By Gary Varvel, Indianapolis Star.
How Do you Spell Education?
Published: February 11, 2011
Latest Headlines
The Session: Will a New Government Class Keep You From Getting Divorced?
Published: February 9, 2011
(Originally Published by the Indianapolis Star via their legislative blog, The Session.)
The tea party presented a choice for Republican leadership the last two years: liberty or central planning?
State Rep. Cindy Noe has recently introduced House Bill 1248 that will increase the fees for those seeking marriage licenses. The fee will still be $18 for those who have completed a new marriage counseling class designed by the office of the secretary of Family and Social Services. For those not taking the class, the fee will be increased to $78.
This is an attempt by Republicans to lower our divorce rate in Indiana. Divorce is a spiritual and personal problem with no government solution, and marriage is none of the government’s business.
A supporter has called this a “positive intrusion” in your personal life.
Why do I need my government parents explaining to me the basics of marriage? Sadly, the view of Hoosiers by the legislature is that we aren’t able to make life decisions for ourselves anymore, and they think they have a solution. That isn’t liberty.
LP of Marion County Opposes North of South Deal, New Corporate Welfare Project Put Forth by Ballard
Published: February 8, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Libertarian Party of Marion County (LPMC) strongly opposes the proposed
North of South Deal. The proposal (No. 292, 2010) will have the City issue a $98,000,000 bond in order
to secure financing for a private development on the near south side of downtown.
The project is proposed to include a boutique hotel, a YMCA, upscale apartments, and more in a mixed
use development led by Buckingham Cos. A proposal was ready to go before the City-County Council
until it was removed from the agenda prior to the February 7 meeting.
“We have another case of corporate welfare about to go before the Council,” says LPMC Chair Matt
Wittlief. “The project failed to secure private funding, so the City has gone back to its bag of tricks to
provide corporate welfare in the name of economic development. The project is too risky for private
banks – banks that took risky bets and nearly collapsed the economy. We have our own version of too-big-
to-fail here in Indy: too-politically-connected-to-not-get-taxpayer-money.”
Mayor Greg Ballard was quoted in the Indianapolis Business Journal in September saying, “Traditional
credit does not exist in this environment.”
Wittlief adds, “In this environment we have the billionaire owners of the Pacers and the Colts getting
handouts. We also have a history of proposed economic development projects which have not come to
fruition. This is not the environment of the free market. It’s the environment of private investment
recognizing risks and the government getting involved thinking that it knows better. We are glad that
the vote was postponed tonight due to insufficient notice given to the public. Hopefully, the residents
of Marion County will gain more awareness of this proposal and refuse to put their livelihood at risk
when banks were not willing to do so.”
The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major
party with ballot access in the state of Indiana. Libertarians believe in a small non-intrusive government
that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.
Libertarian Party of Marion County
LPMC Contact: Matt Wittlief, LPMC Chairman, 317.660.LPMC or chair@indylp.org
LPMC Website: www.indylp.org
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Libertarian Party: America Should Stop Interfering in Egypt
Published: February 4, 2011
WASHINGTON – Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle released the following statement today:
“Media reports tell us that the Obama administration is heavily involved in the current crisis in Egypt. It shouldn’t be.
“Personally, my sympathies are with the Egyptian protesters. Our very own Declaration of Independence said that government exists to secure people’s rights, and ‘whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.’
“However, it would be wrong for me to force all Americans to adopt my point of view and support my choice in this crisis. But that’s exactly what the Obama administration is doing, by interfering in the crisis and inevitably taking sides.
“The instances of U.S. foreign meddling over the last hundred years are too numerous to list here. But in almost every case, U.S. intervention has made American taxpayers poorer, and it has usually served to entrench corrupt authoritarian rulers. In the worst cases, like Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, military intervention has caused the deaths of many Americans and far more foreigners.
“This includes all types of intervention: military intervention, foreign aid, and ‘behind-the-scenes’ intervention using diplomacy and espionage.
“Libertarians call for the U.S. government to stop interfering in the Egyptian crisis, and to end foreign aid to all nations, including Egypt.
“American interventionism also gives foreign governments an excuse to copy us. Instead of respecting their neighbors’ sovereignty and independence, foreign governments often interfere with each other, and they often use examples of American intervention as a justification.
“Unfortunately, powerful politicians in Washington can’t seem to resist the temptation to meddle in foreign countries’ affairs. This tendency is made worse by self-serving bureaucracies like the CIA, which rely on foreign meddling to keep their workers employed.
“Our government should leave other nations alone. The future of Egypt is for the Egyptian people to decide, not Washington politicians.”
The Libertarian Party platform plank on international affairs states:
“American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.”
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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Libertarians: Tea Party betrayed by tiny Republican budget cuts
Published: February 3, 2011
WASHINGTON – According to The Hill, House Republicans have just announced that they will seek appropriations for the rest of 2011 that are $32 billion below current spending levels.
LP Chair Mark Hinkle commented, “The Tea Party supporters have been betrayed. These cuts are so small, you need a microscope to find them.”
Hinkle continued, “The Congressional Budget Office just told us that federal spending was expected to be about $3.7 trillion this year. After the Republican cuts, it will still be about $3.7 trillion. The Republican cuts are so tiny, they disappear in the rounding error.
“Even with these cuts, the federal deficit will be over $1.4 trillion this year.
“It doesn’t help that Congressional Republicans voted for more unemployment spending and ethanol subsidies last December, or that they want to keep increasing military spending. And they haven’t come up with any serious cuts to entitlements.
“I think the Tea Party supporters were expecting real cuts, not this nonsense. We tried to warn Tea Party supporters last year that the Republicans were just trying to fool them again. It looks like we were right.
“Oh, I’m sure we’ll hear Republicans say they’re just getting started, and more cuts are coming…just not yet. But I hope the Tea Party supporters and other fiscal conservatives wake up and smell the deficits. Our children are going to drown in debt, and the Republicans aren’t going to save them. Republicans are part of the problem, not the solution.
“Tea Party supporters and other fiscal conservatives should support Libertarians, not Republicans. Libertarians would make dramatic cuts in spending, and if angry Republicans and Democrats threatened to shut down the government instead, Libertarians would say ‘Fine.’”
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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Cato: Florida Ruling Requires Government to Stop Implementing Obamacare
Published: February 1, 2011
(Posted by Ilya Shapiro, Via Cato@Liberty)
As I continue digesting Judge Vinson’s ruling, I notice two key things beyond the facts that the “individual mandate is unconstitutional”:
1. In performing his severability analysis — determining which parts of the overall legislation survive — the judge threw out all of Obamacare:
In sum, notwithstanding the fact that many of the provisions in the Act can stand independently without the individual mandate (as a technical and practical matter), it is reasonably “evident,” as I have discussed above, that the individual mandate was an essential and indispensable part of the health reform efforts, and that Congress did not believe other parts of the Act could (or it would want them to) survive independently. I must conclude that the individual mandate and the remaining provisions are all inextricably bound together in purpose and must stand or fall as a single unit. The individual mandate cannot be severed. This conclusion is reached with full appreciation for the “normal rule” that reviewing courts should ordinarily refrain from invalidating more than the unconstitutional part of a statute, but non-severability is required based on the unique facts of this case and the particular aspects of the Act. This is not a situation that is likely to be repeated.
2. In discussing whether to issue an injunction – a judicial command to do or refrain from doing something — the judge determined that his declaratory judgment in this context was the same as an injunction. That is, a federal court saying that a piece of legislation is unconstitutional is effectively the same as a decision mandating the government to act:
Declaratory judgment is, in a context such as this where federal officers are defendants, the practical equivalent of specific relief such as an injunction . . . since it must be presumed that federal officers will adhere to the law as declared by the court. [Quoting a D.C. Circuit opinion written by none other than then-Judge Antonin Scalia]
In short, if I read the opinion (plus this final judgment) correctly — quite apart from both the lofty philosophical principles I applaud Judge Vinson for adopting and the nitty-gritty technical details of his individual mandate analysis — Obamacare is dead in its tracks. Now, Judge Vinson himself or the Eleventh Circuit (or even the Supreme Court) may issue an emergency stay of this or any other part of the ruling, but as of right now, the federal government must stop implementing Obamacare.
NB: The New York Times and Washington Post report that Judge Vinson has already stayed his own ruling pending appeal, but this is an incorrect reading of the opinion, for the reasons stated above. Moreover, the court’s docket, which is now closed for the day, contains no such stay — nor has plaintiffs’ counsel received notice of one.
Andy Horning Annotates US Constitution
Published: February 1, 2011
Former Indiana Gubernatorial candidate Andy Horning took the time to write out his thoughts on the Indiana Constitution during his 2008 campaign. You can read those here.
Andy has now released his own annotated version of the United States Constitution. View his notes here.
Andy is back in Indiana permanently, and available to schools, civic groups, Libertarian Parties, and tea parties to speak on either the Indiana or US Constitution. To arrange this, please email Chris Spangle at lpinhq@lpin.org.
Indiana General Assembly: Sovereignty’s Imminent Date with Destiny
Published: February 1, 2011
(By Phyllis Klosinski, A Brown County Libertarian)
The Supremacy of Indiana and your individual liberty is being determined by Indiana Legislators making a calculated Constitutional move. The Libertarian Legislative Think Tank has considered three constitutional amendments and a bill amending Indiana Code defining state sovereignty to block the implementation of certain federal laws in Indiana.
Define Sovereignty to establish the Autonomy predominating both the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions: the destiny of any and all individual freedom of choice is forever to be determined.
Proposed legislation attempts the protection of rights by declaring the “inapplicability of certain federal law in Indiana”, using the limits of federal authority delineated in the U.S. Constitution Ninth and Tenth Amendments. Is the Federal government adhering to the limits in the Constitution, NO. Since the Federal government is violating the contractual agreement of the U.S. Constitution, Indiana has the duty to challenge the violation of that contract and provide citizen protection by blocking implementation.
An Indiana resident has a “private right of action to enjoin” implementation or enforcement of a federal law declared void in Indiana; so what? Right of action already exists in both Constitutions. Right to opt out of health care system specifies certain rights with respect to any health care system, yet Legislators have left it up to the individual citizen to seek private action. State sovereignty and health care choice legislation SB 0319 (2010) mandated provision that the attorney general shall provide for the legal defense of health care providers and residents of Indiana, this crucial protection is noticeably absent from current legislation.
It is noble to declare a statute of the United States found inconsistent with Indiana Constitutional rights inapplicable, but where does the individual go when the IRS directly imposes the Federal Mandates through seizure of your paycheck and property?
The Libertarian Party Platform holds the individual not government has the right to exercise sole dominion over their own life recognizing the freedom of individual determination of all health care needs. LP Platform holds we must follow and protect the Constitution (both), which in turn are the written guarantees of the absolute limits of government.
LPIN members should support SB 0505, however when contacting Legislators impress the need for inclusion of critical State defense language, protecting the individual.
To register your position contacts are:
Senators: Tomes, Kruse, Banks, Steele, Alting, Waterman
INLP should support these Indiana Cons. Amendments, proposing identical protection.
HJR 0008: Representatives; Turner, Stemler, Koch
SJR 0011: Senators; Kruse, Tomes
SJR 0015: Senators; Grooms,
Reason: Revolution on the Nile: Rebellious Cops, Lethal Aid, and Off Switch Envy
Published: January 29, 2011
(By Jesse Walker, Originally posted at Reason’s Hit & Run.)
The most hopeful news to come out of Egypt today are the reports of officers fraternizing with protesters, removing their uniforms, refusing to fire their weapons. That’s when a popular revolt succeeds: when the storm troopers won’t follow orders. The question is how widespread that is — how many cops and soldiers will break ranks and how many will continue to crack down. One odd wrinkle in Egypt is that the protesters think the army is more likely than the police to come over to their side.
The Obama administration says it will “review” U.S. aid to Egypt. Good — the one constructive thing Washington could do right now is to cut off its support for the Mubarak regime. Egypt is presently the fourth biggest recipient of American foreign aid, after Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel.
Meanwhile, Sean Bonner reminds readers that Joe Lieberman wants Washington to have an Internet off switch like Hosni Mubarak’s.
Egypt is center stage today, but while you’re watching events there don’t neglect the rebellions bubbling in Jordan, Yemen, and Algeria. The Middle East may be in a transnational revolutionary moment.
The Session: New Ways to Tax
Published: January 28, 2011
(I am a contributor to the Session, a blog of the Indy Star. Please visit it for up to the date thoughts on the IN General Assembly.)
After the 3, 2, 1 property tax caps went in to effect, everyone slowly began to realize that local governments were going to be hit very hard without the revenue from over-charging on property tax bills.
The legislature has introduced five bills for revenue generation at the local level. First is the much discussed Senate Bill 53, or commuter tax. This is proposed by Republican Jim Buck.
Senate Bill 31 introduces a new municipal income tax of 1%. This is also proposed by a Republican, Randy Head.
Democrat John Broden has introduced Senate Bill 356. It will allow increases of the Local Option Income Tax levy for public safety from 0.25% to 0.50% for everyone but Marion County.
While these won’t cost an individual taxpayer thousands per year, they will take more money from economies that are struggling to keep revenue flowing to local small business owners. The commuter tax alone will take around $100 per year out of your paycheck.
The Decriminalization of a Constitutional Right – SB 506
Published: January 28, 2011
(By Phyllis Klosinski, Brown County, IN)
The Libertarian Legislative Think Tank has swiftly reacted to a Senate bill proposing measured restoration of the Constitutional Right to Bear Arms, prompting extensive discussion overwhelmingly expressing support.
A Restoration of a Constitutional right: why have we become so willing to “accept” back what government has arbitrarily taken from us? This legislation is an attempt to provide less government, and correct legislation which limits individual freedom by moving closer to the explicit terms of the Constitution.
The LP platform promotes individual freedom, including the presumption of innocent until proven guilty, with the qualification of accepting individual personal responsibility. It is up to the government to prove an individual has relinquished the right to bear arms.
Instead under current law, the individual must prove they are worthy of exercising their Constitutional right.
Read the rest of this entry »
Revenue, Revenue, Revenue: A Look at the General Assembly’s New Taxes
Published: January 27, 2011
(By Jerry Titus, Howard County Chair)
While the ‘traditional’ media brings you news of the General Assembly’s diligent efforts to trim and reform our State government, it appears that they’ve missed reporting on several new tax and revenue generating bills that have been introduced this session.
At the Libertarian Legislative Think Tank on Facebook, we’ve been diligently sorting through the 971 pieces of legislation filed this session. It’s slow going, but so far we’ve found several new taxes and revenue generation that we think our fellow Hoosiers should be aware of. Read the rest of this entry »
New Taxes
What is a Constitutional Marriage in Indiana?
Published: January 26, 2011
(By Phyllis Klosinski Brown County, IN)
The proposal of two Constitutional Amendments has created a firestorm of religious, sexual and governmental policy debate in the LPIN’s Libertarian Legislative Think Tank (LLTT).
A Constitutional amendment must be provided extreme diligence. Caution: once enacted, forever hold your peace.
The LP platform holds personal relationships are individual choice and government has no authority to define, license or restrict. The Indiana Constitution established governmental power not the limits of individual rights and was written to protect individual rights, not collective rights of any union or group; Sec. 4 prohibits preference by law to any creed or religious society.
Read the rest of this entry »
The SOTU and the American Spirit
Published: January 26, 2011
Here is the part of Obama’s speech that I liked.
“So yes, the world has changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldn’t discourage us. It should challenge us. Remember – for all the hits we’ve taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. No workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We are home to the world’s best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any other place on Earth.” – Obama
BUT:
America needs to realize that it can think big and kick butt. We have a confidence gap in this nation. We have the edge and the national character to lead growth for all.
But it won’t come through central planning and welfare. It won’t come from imperialism. It only comes from individualism. Each citizen needs to realize that they are responsible for themselves, their family, and their local community.
Read the rest of this entry »
