Report of the National Convention
of the
Libertarian Party
3-7 July 1996 Washington, DC
I. CONVENTION OFFICIALS
Chair: Stephen Dasbach
Vice Chair: Karen Allard
Secretary: John Famularo
Treasurer: Hugh Butler
Parliamentarian: Mary Gingell
Convention Oversight Committee:
Dan Karlan, Ruth Bennet, Marsha Butler
Convention Contractor:
FEE Enterprises Ltd. (John Famularo, Don Ernsberger, Louise Ernsberger, Dave Walter)
Bylaws Committee:
Dave Bergland (Chair), Mary Gingell, John Paff, Hugh Butler, Ruth Bennett
David Aitken, Andrew B Spiegel, Steve Winter, Karen A Allard , Jackie Bradbury
Credentials Committee:
Gary Johnson (chair), Ken Sturzenacker, Mr. Daniel M. Karlan, Kevin Delaney
Louis M Stefanelli, Thea McLean, Dr. Benjamin I. Bachrach, Eric S Lund
Kevin Hagan, James Boyd
Platform Committee:
Dave Nolan (Chair)
Joseph W Dehn III Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad Jacob G (Bumper) Hornberger
Michael Tanner Jimmy Harris Cecil Bohanon
John A. Buttrick Timothy O'Brien Kathleen Jacob Richman
John Asfor(Florida), Tom Stahl (Washington), Donald Gallick (Ohio)
Henry E. Haller III (Pennsylvania) Bill Muench (Illinois)
Max Dollarhite ( Alternate Michigan), Raymond Warner (Michigan)
Mark Hinkle (California), Elizabeth Macron (New Jersey)
Jay Manifold (Texas ), Bill McMillen ( New York)
II. TIME AND PLACE
The entire convention were conducted in the Hyatt Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
The business meeting was convened at 9.00 am on Thursday, 4 July . The business meeting was adjourned at 3:53pm on Sunday, 7 July.
III. CREDENTIALS
The Credentials Committee approved all 50 delegate lists provided by the affiliate parties.
415 delegates registered
Quorum 156
Majority 208
Two Thirds 277
The committee recommended that states wishing to modify their delegations not make a motion from the floor but rather notify the committee, which will report its recommendations to the convention at the start of each session.
Delegates Quorum Majority Two Thirds
Thursday PM 468 187 234 312
Friday AM 502 201 252 335
Friday PM 517 207 259 345
Saturday AM 547 219 274 365
Saturday PM 556 223 279 371
Sunday AM 628 252 314 421
IV. Presidential Platform Submissions
The following individuals have submitted as of 9:00 am Thursday July 4, 1996, 750 copies of their campaign
platform to the secretary for distribution to the delegates:
Calvin Ruskaup
Irwin Schiff
Doug Ohmen
Harry Browne
Jeffrey Dickett
Carl Kramer
Rick Thompkins
V. Adoption of the Agenda
Dave Bergland made a motion to add to a Bylaws committee report after the Treasurers report and before the Platform committee report
Motion passed on standing vote
Convention adopted agenda as amended by voice vote.
Thursday, July 4th 1996
9:30 am Call to Order - Steve Dasbach
Credentials report
"Welcome to Washington DC" - Ernsberger,
Keynote Speaker : Jacob Hornberger
Adoption of agenda
. Retention of planks from the previous platform voting forms distribution
Treasurer's report
Bylaws Committee Report
Platform Committee Report
11:45 am Scheduled recess for noon program
"George Washington's Farewell Address" Bruce Evoy
Speeches by James Bovard and Richard Boddie, introduced by Don Gormari:
2:00 pm Business session resumes
Credentials report
Reading of the LP Program during tabulation of the Plank retention vote
Resumption of Platform Committee report
5:30 pm Scheduled recess
FRIDAY JULY 5,1996
9:30 am Business Session resumes
Credentials report
Debate on the Party Platform continues
11:30 am Scheduled recess
Nadine Strossen President of the ACLU
1:15 pm Business Session resumes
Credentials report
Final retention of platform planks
4:00 pm Scheduled recess for Presidential Candidates Debate
SATURDAY JULY 6,1996
9:30 am Business Session resumes
Credentials report
Presidential nominations and voting
Ratification of National Campaign Platform
12:00 noon Scheduled recess
12:30 pm Joseph Sobran: introduced by Bonnie Flickinger
1:30 pm Business Session resumes
Credentials report
Vice Presidential nominations and voting
Acceptance Speeches by Pres/VP nominees
5:00 pm Scheduled recess for the Awards banquet setup
SUNDAY JULY 7,1996
9:30 am Business Session resumes
Credentials report
Election of National Officers, At Large Representatives Judicial Committee
Resolutions
Other Business 3:00 pm Final Adjournment
VI. Retention of Planks.
Distribution of retention of platform planks voting forms
William McMillian moved to suspend the rules and eliminate the retention of planks vote.
Motion falied on standing vote.
VII. Treasurers Report Hugh Butler
A verbal review was given outlining the pre-funding policy currently in force, referencing published documents for financial details as of May 1996. In answer to questions from the floor Mr. Butler stated that while vendor debt may have exceeded a self imposed limit, there is no debt in violation of the bylaws. The pre-funding rules were suspended due to the necessities of the 50 state ballot access project.
A motion to suspend the rules was defeated on voice vote.
VIII. Bylaws Committee Report David Bergland
Mr Bergland moved the Bylaws committee recommendation to amend the convention rules for this convention
Mr Givot moved to:
1 add Vice-President where appropriate and
2 add the following sentence to section 1 (if the candidate achieves 35 signed pledges and is nominated under this procedure)
Motion by Mr Nolan to divide the question passed on voice vote
First half of motion to add vice president passed on voice vote.
Second half of motion to add sentence to section 1 failed on voice vote.
Main motion passed on count of the delegates
347 Aye, 82 Nay
The Delegates to this 1996 Libertarian Presidential Nominating Convention adopt the following procedure for participation in the Presidential Nomination Process under Convention Rule 9. This procedure shall apply to all persons seeking the Party's nomination for the office of President of the United States at the 1996 Convention.
1) No person's name shall be placed in nomination under Convention Rule 9 unless at least 35 delegates sign a pledge to vote for that person on the first ballot.
2) A blank pledge form suitable for this purpose and acceptable to the Secretary shall be made available to all persons seeking the nomination immediately upon the adoption of this procedure by the vote of the delegates. Candidates may duplicate the form as they may require.
3) Each person seeking the nomination shall be responsible for collecting the pledge forms supporting that person and for delivering the pledge forms to the Secretary.
4) No later than 7 p.m. July 5,1996, all pledge forms shall be delivered to the Secretary at a location specified by the Secretary. The Secretary shall announce the location for delivery of the pledge forms at the beginning of business on Friday, July 5,1996. The Secretary shall count only those pledge forms received by 7:00 pm July 9th, 1996
5) As the first order of business on Saturday, July 6,1996, the Chair shall report to the delegates the names of those persons who have qualified to be nominated as the Party's candidate for President of the United States or Vice-President of the United States.
Motion to reconsider failed on voice vote
IX. Platform Committee David Nolan
Results of the Platform Plank retention vote
All planks were retained, those getting less than 85% are as follows:
Woman rights and abortion
Children's rights
Discussion of the Platform Committee report and the following changes were adopted:
PROTECTION OF PRIVACY (I.12 - PAGE 7)
Replace 4th paragraph with:
We oppose all restrictions and regulations on the private development,
sale, and use of encryption technology. We specifically oppose any
requirement for disclosure of encryption methods or keys, including the
government's proposals for so called "key escrow",which is truly
government access to keys, and any requirement for use of
government-specified devices or protocols. We also oppose government
classification of civilian research on encryption methods.
FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY (I.1- PAGE 4)
In third sentence, replace "society routinely denying the people" with
"government denying individuals".
Passed on voice vote
TRADE BARRIERS (II.B - PAGE 13)
Replace current "Tariffs & Quotas " plank.
Like subsidies, tariffs and quotas serve only to give special treatment to favored special interests and to diminish the welfare of consumers and other individuals as do point-of origin or content regulation. These measures also reduce the scope of contracts and understanding among different peoples. We therefore support abolition of all trade barriers and all government-sponsored export-promotion programs, as well as the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Court of International Trade. We affirm this as a unilateral policy, independent of the trade policies of other nations. Concurrent with the adoption of this policy shall be the complete and unilateral withdrawal from all international trade agreements including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Passed on voice vote
SEXUAL RIGHTS - NEW PLANK
We affirm the right of adults to private choice in consensual sexual activity.
Government must neither dictate, prohibit, control, nor encourage any private lifestyle, living arrangement or contractual relationship.
We call for repeal of all legislation and government policies intended to condemn, affirm, encourage or discourage sexual lifestyles or any set of attitudes about such lifestyles.
Passed on voice vote
THE WAR ON DRUGS (I.23 - page 10)
Move plank on The war on Drugs from #23 to #4 in the section on Individual Rights & Civil Order.
Renumber current planks 4-22 accordingly.
Passed on voice vote.
THE RIGHT TO PROPERTY (I .l 1- PAGE 6)
Add the following sentence to the end of the third paragraph:
We specifically condemn all government interference in the operation of private businesses, such as restaurants and airlines, by either requiring or prohibiting designated smoking or non-smoking areas for their employees or their customers.
Passed on voice vote
HEALTH CARE (III.8)
In 4th paragraph, after second sentence add:
Until such time as the tyrannical and futile drug prohibition is repealed, we advocate immediate reclassification of all drugs, particularly marijuana and heroin, to make them available for medicinal use.
Rest of paragraph becomes new 5th paragraph.
The phrase "by prescription" was removed from the original amendment after a role call vote Aye 220, Nay 197
The final amendment was passed on voice vote.
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION & GOVERNMENT DISCRIMINATION (I.18-page 8)
Change title as indicated above.
Individual rights should not be denied, abridged, or enhanced at the expense of other people's rights, on the basis of sex, wealth, race, color, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation by the laws at any level of government. Protective labor laws, Selective Service laws, and other laws that violate rights selectively should be repealed entirely rather than be extended to all groups.
Discrimination imposed by the government has brought disruption in normal relationships of people, set neighbor against neighbor, created gross injustices, destroyed voluntary communities, and diminished human potential. Anti-discrimination laws enforced by the government are the reverse side of the coin, and will for the same reasons create the same problems. Consequently, we oppose any government attempts to regulate private discrimination, including choices and preferences, in employment, housing, and privately owned businesses. The right to trade includes the right not to trade -- for any reasons whatsoever; the right of association includes the right not to associate, for exercise of the right depends upon mutual consent.
Passed on voice vote.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS (I.21- page 9) -
After debate and motions to amend the platform committee's amendment was defeated and a vote to delete the existing plank entirely was passed on a recorded vote of: 264 aye and 163 nay.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ABORTION (I.19 - page 9)
Replace 2nd and 3rd paragraphs with:
Recognizing that abortion is a very sensitive issue and that libertarians can hold good-faith views on both sides, we believe the government should be kept entirely out of the question, allowing all individuals to be guided by their own consciences. We oppose all restrictions on the sale of RU486, and on the sale of menstruation-inducing contragestive pills, which block fertilized eggs from attaching themselves to the womb. We oppose legislation restricting or subsidizing women's access to abortion or other reproductive health services; this includes requiring consent of the prospective father, waiting periods, and mandatory indoctrination on fetal development, as well as Medicaid or any other taxpayer funding. It is particularly harsh to force someone who believes that abortion is murder to pay for another's abortion.
We also condemn state-mandated abortions.
It is the right and obligation of the pregnant woman, not the state, to decide the desirability or appropriateness of prenatal testing, Caesarean births, fetal surgery, voluntary surrogacy arrangements, and/or home births.
Passed on voice vote
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES - PAGE 2
Amend the Statement of Principles, by striking out wording as indicated, and adding the phrase "and liberties" where indicated.
We the members of the Libertarian Party, defend the rights and liberties of the individual.
We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives...
Failed to get 7/8ths of all registered delegates
X. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS
The Secretary indicated that the following individuals met the 35 signature requirement imposed by the modifications to convention rule 9 passed earlier.
Irwin Schiff
Rick Thompkins
Harry Browne
Doug Ohmen
Mike Ginsberg nominated Irwin Schiff, with Norma Seigel seconding
George O'Brien nominated Rick Thompkins with John Buttrick seconding
Michael Cloud nominated Harry Browne with Ed Clark, Dave Bergland seconding
Doug Ohmen nominated by Terry Savage with Marion McQuen, Grant Hansen seconding.
Voting results as follows:
ST NAME DEL96 SCHIFF BROWNE OHMEN THOMPKINS NOTA
AK Alaska 3 0 1 0 1 1
AL Alabama 6 0 5 0 1 0
AR Arkansas 3 0 0 0 18 1
AZ Arizona 17 0 55 0 4 0
CA California 112 2 18 15 1 7
CO Colorado 22 0 7 0 0 2
CT Connecticut 9 0 4 0 0 0
DC Dist. of Columbia 5 1 0 0 2 0
DE Delaware 3 0 21 0 0 1
FL Florida 28 0 11 0 0 2
GA Georgia 16 0 3 0 0 1
HI Hawaii 3 0 0 0 0 0
IA Iowa 5 0 0 0 0 0
ID Idaho 3 0 0 0 0 0
IL Illinois 25 3 17 0 4 0
IN Indiana 13 0 15 0 0 0
KS Kansas 7 1 3 1 0 1
KY Kentucky 6 0 6 0 0 0
LA Louisiana 5 1 2 0 0 0
MA Massachusetts 18 0 10 0 0 1
MD Maryland 19 1 6 0 4 8
ME Maine 6 0 4 0 1 1
MI Michigan 35 0 27 0 1 7
MN Minnesota 12 0 11 0 0 1
MO Missouri 11 0 6 0 2 1
MS Mississippi 3 0 3 0 0 0
MT Montana 2 0 0 0 0 0
NC North Carolina 12 2 8 0 2 0
ND North Dakota 1 0 0 0 1 0
NE Nebraska 3 0 2 0 0 0
NH New Hampshire 12 4 7 0 0 2
NJ New Jersey 25 4 15 1 4 2
NM New Mexico 6 0 5 0 0 0
NV Nevada 8 2 6 0 0 0
NY New York 29 4 16 0 5 4
OH Ohio 23 3 16 0 0 4
OK Oklahoma 4 0 1 0 2 1
OR Oregon 9 0 8 0 0 1
PA Pennsylvania 48 1 29 2 8 6
RI Rhode Island 2 0 1 0 1 0
SC South Carolina 7 1 3 0 2 0
SD South Dakota 2 0 2 0 0 0
TN Tennessee 10 1 9 0 0 0
TX Texas 38 0 14 0 4 4
UT Utah 5 0 6 0 0 0
VA Virginia 20 0 14 1 2 0
VT Vermont 2 0 2 0 0 0
WA Washington 25 0 4 0 2 0
WI Wisconsin 12 1 10 0 0 1
WV West Virginia 4 0 3 0 1 0
WY Wyoming 2 0 0 0 1 0
Total 0 32 416 20 74 60
Write in votes:
Jo Jorgensen 1
Jeff Dickert 1
Non Voting 1
Totals:
Douglas Ohmen 20
Irwin Schiff 32
Nota 60
Rick Thompkins 74
Harry Browne 416
XI. Presidential Platform
PREAMBLE
Government doesn't work. It can't deliver the mail on time, it doesn't keep our cities safe, it doesn't educate our children.
Government programs have failed. Government reforms have failed. Democratic and Republican politicians have failed. Government doesn't work.
Still, whatever the issue, Republican and Democratic politicians propose more government as the answer -- even when, as is usually the case, it is government that has caused the problem.
Libertarians stand for individual liberty, self-responsibility, and freedom from government -- on all issues at all times. If there's a problem, our first question is not, "How can government solve this problem," but "What government program must be eliminated to improve this situation?" We are the only party dedicated to dramatically reducing government -- and doing it now, not in some pie-in-the-sky future year.
We are the only party that recognizes that the federal government has expanded far beyond the small, limited government envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
We are the only party that believes the Bill of Rights is an absolute document, to be taken literally. Government has no right to violate the Bill of Rights in any circumstance.
This means:
You, and every other person, have the right to speak and write freely -- on paper, on the airwaves, on the Internet -- even if the government and the politicians don't like what you say.
You have the right to keep and bear arms -- even if some lunatic shoots up a restaurant in Texas.
You have a right to be safe from unreasonable search and seizure -- even if a DEA agent thinks you fit his profile of a drug dealer.
You have a right to financial privacy -- even if an IRS agent demands to know everything about you.
You have a right to the full use of your own property -- even if some bureaucrat wants to declare your backyard a wetlands.
Because politicians have long disregarded the limitations of the Constitution, the federal government has exploded in size. It is intrusive, oppressive, and obscenely expensive. And we the people suffer from all its failed programs.
Government doesn't work. Its War on Poverty has expanded poverty. Its War on Drugs has created a huge, illicit drug industry, escalated drug use, and generated a crime wave in every American city.
Still, politicians of both old political parties insist that the next government program will work, will pay for itself, will improve America, will solve some social problem.
But government doesn't work.
THE LIBERTARIAN DIFFERENCE
The overriding question in this Presidential election is: How can we make the federal government much smaller?
Democratic and Republican politicians try to pose as supporters of smaller government. But on issue after issue, they still call on government to solve problems.
The differences among them are trivial. But the differences between their positions and those of Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, are as night and day.
Passed on voice vote
1. Reducing Government
Democratic and Republican politicians are both responsible for the over bloated $1.6 trillion federal government. Republican Presidents and Republican Congresses, Democratic Presidents and Democratic Congresses have all served to make government bigger and bigger and bigger.
With the exception of the retrenchment period after World War II, every President -- Republican or Democrat -- since Calvin Coolidge has left a government that's bigger than the one he inherited. We have to stop this trend.
Today, with the American public overwhelmingly anti-politician and anti-government, politicians of both parties try to convince us that they, too, are for "smaller government," "lower taxes," "less regulation." But the specific proposals they make will all lead to bigger government.
Democratic politicians play games by "reinventing government," even though every reform they propose makes government bigger and more expensive.
Republican politicians play games by proposing to close down Departments of the federal government, even though they intend to transfer the functions and expenses of those Departments to other agencies -- leaving government just as big as ever.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, says government doesn't work -- and he wants to remove the federal government immediately and completely from every activity not specified in the Constitution -- education, energy, regulation, crime control, welfare, housing, transportation, health care, agriculture, and all the other areas the federal government has stuck its nose into unconstitutionally over the past 60 years.
Passed on voice vote
2. The Income Tax
The enormous tax increases of 1982, 1983, 1990, and 1993 show that neither of the old parties stands for lower taxes. Republican and Democratic politicians alike are quite willing to raise your taxes anytime, on any pretext.
Today they try to convince us that they have changed, that "We are all low-taxers now." But their proposals would only rearrange the existing tax burden. Because they have no concrete plans to reduce government significantly, there is no way they can lower your taxes significantly.
The income tax is the biggest government intrusion into the lives of the American people. It forces every worker to be a bookkeeper, to open his records to the government, to explain his expenses, to fear conviction for a harmless accounting error. Compliance wastes hundreds of billions of dollars. The income tax penalizes savings and creates an enormous drag on the U.S. economy. It is incompatible with a free society.
We must get rid of hundreds of federal programs, but we can't remove them one at a time, because each program has beneficiaries and supporters who will fight us. We can overcome their resistance only by combining all the spending cuts into a single package that includes the largest tax cut in American history -- the total repeal of the federal income tax. That way most people can see that they'll save far more in taxes than they lose in subsidies.
By combining the reduction of government with the repeal of the income tax, every voter will know that the price of keeping today's federal programs is to continue paying the income tax. Every voter will know exactly how much he can gain by eliminating the complete package of unconstitutional programs.
But this isn't what politicians of the two old parties want. They like the power that comes from controlling your income.
Democratic politicians like a progressive income tax that's based on the "ability to pay" -- meaning that those who have earned the most by doing the most for others should be penalized the most. But their "progressive" tax rates somehow always hit middle-class Americans the hardest.
Republican politicians pretend to be helping us by proposing to end the current version of the income tax, and replace it with a giant sales tax -- or with a "flat tax" that contains so many wrinkles, it's actually just another progressive tax. But because they aren't reducing government, they are merely rearranging the same oppressive tax burden.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, wants to end the income tax and abolish the IRS his first year in office and replace them with nothing. By reducing the federal government to its Constitutional functions, we can do away with all direct taxes -- the income, estate, gift, capital gains, and Social Security taxes -- financing national defense and the federal judiciary with the level of tariffs and excise taxes being collected already. Harry Browne makes this offer to every American: Would you give up all your favorite federal programs -- such things as farm subsidies, student loans, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and any other programs -- in order to be free of the income tax forever?1
Passed on voice vote
3. Social Security
Social Security is a fraudulent insurance scheme in which the government collects money from you for your retirement and immediately spends the money on something else. All polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans have little hope of getting back a single dollar for the 15% of their wages they're pouring into it.
Democratic politicians deny what every working American knows: The Social Security system is bankrupt and close to collapse.
Republican politicians want to keep Social Security afloat through tax increases and benefit reductions -- including raising the retirement age, invoking a means test, and changing the cost of living index on which yearly changes are calculated.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, knows the only way to avoid the coming Social Security collapse is to get the government completely out of Social Security. He wants to sell trillions of dollars worth of unneeded federal assets to finance the liquidation of Social Security through the purchase of private retirement annuities for the senior citizens who are dependent on Social Security. These people will have guaranteed contracts with private companies who have never broken their promises -- unlike the U.S. Congress. And you will never again have to pay the 15% Social Security tax -- which is really just throwing part of your wages down a rathole.
Passed on voice vote
4. Government Spending
In their Alice-in-Wonderland world, when politicians talk about smaller government, they don't mean a government that is actually smaller. They mean a government that is smaller than some hypothetical government that is much larger than today's government. In other words, to a politician, "smaller government" means government that doesn't grow as fast he wants.
Democratic politicians want a "smaller government" that continues to grow by 4% a year.
Republican politicians want a "smaller government" that continues to grow by 3% a year.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, knows that government doesn't work. He doesn't just want to stop government growth -- he proposes slashing the federal budget 50% the first year as a first step.
Passed on voice vote
5. Balanced Budget
An unbalanced budget isn't just a bookkeeping curiosity. Every debt incurred on your behalf by the politicians means you have to pay a larger interest cost every year. Today we are paying $275 billion a year in interest expense, which means we are continuing to pay for long-since-abandoned, long-forgotten schemes by the politicians of yesteryear -- schemes that were going to make health care more affordable, that were going to improve education, that were going to clean up the environment. The schemes failed, the politicians retired with generous pensions, and we are left paying the interest expense year after year after year.
We must get rid of that interest expense by retiring the entire federal debt. But first, we must put a stop to the growing debt by balancing the budget immediately.
Republican politicians want to increase federal spending for seven more years, pretending that a future Congress will balance the budget by making spending cuts the current Congress is unwilling to make.
Democratic politicians want to increase federal spending for seven more years, pretending that a future Congress will balance the budget by making spending cuts the current Congress is unwilling to make.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, plans to balance the budget his first year in office by reducing government spending. He also plans to sell off federal assets -- and use the proceeds to pay off the federal debt entirely.
Passed on voice vote
6. Welfare
Prior to the 1960s, the word "welfare" was rarely used in conversation. Instead, people spoke of "charity" -- administered by churches, service clubs, foundations, the United Way, and other agencies. "Welfare" was a small department in the back of City Hall somewhere. The notion that someone could be permanently on the dole was virtually unheard of.
Today millions of Americans have been consigned to a lifetime of poverty, dependency, disrespect, and hopelessness as permanent wards of the state. The welfare laws, tax laws, minimum wage laws, and other regulations discourage them from leaving welfare to become self-supporting citizens. This is what the American people have received for the trillions of their dollars the politicians have wasted on a bizarre plan to have government do away with poverty.
Democratic politicians have various plans to "reform" welfare, even though every previous welfare reform bill has increased the cost and the number of people on welfare.
Republican politicians want to send federal welfare money to the state governments, tied up in a multitude of strings.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, knows that federal welfare doesn't work. It has consigned millions of Americans to a life of dependency and despair, and it has cost us trillions of dollars. He wants to end it completely and immediately.
Passed on voice vote
7. Education
There is no Constitutional authority for the federal government to be involved in education in any way whatsoever. The growing amounts of money and control coming from Washington have been matched by lower SAT scores, declining standards, more dangerous schools, and generations of Americans who have no basic education in history, geography, the Constitution, mathematics, science, or literature.
This doesn't bother the politicians, however, because they don't see federal aid to education as a means of raising literacy and knowledge.
Democratic politicians want to use federal aid to education as a way to implement their social agenda.
Republican politicians want to use federal aid to education as a way to implement their social agenda.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, knows that no federal educational program will work, and he wants to get the federal government out of education completely and immediately. The most effective way we can improve education in America is to repeal the income tax, so that you can afford to educate your child your way -- in a private school that offers the curriculum you want, in a religious school that teaches the values in which you believe, or through home-schooling conducted your way.
Passed on voice vote
8. Crime & the War on Drugs
Before there were drug laws in America, there were no drug problems. And prior to the federal government's declaration of War on Drugs in the 1960s, there were no muggers on the street trying to support a $100-a-day habit, no pushers on high school campuses trying to hook children on drugs, no gangs fighting over monopoly drug territories, no drive-by shootings, no crack babies, no overdose problems. Outside of the 14 years during alcohol Prohibition, nothing like this had ever been seen in America. It took the War on Drugs to make it happen.
Democratic politicians like the War on Drugs just as it is -- because they love the power it gives the federal government.
Republican politicians want to accelerate the War on Drugs -- by taking away more of your Constitutional liberties, by taking away more of your privacy, by turning America into more of a police state.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, says the War on Drugs is a total failure. Government can't keep drugs out of the country; it can't even keep drugs out of its own prisons. He wants to end the insane War on Drugs -- which will take the criminal profit out of the illicit drug trade and bring peace to our cities once again. On his first day in office, he will pardon everyone who has been convicted of a non-violent federal drug offense -- to empty the federal prisons of the marijuana smokers and others who are no threat to society, and make room for the truly violent criminals and other thugs who escape prison through early releases and plea bargains to return to the streets and terrorize our citizens.
Passed on voice vote
9. Health Care
Today 51% of all health care dollars in America are spent by government. This has run up the prices of doctor visits, hospital stays, and health insurance -- far outpacing the rate of general inflation. Government has failed utterly to make health care more accessible or affordable. But the politicians see this failure as an excuse to impose even more government upon us.
Democratic politicians want to remake the American health-care system in the image of the disastrous European systems, attempting to blame government's failures on the free market.
Republican politicians pass legislation that will regulate the private health insurance companies out of business, and will lead to the imposition of a "single-payer," Canadian-style health system in America.2
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, says government health care doesn't work and he wants to get government out from between you and your doctor. By getting the federal government completely out of health care, we will have more choices, better health care, and lower prices for doctor visits, hospital stays, and health insurance.
Passed on voice vote
10. The Federal Judiciary
The American judiciary was supposed to protect the American people from politicians and bureaucrats who wanted to overstep the bounds of the Constitution. Instead, the judiciary has been a main part of the trashing of the Constitution. Judges talk about "penumbras" in the Constitution. They say the Constitution is a living, changing document (which really means that it's a dead, meaningless document). They throw out the Bill of Rights on the grounds that the government has a "compelling interest" in overruling it.
Either the Constitution limits the government or it doesn't.
Democratic politicians want the President to appoint judges who will use the law to implement their social agenda.
Republican politicians want the President to appoint judges who will use the law to implement their social agenda.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, will appoint only judges who consider the Bill of Rights to be a literal, absolute document that allows no exceptions to your right to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom to keep and bear arms, freedom to be secure in your property, safe from search and seizure. He will appoint only judges who take the 9th and 10th amendments seriously, and thus will not tolerate the federal government involving itself in activities not authorized by the Constitution.
Passed on voice vote
11. Personal Values
The Constitution gives the federal government no authority to tell us how to live our lives. However, the politicians will not be restrained. They want to govern every aspect of our existence.
Both Democratic and Republican politicians believe that Americans are dysfunctional children who need government to act as their parents. They both seek to impose their values in the most intimate personal and family relationships and admit to no limits on their authority to do so.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, respects the right of all Americans to choose and act on their own personal values, to work together in their families and communities to achieve the goals they set for themselves. Americans throughout their history have proven their ability to solve problems their own way, without government interference.
Passed on voice vote
12. Immigration
At one time, America attracted only those from around the world who were seeking freedom -- freedom from oppressive governments, freedom to build a future for their families through hard work. Today, America attracts too many people who come here only to take advantage of government welfare benefits.
Republican politicians want to solve this problem -- created by government -- by putting another layer of government on top of it. They want to keep out the productive people along with the free-loaders, they want to build a wall or a ditch along our borders, and they want to beef up the military to patrol the borders.
Democratic politicians don't know what they believe on this issue, because the polls aren't conclusive yet.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, wants to dismantle the welfare state -- which will automatically solve our immigration problems. Once there is no more gravy train, the only people who will want to come here will be those who want the freedom to work and to build a better life for their families.
Passed on voice vote
13. National Defense & Foreign Policy
Our government has spent trillions of dollars on the military since World War II, and yet we are completely vulnerable to the whims of any two-bit dictator who can get his hands on a nuclear missile. And by involving ourselves in a multitude of treaties around the world, we are liable to be drawn into World War III by a petty dispute between third-rate powers.
Republican politicians believe we must defend our "national interests" by roaming the world in search of trouble. And, somehow, almost anything that happens anywhere is cited as a threat to those national interests. Consequently, the Republicans keep us on the brink of trouble at all times.
Democratic politicians don't have a clear-cut attitude toward foreign policy. But to prove they're as tough as the Republicans, they put our money and lives on the line in the affairs of other countries all over the world.
Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate, will bring American troops home to America at once. He will remove us from the entangling alliances that Thomas Jefferson warned us against. He will see to it that America has a proper defense against any missile attack, so that we will no longer need retaliatory weapons and intimidating military power. We will be far safer than we are now, while spending far less money on the military.
Passed on voice vote
DON'T WASTE YOUR VOTE THIS YEAR
The overriding issue this election year is smaller government.
And on that issue, there is no real difference between the two old parties -- no difference that could effect a real improvement in your life now.
Only the Libertarians offer specific, workable, credible proposals to dramatically reduce the size, cost, and intrusiveness of government.
For years, you may have wasted your vote -- giving it to candidates who have served to make government bigger and bigger. Don't waste your vote again by giving it to candidates like Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, whose entire careers have been devoted to making Big Government bigger.
It's time to make your vote count for a change -- time to vote for someone who is determined to make government much smaller now.
If you cast your vote wisely, you can make a difference. But if you don't vote for what you want, you are throwing your vote away. I f you want huge tax cuts now, vote for them now.
If you want huge spending cuts now, vote for them now.
If you want a balanced budget now, vote for it now.
In other words, if you want much smaller government now, vote for Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate for President.
Stop voting against what you're afraid of, and start voting for what you want.
Vote for the only candidate who has the will and determination to immediately reduce government to a fraction of its size today.
Vote to take back your freedom, to take back your life. Vote to end the income tax and abolish the IRS. Vote to keep your earnings in your hands -- to spend, to save, to give away as you see fit.
Vote to affirm your support for the small and limited Constitutional Government given to us by the Founding Fathers. This year, vote for: Harry Browne for President
Libertarians for Congress and the Senate
Libertarians in state and local races.
This year, don't waste your vote.
Vote Libertarian.
XII. VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
Jo Jorgensen nominated by Don Ernsberger seconded by Nancy Lord, Dave Nolan
Steve Givot moved to suspend the rules and move to a voice vote
Motion passed on voice vote
Jo Jorgensen nominated by voice vote
A counted vote was requested
Jo Jorgensen 459
NOTA 36
XII Nominations for Chairman
Gene Cisewski nominated by Bonnie Flickinger
seconded by Jesse Markowitz, Don Gorman
Steve Dasbach nominated by David Bergland,
Seconded Linda Comstock, John Brown
Dean Ahmad nominated NOTA, seconded by Jim Ray, Ernie Hancock
Vote was recorded by State
Motion to suspend the rules and have the secretary read the votes passed on voice vote
ST NAME D96 XO PV TOT DASBACH CISEWSKI NOTA TURNEY LLOYD
AK Alaska 3 1 4 1 3 0 0 0
AL Alabama 6 6 6 0 0 0 0
AR Arkansas 3 3 1 0 0 0 0
AZ Arizona 17 1 18 0 4 11 0 0
CA California 112 4 116 41 20 3 3 1
CO Colorado 22 1 23 16 0 0 0 0
CT Connecticut 9 9 7 0 0 0 0
DC Dist. of Columbia 5 5 0 4 0 0 1
DE Delaware 3 3 2 0 0 0 0
FL Florida 28 1 21 15 0 2 0 0
GA Georgia 16 2 18 5 0 0 0 0
HI Hawaii 3 3 2 0 1 0 0
IA Iowa 5 5 0 0 0 0 0
ID Idaho 3 3 0 0 0 0 0
IL Illinois 25 25 6 15 0 0 0
IN Indiana 13 2 15 12 0 0 0 2
KS Kansas 7 7 4 0 0 0 0
KY Kentucky 6 6 4 1 0 0 0
LA Louisiana 5 5 2 1 1 0 0
MA Massachusetts 18 18 1 8 1 0 0
MD Maryland 19 19 0 17 2 0 0
ME Maine 6 6 3 0 0 0 0
MI Michigan 35 35 27 6 2 0 0
MN Minnesota 12 12 6 1 1 0 0
MO Missouri 11 11 3 6 0 0 0
MS Mississippi 3 3 0 3 0 0 0
MT Montana 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
NE Nebraska 3 3 0 0 0 0 0
NH New Hampshire 12 1 1 14 10 1 0 0 0
NJ New Jersey 25 1 26 10 11 5 0 0
NM New Mexico 6 6 2 1 0 0 0
NV Nevada 8 1 9 8 0 0 0 0
NY New York 29 1 30 8 10 7 0 0
NC North Carolina 12 12 12 0 0 0 0
ND North Dakota 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
OH Ohio 23 23 16 0 0 0 0
OK Oklahoma 4 4 2 0 0 0 0
OR Oregon 9 1 10 7 1 2 0 0
PA Pennsylvania 48 2 50 5 38 5 0 0
RI Rhode Island 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
SC South Carolina 7 7 1 0 0 0 0
SD South Dakota 2 2 2 1 0 0 0
TN Tennessee 10 10 8 0 1 0 0
TX Texas 38 2 40 13 4 0 0 0
UT Utah 5 1 6 4 0 0 1 0
VA Virginia 20 20 11 7 1 0 0
VT Vermont 2 2 2 0 0 0 0
WA Washington 25 1 26 6 1 0 0 0
WI Wisconsin 12 12 0 12 0 0 0
WV West Virginia 4 4 4 0 0 0 0
WY Wyoming 2 2 1 0 0 0 0
Total 706 21 3 730 296 177 45 4 4
XIII Nominations for Vice-Chair
Karen Allard nominated from floor
Motion to suspend rules for a voice vote passed on voice vote
Karen Allard elected by voice vote
XIV Nominations for Secretary
Gary Johnson nominated from the floor
Motion to suspend rules for a voice vote passed on voice vote
Gary Johnson elected by voice vote
XV Nominations for Treasurer
Hugh Butler nominated from the floor
Standing vote requested
Hugh Butler elected by standing vote
XVI Nominations for At-Large LNC Representatives
The following individuals were nominated from the floor:
Steve Winter
Gary Fincher
Ron Crickenberger
Sharon Ayres
Steve Givot
Bill Hall
ST NAME D96 XO PV TOT SW GF RC SA SG BH NOTA
AK Alaska 3 1 4
AL Alabama 6 6 4 4 3 4 4 1
AR Arkansas 3 3 1 1 1 1 1
AZ Arizona 17 1 18 1 1 2 1 2
CA California 112 4 116 41 19 49 39 36 52
CO Colorado 22 1 23 9 8 8 5 8 1
CT Connecticut 9 9 6 4 6 5 5 2
DC Dist. of Columbia 5 5 5 1 5 1 1 4
DE Delaware 3 3 1 1 1
FL Florida 28 1 29 12 1 11 12 11 12 1
GA Georgia 16 2 18 4 4 4 4 4
HI Hawaii 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
IA Iowa 5 5
ID Idaho 3 3
IL Illinois 25 25 15 10 13 6 10 17 1
IN Indiana 13 2 15 11 1 13 12 12 13
KS Kansas 7 7 5 6 5 5 4 2
KY Kentucky 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 1
LA Louisiana 5 5 3 3 3 3 3
MA Massachusetts 18 18 4 4 4 2 4
MD Maryland 19 19 11 15 1 12 16 12
ME Maine 6 6 3 2 3 2 2 2
MI Michigan 35 35 11 3 21 15 9 28
MN Minnesota 12 12 5 1 4 5 5 5
MO Missouri 11 11 6 6 4 5 4 3
MS Mississippi 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
MT Montana 2 2
NE Nebraska 3 3
NH New Hampshire 12 1 1 14 10 3 1
NJ New Jersey 25 1 26 14 4 11 8 7 14
NM New Mexico 6 6 8 8 8 8 7
NV Nevada 8 1 9
NY New York 29 1 30 14 5 12 6 7 11 3
NC North Carolina 12 12 12 9 12 7 11 9
ND North Dakota 1 1
OH Ohio 23 23 7 3 10 9 8 10
OK Oklahoma 4 4 2 2 2 1 1 2
OR Oregon 9 1 10 6 7 7 4 4 4
PA Pennsylvania 48 2 50 12 4 18 8 12 22 3
RI Rhode Island 2 2
SC South Carolina 7 7 1 1 1 1
SD South Dakota 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2
TN Tennessee 10 10 5 5 5 5 5
TX Texas 38 2 40 10 6 15 12 11 14
UT Utah 5 1 6 5 5 5 5 5
VA Virginia 20 20 15 3 16 10 14 16 6
VT Vermont 2 2 2 2 1 1 2
WA Washington 25 1 26 6 2 6 7 6 1
WI Wisconsin 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
WV West Virginia 4 4 4 3 4 1 4 4
WY Wyoming 2 2 1 1 1 1
706 21 3 730 316 96 333 238 250 346 54
Vote totals: Steve Winter 316 elected
Gary Fincher 096
Ron Crickenberger 333 elected
Sharon Ayres 230 elected
Steve Givot 250 elected
Bill Hall 346 elected
Write ins Ken Prazak 1,
Natalie Lloyd 1
Jackie Bradbury 1
XVII Regions and Representatives
Region 1 CA, OR, WA, HI
Representatives:
Joe Dehn, Paul Smith
Alternates:
Scott Lieberman, Terry Savage
Region 2 MD, DC, VA, WV, CO, UT, NV, MT, WY, ID
Representative:
Chris Gardinier
Alternate:
Bennet Rutledge
Region 3 MI, IN, OH, KY
Representative:
Ken Bisson
Alternate:
Donald Gallick
Region 4 NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, TN
Representative:
Candy Copas
Alternate:
Gary Illardi
Region 5 PA, NJ, DE
Representative:
Tim Moir
Alternate:
Dan Karlan
Region 6 NY, RI, CT, NH, VT, ME, MA
Representative:
Mark Tunewitz
Alternate:
Joe Brennen
Region 7 KS, NE, ND, SD, IA, MN, MO, IL, WI
Representative:
Bob Franke
Alternate:
Mike Ginsberg
Region 8 AZ, NM, LA, TX, OK, AR
Representative:
Geoff Neale
Alternate:
Lynn Atherton
XVIII Nominations for Judicial Committee
The following were nominated from the floor:
Steve Linnbary
Wayne Dougherty
William McMillen
Ed Clark
Steve Dillon
Dave Nolan
Bruce Lagasse
Jackie Bradbury
Bruce Baechler
ST NAME D96 XO PV TOT SL WD WM EC DN BL SD JB BB
AK Alaska 3 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
AL Alabama 6 6
AR Arkansas 3 3
AZ Arizona 17 1 18 2 1 2 1 1 1 2
CA California 112 4 116 1 2 6 14 14 17 6 8 7
CO Colorado 22 1 23 3 6 6 2 3 6 4
CT Connecticut 9 9
DC Dist. of Columbia 5 5 3 1 4 1 2 3 4 1 4
DE Delaware 3 3 1 1 1 1
FL Florida 28 1 29 4 4 6 5 5 1 5 5 3
GA Georgia 16 2 18 3 4 2 2 4
HI Hawaii 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
IA Iowa 5 5
ID Idaho 3 3
IL Illinois 25 25 1 2 2 2 3 9
IN Indiana 13 2 15 1 9 3
KS Kansas 7 7 2 2 3 5 3 2 4 3 2
KY Kentucky 6 6 2
LA Louisiana 5 5
MA Massachusetts 18 18 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
MD Maryland 19 19 17 12 1 10 3 15 15
ME Maine 6 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
MI Michigan 35 35 7 2 1 13 15 4 14 9
MN Minnesota 12 12 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1
MO Missouri 11 11 3 3 5 5 1 5 4
MS Mississippi 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
MT Montana 2 2
NE Nebraska 3 3
NH New Hampshire 12 1 1 14 1 1 1 1 1
NJ New Jersey 25 1 26 1 1 2 3 3 2 3 1
NM New Mexico 6 6
NV Nevada 8 1 9 3 3 1 2
NY New York 29 1 30 6 3 14 4 1 1 2 3 11
NC North Carolina 12 12 4 4 4 5 5 4 3 5
ND North Dakota 1 1
OH Ohio 23 23 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
OK Oklahoma 4 4 1 3 3 3 1 1 2
OR Oregon 9 1 10 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
PA Pennsylvania 48 2 50 1 1 2 2 2 1 1
RI Rhode Island 2 2
SC South Carolina 7 7
SD South Dakota 2 2
TN Tennessee 10 10
TX Texas 38 2 40 2 2 12 12 10 4 4 6 13
UT Utah 5 1 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
VA Virginia 20 20 2 1 3 8 8 2 4 7 4
VT Vermont 2 2
WA Washington 25 1 26 5 4 4 2 2 3
WI Wisconsin 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
WV West Virginia 4 4
WY Wyoming 2 2
Totals 706 21 3 730 46 48 115 133 128 75 77 127 125
Totals by Candidate
Ed Clark 133 elected
Dave Nolan 128 elected
Jackie Bradbury 127 elected
Bruce Baechler 125 elected
William McMillen 115 elected
Steve Dillon 77 elected
Bruce Lagasse 75 elected
Wayne Dougherty 48
Steve Linnabary 46
Nota 12
Bill White 1
Convention Adjourned.
Submitted by John D. Famularo, Secretary
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