May 14, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX—With the start of early voting today, Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) are warning Republican primary voters to beware of RINOs (“Republicans in Name Only”) and other imposters running in the Republican primary. The group points to former Representatives Tommy Merritt and Delwin Jones, who are attempting to regain seats they lost to conservative TEA party backed challengers in 2010, as examples of the danger conservative voters face in this election.

“When they were back in their home districts, Representatives Merritt and Jones used to pretend to be conservatives and Republicans. But when they got to Austin, their voting records were indistinguishable from those of their Democrat colleagues,” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “Conservative voters went to the polls in 2010 and got rid of these two RINOs and replaced them with true principled conservatives. But all of that progress can be lost if conservative voters do not turn out to ensure they do not regain their seats.”

Jones is running in House District 83 against Representative Charles Perry. Jones carried a career score of 58 with Young Conservatives of Texas during his tenure in the legislature. Perry, on the other hand, scored an 80 for the 82nd Texas Legislature, earning an honorable mention from YCT. Merritt scored even lower on the group’s ratings, with a 56 for his career. He was replaced in 2010 by Representative David Simpson, who earned YCT’s prestigious “Rookie of Year” award with a score of 91.

Merritt and Jones are not the only candidates YCT singles out as RINO’s. In West Texas, Senator Kel Seliger, who carries a career rating of 55 on YCT’s ratings of the Texas Legislature, is facing a primary challenge from YCT-endorsed candidate, Randy Rives. In the San Antonio area, Senator Jeff Wentworth, who, with a 42 for the 82nd Texas Legislature was the lowest scoring Republican in Texas, is being challenged by conservative former Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones. In East Texas, former Democrat Chuck Hopson is being challenged in the Republican primary for House District 11 by conservative Travis Clardy.

The group also points to the open-seat primary in the Fort Worth area House District 97 as another race in which voters should beware of a RINO imposter: Susan Todd. Todd has a record of voting in Democratic primaries, endorsed liberal Tony Sanchez in his campaign against Governor Rick Perry, and, as recently as 2009, cheered the passage of ObamaCare and supported the unconstitutional individual-mandate in her leadership of the American Medical Association Alliance. But now she is challenging YCT-backed conservative Craig Goldman in the Republican primary.

“In 2010, conservative finally got rid of RINOs Tommy Merritt and Delwin Jones,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “But conservatives should beware and make sure they go to the polls. Merritt and Jones are trying to return to office, and elsewhere in the state, imposters like Susan Todd are trying to get elected to imitate them. But we are optimistic that conservatives will look at the candidates’ records and endorsements and make the right choices. We have an opportunity to not only deny the return of these RINOs, but to get rid of a few more like Seliger, Hopson, and Wentworth.”

For more information about incumbents and their records, voters are encouraged to review YCT’s ratings of the Texas Legislature, available at www.yct.org/ratings. For a full list of YCT’s endorsements in the 2012 Republican Primary, voters may visit www.yct.org/endorsements.

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org.

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May 9, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX—Young Conservatives of Texas PAC (YCT-PAC) is once again disappointed with the dirty politics challenger Chris Paddie is playing in East Texas’ House District 9 (HD9).

Chris Paddie, who has already held two lobbyist fundraisers in Austin, has enlisted the help of the Austin establishment in his attempt to unseat conservative champion Rep. Wayne Christian in HD9. On Paddie’s last report nearly 60% of his money came from Austin lobbyists, insiders, and PACs.

Chris Paddie is now upping the ante. Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) has given Paddie tens of thousands of dollars in an effort to defeat friendly incumbent, property rights defender, and small business advocate Rep. Wayne Christian. TAR has created a deceptively-named PAC, “Texans for Responsible Government,” solely for the purpose of coming after Wayne Christian. The PAC has already begun running television ads and has launched an “attack” website to malign Christian in the closing weeks of the primary.

“It’s obvious that Chris Paddie is already bought and paid for by special interests down in Austin,” said Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman of YCT. “The fact that TAR has given him tens of thousands of dollars and is now hiding behind a PAC to attack Wayne Christian is proof positive that larger elements are at play here. TAR’s PAC is acting in a classic D.C. style manner—distorting facts, taking quotes out of context, and attempting to lead voters to believe that a proven conservative like Rep. Christian is suspect.”

In their television ads and on their “attack” website, TAR’s PAC distorts Christian’s record, calling into question his conservative credentials and painting him as soft on crime. However, Wayne Christian carries a 94% career conservative rating with YCT and was the recipient of YCT’s “Torch of Freedom” Lifetime Achievement Award. Christian also enjoys an “A” rating with the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and is recognized as a “Champion for Free Enterprise” by the Texas Association of Business.

In their recent endorsement of Christian, the Texas Municipal Police Association said, “As a member of the powerful House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, he has been a strong voice for law enforcement, a staunch defender of the Constitution and as tough as nails on crime.” Amidst a sea of contrary evidence, TAR’s PAC attempts to distort reality and fool voters, and Chris Paddie is playing along for his own selfish benefit.

“Paddie has had plenty of opportunities to call off the dogs and run on his record,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “The problem is that he doesn’t have a conservative record to run on, and when he can’t change who he is, Paddie has to try to bring his opponent down through attacks and deception. Chris Paddie lacks the integrity voters demand from their public officials.”

YCT has created a response to the PAC’s television attack ad. It can be viewed below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qT1AwCFcAY

YCT PAC is the political arm of Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan organization which has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For a full list of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.YCT.org/endorsements.

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May 8, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX—Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) today denounced the activities of former YCT member Mark McCaig and demanded that he stop using the organization’s name to attack conservative candidates. McCaig, who recently joined the personal injury law firm of ultra-liberal Democrat super funder Steve Mostyn, has launched a deceptively named–PAC called Conservative Voters of Texas and is using the PAC and his credentials as a former member of YCT to attack conservative members of the Legislature.

“Mark McCaig has sold his conservative credentials to the highest bidder—in this case liberal Democrat Steve Mostyn,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “No true conservative would work for the man who spent $10 million last election cycle working to defeat conservative candidates across Texas and who has hosted fundraisers with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi in his own home. We are outraged by McCaig’s deception and his continued use of his past membership in YCT membership to bolster his attacks on conservative legislators. We will make sure that conservative voters are informed of his efforts to deceive them.”

Mostyn, the past President of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, spent millions against Gov. Rick Perry in the last election cycle and has donated a million dollars to Harris County Democrats. Mostyn is also the largest funder of Texans for Insurance Reform, a trial lawyer front group that opposes conservative candidates.

“Mark McCaig may claim to be a conservative and may have once been a YCT member years ago, but his conservative credentials dissolved the minute he sold out to his new boss,” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “Conservative voters should not be fooled by his rhetoric about ‘conservative principles.’ He is, and always has been, only concerned with reversing the conservative lawsuit reforms passed by Republicans over the last decade.”

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org.

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May 3, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX—Young Conservatives of Texas PAC (YCT PAC) responded to allegations today by the Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton’s campaign that YCT PAC’s website, www.thetruthabouttuffy.com, had inaccurately alleged that Hamilton was the second most liberal Republican in the Texas House.

Today, YCT confirmed that Hamilton was ranked the second most liberal member of the Texas House. The Hamilton campaign embarrassingly claimed that an independent Rice University study named his conservative opponent, Representative James White, as the most liberal Republican for the 82nd Texas Legislature. Furthermore, they then admitted Hamilton was the second most liberal but claimed it didn’t count because it was 3 years ago. In fact, according to the most recent study release by Mark Jones of Rice University, available at http://bakerinstitute.org/publications/POL-pub-JonesTexasHouse-092211.pdf, Hamilton was again named one of the most liberal Republican legislators (this time, the 17th most liberal legislator) while Representative James White was recognized as the 15th most conservative representative.

On page 13 of his most recent report, Mark Jones notes that the primary in House District 19 offers the “sharpest ideological difference between . . . two primary competitors.” He notes explicitly that “While White’s Lib-Con Score is significantly more conservative than that of 58 of his fellow Republicans, Hamilton’s is significantly more conservative than that of only three,” former Democrats Aaron Pena, Allan Ritter, and Chuck Hopson. “By the same token, only two Republicans (Bill Zedler and Ken Paxton) have voting records that are significantly more conservative than that of White, while 48 Republicans have records significantly more conservative than Hamilton’s.”

“Tuffy Hamilton can’t run from his record as a liberal, go-along politician,” added Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “Mark Jones’ research has confirmed what our ratings and what capitol observers all know: Tuffy Hamilton is an establishment politician while James White is a true, principled conservative.”

Jones’ research reinforces the results of YCT’s ratings of the Texas legislature, available at www.yct.org/ratings. Hamilton received a score of 63 on YCT’s Ratings for the 82nd Texas legislature and carries a score of 65 over his entire legislative career.

“I don’t know who the Hamilton campaign thinks they’re fooling by claiming that conservative Representative James White is the most liberal in the state,” said McDonald. “Everyone knows that Tuffy Hamilon is a liberal career politician. Our ratings show it. Mark Jones’ study shows it. That’s why we endorsed Representative James White for reelection and why we unveiled www.thetruthabouttuffy.com. Voters deserve to know the truth about Tuffy Hamilton’s record.”

YCT PAC is the political arm of Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan organization which has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For a full list of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.YCT.org/endorsements.

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April 24, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX – Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) formally announced their endorsement of lifelong Republican Travis Clardy in the new House District 11 that now includes Nacogdoches, Cherokee, and Rusk Counties. Clardy is challenging State Representative Chuck Hopson.

“Travis Clardy is a strong conservative who lives his values and beliefs” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “We are proud to endorse Clardy and look forward to having his leadership in the Texas House next session. The people of District 11 deserve to have a Representative who shares their conservative views.”

Clardy is running to unseat Chuck Hopson, who recently switched to the Republican Party after five terms as a Democrat. For the 82nd Legislative Session, Hopson had one of the lowest ratings of all House Republicans on YCT’s ratings of the Texas Legislature and has been classified by the group as a Certified Republican in Name Only (RINO) for his career score of 43.

“The people of District 11 have sent Hopson to Austin for years expecting him to be conservative and he has let them down time and time again,” commented Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “Travis Clardy is the clear choice for voters who want to send a real conservative to represent them in the Legislature.”

Clardy responded to the endorsement saying, “I am honored and humbled to be endorsed by Young Conservatives of Texas. Their ardent dedication to our shared conservative values is inspiring and I look forward to working with them to build a future which honors and respects our heritage of success through hard work, lower taxes, smaller government, and an optimistic and independent spirit.”

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For an up-to-date list of all of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.yct.org/endorsements.

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April 17, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX—Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) today announced their complete list of 2012 Republican Primary endorsements.

“In races across Texas, there are strong, principled conservative candidates running to represent us in Congress and the Texas Legislature,” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “YCT is proud to announce our endorsements for the 2012 Republican primary. Each of these candidates — whether running for reelection or in an open election or to replace a liberal, moderate, or establishment incumbent — can be counted on to represent their constituents’ conservative values.”

YCT’s endorsement process begins with candidate research, including, for incumbents, analysis of voting records, bills filed, and general legislative performance. YCT examines challengers and open-seat candidates by issuing a comprehensive policy questionnaire and following up, in dozens of races across the state, with face-to-face interviews with the candidates.

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For an up-to-date list of all of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.yct.org/endorsements.

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April 17, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

AUSTIN, TX —Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) announced today their endorsement of State Representative Jim Murphy for re-election to Texas House District 133.

“Jim Murphy is a proven conservative leader in the Texas House,” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “He has been a taxpayer watchdog holding the line on expanding state government and spending and an advocate for small business. YCT is pleased to support his re-election campaign.”

“I’m honored and encouraged to have the support of Young Conservatives of Texas in my re-election campaign,” Rep. Murphy said of the endorsement. “Texas needs successful businessmen and women serving in Austin in order to expand our economy, control government spending, and plan for our state’s future, and I appreciate YCT’s support for conservative members like myself who are committed to improving government efficiency and accountability.”

Jim Murphy is a lifelong west Houston resident who has served his community for over 25 years in leadership roles in business, education, church, and community organizations including the Westchase District, West Houston Chamber of Commerce, Alief Education Foundation, St. Cyril’s Catholic Church, West Houston Medical Center, the Boy Scouts, and the Texas Junior Chamber (Jaycees). Murphy’s commitment to public service ultimately led him to serve on the Board of Houston Community College and in the Texas House of Representatives, where his peers elected him Freshman Class President in 2007. He re-elected to represent District 133 in 2010. Rep. Murphy currently serves on the Ways & Means Committee and the Economic & Small Business Development Committee.

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For an up-to-date list of all of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.yct.org/endorsements.

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April 12, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX—Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) announced today their endorsement of Gail Spurlock for the Texas State Board of Education, District 12.

“Gail Spurlock is a champion for conservative causes. She understands the value of our incredible national heritage and is willing to stand firm against those who wish to fundamentally transform our nation,” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman.

The State Board of Education is an elected body of 15 members who control how our schools are run and what students are expected to learn. They are responsible for developing the Curriculum Standards and the adoption of textbooks based upon those standards as well as the oversight of the Permanent School Fund.

YCT State Chairman Jeff Morris commented, “Gail Spurlock is a strong conservative candidate who can be trusted with the oversight of our schools and our children’s education. Texans can count on her conservative vote.”

In response to the endorsement, Gail Spurlock stated, “I am grateful to the members of Young Conservatives of Texas for their vote of confidence in my campaign. Because the decisions of SBOE members impact millions of public school students, parents, and educators — and ultimately the future of Texas — we must elect gatekeepers to ensure that our curriculum standards reflect the traditional values of Texas and our Constitutional Republic.”

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For an up-to-date list of all of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.yct.org/endorsements.

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April 11, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX — Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) responded to the release of a “legislative scorecard” by a group calling itself the “Texas Conservative Roundtable.” Though the group fronts as a “conservative” organization, the scorecard released earlier this week (available at http://texasconservativeroundtable.com/2012-scorecards) reveals the organization to be a fraud, as the group gave perfect scores to notoriously moderate Republican legislators and passing scores to liberal Democrats. Out of 181 members of the House and Senate, the group awarded 31 a perfect score and 75 a score of 90-99. The highest scoring Democrat was a 92, while the lowest scoring Democrat in the Senate was a 60 and the lowest scoring Democrat in the House was a 44.

“This scorecard put out by Texas Conservative Roundtable is an insult to voters. It is just a fraudulent tool to give liberal legislators cover in contested primaries so that they can pretend to have the approval of conservative organizations,” commented Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman. “Julie Caruthers Parsley, Bryan Hebert, and others involved with the group are blatantly attempting to misconstrue the records of elected officials in order to manipulate voters.”

Young Conservatives of Texas has produced the longest running set of legislative ratings in Texas, having done so since 1975. The group’s ratings (past and present) are available at www.yct.org/ratings. To contrast the two group’s ratings, Texas Conservative Roundtable awarded a perfect 100% score to Senators Robert Duncan, Kel Seliger, Steve Ogden, and Representative Beverly Wooley. YCT, on the other hand, awarded them some of the lowest scores amongst Republicans for the session, with each earning scores of 47%, 50%, 51%, and 54%, respectively. Amongst YCT’s lowest scoring Republicans, only Senator Jeff Wentworth did not receive a perfect score from Texas Conservative Roundtable; he received a score of 96%.

“As the person who has overseen YCT’s preparation of our legislative ratings, I know how this group of frauds went about preparing their document,” added McDonald. “Rather than pursue an honest course intended to inform voters, they picked and chose lopsided and largely meaningless votes that depicted their desired, liberal candidates in a positive light and depicted conservatives in a negative light. But when notorious liberals like Lon Burnam and Rodney Ellis score a 50 and 60, respectively, the evidence of the fraud is transparent. In the same way that no one honestly believes Senator Ellis is a conservative, they shouldn’t believe that someone like Representative Todd Smith is one either.

“We can only hope that voters do their homework and don’t take fraudulent ratings like these at face value,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “If a voter’s representative cites this scorecard as the sole justification for their conservative credentials, that voter should be very skeptical. We encourage voters to check out YCT’s ratings at www.yct.org and the ratings of other legitimate grassroots conservative organizations to see where their representative really stands.”

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org.

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April 10, 2012

Contact: Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (512) 923-6893
Email: tony.mcdonald@yahoo.com

Austin, TX — Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) announced today their endorsement of Representative Bill Keffer for reelection in House District 114.

“Keffer is a proven conservative leader from his previous two terms in the Texas House. He is very smart, has a strong conservative voting record, and was highly effective and knows how to get things done. Young Conservatives of Texas knows that Keffer will hit the ground running from day one,” said Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman.

House District 114 consists of Lake Highlands, Preston Hollow, and North Dallas. Representative Will Hartnett, the HD114 incumbent, is retiring at the end of this term. In addition to Young Conservatives of Texas, Keffer has also been endorsed by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Texas Association of Business-Chamber of Commerce, Texas Oil & Gas Association, the Dallas County Republican Assembly, Senator John Carona, and many other individuals and organizations.

“I’m proud to have earned the endorsement of the Young Conservatives of Texas. They are a principled group that wants legislators who will work hard to make Texas an even better place to live. My goals will be to improve our education system through more accountability and transparency, to reduce the tax burden on hard-working Texas families, and to make our streets and neighborhoods as safe as possible for our citizens. I look forward to going back to Austin and fighting for conservative values,” said Bill Keffer.

Bill Keffer, 53, is married to his wife Liz Keffer, and they have three children. He grew up in Dallas and graduated from The Greenhill School. He earned his BA from Southern Methodist University and his JD from The University of Texas Law School. He is an attorney and specializes in the practice of environmental matters in the oil-and-gas industry. He also serves as a Board Member of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University.

The Republican Primary is May 29th. Early voting is from May 14-25.

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) has been promoting conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The state’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For an up-to-date list of all of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.yct.org/endorsements.

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