Date: January 28th 2009

Lone Star Liberty newsletter:
the monthly newsletter of the Libertarian Party of Texas, www.LPTexas.org

February 2009
Over 2390 subscribers

Please donate at http://lptexas.org/membership.shtml

1. STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
2. OPPOSE STATE SMOKING BAN
3. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE 2ND AMENDMENT BOOK BOMB
4. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE TESTIFIES ON ERIC HOLDER
5. DFW LIBERTARIANS PARTY UP/DOWN
6. RON PAUL'S TEXAS LIBERTY CONVENTION
7. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
8. SCHEDULE OF IMPORTANT DATES

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1. STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

The Libertarian Party of Texas has posted its 2009 state legislative agenda at http://lptexas.org/docs/LegAgenda2009.pdf. State Chair Pat Dixon will be involved in working to defend liberty in this upcoming state legislative session. Volunteers will be encouraged to contact their state representatives and state senators in support of this effort.

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2. OPPOSE STATE SMOKING BAN

On January 10 the State Committee of the Libertarian Party of Texas (SLECT) approved two resolutions stating their opposition to a statewide smoking ban in Texas. The resolutions read:
"The Libertarian Party of Texas supports the rights of all property owners and only those owners to determine whether or not to allow smoking on their property."
"The Libertarian Party of Texas opposes proposed legislation for a statewide smoking ban on private property."

The bills filed to impose a statewide smoking ban in Texas in the current legislative session are:
House Bill 5, authored by Representative Myra Crownover, Republican-Denton
Senate Bill 544, authored by Senator Rodney Ellis, Democrat-Houston

A rally will be held at the state capital on Thursday Jan 29 beginning at 11:00 at the offices of Americans for Prosperity at 807 Brazos Street, Ste. 210 in Austin. Additional details at located at:
http://www.meetup.com/ronpaulaustin/calendar/9622499/
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=47209463806&ref=mf

The state party issued the following press release:

Libertarians Vow to Fight Smoking Ban on Private Property

Ban Violates Property Rights, Hurts Job Opportunities

AUSTIN - January 26, 2009 - The Libertarian Party of Texas has unveiled its legislative agenda for the 2009 session. Part of that agenda includes a vow to fight the smoking ban on private property.  

"Only the Libertarian Party truly understands the concept of private property rights," explained LPT Chair Patrick Dixon, "Public property is owned by the federal, state, or local government.  Private property is owned by an individual or business."

"Many people confuse the term public place with public property," notes LPT Executive Director Robert Butler. "A shopping mall or a restaurant are privately owned businesses, and the owner should decide what legal activities may be performed on his own property."

Libertarians do not contest the possible health effects of exposure to cigarette smoke. Many restaurants and bars have already banned smoking at the request of their customers.  

"I take my children to restaurants like McDonald's who have voluntarily banned smoking for the well-being of their customers and employees," stated Butler. "Customers can vote with their feet when they don't like a business.  Smart business owners will make the right decision about banning smoke on their property."
 
According to Radley Balko of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, "Smoking bans mean fewer tips, lower wages and fewer jobs for workers. Given the choice between enduring secondhand smoke on the job and having no job at all, many cooks, bartenders and waitresses would prefer the former."

LPT Chair Patrick Dixon will be working with legislators to stop the ban.  "Let's allow businesses to satisfy the demands of their customers without government interference.  We're confident that they know what's best."


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3. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE 2ND AMENDMENT BOOK BOMB

State Chair Pat Dixon was recently contacted by the founder of the Independent Institute regarding a new book on the Second Amendment:

Dear Pat,

I greatly enjoyed speaking with you just now. We greatly appreciate your kind offer to send out an email note to the Austin and LPT email lists encouraging people to participate in the Second Amendment Book Bomb.

With the New Year, the upcoming Obama inauguration (and nomination of Eric Holder for AG), and the post-Christmas lull in sales volume at Amazon.com, we have launched a New Year surge for the Second Amendment Book Bomb.
http://www.secondamendmentbook.com/

Many gun rights, libertarian, conservative and other groups are sending out notices to their email lists encouraging people to participate now to drive Stephen Halbrook’s book, The Founders’ Second Amendment, to #1 at Amazon and make Second Amendment rights history by sending a very clear message to the mainstream that abridging the right to bear arms will not be tolerated.

For your convenience I am adding below an updated notice that you could use. As you well know, the key is to have such notices go out in concert to create the volume needed to drive the surge. At present, we have 1,718 pledges.

Please advise me with any questions.

Thank you again for your marvelous support for liberty!

Best regards,

David
--
David J. Theroux
Founder and President
The Independent Institute
100 Swan Way
Oakland, CA 94621

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4. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE TESTIFIES ON ERIC HOLDER

A subsequent call from founder David Theroux of the Independent Institute to state chair Pat Dixon requested concerned Texans to contact their US Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson regarding the nomination of Barack Obama's selection for attorney general Eric Holder:

Dear Pat,

For your review, here is the C-SPAN video of our Research Fellow Stephen P. Halbrook on January 16th before the Senate Judiciary Committee, testifying against the confirmation of Eric Holder, Jr., for Attorney General of the U.S.
http://www.independent.org/blog/?p=994

Dr. Halbrook’s full written testimony is also available at the following link, and since his presentation, the confirmation vote on the Holder nomination in the Senate has been delayed, unlike any of Barack Obama's other Cabinet nominees.
http://www.independent.org/issues/article.asp?id=2411

Incredibly enough, in reporting on the hearings in his January 21st article, “Clinton Is Approved, but Vote on Holder Is Delayed,” David Stout of the New York Times not only fails to mention Dr. Halbrook’s testimony but actually makes the flatly erroneous claim that “No one has questioned Mr. Holder’s qualifications.”


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5. DFW LIBERTARIANS PARTY UP/DOWN

At a recent meetup in the DFW area, Libertarians demonstrate their ability to party up, party down, and party in other dimensions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUSvmrDtmNc

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6. RON PAUL'S TEXAS LIBERTY CONVENTION

Congressman Dr Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty has planned a Texas state convention in Austin for Feb 28. At recent district conventions for this organization, representatives from the Libertarian Party were elected as delegates to this convention. Guests are welcome to attend. Further information is available at:
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/usa/TX/
http://convention.ocati.org/

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7. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Ron Paul has been saying it. Dr Milton Friedman said it. The Libertarian Party has been saying it. Our opponents can only repeat the same old message and label it "Change".

We said that this economic disaster was coming. We said the federal government has no business being in the mortgage lending business. We said that government is spending too much and going too deep in debt. We said that government needs to get out of the way and allow small businesses to compete with big businesses.

Their response is that the free market failed. Barney Frank goes from defending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to putting all the blame on the free market. George Bush says he has to abandon free market principles to save the free market. These 2 parties can only go in the direction of bigger government and nationalization of the economy.

We know Washington needs an overhaul. We also know our state government has policies that will imperil us if we don't pay attention. That is why we have put together our legislative agenda which you can find at www.LPTexas.org. During this legislative session we intend to grow our influence on policy in state government. We need your help. Your calls, emails, and letter to state representatives and state senators in your districts help promote our influence on policy. We can kill the bad bills and promote the good ones.

During the state legislative session we will be putting out press releases and be engaged in appearances at the state capital. We will be participating in rallies and working with other groups on areas of common interest. We will try to keep you informed through this newsletter and through email lists of upcoming efforts. You can always go to http://lptexas.org/officialreleases.shtml for our latest press releases on legislative issues.

How many of you are skeptical? Are you asking "if the Libertarian Party has been saying these things for years, why haven't our policies already been adopted?"

Consider "The Paradox of Choice" (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6127548813950043200). It may challenge your thinking. The interesting part for us starts at 58 minutes into the video. Have you ever heard of "Libertarian Paternalism"? I think it says something about the growing popularity of the term "Libertarian" when public policy advocates adopt that term to promote their agenda.

Our larger presence on the ballot and in the election results puts us in a stronger position to promote socially tolerant and fiscally conservative policy in the state legislature. Your voice makes a difference when you contact your representative and tell them you support the Libertarian Party's agenda. Please take a look at http://lptexas.org/docs/LegAgenda2009.pdf and help us defend liberty in Texas.

Our opponents can keep repeating their old message and call it "Change". We will continue to grow the number of voices asking for real change that we believe which we call "Libertarian" and make it heard throughout our state capital.

Donate at http://lptexas.org/membership.shtml or contact Robert at Director@LPTexas.org or 512-4704-7065

Pat Dixon
Chair, Libertarian Party of Texas

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8. SCHEDULE OF IMPORTANT DATES:

May 9, 2009 - Municipal elections
Non partisan races for city councils, school boards, etc. Contact your local agencies for details on filing for these offices.