Oklahoma Petition Drive Needs Help
The Libertarian Party may have to shut down its petition drive in Oklahoma because of “thuggish behavior” by law enforcement.
“Thuggish behavior by police and security in Oklahoma has prevented our petitioners from getting access to public places to collect signatures,”said Wes Benedict, Libertarian Party executive director.
“Even the Oklahoma A.C.L.U. has been trying, but so far, failing, to help us get the police to stop harassing our petitioners and threatening to arrest them, even when we are petitioning legally on constitutionally protected places like public sidewalks near universities and art fairs.”
The LP urgently needs donations and petitioners soon, otherwise it will have to shut down the drive. Petitions will be paid $2.50 per signature.
For more information or to donate, go here.
Incumbents "Retiring"
More than a dozen state legislators, some of them long serving members who generally run unopposed, may be feeling the disaffection of voters with the dysfunctional government endemic to the "two-party" system. They're deciding to "retire," either resigning to take more lucrative (read lobbying) jobs in the "private sector" or announcing they won't run for re-election.
To date, 13 legislators have or will step down, including eight who've run in historically unopposed districts. The most prominent so far is Sen. Rob Rucho of Matthews (R-39) He's been a key player in the Republican leadership, credited with being the architect of major legislation, from tax cuts to redistricting.
This presents another opportunity for Libertarian candidates to introduce ideas and viewpoints not presented, or avoided by, the establishment parties in a campaign.
If you're interested in running for office as a Libertarian, time is getting short. The filing period is Dec. 1-21. Go here for more information.
Old Parties Collude on Budget Deal to Put Americans Deeper in Debt
LP Press Release
The White House, along with Democratic and Republican politicians in Congress, released a budget deal on October 26 that throws more cash at Big Government programs and raises the debt. It also subverts the budget caps established by the Budget Control Act of 2011 by upping them by $80 billion and by throwing an additional $59 billion into a Pentagon slush fund.
Hailed as “a win for both parties” by NBC News, Democrats and Republicans included in the deal a provision to suspend the debt limit until March 2017 — after the 2016 election. It’s no secret that this delay is an attempt to divert attention from their destructive spending during the election year.
“No wonder the two old parties' approval ratings are at an all-time low,” said Libertarian National Committee Chair Nicholas Sarwark. “Democratic and Republican politicians in Washington, D.C. are lavishing taxpayer money on their K Street pals while raising taxes and printing money to pay for it, devaluing the dollar, and selling the rest of the country down the river.”
"Whenever the media hail an idea as good 'bipartisan' decision you can be almost be certain that it is a bad deal for the people," added Brian Irving, vice chair of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina.
Libertarian Presidential Debates in October
There will be two Libertarian Presidential Debates in October. The first is Oct. 13 at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST). It will be sponsored by the Libertarian Party of California.
The second debate is Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. It will be broadcast live from the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts 2015 Convention in Worcester.
To watch both debates live you must join the Facebook group Libertarians Win.