Rupert Boneham, a candidate for the LPIN’s Gubernatorial nod, discusses how he found the Libertarian Party and why he’s running for Governor. Learn more at http://www.rupertforgovernor.com.
Dear Friends of Liberty,
My job is to travel the state of Indiana working with Libertarian parties around the state. I get to connect with hundreds of people a year that believe in our principles and values. The reason I am so excited for this year’s LPIN state convention is that it’s one of the few, if only, times that all those hardworking Libertarians gather together.
The week after every state convention, I hear dozens of times: ”It was a wonderful experience. It’s so nice to feel like I am not the only Libertarian in Indiana!”
Libertarians will leave Indianapolis on March 25, and return home with a sense of community, renewal and excitement about the major election cycle that lies ahead for our party. I hope that you will join us next weekend.
Sincerely,
Chris Spangle
Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana
P.S. Here is a little about the state convention:
The Libertarian Training Center brings you a video presentation on running for office as a Libertarian in Indiana for the 2012 candidate cycle. The presentation was recorded on February 11, 2012 in Lafayette, IN. DISCLAIMER: Opinions and advice offered by the presenter is not necessarily that of the LPIN, and is that of the presenter exclusively.
Jerry Titus was elected as the Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party of Indiana this previous spring. Jerry discusses what role a Vice Chair serves in a political party, why he gives up so much of his own free time for political organizing, and what motives him most.
Jim Shella of WISH-TV is reporting that Secretary of State Charlie White’s votes could be thrown out if convicted of his felony charges. In Indiana, automatic ballot access is gained by hitting the 2% mark in the Secretary of State race ONLY.
According to some legal experts the validity of White’s votes could be challenged, and if thrown out, the IN GOP had no candidate. That means for the next four years, their candidates would have to petition for EVERY race unless the law is changed.
There would only be TWO political parties under the law: The Libertarians and the Democrats.
That sounds pretty good for us, right? So should the Indiana Republican Party lose automatic ballot access? No.
You’d probably find that answer from the LPIN Executive Director a little surprising. In politics, aren’t we supposed to crush our opponents? This would potentially wound our political rival for many years to come. Maybe that’s how the other guys look at it, but I think Libertarians ought to look at politics differently.
Just as economic competition is good, electoral competition is good! It will make our republic stronger if more competing ideas are presented.
Our message on electoral reform has been consistent for decades, and was highlighted in last year’s SOS campaign with Mike Wherry:
After Mike Wherry raised this last point in his Indianapolis Star editorial interview, the state’s largest newspaper agreed, and argued for Mike’s point in a Sunday editorial stating that ballot access requirements should be expanded to any statewide race.
Ballot access for a political party IS a first amendment right in my point of view. I am not a Republican or a Democrat. I am not even an Independent. I am a proud Libertarian, and a growing number of Hoosiers are as well. We have the right to freely associate with each other to present our ideas to voters as a bona fide organization.
So while I rarely agree with Republicans, their voters should have the opportunity to vote for their ideas. Their voters should not be disenfranchised because of one candidate’s actions.
At last count, 23 bills were killed by the House Democrats fleeing Indiana yesterday to avoid a quorum. Meeting quorum meant a vote had to be taken on several important bills.
One of the worst victims of this political stunt is a nonpartisan redistricting commission, HJR 0001. This would establish a commission to draw electoral districts, and be an enormous step towards ending Gerrymandering. It would take map drawing out of the hands of politicians. Gerrymandering means politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their politicians.
The Libertarian Party of Indiana has been a long advocate for this commission. To find out more on responsible redistricting, please visit here.
The House Democrats also failed to meet today, February 23. This puts many house bills in jeopardy. From the Indianapolis Star:
A: Key deadlines were looming when House Democrats walked out. Tuesday was the last day for 23 bills — including the so-called “right to work” legislation — that had cleared committees to also clear a procedural hurdle so they could be presented to the full House. Unless the Democrats returned, the bills would be dead.
Thursday is the deadline for 25 other bills to have their “second reading” — basically, to be presented for further amendment on the House floor. Friday, any House bill that hasn’t received an up-or-down vote by the full chamber will be dead. (However, particularly with the budget bill, there is some room for creative options — such as having the Senate add a bill’s language into another bill that has cleared the House.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – State House Democrats imitated their counterparts in Wisconsin by fleeing the state and failing to do the job Hoosiers hired them to do: Meeting Indiana’s challenges head on. Instead of exercising bipartisanship they pulled a political stunt to kill HB 1468, or the Right to Work bill.
“Legislators are hired to serve the public, not special interests,” said State Chairman Sam Goldstein. “By ignoring the State’s business today, the House Democrats are serving a large campaign contributor, not Hoosiers. This is another reminder that Democrats are lacking on principles and leadership. Unacceptable political stunts are why principled people are investigating the Libertarian Party in historic numbers.”
Indiana legislators make an annual salary of $22,616, as well as $155 per diem in session or at a committee hearing. They receive $62 in expense pay every other day. (Source: Indianapolis Star)
“House Democrats should refund their per diem to the taxpayers for any days that are missed,” said Chris Spangle, LPIN Executive Director. “The message from taxpayers to lawmakers is clear: This was not an excused absence, and it should not be a paid vacation day.”
LPIN Executive Director Chris Spangle participated in a debate this past Saturday with Indianapolis attorney Mark Small on the subject of education. Should America’s educational system be nationalized or should more localized with more choice?
Part 1:
Untitled from Mark Small on Vimeo.
Part 2:
Federal control of primary and secondary education debate, Part II from Mark Small on Vimeo.
Despite the Governor’s call to avoid wading in to divisive issues, The Indiana Republican Party has ignored the head of their party by trying to make discrimination a permanent part of the Indiana Constitution. HJR-6 is a bill that will define marriage between one man and one woman. It is co-authored by two Republicans and two Democrats.
The Libertarian Party of Indiana affirms that personal relationships are an individual’s choice and government has no authority to define, license or restrict marriage. This Constitutional amendment increases the power of the government over the lives of all Hoosiers, and is designed to discriminate against homosexual couples.
“The very first section of the Indiana Constitution states that all people are created equal,” said Sam Goldstein, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Indiana. “All consenting adults should have equal protections under Indiana law when making a personal and private decision to share their life with someone. Its mind boggling that Republicans would campaign on personal liberty, and then seek to add discrimination to the Constitution. Democrats should also be upset that their legislators are co-sponsoring this bill, and the Indiana Democratic Party has been silent through this process. Where are their principles?”
Goldstein continued, “Employers that are looking to relocate their business will have a hard time choosing Indiana over other states if we allow our government to force those business owners to deny benefits for ALL of their employees. This is a very bad bill for jobs as well.”
In this current session of the General Assembly, both parties have sought to “strengthen marriage.” One Republican idea is adding a pre-marriage class to the license process (HB 1248).
“It’s clear that the Republican Party of Indiana has failed in its promise to stop the tide of government control brought on by Democrats,” said Executive Director Chris Spangle. “They have a super majority in the Senate and close to 60 votes in the House. If they were serious about a small government, they have the ability to bring it about. We’re almost halfway through the session, and there has been a limited discussion of budgetary issues.”
Media Contact: Chris Spangle, 317-920-1994
(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.
(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.
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 »
Tip O’Neil is famous for the phrase, “All Politics is Local!” He wrote a book with the same title, and in it he tells the story of why asking people for their vote is so important.
In the story, he tells of his first campaign where one of his neighbors, Mrs. Elizabeth O’Brien, stopped him and said “Tom, I’m going to vote for you tomorrow even though you didn’t ask me to.”
He was stunned and said, “I’ve lived across the street from you for eighteen years. I cut your grass in the summer, I shovel your walk in the winter. I haul out your ashes. I didn’t think I had to ask for your vote.”
“Tom, let me tell you something: People like to be asked.”
So I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t email our supporters today and ask you for your vote today for our candidates.
We’ve worked very hard this campaign season to put good candidates in place and letting people know that voting third party is the right thing to do. We’ve worked hard at getting earned media, shining in debates, canvassing neighborhoods, raising money, and putting out ads.
It would be a shame if we forgot to actually ask you to vote for Libertarians in the process.
Please go to LPIN.org/candidates and look up those in your districts. For statewide races, please visit Rebecca Sink-Burris’ (US Senate) website here and Mike Wherry’s (Secretary of State) website here.
Thank you for your amazing support in 2010,
Chris Spangle
Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana
LPIN Executive Director Chris Spangle picks up where the last podcast left off- with Indiana City-County Councilor Ed Coleman’s navigation of uncharted, caucus-free waters.
So, what happens when Libertarians are elected to the Indiana statehouse? Or to Congress? Will they caucus with Republicans or Democrats? Will they stand alone as kingmakers? Spangle considers the various angles in this edition of the podcast.
Listen Here: Which Way To The Libertarian Caucus?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Our Libertarian Party of Indiana candidate for Secretary of State Mike Wherry has been working hard this summer. Mike has attended many campaign events, fairs, Libertarian functions, and has been interviewed by local media as he’s stopped in town. Mike has posted many of these events and news articles on his Facebook Page to keep you updated on his hard work. Please click here to follow his updates and share this page with your friends!
Mike recently did an interview for the Libertarian Party of Indiana podcast. Hear Mike talk about his campaign and it’s importance for Hoosier voters.
Labor Day is often seen as the launching point for the fall campaign season. We are excited to get under way! Many of our 102 candidates for office in Indiana have found nothing but positive responses as they’ve knocked on doors and asked for votes. In fact, the LP has been asked by the other two parties to participate in several debates around Indiana because we are a bona fide political party. We are a bona fide political party giving the two-party system competition and voters choices because of one thing: ballot access.
This year, the LPIN must achieve 2% of the vote in the Secretary of State’s race to maintain that automatic ballot access for another four years. Our 2006 candidate for the office, Mike Kole, has written an article on the importance of third-party ballot access. Please take a moment and read his arguments.
Now more than ever, we need you to partner with us to ensure that the voters have a 3rd party choice for the next four years.
Mike has produced a brand new radio spot that we need to put on the air immediately! We need your help to do this. Will you help maintain third-party ballot access for four more years by contributing $10, $25, $50, $100, or $500 to Mike Wherry’s campaign today? If so, please click here to go directly to www.MikeWherry.com’s donation section.
Please take a moment to listen to the ad: Weary Mike Wherry.
