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February 14, 2006:
Libertarians not surprised by District 48 results
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Wes Benedict, LPT Executive Director: 512-442-4910, director@lptexas.org
Austin, TX - Democrat Donna Howard's defeat of Republican Ben Bentzin in the District 48 runoff election came as no surprise to the Libertarian Party of Texas (LPT).
Bentzin offered to create new taxes and increase public school spending. In contrast, Ben Easton, the Libertarian candidate in the January 17 special election, consistently spoke about smaller government, free markets, and school vouchers.
"Voters are concluding that Republican candidates just aren't fiscal conservatives," said Pat Dixon, LPT Chair. "When voters see a Republican sitting next to a Libertarian, they realize the Republican is practically a Democrat. Like Governor Perry said, they might as well vote for the real thing. We think conservative Republicans decided to stay home in this race."
Perry made the comment in an AP article printed by the Austin American-Statesman on February 11.
Libertarian Gene Freeman is running for House District 106 in the upcoming special election to be held February 28, 2006.
"The HD 106 special election is similar to the HD 48 race. Both were close races in 2004, and both have a Libertarian candidate in 2006 supporting smaller government and school vouchers," said Wes Benedict, LPT Executive Director.
The Young Conservatives of Texas gave retiring District 106 Republican Ray Allen a low rating of 60%.
http://www.yct.org/ratings.htm
Similarly, Americans for Prosperity, a pro-taxpayer group, gave Allen an F.
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=930&state=tx
"Libertarian Gene Freeman supports lower taxes and school vouchers," said Benedict.
"If Kirk England gets stuck with Ray Allen's tax-and-spend reputation, we think conservative voters will either vote Libertarian or stay home," said Dixon. "Kirk England's website makes no mention of vouchers, but it brags about his support of tax-raising bond elections."
http://www.votekirkengland.com/meetKirk.html
"We've said it before and we'll keep saying it," said Dixon, "Libertarians are the only fiscal conservatives on the ballot."
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