Published for friends and supporters of the Libertarian Party Liberty Pledge NEWSLETTER 11 FEBRUARY 1995 Libertarian Party National Headquarters • 1528 Pennsylvania Avenue SE • Washington DC 20003 • (202) 543-1988 GOP leaders urge: LP is America's fastest growing party (again)

Ignore 'Challenge' It's official: The Libertarian Party is (again) the fastest Ignore the Libertarian Party's "Challenge to the Re- growing political party in America. publicans" — that's the word GOP leaders have been According to figures issued by ballot access expert quietly spreading among House members on Capitol Hill. Richard Winger, the number of registered Libertarians "We've struck a nerve," said Steve Dasbach, National increased by 8.57% from November 1992 to November LP Chair. 1994. There were 108,993 registered Libertarians in 1994, According to sources in Washington, the GOP's pow- compared to 100,394 in 1992. erful Congressional Campaign Committee told Republi- By comparison, the Republican Party registrations can House members to disregard the LP's 21-item "hit list" grew by only 0.21% over the same time, and the Democratic of federal programs, agencies, and policies to abolish. Party registrations fell by 2.71%. The number of indepen- "Don't take the Libertarians seriously because they dent voters also fell by 1.57%, and Green Party registrations are not capable of kicking us out of our seats" is the dropped by 12.67%. message that LP National Committee member Don Erns- "We grew faster than the Republicans, and everyone berger said Republicans were hastily circulating on Capi- else shrank. The Libertarian Party is the fastest growing tol Hill in early February. Ernsberger said the story was party in America!" said LP National Director Perry Willis. confirmed by Republican House staffers. "Everyone was talking about [it]," he said. LP looks at headquarters move Dasbach said the quick response to the LP Challenge proves that Republicans are worried. to Watergate Office Building "If they weren't concerned, they would have ignored The National LP is in the final stage of negotiations to us," he said. "In past elections, when Republicans didn't move its headquarters from one of Washington's less stand up for less government, Libertarians have cost them desirable neighborhoods to one of the most prestigious their seats. Now that they've been elected on a platform of addresses in the nation's capital — the Watergate Office less government, if they fail to cut the size of government, Building. they could face increasing numbers of angry voters in "That's the building where Richard Nixon almost 1996. Of course they're nervous." toppled the Republican Party. We'll be proud to move in Dasbach also noted the irony of the situation: "The there and complete the job," quipped LP National Director Republicans — who got into office on a pledge to cut Perry Willis. government — are instructing their new Congressmen not However, the move is not yet a "done deal," cautioned to cut government!" Willis. "We're still engaged in lease negotiations, and will Ernsberger said that some Congressmen may ignore then have to meet with an architect to design the floor the orders from the CCC. At a breakfast meeting on Capitol plans. But, if everything goes as planned, we hope to move Hill on January 24, Ernsberger handed out copies of the in by May 1, 1995," he said. Challenge to dozens of Congressmen, and got a very The Watergate Office Building borders a pleasant, favorable response, he said. tree-lined neighborhood on Virginia Avenue, and is just "Many said, 'Great, here's a list of specific things to blocks away from the Kennedy Center and historic George- target,' " he reported. "One Congressman said, 'This is town. "This is an office to which we would be proud to what I need — a shopping list.' " bring VIPs, contributors, and party members. It will also The Challenge to the Republicans was delivered to fulfill a promise the party made several years ago to move GOP leaders in January. It demanded that Republicans out of our current, inadequate headquarters," said Willis. abolish or defund 21 specific programs and policies, in- The Wall Street Journal called the planned move "a sign cluding Amtrak, the Davis Bacon Act, the gun ban, "War of the times" that the LP's fortunes are on the upswing. "It On Drugs" civil liberties violations, and UN expenses. would be a major step up in the world for us," agreed Willis. Liberty Pledge News • February 1995 `One Last Chance' For Libertarians

*- Party files petition for vote in the Aiken County Council the party could file another suit in ballots in so-called split precincts. rehearing with U.S. Su- District 3 election held in April of federal court but the term of the The Libertarians say that at 1993. The winner was Democrat office would have ended. least six eligible voters were not preme Court in election LaWana McKenzie. During hearings after the elec- able to cast ballots in the District 3 protest. But the Libertarians refused to tion the county and state election election because of the handling of yield, citing voting irregularities commissions refused to throw out split precinct votes. By CARL LANGLEY dealing with challenged ballots in the results and the state and feder- Staff Writer Split precincts provide a com- split precincts, and took to protest al courts refused to hear the Liber- mon voting place, but individual through county and state election tarian challenge. Aiken County Libertarian,party electors, although living next door commissions and state and federal The protest led King to say that Chairman Tom King said his politi- or across the street from each oth- courts. "there is little hope of finding jus- cal organization is going to give the er, can be in different council, The party was rebuffed at every tice in the current politially ap- American legal system "one last school board and House districts turn, but on Christmas week filed a pointed legal system, but we felt chance." because of geographical petition for a rehearing before the we must give the system one last King's remark was in reference boundaries. Supreme Court in what was de- chance." to the party's going back to the The Libertarians claim the work- clared as the final leg in their U.S. Supreme Court on an appeal ings of the county's split precincts challenge. In the petition for rehearing, the of a nearly two-year old election party wants the court to vacate its put an unconstitutional burden on decision lost by Libertarian candi- "This is the last step in the ap- denial of a review of the state's vot- voters and deprives them of the date Doug Greene. peal process," said James Leslie ing system. At the root of the pro- equal protection mandates of the Greene was defeated by a 628-623 Jr., Greene's attorney. Leslie said test is the handling of challenge Constitution.

Edward H. Crane

JON COON CARES: In something of a Give Me Liberty, Not Utopia surprise, last fall's unsuccessful Libertarian In his column on the Jiliertarian un- buildings we call schools. And "spending recent Gallup Poll found that 54 percent U.Snate dercurrents of the political change that time" is an apt description, given the of Americans favor making Social Secu- is sweeping the country [op-ed, Dec. 6), fact that many inner-city schools are not rity voluntary. candidate, Jon E. J. Dionne sets up a straw man when much more than day-care prisons. All There are, at bottom, essentially two Coon, he writes that "the libertarians have also socioeconomic levels of society were ways to order societal affairs: coercively announced last replaced the Marxists as the world's more literate prior to the lamentable through the mechanisms of the state— weekend that leading Utopia builders." In fact, liber- process that led to a dominance of political society—or voluntarily through tarianism—or what might better be the private interaction of individuals and he plans to run called market liberalism or the Jefferso- Taking Exception associations—civil society. The 20th in 1996 for the nian vision—is very much grounded in century has been marked by a grand 24th district . experiment in the former approach, and Michigan Will a society in which government is government-run schools in America, it is a failed experiment. limited to its appropriate role as protec- which took control of our children's It's worth noting, too, that it is the House seat held tor of life, liberty, and property be a education from them and their parents, utopians of left and right, faced with a by Rep. Joe perfect society? Given the foibles and turning it over to bureaucrats. justly skeptical public, who invariably Jon folly of humanity, that can hardly be the Palamara, D- Also, there's nothing inconsistent reach for the levers of government Coon Wyandotte. case. At the same time, there is mount- power to force their vision of perfection ing empirical evidence to support the with a clean environment and libertarian legal theory, properly construed. In- on society. When the new House minori- Coon made the announcement on libertarians' theoretical case that a mini- ty leader, Richard Gephardt, said on a WXYZ-TV's Spotlight on the News mal government will yield a better soci- deed, it is the lack of clearly defined recent Sunday morning talk show, ety than alternative models, including private property rights with respect to program. Asked why he chose the "We're sent here, Democrats and Re- the so-called mixed economy. air, water, and public lands that leads to publicans, to solve problems for the downriver district, Coon, who used to Indeed, the litany of liberal reductios environmental degradation. The more American people," he was speaking from live in the small Shiawassee town of that Dionne dusts off to justify a massive economically advanced a society, the state presence in society increasingly cleaner the environment. And economic a paradigm whose utter rejection he still Henderson (before he and his wife rings hollow. What, for instance, is performance is inversely related to the does not comprehend. Americans are separated), said: "Well, because the level of government involvement in the looking for politicians to leave them wrong with "the notion that all individu- young lady who I care very deeply als are entirely responsible for them- economy. alone, not to presume to be able to solve selves"? Dionne answers that some indi- The free market, Dionne argues, can- problems for them. They are looking for about happens to live in Southgate. viduals are children and don't have the not lead to "full employment." But it can a government, in the words of Thomas That's the main reason." resources or ability to be responsible for and it would absent counterproductive Jefferson, "which shall restrain men For the record, Palamara, who government intervention in the form of from injuring one another, which shall themselves. No, but an obvious corollary won re-election by a whopping 70 to the idea that adults are responsible unnecessary business regulations, a 15 leave them otherwise free to regulate for themselves is that they are also percent tax on employment (the payroll their own pursuits of industry and im- percent last fall, says he plans to run responsible for their children. When tax), the minimum wage, and destabiliz- provement, and shall not take from the F -ain in '96, Coon or no Coon. they are not, the Boys' Town model ing monetary and fiscal policy. mouth of labor the bread it has earned." suggested by Newt Gingrich (and so Finally, the day of Social Security's There is reason to believe that the ridiculed by liberals) is dearly a prefera- being a trump card for advocates of big November elections were less a eja, ble approach to subsidizing the irrespon- government is over. While the "initial tion of the policies of Bill Clinton or even sible adults. So is removing government impulse," as Dionne might put it, for the Great Society than they were a A (Top) The Aiken Standard restraints on adoption, particularly Social Security was the idea of helping rejection of the New Deal. The resur- Aiken, South Carolina, January 5, 1995 transradal adoption. the indigent elderly, it is today a full- gence in respect for the Fifth and 10th Dionne writes of the Initial impulse fledged socialized retirement system for Amendments is nothing if not a rebuke behind the welfare state" arising from a America. As a pay-as-you-go system, it of New Deal jurisprudence. November's A The Detroit Free Press desire to help orphans. But what could robs the economy of savings and is results were the political manifestation Detroit, Michigan, January 19, 1995 be more utopian than to think that the beaded for financial catastrophe when of that rebuke. Americans of all stripes welfare state would be limited to just the baby boomers start getting close to are coming to the conclusion that the such activities, much less do a good job retirement. A system of private pen- voluntary approach is invariably the best 41 The Washington Post caring for children? sions is likely to have the occasional way of dealing with the very practical Washington, DC, January 11, 1995 Turning over our educational system failure—although private insurance can problems we confront in our day-to-day, to a near-government monopoly has re- and would do much to mitigate that non-utopian lives. sulted in "universal education," as risk—but our government controlled re- Dionne claims, only in the sense that tirement system is on the path to failing The writer is president of the Cato we're forcing children to spend time in an entire generation. It's no wonder a Institute. Liberty Pledge News ♦ February 1995 THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Link to Conservatives Lessis More Still, the thinking of many Americans is changing. "There is a libertarian revolu- Less Is More: Libertarian Impulses tion going on, in the sense of a greater Libertarian Impulses movement away from government power at all levels, than at certainly any time in Are Spreading Through the Land Show Growing Appeal my life," says Clint Bolick, a prominent Washington attorney who often works with But since many Americans don't spend One member of DigitaLiberty is Bruce conservatives but considers himself a lib- all that much time analyzing their political Fancher, a 23-year-old who in the late 1980s Among the Disaffected ertarian. beliefs, it Is likely that much of today's earned brief notoriety as a hacker who Shifting sentiments made Republicans' antigovernment sentiment arises from broke into computer systems, though he basic antigovernment message so success• what people see as the government's trial was never charged with a crime. He is When the Government Fails, ful in the November elections and, before and error: Voters feel government has president of a computer communications that, energized the 1992 explosion of Ross tried to solve problems but has been ineffi- company called Phantom Access Technolo- Perot voters. His people tended to be Many Voters Are Asking: cient or ineffective in doing so. "It's not gies Inc. "Being involved in computers or conservative on fiscal matters, hands-off doctrinaire," says J.D. Hayworth, a fresh- the Internet, you inevitably move toward on social issues and utterly disdainful of man GOP lawmaker from Arizona, as he Who Needs It, Anyway? being a libertarian," he says. "It is basi- government. analyzes his constituents' views. "It's in- cally possible to keep all of your secrets The desire to keep pace with such public herently practical." from prying eyes, particularly the prying sentiment is fueling a drive by many of the Mixed Blessing to the GOP What Good Government? eyes of the federal government." 73 freshman Republicans in the House of Many analysts, in fact, think it was Mr. Fancher also is intrigued by anony- Representatives to mow down government President Clinton's ill-fated health-care mous digital cash, a plan for creating By GERALD F. SEIB programs. "There would be a good number reform proposals, widely supported at first electronic "cash" by stringing together Staff Reporter of THE. WALL STREET JOURNAL of people out there who would be ahead of but gradually abandoned by many voters, bits of information that can be exchanged WASHINGTON — It just might be that us" in chopping down government, says that sparked a rethinking of government's in place of paper currency, and electroni- Bill Frezza, not Newt Gingrich, best illus- Rep. Sam Brownback, a Republican fresh- role. "People were saying, 'We don't want cally encrypted so the transaction can't be trates why the American political system man from Kansas. you to run our health care. And come to monitored by the government. That would is quaking. He sits in his new office, worrying not think of it, we don't want you to run much include the government's tax collectors, Mr. Frezza, a onetime McGovern Dem- that ambitious young House Republicans of anything else for us, either,' " says who would be powerless to exact a toll on ocrat, today is a libertarian. This Philadel- may scare people by moving too fast in phia-area computer consultant doesn't just Edward Crane, president of the Cato Insti- this barter in electronic play money. attacking government, but, rather, fret- . tute, Washington's bastion of libertarian The social consequences of such ideas want to cut government: He questions the ting that the novice lawmakers can't find thought. are enormous, particularly to the tax sys- very need for most of it. He figures that in a enough fully cooked plans for dismantling Similarly, the demise of an overarching tem. If the electronically empowered were world in which computer wizards are close agencies. to creating their own private, encrypted national-security threat from Moscow has able to amass income beyond the reach of Government and the Individual digital cash system for making transac- inspired many Americans to reconsider the Internal Revenue Service, for instance, tions without any government involve- The problem for Republicans is that the need for a big government to protect the burden of financing government func- them. ment, the need for centralized authority is pure libertarian thinkers would recoil at tions that even libertarians consider es- shriveling. "Government isn't simply ir- efforts by some in the party to pass a Whatever the cause, the signs of a drift sential — national defense, the courts and toward are everywhere. relevant," he says, "it's totally irrele- school-prayer amendment or to restrict foreign policy — would fall inordinately on vant." gay rights, just as surely as they might When freshman Republicans attended an those who don't have the same technologi- Mr. Frezza, who actually classifies his blanch at liberal Democrats' efforts to orientation session sponsored by the con- cal sophistication. thinking as "post-libertarian," may be an raise taxes to pay for welfare. servative Heritage Foundation, for in- On a more practical level, Mr. Brown- extreme example, but his feelings help A true libertarian would do away with stance, some of them immediately began back, the new congressman from Kansas, illustrate the powerful public passions laws banning marijuana and hard drugs, complaining about a Heritage analyst's worries how voters will react if federal driving the revolution in the new GOP-con- too — an idea that could set off a food fight proposal to phase out farm subsidies over a agencies designed to protect public safety trolled Congress. Though many voters at any Republican gathering. Many liber- period of five years. The new lawmakers are eliminated and some hideous disaster probably don't even realize it, much of the tarians would like to see Social Security didn't at all think the idea too radical. occurs. And asked whether farmers are angry sentiment coursing through their become voluntary. Libertarians see little Some figured it didn't go far enough, and really ready to give up government subsi- veins today isn't traditionally Republican need for foreign entanglements, so they thus proposed a cold-turkey approach: dies, Rep. Brownback, himself a member or even conservative. It's libertarian. see ways to pare defense spending. Why not Cut out the subsidies immedi- of a farm family, replies that "a number of Some of these ideas are too rich for the ately? people are there," but others aren't. Down With Government blood of even antigovernment Republi- When members of the new House Ap- Indeed, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC Libertarians question the need for a cans, not to mention middle-of-the- propriations Committee began to look for News poll shows how American thinking is government role in virtually every area of roaders. "I do not for a moment pretend or billions of dollars in spending cuts this drifting, but it also illustrates that the their lives, personal as well as economic. A believe that what is taking place in the month, they called in an analyst from the public still is queasy about some cuts. traditional conservative might want to Republican Party has any semblance of Cato Institute for advice. Nearly half of all adults surveyed — espe- comb through the government from top libertarianism," asserts Gordon Black, a And the tiny Libertarian Party, though cially those in the South, Republicans and down to weed out certain programs and politically independent pollster who con- widely viewed as a minor political force, white men — say that most government beef up others, like those designed to siders himself a "free-market civil liber- has experienced an 11% jump in both regulations are unnecessary and harm the enhance "family values." But a libertar- tarian." contributors (to 20,000) and enrolled mem- economy. Some government agencies are ian works from the bottom up, challenging But some conservative Republicans are bers (to 11,000) in the past year. The party widely regarded as unnecessary, too, but everything the government does and find- starting to move away from wanting to see still suffers from an oddball image. But not those guarding health and safety. ing little worth doing. government action on social questions and Perry Willis, national director of the party, That the public wants change seems Because of their growing disdain for toward neutral government social policy. says that "the more intellectual compo- clear from the results of last fall's elec- government, more and more Americans The Christian Coalition, for instance, is nent of our society is thinking its way tions. But exactly what sort of change has appear to be drifting—often unwittingly— playing down, for the time being, its toward this. There's probably another, yet to be spelled out. "In general, it seems toward a libertarian philosophy. That advocacy of a constitutional amendment larger segment of American society that's like people have lost faith in government as seems particularly true among baby allowing school prayer and focusing in- stumbling its way." the solution to problems in general, be they boomers returning to the "do your own stead on pushing laissez-faire economics The Microsoft Connection social problems or economic problems," thing" ethos of their youth and among and tax cuts. It is placing more emphasis Mr. Willis says the libertarian concept says Jeffrey Singer, a 43-year-old general young people involved in the intensely on issues such as "school choice," in which has particular appeal to people in the surgeon from Phoenix who considers him- independent computer industry. Indeed, the government steps aside and allows computer industry. "We have more mem- self a libertarian. He thinks people are now when the Gallup polling organization last parents to divert their tax dollars to private bers in one computer company in Seattle more disposed to do-it-yourself problem year asked questions about government's schools. than in some whole counties, and that solving. role that were designed to distill Ameri- Some Americans, no doubt, are drifting company is Microsoft, he says. A sign of the times: The Libertarian cans' political philosophies, it categorized toward libertarian thinking because of Indeed, when Mr. Frezza, the Philadel- Party is about to double its national staff 22% of the public as "libertarian." careful analysis. "People are starting to at phia computer consultant, last month and move out of its current, modest head- The drift, therefore, is substantial but least consider the idea that many of their launched a computer network of like- quarters on Capitol Hill. The Libertarians' hardly universal, and it isn't organized. problems come when they start thinking of minded thinkers called DigitaLiberty, he new home: the Watergate office complex, The actual Libertarian party remains a the government as their own agent of was so overwhelmed with responses, espe- the scene of the crime that brought down tiny political organization. And there are change, or their major agent of change," cially from college students, that he had to Richard Nixon. lots of problems inherent in this drift. says Gregg Gaylord, an Indiana physician temporarily shut down the group's elec- Many people, Republicans particularly, and Jimmy Carter voter who now regards tronic mailbox. who are drawn to libertarian economics may have a hard time swallowing the same himself as a libertarian. kind of hands-off government approach to A The Wall Street Journal, January 20, 1995 abortion and school prayer. Liberty Pledge News ♦ February' 1995 What Libertarians stand for Libertarian By Kimberly Kauer college students during the 1970s. 100,000 registered Libertarians Northeastern News Service "The Libertarian push for free- in 24 states. Twenty-six states, The idea of no speed limit dom across the board, and our Massachusetts included, are not might be exciting, but what if al- emphasis on individual rights at- included in that number because hopeful most all laws were thrown tracted many," Waxier said. of lack of major party status. out? And Social Security, Massachusetts will soon welfare, and the post of- be added to that figure, as fice. too? How would so- Te Libertarian Party was officially well as other states, ac- to visit ciety survive? cording to Waxier. (Liber- Quite well, thank you recognized earlier this month as tarians became official says the Libertarian Party, the third party in Massachusetts. third party this month: which during the past Ed.) San Diego election was able to re- The party can now hold primary "We've had problems ceive the 3 percent of elections, and voters may register gaining ballot status due to votes needed 'in Massa- some pretty restrictive By Chris Moran chusetts to gain state as Demoaatic, Republican, laws," Waxier said. "Of Staff Writer recognition. Libertarians Libertarian or Unenrolled course Republicans and has even beaten will now automatically be (Independent), Democrats don't want any on the ballot. more competition than Texas Sen. Phil Gramm to the What the Libertarians they already have, so they punch. The 61-year-old investment advocate is simple, yet ex- aren't much help in over- writer is running for president. treme: the abolishment of gov- During the late '70s, Students turning these laws." Almost two years before the 1996 ernment. Of course there would for a Libertarian Society and The anti-established party con- presidential election, Browne have to be some laws. other party activities were fi- trol of elections was a theme of brings his campaign for the Liber- "Murder, for example, is not nanced by Charles and David , the Libertarian tarian Party nomination to San something we advocate," said Coke. During David Coke's cam- candidate for president's 1992 Diego tonight for a speech before paign for vice president of the Bill Waxier. spokesman for the campaign. One of four presiden- the county's annual Libertarian United States in 1980. he con- tial candidates on the ballot in all national Libertarian Party. convention. According to the Libertarian na- tributed $2 million to the Liber- 50 states, Marrou was excluded "If the right person were in the tional headquarters, they oppose tarian campaign, boosting the from presidential debates while laws sening a minimum drinking party's national profile at least independent candidate Ross White House you could cut the age or banning concealed until the election. Following the Perot was included. budget overnight," said Browne in weapons or restricted immigration poor 1980 election performance "The Democrats and the Re- a telephone interview Friday as he or interventionist foreign policy. (Libertarians only won 1 percent publicans don't want the Liber- drove on Interstate 680 near his A cornerstone of the Libertari- of the vote), many left the party, tarian message to be heard," home in Lafayette. .an platform is the totally free including its two main support- Marrou said in 1992. "And the By cuts, Browne means some- market economy. In fact, they ers: the Coke brothers. stooge media played along." thing a little different from the say that a free market will stimu- More than 20 years later, the Yet, Waxier did credit Perot Republicans' "Contract With late a boom in new business, cre- party seems to be coming back. with helping Libertarians. America." ating more jobs, and eliminating According to the Secretary of "He convinced people that "I believe the president should the need for welfare. State's office, Massachusetts there were choices other than the just say he will not sign the budget now has 423 registered Libertar- In fact, it was a reaction to Republicans or Democrats," unless it is one-third the size of the ians. A small number compared Waxier said. Nixon Administration policies present budget," Browne said. This regarding wage and price con- to the 1,266,358 registered De- The Libertarians see the presi- would allow the federal govern- trols which encouraged a group mocrats, 419,120 registered Re- dency as their ultimate goal and of Republicans to form the Liber- publicans, and 1,466,555 unen- they think they have the right ment to get by on Browne's pro- tarian party in 1971. Libertarians rolled, but enough to obtain person on their side: God. posed revamp of the tax system: ran for president in several states major party status. "God was the original Libertar- either a 10 percent flat income tax and they received one electoral During the past election, 98 ian," Marrou said. "He gave us or a 10 percent sales tax. vote from Vermont elector Roger Libertarian candidates ran for all freedom of will. He gave us a few The "Contract With America" McBride who opposed voting for types of offices in New Hamp- simple rules to live by — the Ten may work in the Libertarians' favor, Nixon as he was supposed to do. shire, and many won. Commandments, And he said, though. He hopes the cutbacks in The party gained popularity, al- According to Libertarian na- 'I'm going to hold you personally government spending proposed by though relatively small, among tional headquarters, there are responsible."' the new Republican Congress are all approved. If that happens, Browne said, "A year from now people will realize that their taxes are still over- Libertarian leader takes on two tasks whelming, government is still intru- sive." Robert Edwards / News-leader like Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce, should be targeted. It can be done, he insisted. Libertarian leader Bill Johnson of "If the party's going to grow, it's Rather than piecemeal budget cuts Springfield expects to wear two po- got to go after the center," he said. in which each program's con- litical hats into 1996 — one as the Johnson said he agrees and plans A Georgetown Record stituency puts up a fierce fight to party's chief recruiter and the other to reach out to the broad middle Georgetown, MA save its funding, Browne recom- as head of a movement to strength- range of Missourians. But he said en states' rights. mended a huge, comprehensive he won't ignore some groups that January 5, 1995 slashing of the budget. A single Johnson, the Libertarians' 1994 may be considered fringe because at swift blow to the country's spending U.S. Senate candidate, recently was least they are politically aware and package, he theorized, will make chosen party executive director. active and could be allies. The North County Abases Nam ► the cost savings so apparent as to with the aim of boosting member- Horras said whoever becomes the Blade-Citizen ship and finding candidates at all Libertarian presidential candidate draw support even from constituen- levels for next year's elections. U.S. Constitution and work to limit cies whose programs will be cut. federal authority. in 1996 still will have difficulty be- Oceanside, California He'll do the Libertarian organiz- coming known and winning votes. January 14, 1995 Browne said he is just the man to ing work for free, said Johnson and The party's support of legalizing The 1992 hopeful received less than make it happen, partially because state Libertarian Chairman Phil drugs often turns people off, he said, 1 percent of the vote. of his political experience,. which so that should not be first thing Horras of Springfield. "We need either a gimmick ... or he described as "absolutely none. I Libertarians ought, to put forward. -411 The News-Leader Johnson said he would try to earn money," he said. For example, a have not voted in 30 years. I saw no "I want a foot in the door," John. a salary through fund-raising ef- political stunt like driving a car in Springfield, MA son said. "The car salesman doesn't reason to." forts he'll conduct for the 10th reverse across the country to show He does have experience as the show you the sticker price first" how backward the system might January 29, 1995 Amendment Coalition committee author of nine books. For 20 years Dues-paying Libertarians num- garner public attention, he said. he is setting up in Missouri. • he has also written "Harry ber about 200 In Missouri, Horras But Horras said if Clinton runs, The committee will be part of a said. Johnson, who came in a dis- he'll be so unpopular, the Libertar- Browne's Special Reports," a loose association of like-minded tant third in the Senate race in No- ians could gain a greater following newsletter of commentary on the groups springing up in other states. vember, won 80,000 votes. among those seeking an alternative, economy. investments and politics. "It's a good issue to be identified Horras said he was one of the few Clinton's State of the Unioh Browne is the keynote speaker with ... and no one is carrying the party leaders who voted against speech was a good presentation, but at the San Diego County Liber- ball for it in Missouri," Johnson Johnson's dual position when the it showed where the president had tarian Party's annual convention at said. And he believes the effort can issue was discussed in a meeting in waffled, Horras said. Clinton mai- the Kings Inn in Mission Valley. spark interest in the Libertarian Columbia two weeks ago. He said he paigned on welfare reform, for ex- Party, he said. The convention for the county's wanted the role more defined and ample, but set it aside for two years 9,300 Libertarians includes a talk The aim is to recruit legislative needed more detail on what materi- until bringing it up again in his by San Diego's Richard Rider about candidates who will push the issue als would be used and what party address Tuesday, Horras said. in their campaigns and force other principles would be emphasized. "1 thought it was just basically his 1994 campaign for governor, a candidates to take a stand on it as Still, Horns said he wants the putting a new coat of paint on an an panel discussion to introduce well, Johnson said. The idea is for project to work and will support old car," Horras said of the speech. attendees to libertarianism and a states to reassert their sovereignty Johnson. But he said mainstream "Clean it up and make it la* good debate on whether political action under the 10th Amendment to the voters, who gather in organizations for the next campaign." is morally defensible.