Executive Director for Leaking 'Member-Level' Talks to Outside Groups". National Journal.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kane, Paul (December 11, 2013). "House GOP leader Steve Scalise fires top aide, Paul Teller, citing breach of trust". Washington Post.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Greenberger, Scott C. (June 11, 1995). "On Tuesday It's Pizza For Some Republicans".
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."RSC Member List | Republican Study Committee (RSC)". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2009., RSC's 2012 website.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bush, Rudolph. "Bitter end to 35-year career". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Zawislak, Mick (November 16, 2014). "Crane remembered as conservative pioneer". Daily Herald. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Foran, Clare (March 12, 2024). "GOP Rep. Ken Buck to leave Congress at end of next week | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."RSC membership". Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Chicago-Style Political Shakedown | Republican Study Committee (RSC)" (Press release). Republican Study Committee. 16 June 2010. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  27. ^ Republican Lawmakers Retaliate Against Heritage Foundation, Tim Alberts, National Journal, August 28, 2013
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."House Republican Reaction to Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage | C-SPAN.org".
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Republican Study Committee". Republican Study Committee.
  30. ^ https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/economy-budget/5685648-make-american-dream-affordable/
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Membership". Republican Study Committee. January 24, 2025. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Devlin, Bradley (May 6, 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Republican Study Committee Hits Membership High With Addition of Fine, Patronis". The Daily Signal. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
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