News
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- Written by: Wes Benedict
- Category: Selected Blogs
WASHINGTON - In response to the recent Republican "Pledge to America," Libertarian Party executive director Wes Benedict released the following statement:
Instead of a "Pledge to America," the Republicans should have written an "Apology to America." It should have gone something like this:
"We're sorry, America. Sorry we grew the federal government budget from $1.7 trillion to over $3 trillion. Sorry we added $5 trillion to the federal debt. Sorry we doubled the size of the Department of Education. Sorry we started two incredibly costly foreign wars. Sorry we supported the absurd and costly TARP bailouts. Sorry we created a huge and costly new Medicare entitlement. Sorry we did nothing to end the costly and destructive War on Drugs. Sorry we did nothing to reform the federal government's near-prohibition on immigration. But hey, at least we helped you by shifting a lot of your tax burden onto your children and grandchildren."
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- Written by: John Paff
- Category: Open Government Advocacy Project
On September 24, 2010, I wrote to the Neptune Township Housing Authority complaining that the Authority's Board of Commissioners is not in compliance with the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). Among the issues complained of: a) the Authority charging an excessive amount for copies of public records, b) the Authority's failure to respond to a request for executive session minutes and c) the Authority's failure to adequately inform the public of the topics that will discussed during non-public (i.e., "executive" or "closed") session. My letter and attachments are on-line here.
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- Written by: John Paff
- Category: Open Government Advocacy Project
Sometimes I get questions from readers that I think may be of general interest. Here is one such question and my response to it.
Question:
The county in which I reside owns and operates a miniature golf course. The Freeholder Director claims that the course is making money and doing well, but I'm not so sure. When I attempted to OPRA the golf course's income and expense records from the County, I am told that the records I seek do not exist, that the county is under no responsibility to create records for me or that my request is too broad. Since I don't know the records that the county keeps and how it arranges them, it is difficult if not impossible for me to request them. What do I do?
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- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
George Donnelly has recovered some of the footage that was deleted by federal authorities during his illegal arrest. Libertarian activists were harrassed while peacefully giving out Fully Informed Jury Pamphlets. During the confrontation, George Donnelly is assaulted and arrested.
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- Written by: William F Sihr
- Category: Student Rights
Dear NJLP Friends,
Recently (at least since September 10th ) Rowan University has decided that in light of a startlingly high number of alcohol related hospitalizations to require all Undergraduates of the school to take an online alcohol awareness class. Now when I first heard of these plans I found them to be perfectly understandable and even went as far as to applaud the administration for taking a proactive position in educating uninformed students about the potential hazards of excess drinking. Many students who enter into the college realm are overwhelmed by their new found independence and are unable to make mature decision without the immediate guidance of their parental figures. Also I found this to be a better alternative than having more school regulations put in place, however my praises quickly disappeared.
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- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
Campus organizations are currently being organized (or reorganized) at Brookdale and Rutgers University.
The Rutgers Libertarians are holding a meeting on Wednesday 9/21 at 9:15 in room 115 of Murray Hall. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for additional information.
The Brookdale Libertarians are still in the organizing stage. If interested visit their Facebook page.
In addition efforts are underway to organize a college organization at Rowan University.
If you are interested in forming a college organization let us know by emailing us at
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- Written by: John Paff
- Category: Selected Blogs
QUESTION:
My municipal government does not obey the law and does not care that it does not obey the law. For example, state law, specifically N.J.S.A. 40A:9-139, requires each municipality to pass an ordinance providing for the appointment of a municipal attorney. Despite this law, my town doesn't have such an ordinance and refuses to enact one. My complaints to the Attorney General, County Prosecutor and various state agencies haven't helped and I don't have money to hire an attorney. What can I do?
ANSWER:
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- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
Recently I've been receiving phone messages from Congressman Chris Smith and his Democrat opponent in the fourth district, Howard Kleinhendler, accusing the other of not being Islamaphobic enough. First Kleinhendler left a message accusing Smith of supporting the Islamic Center in Manhattan, now a message from Smith stating that that is not true and that he is on record of "strongly opposing" Mosques.
Congressman Ron Paul is correct in his recent statement calling this grandiose demagoguery.
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- Written by: Rob
- Category: Selected Blogs
Originally published on Cop Block, republished under Creative Commons agreement.
I know we need to protect our children – there is no greater loss than losing a child. Though the state of New Jersey is taking it to far. They have just fined a novelty company $70,000 for selling a toy that is less dangerous than a Yo-Yo, it’s a Yo-yo waterball.
New Jersey has just won a settlement against the Yo-yo waterball distributor Kipp Brothers for selling the banned toy, although it’s nothing more than a rubber ball filled with liquid attached to a rubber cord.
Could you imagine watching the police come and arrest your child for playing with this.
Think back to when you were a child and some of the toys you used to play with. When I was growing up I remember playing with a chemistry set that was filled with harmful chemicals and I was never injured. I might have singed my eyebrows off once or twice, but that’s part of growing up.
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- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Chair's Report
Our state consistently fares poorly when evaluated on tax ratings, government waste, government corruption, and value returned from the government. The Tax Foundation ranks New Jersey along with the rest of the Union:
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- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
The first line of our statement at Copblock.org reads “Cop Block is a decentralized project supported by a diverse group of individuals united by their shared goals of police accountability.” I believe this officer did a great job accomplishing that goal by holding himself accountable.
This officer gets a thumbs up from myself and I hope he can set an example for other officers in this country. I wish I could say the same for the troopers that let him go and apologized for pulling the Chief over.
From the Competitve Enterprise Institute. What will happen to today's open Internet if government imposes new rules on broadband providers? This video explores the history of government regulation of the telecommunications market and the lessons we can learn from it.
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- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Police Accountability Project
Former Passaic County Sheriff, Jerry Speziale, is being investigated for giving sheriff badges out in exchange for campaign donations and for using the county motor pool to have automobile repairs performed for campaign donors.
On August 10th Jerry Speziale resigned his position as sheriff to take a $198,510 job with the Port Authority Police as Deputy Superintendent. He was appointed to this position by Governor Christie.
Like Assemblyman David Rible, Mr. Speziale, collects a government salary while collecting disability payments. He receives $58,000 a year in disability payments from the NYPD. He retired on a disability in 1997.
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- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
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Ginny, while a candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder in 2004, speaks with Assemblyman Chivukala about eminent domain |
With extreme sadness I announce the passing of longtime NJ Libertarian activist Ginny Flynn. Ginny has been with the party since its founding in 1972. She has run for public office multiple times under the Libertarian banner. More recently she has been serving as the Treasurer for the Monmouth Libertarians.
Her family is planning a memorial service on Saturday starting at 11:00 AM at the Morganville Volunteer Department. The following message was sent out by her family.
In accordance with her own philosophy, instead of a traditional memorial service we will be holding a “Celebration of Life” to honor her at a local venue.
After an opening service given by the family, friends are invited to come up and share a memory or thought about Ginny. Children are welcome and we will try to have a space in the back for them in case they need a break.
Celebration of Life for Ginny Flynn
When: Saturday, August 21st , gathering will begin at 11 am, service will begin at 12 pm
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- Written by: John Paff
- Category: Open Government Advocacy Project
An editorial was written in support of our efforts in Bloomfield. It is regrettable that this situation ended up costing the taxpayers. More information is on my blog.
Editorial: 'Bottomless well' of money to suppress documents
Bloomfield LifeWell, that wasn't so hard was it? Actually it was.
The township has finally relented and settled out of court with an open public records advocate who sued to have letters and e-mails released between a detective from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Councilwoman Patricia Spychala, and Spychala's attorney, Ed Kologi, and Township Attorney Brian Aloia.
That only took months of badgering, critical newspaper articles and a lawsuit. Close to $5,000 later, John Paff, chairman of the Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project, who sued the town, got his answer. And that was? Nothing we already didn't know.
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- Written by: Pat Dixon
- Category: Selected Blogs
I remember when the Iraq war protests began. Protesters would march up Congress Avenue and surround the Capitol announcing their opposition to this war.
As time went on, I noticed how the protests evolved. I would start to see people joining these protests carrying signs opposing capitalism, environmental policy, global trade and all manner of policies that had little to do with the war. I also noticed how angry these people were, and the display of signs that showed President George W. Bush depicted as a Nazi.
When the Libertarian Party of Illinois lit the match that became the tea party bonfire, the idea was to promote the principles of the Libertarian Party in protest of continued growth of government, bailouts, a nightmarish taxation system and other policies promoted by Republicans and Democrats.
It now has evolved to include protesters on immigration policy, gay marriage, foreign policy, abortion and all manner of policies that do not match those of the Libertarian Party. We also see angry signs depicting President Barack Obama as a Nazi.
Movements like these are not easily controlled. They can evolve and splinter such that they no longer reflect their origins. This is also true of the tea party.