Happy Bill Of Rights Day!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 15, 2011

Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222

Libertarians say Bill of Rights Day is reminder of need to downsize Big Government

WASHINGTON - Today, December 15, libertarians celebrate Bill of Rights Day.

On December 15, 1791 the Bill of Rights was ratified, creating the first Ten Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

The Libertarian Party platform expressly supports the Bill of Rights and calls for restoring our freedoms lost as a result of laws passed in violation of the Constitution by Democratic and Republican politicians.

The Bill of Rights guarantees important individual freedoms and restrains the powers of the federal government.Among them, our rights to free speech, self-defense and justice. These restraints were later extended to the states with the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

Democrats and Republicans regularly violate the Bill of Rights, especially the Tenth Amendment which states that the powers of the federal government are strictly limited to those enumerated in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution - a short list which stands in stark contrast to the incalculably long list of functions comprised by today's Big Government.

Presidents, Senators and Representatives in Congress have long violated the Bill of Rights by continually expanding federal power far beyond what is allowed by the Tenth Amendment and by trampling on due process, privacy protections, free speech and freedom of the press.

Let this Bill of Rights Day serve as a reminder to all Americans of the task before us: We must dramatically downsize Big Government to limit the federal government to those powers articulated in Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution and to move as quickly as possible towards the full repeal of every law that violates the Bill of Rights.

The Libertarian Party plays a critical role in this task by fielding candidates who, unlike either Democrats or Republicans, genuinely and consistently uphold the Constitution. A vote for a small government Libertarian is a vote to restore the Bill of Rights.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

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P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

GET INVOLVED:

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From Our Friend In Liberty, John Todd:

Calendar of Events for your consideration:

Monday, December 12, 2011; Sedgwick County Commissioner Richard Ranzau will present “The $1.5 million Regional Economic Area Partnership (READ) HUD Sustainable Development Planning Grant.  Economic Development of Economic Destruction?” at the Wichita Chapter of Americans For Prosperity—Kansas monthly meeting.  The meeting will be held at the Alford Branch, Wichita Public Library, 3447 S. Meridian, Wichita, Kansas from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  There is no charge for this event.  Please invite your friends to join you for an informative program that will be followed by a lively group discussion.   

Friday, December 16, 2011; Senator Garrett Love, the youngest Kansas Senator in state history will share his views of “Young people in politics” at The Wichita Pachyderm Club luncheon meeting.  The Wichita Pachyderm Club meets at 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on the 9^th floor of the Petroleum Club, in the Bank of America Building, 100 N. Broadway, Wichita, Kansas.  The meeting cost is $10.00 and includes a buffet luncheon. You are invited to attend.  Please bring a guest. 

Tuesday, January 3, 2012;  Citizens are invited to address members of the South Central Kansas Legislative Delegation at a 7:00 p.m. public forum held in the Sedgwick County Jury Room, 525 N. Main, Wichita, Kansas.  This forum provides an excellent opportunity for citizens to ask questions and briefly address their concerns regarding issues in the 2012 Kansas Legislative session that begins January 9, 2012.  There will be a 3-minute limit on all speakers.

Thursday, January 5, 2012; Members of the South Central Kansas Legislative Delegation will participate in a public forum starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Wichita State University Marcus Welcome Center Room, 4205 E. 21^st, Wichita, Kansas.  The forum will start with a review of the State General Fund, followed by presentations regarding legislative issues from area business organizations like the Wichita Chamber, Wichita Independent Business Association, presentation of legislative agendas for the 2012 session by Wichita, Sedgwick County, Wichita Public Schools, and Wichita State University.  Citizens are invited to attend this public forum but will not be allowed to address the legislative delegation.  The meeting provides a wonderful opportunity for citizens to meet and visit one-on-one during breaks in the meeting with legislative members as well as other local governmental and business organization leaders.

Friday, January 6, 2012; Mr. David Kensinger, Chief of Staff, Office of Governor Sam Brownback will speak at The Wichita Pachyderm Club luncheon meeting.  The Wichita Pachyderm Club meets at 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on the 9^th floor of the Petroleum Club, in the Bank of America Building, 100 N. Broadway, Wichita, Kansas.  The meeting cost is $10.00 and includes a buffet luncheon. You are invited to attend.  Please bring a guest. 

Friday, January 13, 2012; Representative Mike O’Neal, Speaker of the Kansas House will present, “The untold school finance story” at The Wichita Pachyderm Club luncheon meeting.  The Wichita Pachyderm Club meets at 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on the 9^th floor of the Petroleum Club, in the Bank of America Building, 100 N. Broadway, Wichita, Kansas.  The meeting cost is $10.00 and includes a buffet luncheon. You are invited to attend.  Please bring a guest. 

Programs occasionally change.  Please don’t hesitate contacting me, or the program producer for the latest information regarding the program(s) before you attend. 

A new newspaper entitled, “Kansas Liberty Freedom Express News” can be viewed online at: KansasFreedom.com  The newspaper invited you to send them stories for possible publication.  

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40th Anniversary Of LP Founding!

December 12, 2011

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Yesterday, December 11, was the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Libertarian Party.

Here's a press release about the 1971 speech that inspired the Libertarian Party's founders.

I'm proud that the Libertarian Party has maintained such a tenacious presence in American politics for the last 40 years.

As I said in a letter (unpublished, as far as I know) to the Wall Street Journal earlier this year, "The Libertarian Party has consistently put a presidential candidate on 39 or more state ballots, going back to 1980 -- despite massive roadblocks put in our way by Republican and Democratic politicians. No other alternative party in American history has come close to that achievement over that length of time."

You can read some of our party's history here.

Democratic politicians sometimes pay lip service to personal liberty, but they don't deliver. And Republican politicians sometimes pay lip service to economic liberty, but they don't deliver either.

If you haven't yet joined the Libertarian Party, I hope you'll join today, in honor of our 40th birthday.

And I want to thank all of the donors, candidates, party officials, and volunteers who have been part of our 40-year fight for more freedom and less government.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

GET INVOLVED:

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From A Friend In Liberty:

Posted on Sun, Dec. 11, 2011

Rep. Dennis Hedke: Where is evidence for EPA’s claims?

By Rep. Dennis Hedke

Every citizen on the planet bears a responsibility toward stewardship of the environment. In the United States, we have been blessed by much-improved air and water quality over many decades of dedicated effort. There are, however, practical limits as to how far to push the envelope of “clean.”
A commentary by an Environmental Protection Agency official spoke to newly created rules placed on utilities, primarily targeted at coal-burning power plants (“Clean-air rules will protect Kansas families,” Dec. 4 Opinion). These new regulations fall within the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.
EPA claims it will “protect hundreds of millions of Americans, providing up to $280 billion in benefits by preventing tens of thousands of premature deaths, asthma and heart attacks, and millions of lost days of school or work due to illness,” because of the cleanup of mercury, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and other emissions.
Exactly where did the EPA come up with these incredible health benefits?
A Wall Street Journal editorial on Dec. 6 noted “the EPA estimates that the benefits to society from the mercury reductions in the utility rule max out at $6.1 million, total, while imposing $11 billion in compliance costs annually” (italics mine).
Can the EPA cite for me, and the rest of Kansans who wish to know, evidence for any individual living within a 25-mile radius of the Jeffrey Energy Center near St. Marys who has experienced respiratory illness as a direct result of the emissions coming from that plant? Has there been a single lost day of school for any student in the St. Marys district due to the emissions coming from that plant? Has anyone lost a day of work as a direct result of emissions coming from that plant?
If and when EPA conducts an epidemiologic study to answer those questions, I predict the answers will be no, no and no. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has confirmed that no such studies have been conducted anywhere in Kansas.
Yet EPA officials would have us believe that they will be protecting hundreds of millions of Americans from multiple hazardous substances being emitted and carried downwind to Chicago, Pittsburgh and, of course, New York City and EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. I submit that they would love to have our air quality. There is something very wrong with this picture.
Jeffrey Energy Center (through Westar Energy ratepayers) has invested in excess of $600 million within the past decade to retrofit and materially reduce sulfur oxides by 82 percent and nitrogen oxides by 48 percent, and other particulates that may be in some way challenging the health profiles of residents proximate to the plant. That’s not enough, according to the EPA.
Behind the scenes, EPA claims its models conflict with models of other entities, and that rolling brownouts and blackouts won’t happen next summer as a result of mandatory plant shutdowns. That’s not what has been publicly reported by Westar and many others.
I’ll go with Westar, and the others.
Rep. Dennis Hedke, R-Wichita, represents District 99 in the Kansas House.

Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2011/12/11/v-print/2134587/where-is-evidence-for-epas-claims.html#ixzz1gHFr8nn5

Building Fund Plea Again!

Dear Libertarian Party supporter,

So far, we've received 383 donations and pledges totaling $206,650.07 for our building fund.

The LNC set a goal of $248,000, so we are still short $41,349.93.

This weekend we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Libertarian Party. The LNC is meeting and will weigh in on this building project.

I need your help to raise $41,000 by Saturday. Please join the hundreds of generous Libertarians who already support this worthwhile project.

It will substantially reduce our office costs, increase our financial stability and allow us to spend more money building the Libertarian Party so we can get more Libertarians elected to public office.

Please donate $40, $400, or $4,000 for the building fund today.

In Liberty,

Mark Hinkle, LNC Chair

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Draft Ron Paul?

December 5, 2011

Dear Friend of Liberty,

We get lots of questions and suggestions about Ron Paul in relation to the Libertarian Party. Below are ten questions, and my responses.

1. Why isn't Ron Paul running on the Libertarian Party ticket?

Ron Paul was the 1988 Libertarian nominee for president. He has said often that he is running as a Republican because he gets in the debates that way. It's up to Ron Paul to decide if he wants to be considered for the Libertarian Party's nomination, and it's up to the delegates at our national convention to choose our presidential nominee.

2. Why don't you recruit Ron Paul to be the Libertarian presidential candidate?

Your LP headquarters staff must be neutral, and we don't assist one candidate over another. To be fair, we encourage lots of people to seek the LP nomination for president and other offices. In 2008, the Libertarian National Committee passed a resolution inviting Ron Paul to seek the LP nomination. Understandably, that made some of the other candidates and their supporters upset. Ron Paul declined the offer.

3. Is Ron Paul a member of the LP?

While Ron Paul is a Republican Congressman, he is also an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Libertarian Party, and he will remain so unless he requests to have his membership terminated. Even if you plan to vote for Ron Paul in the primaries, you too can become a member of the Libertarian Party by clicking here and contributing $25. It will not affect your voter registration, and you can vote in whatever elections you want -- so please join the LP today!

4. Does the Libertarian Party like Ron Paul?

The comments we hear make it clear that many Libertarian Party members like Ron Paul, while some disagree with him on certain policy positions and dislike his choice to work within the Republican Party. Overall, I think Ron Paul's campaigns are good for liberty and also good for the Libertarian Party because he is promoting many of the Libertarian Party's positions, which helps our candidates in down-ballot races like Congress, state legislature, and so on.

5. If Ron Paul wins the Republican nomination, what will the Libertarian Party do?

That is up to the delegates at our National Convention. Our bylaws prevent us from endorsing candidates in other parties. It will probably be clear who the Republican nominee will be by April. The Libertarian National Convention will be held May 2-6 in Las Vegas.

6. How do I become a delegate to the Libertarian National Convention?

The process for becoming a delegate to the Libertarian National Convention varies by state. Contact your state party for that information. In many states, there are more delegate slots available than there are people willing to attend the convention. So, if you want to be a delegate, there's a good chance you can be. A list of links to state parties is here.

7. Should the LP run no candidate in 2012, and endorse Ron Paul instead?

Our bylaws prevent us from endorsing candidates in other parties. Additionally, while Ron Paul could be the Republican nominee, if instead the Republican Party nominates someone like Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich, I think many Ron Paul supporters will be glad to have a Libertarian alternative.

8. Why is Ron Paul discussion banned from your Facebook page?

It's not. However, our Facebook page is for promoting Libertarian Party candidates and activities. Ron Paul fans are famous for being ubiquitous online, and we're pleased they see value in commenting on our Facebook page. But we'll continue using our judgement to decide how much is too much, and we'll remove excessive comments on Ron Paul and any other non-Libertarian Party related topics, including spam. You can join the conversation on our Facebook page here.

9. Wes, that's a lot of great information, but be straight with me. Do you think Ron Paul will be the 2012 Libertarian Party nominee?

Ron Paul has said publicly quite often that he doesn't want to do that. He said that in 2008 too, and he meant it. On the other hand, some people believe he has spoken in a way that leaves the door open. I don't know what his plans are, and it's not my place to speculate. Whether Ron Paul appears on the November ballot as a Republican, or as a Libertarian, or not at all, I think it's very important that we have many Libertarian candidates on the ballot for other offices like Congress, statewide offices, and state legislatures. You can amplify your voice a thousand times by running for office as a Libertarian. Consider this: If you're a candidate, then whoever you choose to promote for president, more people will hear you.

10. Who are the Libertarian candidates for president?

You can find a list of our current candidates here. It's common for additional candidates to enter our nomination process later in the season. And they can do that all the way up until nominations are held at our convention.


Thanks for your interest in the fight for liberty. While some choose to work through other parties or organizations to promote liberty, I'm convinced that for many of us, we have our greatest impact as grassroots activists working through the Libertarian Party. The national Libertarian Party has had an annual budget of less than $2 million for years. While that's tiny compared to Ron Paul's $30 million campaigns, I think we deliver a big bang for the buck.

And I want to repeat, whether or not Ron Paul is on the ballot for president next November, Americans need lots of Libertarian candidates up and down the ballot. Please support the Libertarian Party so we can work to recruit, advise, and support them.

Please donate today.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

GET INVOLVED:

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Are We Rapidly Heading Towards A Gulag State?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2011

Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222

Indefinite detention provisions are wrong

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle released the following statement today regarding the indefinite detention provisions of Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012.

"The Obama administration has already claimed that the president has the authority to kill Americans overseas, if he believes they are terrorists.

"Now, in the latest National Defense Authorization Act, Congress is trying to give the president power to imprison Americans indefinitely, without charges or respect for habeas corpus, if he claims they are terrorists.

"Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have already joined hands to pass the bill.

"This contempt for our rights is outrageous. Any member of Congress who supports that provision is grossly violating his or her oath to uphold the Constitution.

"If the president thinks you are a terrorist, let him present charges and evidence to a judge. He has no authority to lock you up without any judicial review, just because he and Congress believe he should have unlimited power.

"That is the kind of power held by tyrants in totalitarian regimes. It has no place in the United States.

"The Libertarian Party opposes terrorism. We also believe our government should stop taking actions that provoke terrorism. We want to end military involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other countries, and we want to repeal the Patriot Act."

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

###

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

GET INVOLVED:

---

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