Published for friends & supporters of the Libertarian Party

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Libertarian National Committee, Inc. • 2600 Virginia Ave, NW, Suite 100 OCTOBER 1997 Washington DC 20037 • Phone: (202) 333-0008 • Fax: (202) 333-0072 newsletter In '97, record number of Pennsylvania LP fights back with ballot access reform bill Libertarians seek office fter a "near-death experience" with ballot access lection '97 is shaping up as the busiest off-year elec- earlier this year — thanks to an almost-passed bill tion ever in Libertarian Party history — with 158 Athat would have tripled the state's already restrictive E candidates seeking office this November. election laws — the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania de- "Our records are a little sketchy, but this [appears to be] cided to fight back. a record number of candidates running in an off-election So they formed an alliance of third parties, got a Repub- year for us," said Ron Crickenberger, LP National Director. lican State Representative to sponsor a new bill that rolls Libertarian candidates are running in 19 states, and are back ballot access barriers, and are mounting a lobbying seeking a wide variety of offices — from minor local govern- offensive to try to get it passed. ment positions, to state representative, all the way to Murray The state LP organized a press conference in the state Sabrin's campaign for governor in New Jersey. Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on September 23rd to intro- Winning the gold medal for the most candidates is duce the "Voters Choice Act," which would lower petition Pennsylvania, which has 53 Libertarians seeking office. requirements for statewide ballot to one-tenth of one per- "By getting on the ballot in our cities, counties, and cent, down from the current 2%. townships, we earn our place in the public debate," said Tim Libertarians stood side by side with representatives of Moir, State Chair of the Pennsylvania LP, explaining the state five other parties — Green, Constitution, Reform, Prohibi- party's strategy of focusing on local races. tion, and No Pay Raise — to urge state legislators to reform Connecticut earned a silver medal for most candidates, restrictive election laws, which encourage "mistrust and with 32 Libertarians on the ballot. apathy," according to LP candidate Ken Krawchuk. Other states with large numbers of candidates include State Representative Todd Platts (R-York), who spon- New Jersey (19), New York (10), Virginia (9), and Michigan (7). sored the legislation, said, "In the private sector, what do we Ciickenberger said the party owes a big "thank you" to do when we want a good product? We promote competition. LP candidates, who he called "the true heroes" of the party. Why should it be different in the electoral process?" And he had special thanks for two states: "Thank you to Platts filed his legislation in late September. Pennsylvania and Connecticut . . . and in particular to Pennsylvania LP State Chair Tim Moir acknowledged Windham, Connecticut, which may be running the largest that it will be an uphill fight to pass the bill, but said, "When slate of candidates in any town in our history"— a whop- we win, the new ballot access requirements will allow us to ping 21 candidates, he noted. spend less time collecting signatures, and more of our re- sources promoting our candidates and ideas." One advantage the legislation has, he said, is widespread Sabrin qualifies for debate in NJ media support for fair elections. t's official: LP gubernatorial candidate Murray "While the media are not always friendly to the message Sabrin has qualified to participate in the televised of the Libertarian Party, on the issue of ballot access, they are debates with his Republican and Democratic opponents. unanimously on our side," he said. On September 26th, Sabrin was notified by the Elec- Political reporters who covered the press conference tion Law Enforcement Commission that he had raised agreed that the Libertarian Party and its allies will need help: enough money to qualify for inclusion in the debates. It was just four months ago that the state legislature voted to He also received a check for $322,791 in state matching triple ballot access requirements. Thanks to an intense lobby- funds. Sabrin will now participate in televised debates ing effort, Governor Tom Ridge vetoed the bill. with incumbent Christie Todd Whitman and Democrat Now, having dodged that bullet, Moir is encouraging all Jim McGreevey on October 21st and 24th. (C-SPAN cover- state LP members to mount an all-out lobbying effort. age of at least one debate is expected, but not confirmed.) "The harder we work now, the sooner the members of "We've got tremendous momentum — and it's con- the legislature and the governor will be willing to make tinuing to build," said Sabrin. Voter's Choice a part of the law in Pennsylvania," he said. "It's a good fight for us to wage." Liberty Pledge News • October 1997 Measure aids third-party candidates

By Frank Reeves saying they imposed onerous and Under current law, a group wish- Post-Gazette Harrisburg Correspondent unfair burdens on minor-party ing to qualify as a political party HARRISBURG — Their ideolo- candidates. must register a number of voters gies range from free-market con- . "If a member of one of the two old equal to 15 percent of the combined servatism to a sort of benevolent parties wanted to run for, say, statewide voter registration of all socialism. But representatives of president or governor, they would parties. But under Platts' proposal, the Green, Libertarian, Reform, need to collect 2,000 signatures, they would need to register 1 per- Constitutional and No Pay Raise Krawchuk said. "But guess how cent of the total. Proponents said it parties put aside their differences many signatures the Libertarians would mean that a new party could yesterday to clamor for legislation would need to collect? Last year, we be qualified with as few as 60,000 that would make it easier for inde- Wiarians had to collect not 2,000 people registered, not the current pendent or third-party candidates to signatures, but 24,000 signatures — 900,000. get on the ballot. over 12 times the number of signa- To get on the ballot under current tures the two old parties required of law, an independent statewide can- "Pennsylvania has one of the themselves." didate would need nominating peti- most restrictive election laws as far Such disparities "encourage the tions signed by registered voters as ballot access. It's healthy to have very real impression that the game equivalent to 2 percent of the vote third parties on the ballot. It brings is fixed, that the regular person for the highest voter-getter in; the new people and new ideas to the stands no chance to end the non- previous statewide election. political process," said Peg Luksik, sense," he said. "It encourages But Platts' proposal would let one of most successful third-party mistrust, apathy. It encourages poli- statewide candidates obtain signa- candidate ever for a statewide of- tics as usual." tures of one-tenth of 1 percent of fice in Pennsylvania. In 1994, she Independett parties are support- the total ballots cast in the prior ran for governor on the Constitu- ing the Voters' Choice Act, a mea- statewide election. The bill also tional Party ticket and polled sure that state Rep. Todd Platts, R- would mandate that a statewide 460,269 votes, 13 percent of the total. York, is sponsoring to make it easier candidate obtain at least 100 signa- The Libertarians' Ken Krawchuk for a group to qualify as a minor tures in each of 100 counties.., denounced current election laws, political party in Pennsylvania. Proponents said the signatures required on a third-party candi- date's nominating petition would fall to 4,200 from about 24,800., Platts acknowledged that he ex- A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1997 pected an uphill fight for his mea- • The Bennington Banner, Bennington, Vermont, September 18, 1997 sure, which he hasn't introduced. It will require "educating" legislators of both major parties, who suspect that granting more ballot access to third-party candidates will jeopar- dize their own political careers. Bennington Libertarians hold first caucus Stephen Drachler, spokesman for House Majority Leader John BENNINGTON — Local ties have nothing to offer but Members felt that the process Perzel, R-Philadelphia, said his Libertarians caucused Tuesday more peeking, poking and pry- of building strength from the boss opposed lowering the thresh- night and for the first time in ing into every aspect of peo- bottom up was the correct pro- old for statewide candidates. "If you Bennington's history organized ples' private lives and purses," cedure for the party, she said. are on the ballot across the state, a Li1.2„..ertarian Town Committee. she said. Members agreed that [Perzell believes you should have "This is yet another sign of the "We have a short message: Bennington Libertarians should minimal support all throughout explosive growth of America's `So long as we hurt no one else, also concentrate on expanding Pennsylvania," Drachler said. most exciting political party," leave us alone to get on with our the party base, not only in said newly elected Chair Anne lives as we see fit.' This is what Bennington, but in adjoining Allen, a former three-term state we have repeatedly heard from towns and communities. legislator. people working in the mills, and The question of Libertarian "When a majority of walking down the streets, and candidates for local office was American voters stay home on from people everywhere in also discussed, she said. The election day, it is a sign that the Bennington. And we have lis- committee decided to look seri- old parties are no longer tened," said Allen. ously at finding engaging and responding to the needs and During the two-hour meeting, qualified Libertarians who desires of the people," she said the party members agreed that would be willing to run in in a prepared statement. the committee would begin to future elections. "The Libertarian Party offers watch the actions of local gov- a new hope to these disaffected ernment and offer Libertarian voters. We are the party of liber- solutions to governmental prob- ty and freedom. The other par- lems as they arise, Allen said. Liberty Pledge News • October 1997

THIS WEEK'S POLL 1 Libertarianism: An idea whose time has come? New Jersey experienced a historical mo- the state to nonprofit agencies. www.rahul.net/lp/. ment last week: For the first time in state his- Libertarians also call for an end to such Then let us know what you think. Are the tory a third-party candidate qualified for programs as Social Security and Medicare. Libertarians the wave of the future? Or are matching campaign funds. "We will show the people of New Jersey they just fringe idealists with ideas that would The candidate is Murray Sabrin, a that a Libertarian government is a govern- plunge New Jersey into another Stone Age? 50-year-old Ramapo College finance professor ment that will benefit them with low auto in- To take part in the Interact poll, access who authored a book called "Tax Free 2000." surance rates, lower taxes, lower government New Jersey Online at http://www.nj.com and Sabrin will get at least $306,000 in matching spending, less regulation, a better life for all click on "Forums." Or access Interact directly state funds because he's raised and agreed to the people of the state of New Jersey, and the at http://www.nj.com/interact. If you don't spend more than the required $210,000 that opportunity to implement what the Founding have an online connection, you can also re- II- The makes a candidate "official" in the eyes of Fathers envisioned for this country," Sabrin spond by regular mail. Please send to Reader Star-Ledger New Jersey's campaign finance law. The said. Forum, The Star-Ledger, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, To find out more about Sabrin's positions, Newark, NJ money will help Sabrin take to the airwaves in Newark, N.J. 07102. the race with Republican Gov. Christie Whit- check out the web site of the New Jersey Lib Sept. 28, 1997 ertarian Party at http://www.eclipse.net/ All submissions become the property of The Star- man and Democrat Jim McGreevey. And he Ledger and New Jersey Online. All submissions gets a spot in two televised gubernatorial de- (tilde)dimona/index.html. Also, check out the may be edited and may be published or otherwise V The Asbury bates. national Libertarian Party's web site at http:// reused in any medium. Park Press "We're going to run a very positive cam- Neptune, NJ Sept. paign on the issues, based upon our LiDerkar- ian solution to every single issue facing the 24, 1997 people of New Jersey," said Sabrin. Sabrin's success in raising the money shows the emergence of libertarianism as a political philosophy in America. It is a philoso- phy that has caught on with many Internet users and with young people all over America. But it challenges the principles espoused by both the Democratic and Republican parties. Stripped to its basics, libertarianism calls for the absolute minimum amount of govern- ment. Sabrin last week took aim at Whitman on affirmative action — which is also sup- ported by her Democratic opponent, Jim McGreevey — charging she is "trying to buy this election by spending millions upon mil- lions of taxpayer dollars on affirmative action programs that hire unqualified or overpriced individuals and companies." Sabrin calls for budget cuts of perhaps $2 billion in his first year. Libertarians oppose in- come and sales taxes. He wants to deregulate PHOTO BY JACK S. KANTHAL the insurance industry, end gun laws, and Murray Sabrin speaks last week at a Trenton rally of classic car owners opposing the state's eventually shift child protection agencies from new program for auto emissions testing.

hen Murray Sabrin, the Libertar- Republican party ran only dream of — abol- ian candidate for governor, won ishing welfare and food stamps and housing subsidies for the poor, repealing the state in- state matching funds for his cam- W An outsider comes in come tax and the sales tax, ending all affirma- paign, plus the right to debate the two major- tive action programs and letting people own party candidates on television, he said it was assault rifles and carry concealed weapons. a great day for democracy in New Jersey. But there's more. He wants to legalize This was one Matching funds for Libertarian show system is inclusive drugs. He would deregulate the automobile time that a political insurance industry. Insurers could charge candidate spoke she noted. If the Libertarian candidate had whatever they wanted, in a competitive free simple truth. cials, nor made other firm commitments, as legal verbiage thwart democratic principles. the Election Law Enforcement Commission As things turned out, the court did not have not complied with the strict letter of the law, market in which motorists would also pick The outcome last had required of candidates in years gone by. to get involved. it was partly due to lack of experience. She and choose. He would abolish the state De- week was not fore- Sabrin contended that he had met the re- held that Sabrin was entitled to state match- partment of Education. He favors vouchers to ordained, nor did it Beatrice S. Tylutki got the first crack at quirement with a verbal commitment to buy the issue. She is an old Trenton hand. Bren- ing funds, about $306,000. let parents send children to private schools at happen by chance. television and radio time through a media dan Byrne named her an administrative law Next up was the four-member commis- public expense. AMES It is a little-appre- consultant. judge, and she was reappointed by successive sion, chaired by Ralph V. Martin, a Republi- Taken all in all, it is pretty wild. He has no ciated virtue of the AHEARN I will lay you odds that if this little drama governors, most recently by Whitman. can and formerly a Superior Court judge in chance of winning the election, although he politics and govern- had played out on the other side of the Hud- Passaic County. The commission had a little puts up a brave front. But he an accomplish ment of New Jersey Tylutki has intestinal fortitude. In 1993 son, it would have hem a farce. The review- she ruled that Jim Florio's re-election cam- trouble with Tylutici's airy dismissal of the something, if there is more to him than a that the system ing authorities would have concluded, with paign should pay a fine of $10,500 for spend- statutory detail, although it agreed with her name and a rnuse. He can initiate dialogues works to encourage participation and inclu- regret of course, that their hands were tied, ing money on the general election earlier conclusion. The panel devised a somewhat on some of these matters, on which discus- sion. It differs from New York, where an- the law was specific, the candidate had not than allowed by law. The Election Law En- different solution. It said that Sabrin had ac- sion is now frozen within politically correct cient, punctiliously implemented laws are met the requirement, there was no two ways forcement Commission reduced the fine to tually complied, in substance, with the law. limits. used to squelch challenges. about it, bang, end of case. $2,500. So, on with the election campaign, and Hey, he can say, if prohibition is such a Getting Sabrin qualified took some doing. No third-party candidate had ever qualified When the Sabrin case reached her, it was with the debates. great way to deal with crack and heroin, how State election laws required gubernatorial in New Jersey for state matching funds for a accompanied by a staff recommendation that Just what effect Sabrin, a Ramapo college come it isn't working? If insurance compa- candidates to raise and spend at least gubernatorial election. No matter. As soon as she rule against the candidate. The staff said professor, is going to have on the election, nies are making a killing on New Jersey mo- $210,000 by Sept. 2 to qualify for matching it became dear that someone had finally the spending requirement was clear and in- nobody really knows. Democratic spinmeis- torists, how come more companies aren't funds. There was no question he had raised raised enough money to satisfy that part of flexible. Tylutki made short work of that ters contend publicly that he will hurt Whit- pushing to get into the business? It might be that much, and more. But there was a ques- the law, the state system was just not going The law gives the commission the power to man. Republicans say he will hurt Jim instructive. It might even be fun. tion as to whether he had spent it. to deny him his day in the sun. relax requirements "in the interests of jus- McGreevey. Voters who take the time to re- He said he had. He had not actually handed If necessary, the state Supreme Court tice," she said, and this was such a matter. ally look at the Libertarian candidate are °James Ahearn is a veteran observer of the out the money. Nor had he signed contracts would see to that It may have its faults, but The broad purpose of the law is to enable going to scratch their heads. New Jersey and national political scenes and a with television stations to broadcast commer- our Supreme Court is not one to let niggling persons with limited funds to run for office, He favors things that the right wing of the former newspaper executive. Liberty Pledge News ♦ October 1997 Vermont Libertarian Party: For the books Our candidates will not be bound by "Please take me off your e-mail list immediately," Doris Quinn writes in a letter to the Libertar- Vermont's campaign finance act ian Party in Washington. "As far as I can tell, I think I got onto The Vermont Libertarian he takes out an ad that costs "The law is a blatant attack your e-mail list because of a com- Pasty's State Committee re- over $2000 (the maximum on a citizen's freedom to puter error. I'm a librarian, not a solved on August 8, 1997, campaign expenditure al- speak out on his or her own Libertarian." that the limitations on cam- lowed to candidates for state behalf in seeking the support paign expenditures in representative), or if he of fellow citizens in the po- Vermont's new campaign fi- spends over $2000 in gaso- litical arena," said Vermont A The Washington Times nance act (Act 64) are "egre- line or telephone bills in con- Libertarian Party state Chair- Washington DC, September 18, 1997 giously unconstitutional," tacting voters. The law also man Christopher Costanzo. and that the Party will not lowers total allowable dona- "It is also an obvious attempt ► The Rutland Herald consider its candidates to be tions to a candidate from any to stifle independent candi- Rutland, Vermont, August 14, 1997 bound by them. single source. (In the case of dates and small parties under The act establishes strict state representative it is low- the hypocritical guise of re- V The Blade limits on campaign expendi- ered from $1000 to $200). form and political openness," Toledo, Ohio, September 3, 1997 tures, even on those who do But donations to political Costanzo added. not accept government fund- parties are not limited, and A number of Vermont leg- ing for their campaigns. In large parties which run more islators have admitted that direct violation of U.S. court than six candidates are not the new law goes against fed- decisions, the Vermont act limited in the expenditures eral court rulings. Even Gov- explicitly limits the expendi- they make in the general sup- ernor Dean, upon signing the tures of even those who use port of their party. However, bill into law, said as much, their own personal funds for small parties that run six or but expressed his hope that their campaigns. fewer candidates will be the U.S. Supreme Court What this means is that a deemed to have spent such would "change its mind." free Vermont citizen will be funds specifically for their Party Chair Costanzo com- On the Campaign breaking the law and will be candidates and will be sub- mented that he is "shocked liable for stiff penalties if, in ject to the new law's limita- that legislators who have Trail seeking election as (for ex- tions on campaign expendi- taken an oath to support and ample) a state representative, tures. defend the Constitution would so ruthlessly and Taking their credo to heart that government should do less and private citizens should do openly ignore it in the pur- more to make society work, a group of local Liber- suit of political expediency tarians canvassed the city Monday, collecting and self interest." what they said were illegally placed campaign Costanzo has discussed the signs. new law with Ms. Leslie That evening, they dropped off 246 signs of var- Williamson, head of the Ver- ying sizes at Toledo police headquarters down- town. mont Chapter of the Ameri- "These were all on public property, and there can .Civil Liberties ..Union are a lot more," said Tom Berkebile, Libertarian (ACLU). According to Ms. candidate for council District 6. Williamson, the ACLU also Thad Wineinger, Libertarian candidate for an considers the law unconstitu- at-large seat on council, said they decided to col- tional, and is studying the lect the signs after requests that the city do it candidates and passage of the .75 were rebuffed. per cent city income tax renewal best way to proceed against that will appear on the Sept. 9 pri- it. "We wish the ACLU suc- "We called them and told them we wanted them mary election ballot. to come out and clean 'em up, but they said they cess in its effort and we are The biggest offender by far, wouldn't," he said. "We wanted to show Toledo all confident that this law will be the candidates who want to make laws but Iwhol they said, was Louis Escobar, an overturned," Costanzo said. are breaking laws all the time." endorsed Democratic at-large Stephen Herwat, commissioner of building in- council candidate. The Liber- "At the same time," he spection, said he "did not have a conversation tarians confiscated 118 of his added, "we are saddened that signs. with the Libertarians" last week, but he said he the dominant elements of the They collected 17 signs from was happy to hear of their sign collection efforts. Vermont legislature will be the campaign of unendorsed "Whatever assistance we can get to remove il- held up to national scorn for legal signs is appreciated," he said. Democrat Fred Kutz, 16 signs from the campaign of en- their unconscionable and City ordinance prohibits political candidates dorsed Republican at-large self-serving attack on liberty from placing signs on or above public rights of candidate George Sarantou, way. Mr. Herwat is charged with enforcing the or- and 12 signs from endorsed and democracy." dinance. • Democratic at-large candidate The Libertarians collected signs promoting 19 Polly Taylor.