For Immediate Release Monday, September 15, 2008
Ending the state’s power to seize private property by forced annexation and eminent domain, improving public education through competition, restoring free, fair and open elections and cutting off corporate welfare, will be the top legislative priorities of Libertarians elected to the General Assembly.
Thirteen candidates announced the Liberty Agenda for North Carolina on Sept. 15. They are: Kira Howe (Senate 7), Brian Irving (Senate 17), David Rollins (Senate 20), Richard Evey (Senate 44), Jesse Mignogna (House 2), Sean Haugh (House 30), Barbara Howe (House 32), Susan Hogarth (House 38), Robert Richmond (House 71), T.J. Rohr (House 87), Jeffrey Ober (House 95), Lawrence Hollar (House 96), and Keith Calvelli (House 108).
“I originally ran for council because my property was involuntarily annexed and have vigorously opposed any future involuntary annexations,” said second-term Lenior City Council member Rohr. “After the U.S. Supreme Court incorrectly allowed the practice of eminent domain for purely economic development purposes, I proposed a city resolution condemning that decision and calling for an amendment to the NC Constitution abolishing such practices. The resolution passed unanimously.”
Improving public education is as much a priority for the legislative candidates, as it is for Mike Munger, Libertarian candidate for governor.
“There are many good things happening in North Carolina education,” Munger says on his Web site. “And the path to continued improvement is to foster choice.”
“We expect Governor Munger will get strong opposition from the education lobby and teacher’s unions,” said Irving. “So he’ll need all the allies in the General Assembly he can muster.”
Irving agrees with Munger that it’s fashionable to bash public education, rather than sincerely seek ways to improve it. “The problem is that anyone who proposes thinking out of the box when it comes to education is beat over the head with the supposed public school mandate in the state constitution,” states Irving.
“This selective devotion to constitutional principle is curious, since the legislature freely ignores other parts of the Constitution, including the part that says ‘all elections shall be free, fair, and open’ by restricting the right of people to vote for anyone other than Democrats and Republicans,” Irving says.
The Liberty Agenda candidates also oppose economic incentives to businesses, more properly called corporate welfare, as an immoral tax on individuals for the benefit of corporate profits. Recent news reports that the Dell computer company may sell their three-year old Winston-Salem plant, built with nearly $300 million in corporate welfare, demonstrate corporate incentives are ineffective as well as immoral, says Irving.
As proof that Libertarians will do what the say when elected, Rohr says, “I was the only local elected representative to vote against the infamous Lenoir-Google government handouts.”
“Ending property theft by government, improving education, restoring fair elections, and cutting off corporate welfare — these are just our top four issues” said Hogarth. “We will then go on to work to reduce the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and will consistently oppose increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.”
The Liberty Agenda for North Carolina
We, Libertarian candidates for North Carolina General Assembly, pledge that our priority while in office will be to put Freedom First for all the state’s citizens. This Agenda fully supports the campaign agenda of Mike Munger, Libertarian candidate for Governor of North Carolina.
1. Ending forced annexation and stopping private property seizure under the power of eminent domain by amending the state constitution.
Forced annexation and the seizure of private property for ostensible “public purpose” is a violation of the fundamental rights of all Americans. Forced annexation is not about providing services, or controlling growth. Forced annexation is about money. Communities should only be annexed with their consent. No government, at any level, should have the power to take or seize private property for any purpose, without the express consent of the owner and without just compensation..
2. Improving public education through school choice and competition.
We agree with Mike Munger, Libertarian candidate for governor, that it has become fashionable to bash public education rather than sincerely seek ways to improve it. There are many good things happening in North Carolina education, and the path to continued improvement is to foster choice.
The problem is that anyone who proposes thinking out of the box when it comes to education is beat over the head with the supposed public school mandate in the state constitution.
This selective devotion to constitutional principle is curious, since the legislature freely ignores other parts of the constitution, including the part that says ‘all elections shall be free, fair, and open’ by restricting the right of people to vote for anyone other than Democrats and Republicans.
3. Restoring free, fair and open elections to North Carolina by removing barriers to ballot access.
North Carolina has arguably the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation. These barriers are specifically designed by the Democratic-Republican duopoly to restrict the people’s freedom of choice, prevent independent and third party candidates from getting on the ballot. Elections laws also are used to restrict free speech, by limiting how much an individual can contribute to the candidate of their choice. The people should have the unregulated and unrestricted right vote for and support candidates of their choice.
4. Cutting off all corporate welfare and subsidies.
Economic incentives and subsidies, more properly called corporate welfare, are an immoral tax on individuals for the benefit of corporate profits. Recent news reports that the Dell computer company may sell their three year old Winston-Salem plant, built with nearly $300 million in corporate welfare, demonstrate that corporate incentives are ineffective as well as immoral.
Conclusion
Ending property theft by government, improving education, restoring fair elections, and cutting off corporate welfare only the beginning of the Liberty Agenda. Our goal and our pledge is to reduce the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and consistently oppose any increase in the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose.
/signed/
Kira Howe, Senate 7
Brian Irving, Senate 17
David Rollins, Senate 20
Richard Evey, Senate 44
Jesse Mignogna, House 2
Sean Haugh, House 30
Barbara Howe, House 32
Susan Hogarth, House 38
Robert Richmond, House 71
T.J. Rohr, House 87
Jeffrey Ober, House 95
Lawrence Hollar, House 96
Keith Calvelli, House 108
