Author: QueensLP

Justin Amash Becomes the First Libertarian Member of Congress

Justin Amash Becomes the First Libertarian Member of Congress

Matt Welch | 4.29.2020 10:11 AM | Reason.com
article reprinted by permission
image courtesy of C-SPAN

After a half-century of existence, the Libertarian Party (L.P.) this morning wakes up to a situation it has never before experienced—with a sitting member of Congress proudly waving the Libertarian flag.

“I will be the first,” Rep. Justin Amash (L–Mich.) told me late Tuesday [04/28/2020] night, just after announcing his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination. “And I’m happy to do that.”

Amash is not the only person smiling. In an email, Libertarian Party Chair Nicholas Sarwark said, “I’m happy to see that Representative Amash has come home to the political party most closely aligned with his views,” adding: “If more members of the House who are tired of being marginalized by the GOP and Democratic leadership joined him, we could see a caucus of legislators who are able to work for the American people instead of conflicting teams of special interests. My DMs are open.”

Amash, a persistent critic of President Donald Trump who left the Republican Party to become an independent last July 4, was facing a competitive reelection campaign in his 3rd District of Michigan, a state whose straight-ticket ballot option disfavors candidates outside the two major parties. Yet he says his seat could have been defended.

Read the rest of the article at https://reason.com/2020/04/29/justin-amash-becomes-the-first-libertarian-member-of-congress/.

How Much Did That Stimulus Check REALLY Cost You?

How Much Did That Stimulus Check REALLY Cost You?

sent by the LNC on 04/28/2020

Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen our government attempt to yet again solve a problem apparently the only way they know how — by kicking the can down the road. In this case, the “can” is a national debt approaching $30 trillion dollars! At this rate, our children and grandchildren will continue to be suffocated by that debt long after every member of this congress is defeated or retired.

Government leaders who believe you and I could not survive without them think the only way to solve a problem is to throw tax dollars at it. We do have very real, deep problems in this country that need to be addressed — health insurance costs, ever-increasing student debt, the opioid crisis, veteran homelessness and suicide — and these problems vary from community to community. Not every American is living with the same issues, and what works in one state may not have the same effect on a different population.

Blanketing problems with money is like applying a band-aid to a gaping wound, and inevitably creates a society that will become reliant on subsidies to survive and never allows for genuine solutions to be tried. Whether a government response has single party or bipartisan support, those actions almost always create unintended consequences that lead to crippling citizens to be donor dependent. Instead of getting to the heart of these wounds at the community levels, our representatives are satisfied to cover them up with billion-dollar band-aids and call themselves champions. They accomplish nothing more than adding their name to another bill they have never read.

In the middle of a global pandemic and a nearly complete economic halt, our elected officials could not comprehend the obvious idea of giving taxpayers their money back to help them keep their bills paid without adding in more than a trillion dollars of corporate bailouts and pork-barrel spending. When we actually break down the numbers, that $1,200 check costs each and every living man, woman and child in America $6,656.91 dedicated to the national debt.

Scarier than the government’s lack of problem-solving skills is what they expect us to accept for this $1,200 payoff. Mandating business closures, stay-at-home orders, massive expansion of executive power, and declaring “total authority” — it is as if someone told the president and Congress that civil liberties could be bought from each citizen for $1,200.

You and I know this is not right, and we deserve better. Better is being demonstrated by The Party of Principle. Better can be achieved by electing and supporting Libertarians across the country. Better is possible when Libertarians (like you and I) contribute to our fight.

Shortly after the government payouts started to hit bank accounts, we received this amazing message, among others:

Gift Date: April 15, 2020
Gift Amount: $1,500 (Lifetime Membership)
Comments: “$1200 of this payment furnished by Democrat and Republican taxpayers who yearn for liberty via coronavirus stimulus payment

Can you think of a better way to tell government what you think of this destructive power grab in the middle of a crisis than to strengthen the efforts that fight that corruption?

We are here for that battle — are you here with us?

The recent events in our country have galvanized many who were unaware of how strongly they felt the libertarian call to push back against aggressive government overreach. It’s important that we come equipped to contend against those who would willingly cripple our future with debt. To that end, each and every one of our contributors plays a critical role in restoring free people and free markets.

Judge Declares Republican’s Petition Invalid Due to Lack of Libertarian Authorization

Judge Declares Republican’s Petition Invalid Due to Lack of Libertarian Authorization

Libertarian Party of New York
https://lpny.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LPNYOfficial
Twitter: @LPNYOfficial
Instagram: @LPNYOfficial

News Release
Contact: W. Cody Anderson
LPNY Public Engagement Chair
canderson@lpny.org
Date: April 20, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Judge Declares Republican’s Petition Invalid Due to Lack of Libertarian Authorization

Oswego, New York, April 20, 2020 – The Libertarian Party of New York (LPNY) announced today that Oswego County Supreme Court Judge Scott J. Deleconte flatly invalidated Claudia Tenney’s attempt to appear on the Libertarian ballot line in the June primary for New York Congressional District 22. In his ruling, Judge Deleconte determined that Tenney, a Republican, “did not file the proper certificate of authorization…under the rules of the Libertarian Party”, and declared her designating petition invalid.

After the LPNY Interim State Committee declined to issue Tenney a certificate of authorization, known as a Wilson-Pakula authorization, a purported “22nd Congressional District Nominating Committee of the Libertarian Party” signed and submitted an improper certificate of authorization to the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE). Two general and specific objections from enrolled Libertarians were subsequently submitted to the NYSBOE, both arguing that the authorization was invalid because it violated the LPNY’s rules.

Jim Ostrowski, an Erie County attorney, represented the LPNY and the objectors named in this case. “We are pleased with the judge’s decision because it recognizes the importance of election law and party rules in protecting minor parties from being invaded by the two major parties. Of course, the Libertarian Party welcomes non-Libertarian candidates who wish to appear on our line and are willing to adhere to party rules and procedures to obtain a valid and proper Wilson-Pakula authorization.”

At the same time Tenney filed her lawsuit, Ostrowski filed a lawsuit in Oneida County Supreme Court seeking an order to declare Tenney’s certificate of authorization invalid. The hearing of the Oneida case was stayed pending the outcome of the Oswego case and is awaiting adjudication.

For more information about the Libertarian Party of New York, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/LPNYOfficial, Twitter @LPNYOfficial, Instagram @LPNYOfficial, or their website, lpny.org.

LPNY Leadership Changes

LPNY Leadership Changes

Libertarian Party of New York
https://lpny.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LPNYOfficial
Twitter: @LPNYOfficial
Instagram: @LPNYOfficial

News Release
Contact: W. Cody Anderson
LPNY Public Engagement Chair
canderson@lpny.org
Date: April 15, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jim Rosenbeck Resigns as Chairman of Libertarian Party of New York

BATAVIA, New York, April 15, 2020 – The Libertarian Party of New York announced today that Interim State Committee (ISC) Chair Jim Rosenbeck has resigned for personal reasons, effective immediately. Pursuant to the Party’s rules, First Vice-Chair Tony D’Orazio will succeed Mr. Rosenbeck as Chair, and Second Vice-Chair Tucker Coburn will succeed Mr. D’Orazio as the First Vice-Chair. The vacant Second Vice-Chair position will be discussed and filled according to the party rules at a future ISC meeting.

Chair-Designate D’Orazio says, “Jim Rosenbeck has been a great leader and a good friend, and I’d like to personally thank him for his hard work for the Libertarian Party all these years. Because of his work, we are now well-positioned to continue our rapid growth.”

Mr. Rosenbeck served as the Chair of the newly-formed Libertarian Party of New York following Larry Sharpe’s historical showing for the party in the 2018 Gubernatorial Election. He also previously served as Chairman of the Free Libertarian Party, Inc. in 2018, and as a Vice-Chairman the preceding three years.

Mr. D’Orazio served as the First Vice-Chair of the ballot-access Libertarian Party of New York since its creation. He also previously served as Vice-Chairman of the of the Free Libertarian Party, Inc. in 2018, and as a member at-large the preceding two years.

For more information about the Libertarian Party of New York, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/LPNYOfficial, Twitter @LPNYOfficial, Instagram @LPNYOfficial, or their website, lpny.org.

LPNY Selects National Convention Delegates

LPNY Selects National Convention Delegates

Dear Friends and Fellow Libertarians,

The Libertarian Party of New York is pleased to announce its delegates to the Libertarian National Convention, to be held in Austin, Texas from May 21 through May 25, 2020!

The rules of the national Libertarian Party set each state’s allocation of delegates to the Libertarian National Convention. New York is allocated 48 delegates in total, the fourth largest delegation overall. All Libertarian Party presidential campaigns were responsible for submitting to the New York Board of Elections a list of delegates and alternates from each of New York’s 27 congressional districts, leaving 21 delegates and their alternates. to be selected by the LPNY.

Last September, the LPNY put out a public call for statements of interest from those who wished to represent New York at the LP National Convention. Once it became clear that Jacob Hornberger was the de facto winner of our primary, the LPNY was able to proceed with selecting those interested delegates and alternates who were not already selected by the Hornberger campaign. The list of primary delegates and their alternates selected by the LPNY appears below.

The list of Hornberger delegates and alternates as it currently stands also appears below. The Hornberger campaign is reaching out to their delegates and alternates to confirm interest. We expect the Hornberger campaign to release an updated list soon. We will share it with you as soon as it is available.

In Liberty,

Jim Rosenbeck
Chair, Interim State Committee
Libertarian Party of New York

Delegates Selected by LPNY

Debra Altman
Steve Becker
Kari Bittner
Mark Braiman
Tucker Coburn
Fred Cole
Tony D’Orazio
Pietro Geraci
Mark Glogowski
Paul Grindle
Jim Harris
Andrew Hollister
Andrew Kolstee
Steve Minogue
Lora Newell
Tom Quiter
Jim Rosenbeck
Jeff Russell
Paul Sechrist
Larry Sharpe
Duane Whitmer

Alternates Selected by LPNY

Rachel Becker
John Caulfield
Roger Cooper
Anthony Decubellis
Kevin Delaney
David Desanto
Veronica Diver
Dan Donnelly
Kathy Glogowski
Stoner Horey
Deb Kerr
Peyton Kunselman
Mike Long
Kenneth Mulvena
Chris Olenski
Anthony Pellegrino
Ilya Schwartzberg
Charles Senrick
Alison Story
Karyn Thompson
Sean Wells

Delegates Selected by Hornberger Campaign
(subject to change)

Daniel Abosch
William Anderson
Lythia Becht
Shaun Cahill
John Clifton
Robert Cocomello
Aaron Commey
Richard Cooper
Brianna Coyle
Jose Garcia
Shawn Hannon
Leslie Harris
Deborah Law
Carl Liggio
Adam Magoon
William McMillan
Alex Merced
Leonard Morlock
Jeffery Motta
George Ostrowski
Jon Ott
Susan Overeem
Christian Padgett
Mark Potwora
Blay Tarnoff
Raymond Wasnieski
Kevin WIison

Alternates Selected by Hornberger Campaign
(subject to change)

John Amato
Michael Arcati
Mark Axinn
Devin Balkind
Harold Barnett
Erin Becker
Kari Bittner
Gerrit Cain
Justin Carman
Nicholas Castellano
Cipriana Costello
Thomas Cruz
Robert Glomboski
Jonathan Gunther
Rebecca Lau
Brandon Lyon
Mathew Mahler
Stephen Minogue
Trevor Sammis
Larry Sharpe
Dan Singer
Adam Spence
Enmanuel Torres
Gregory Torres
Vito Ubaldini
Vladimir Vizner
Kevin Warmhold

Can You Answer This Jeopardy Question Correctly?

Can You Answer This Jeopardy Question Correctly?

for immediate release on 04/14/2020

We think this one might be too easy for you.

Across the country last week, people shouted out “Who is The Libertarian Party” when this answer was uncovered on Jeopardy! As we are particularly proud of our 2016 ballot access victory, we couldn’t have picked a better fact to broadcast.

We did make history in 2016, and we are determined to secure back-to-back 50-state + D.C. ballot access by doing it again in 2020. That goal is currently in jeopardy though, and we need your help right now.

We have had some very recent successes in our ballot access fights.

  • In Texas, after multiple appeals from the Libertarian Party of Texas and the Libertarian Party legal team, the governor granted a temporary suspension of election law that mandated their nominating convention to happen in April, during a statewide “stay at home” order.
  • In Connecticut, we have successfully gotten all petition signature requirements waived for the 2020 election!

However, there are more battles on the horizon. We are currently in court in Illinois and Georgia to remove signature gathering requirements. Amazingly, there are governors who still want to have petitioners standing on street corners asking passers-by to sign a petition. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, this was an outdated method for gaining ballot access; now it is downright foolish and dangerous.

In many other states, we are appealing to have petitioning requirements removed or relaxed and we will be ready to take any of those to court as well if they are not granted. This unforeseen global crisis will not lead to a crisis of voters’ rights as long as the Libertarian Party has anything to say about it. It is more vital than ever before that there is a third option for all of us.

Please support our goal of 50-state ballot access for the Libertarian Party. Only with all of us working and fighting together will we overcome those who want to take advantage of voters in the midst of a health crisis. The two old parties have let every single American down — we need to give everyone the chance to tell them that.

Introducing: LPTV

Introducing: LPTV

for immediate release on 04/08/2020

Everywhere we look we see the same familiar talking heads who bring the news, many just relocated to an office or living room. No matter how drastically our world seems to be changing, the messages our media is bringing haven’t seemed to change at all.

It’s exhausting and it’s offensive. Those we should be able to turn to for accurate information when our representatives make decisions that harm the American people, we now can only count on to confirm our biases, or make us laugh at their dishonesty.

You don’t have to settle for that noise anymore. Last week the Libertarian Party launched LPTV; an online platform for timely and relevant discussions on the subjects that actually matter and affect Americans right now. Health information, discussions of economics and free-market solutions should not be colored by tribalism and buried by meaningless platitudes.

Real Libertarians talking about real solutions. That is what we aim to bring you.

We are so excited by this new venture and we hope will join us. More content will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months, but for now you can tune in for Town Hall Thursdays at 7PM ET and even drop in and chat with us during our Friday LIVE Happy Hour at 5PM ET. You can also make a contribution directly to the effort of building up this project so that more are reached every week. People need to hear that there are those out there defending their liberties in the midst of this crisis — the Libertarian Party has always done just that, and we are doing it again now. Please tune in, share with your friends and family, and support us if you can.

Governor Cuomo Revives Ballot Access Hurdles in Budget Legislation

Governor Cuomo Revives Ballot Access Hurdles in Budget Legislation

for immediate release by the LNC on 04/01/2020

Dear Friends and Fellow Libertarians,

Your Right To Vote Libertarian Is ONCE AGAIN Under Attack!

LATEST DEVELOPMENT: A source tells us Andrew Cuomo has SUCCEEDED in inserting the same recommendations into the 2020 New York State Budget to that were created by the unconstitutional “Public Finance Commission” and struck down by Justice Ralph Boniello on March 12, 2020. He rightly tossed out the law that established a “Public Finance Commission” with the purported intent of creating a system of publicly financed campaigns. Its other goal: to destroy the Libertarian Party and other minor parties in New York by changing the state’s ballot access requirements to be among the most restrictive in the nation. Now, Governor Cuomo and the legislature’s leadership are trying to bring the commission’s recommendations BACK TO LIFE by using the current COVID-19 crisis and budget legislation as cover.

Call your representatives in the state Assembly and Senate today and tell them that the legislature must reject the budget legislation based on the Commission’s December 1, 2019 report that undermines a New York voter’s choice of political party. It is essential that this is shot down now, or there may be no more Libertarian Party after November, 2020.

We need you to do the following, now:

1. Look Up The Contact Information For Your Representatives In The NY State Assembly and Senate.

Click here to look up your elected representatives. Enter your full address and then click “submit.” When the window reloads, select the results tab labeled “State” and then scroll down to see your representatives in the Assembly and Senate, along with their contact information. (Note that you may need to close an email signup form in order to see the address lookup box.)

2. Call Your Representatives.

Tell Them: “My name is ________ and I am a constituent of Assembly Member/Senator ___________. I want more political choice in New York State, not less. I am counting on you to demand that the legislature reject the proposal to insert into the budget the Public Campaign Financing Commission’s recommendations making New York’s ballot access laws for grassroots parties like the Libertarian Party among the worst in the nation. NY voters want and deserve diverse political parties that reflect their perspectives.”

3. Email Governor Cuomo, Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie

Click here to email Gov. Cuomo and tell him no!

Email the Leaders of the Legislature:

Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie: Speaker@nyassembly.gov
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: scousins@nysenate.gov

“Dear Gov. Cuomo/Speaker Heastie/Leader Stewart-Cousins,

My name is ________ and I am writing to tell you I just got done calling my representatives in the state legislature to tell them I want more political choice in New York State, not less. As a legislative leader, it’s time for you to reject Gov. Cuomo’s attempt to insert the Public Campaign Finance Commission’s recommendations into the state budget legislation. Those recommendations will make New York’s ballot access for minor parties like the Libertarian Party among the most restrictive in the nation, and create a public financing plan that spends taxpayer dollars needlessly and frivolously at a time when the state cannot afford it. NY voters want and deserve real campaign finance reform and diverse political parties that reflect their perspectives.”

4. Tell Us All About It!

Tell us who you contacted and how it went.

5. Spread the word.

Forward this email or share this page online! Tell them why this must be stopped.

The Libertarian Party of New York is counting on you!

In Liberty,

Jim Rosenbeck
Chair, Interim State Committee
Libertarian Party of New York

Friday’s Stimulus Package Increased the National Debt by 8%

Friday’s Stimulus Package Increased the National Debt by 8%

for immediate release by the LNC on 03/30/2020

This crisis has made it clearer than ever: Our country is hurting due to overregulation by the federal government controlled by the Democrats and Republicans. We issued a press release calling upon the CDC and FDA to stop obstructing the private sector’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. One of the core principles of libertarianism is that governments should not pick winners and losers. Instead, the free market should make that determination.

Where is the fiscal sanity in Washington? The largest stimulus bill in the history of the United States — $2,000,000,000,000 — was just passed on Friday by old party politicians.

We believe government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a “Balanced Budget Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes.

Libertarian candidates up and down the ballot this fall will be running against big-government opponents. Our candidates will be the voice of reason on the ballot.

As always, thank you for your support of the Libertarian Party.

In liberty,

Alex Merced
Vice Chair, Libertarian National Committee

Homeschooling as Consequence of COVID-19, No Government Involved in Child Restrictive Education

Homeschooling as Consequence of COVID-19, No Government Involved in Child Restrictive Education

The NYC public education system has revamped its entire way of teaching our children, with the parents being in control, teachers now having the freedom to teach, and children learning at their own pace with no standardized testing. I know it’s a HUGE struggle; suddenly being thrown into routine change and working parents have to adjust more. But let’s focus on the benefits instead of the negatives. My child has had zero meltdowns, no bullying issues, more freedom to move around, more exercise, & learning what she wants to learn with a dedicated home teacher giving 1:1 lesson instruction. What are some of the positive changes in your child you have seen?

— Debra Altman,
as posted on her Facebook account,
reprinted by permission

Debra Altman is a Citywide Council for District 75 schools, has a special need child with an IEP, double masters in business and works for the family court system helping families as a paralegal. Born and raised NYC, Staten Island.

Queens Libertarian Party