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MARCH 15, 2005:
LIBERTARIANS GAIN SUPPORT FOR HB1721
BAXTER, STRAMA JOINT-AUTHOR BILL TO END "PRIMARY SCREENOUT"
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Patrick Dixon, Libertarian Party State Chair: 512-771-3936 chair@lptexas.org
Wes Benedict, LPT Executive Director: 512-442-4910 director@lptexas.org
Rock Howard, LPT Legislative Advisor, 512-296-4476, rockmh@austin.rr.com
Kris Overstreet, LPT Media Coordinator: 936-685-4992 cell 936-425-6523
media@lptexas.org
AUSTIN - Lobbying by the Libertarian Party of Texas continues to draw
support for House Bill 1721, the bill to allow people who have voted in
party primaries to sign ballot access petitions for independent candidates
and minor parties.
HB 1721 was filed by State Representative Todd Baxter (District 48,
Republican) on Feb 28. Since then, Representatives Mark Strama (District
50, Democrat), Terry Keel (District 47, Republican) and Rep Suzanna Gratia
Hupp (District 54, Republican) have stepped forward to co-author the bill.
"It has been great working with Rep Baxter and other legislators to craft
this bill and help restore some trust in the electoral process," said
Libertarian Party of Texas state chair Patrick Dixon.
The bill would end a feature of Texas election law called "primary
screenout." Under existing law, voters who participate in a political
party's primary election or local party convention may not sign a ballot
access petition for political parties or independent candidates for office.
Texas is the last state in the US to retain this restriction. Since 1972,
the 6 other states with this provision have dropped it.
"It is time Texas respected the rights of voters," said Dixon. "Texas
currently stands alone in denying the right specifically stated in the
First Amendment to petition.
"When voters participated in the Republican and Democratic primaries in
March of 2004, nobody told them that they lost their right to sign a
petition. In May of 2004 when we were permitted to start collecting
petitions, we had to turn away these voters that wanted to exercise their
freedom of speech."
The Libertarian Party of Texas collected over 82,000 petition signatures in
2004 to qualify the party for the November general election ballot. Ballot
access drives by other parties and the Ralph Nader campaign failed to reach
the required number.
Although the Libertarians are guaranteed ballot access in 2006, other
parties and independent candidates, such as gubernatorial candidate Kinky
Freedman, will have to petition for ballot access. The passage of HB1721
will affect the petition efforts of the Friedman campaign and other parties.
The text of the bill can be found at www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/79R/billtext/HB01721I.HTM
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 to oppose growing government
intrusion into the economy and the personal lives of American citizens.
Over 600 Libertarians currently serve in public office across the country.
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