Alberta joins U.S. states' energy pact

Alberta premier Danielle Smith has signed on to the 12-state Governors' Coalition for Energy Security.

Alberta joins U.S. energy coalition to secure North America’s energy future | True North Wire | Isaac Lamoureux:

November 17, 2024 - "Alberta has become the first non-U.S. [political entity] to join a United States energy pact featuring 12 states that had already signed onto the coalition. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement Thursday, personally thanking Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu for inviting her, along with President-elect Donald Trump. Smith also thanked the other ten governors involved.

"Smith said that Alberta’s role in North American energy security is vital as the largest crude oil and natural gas supplier to the United States. 

With 200 billion barrels of recoverable oil, 200 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, significant natural gas liquids and ample pore space for carbon capture, Alberta’s contribution is set to grow even further as we look to work with the Trump Administration and other U.S. partners to increase our pipeline capacity to our greatest friend and ally, the United States.... We are proud to collaborate with this coalition of allied states in advancing energy security, reliability and affordability for Americans and Canadians....

"Alberta currently accounts for 56% of oil imports into the United States, double Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq combined.

"Landry said that the pact’s members share the goal of enhancing and protecting energy security, which he said will lead to lower energy costs, increased reliability, sustainable economic development, and wise management of energy resources and the environment. '

“I welcome Premier Smith and the insights she will bring as the leader from a fellow energy-producing province that, like my state, is under a federal system of government where national imperatives are not always aligned with state or provincial interests,' said Landry.

"The United States is the largest trading partner with Alberta, having $188 billion in bilateral trade in 2023. Energy products accounted for more than 80%, approximately $133.6 billion, of Alberta’s exports to the United States in 2023....

Alberta is a global leader in emissions reduction technologies and clean energy solutions. 'The province has captured about 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide through carbon capture, utilization and storage technology, and has the ability to support the U.S. in developing new infrastructure and supply chains for future energy markets in the areas of hydrogen, renewables, small modular reactors and others,” reads Alberta’s press release. 

"The newly renamed Governors’ Coalition for Energy Security listed its goals in the press release issued by the Governor of Louisiana[:] ... 'to ensure families and businesses have the right to choose the energy they need, to minimize permitting and other regulatory barriers, limit expensive energy mandates, focus on affordability and reliability of energy infrastructure, and to coordinate to positively manage energy resources and the environment,' reads the press release....

"Smith issued an additional statement on Friday, saying she won’t wait for the [Canadian federal] Liberals to strengthen energy trade.... \

Alberta’s energy sector is a cornerstone of North America’s prosperity and we’re ready to work with our partners in the United States, especially @realDonaldTrump, to ensure that remains true.... Alberta’s resources are critical to energy security, economic growth, and the strong ties between our countries. Together, we can build a future that benefits both sides of the border — because when Alberta succeeds, the United States thrives. Let’s power that future, hand in hand.

"The 12 signatory states included in the energy pact are Louisiana, New Hampshire, Indiana, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Dakota, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Virginia."

Read more: https://tnc.news/2024/11/17/alberta-energy-coalition-us/

We can’t sacrifice U.S. friendship if Mexico is a trade irritant: Alberta premier | Power & Politics | CBC News | November 15, 2024:

Voters put cannabis legalization on state ballots

U.S. voters have been signing petitions to put cannabis legalization on more state ballots this fall; but in at least one state, votes may not be counted.

Recreational marijuana legalization will be on November ballot in Missouri | Springfield News-Leader - Greta Cross & Galen Bacharier:

August 12, 2022 - "Missourians can expect to see marijuana back on the ballot in November, this time as a constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational use and clear cannabis-related convictions. Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced Tuesday morning that ... a minimum number of valid signatures were obtained from six of the eight congressional districts, putting it on the Nov. 8 ballot.

"The ballot measure proposes an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would:

• Remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over 21;
• Require a registration card for personal cultivation with prescribed limits;
• Allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to petition for release from incarceration or parole and probation and have records cleared;
• Establish a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates;
• Issue equally distributed licenses to each congressional district;
• Impose a 6% tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs.

"Legal Missouri 2022, the campaign backing the ballot measure, says they earned more than 214,000 verified signatures across all eight congressional districts, outpacing the 184,720 minimum needed to make the ballot."

Read more: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/08/09/marijuana-use-clearing-cannabis-crimes-nov-8-ballot-recreational-missouri-legalize/10277162002/

Arkansas marijuana legalization initiative to appear on November ballot; votes may not be counted pending state supreme court ruling | Ballotpedia - Jackie Mitchell:

August 12, 2022 - "On Aug. 11, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the Secretary of State to certify a marijuana legalization initiative for the election on Nov. 8. Votes on the initiative may not be counted pending a court ruling on the initiative’s ballot language. Responsible Growth Arkansas, the campaign behind the marijuana legalization initiative, submitted more than 190,000 signatures on July 8. The Arkansas secretary of state announced on July 29 that the campaign had submitted more than the required number of valid signatures (89,151) and would qualify for the ballot if the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners certified the ballot language.

"On Aug. 3, 2022, the election commissioners declined to certify the ballot title and popular names for the initiative, stating that the language was misleading. The next day, Responsible Growth Arkansas filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court [and] requested an expedited review because the deadline for the secretary of state to certify measures for the 2022 ballot is August 25. On August 11, the state Supreme Court ordered the secretary of state to certify the measure for the ballot. Votes on the initiative may not be counted, however, if the supreme court rules that the ballot language is misleading....

"The measure would legalize marijuana use for individuals 21 years of age and older and authorize the commercial sale of marijuana with a 10% sales tax. Adults could possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Under the amendment, businesses that already hold licenses under the state’s medical marijuana program would be authorized to sell marijuana for personal use. An additional 40 licenses would be given to businesses chosen by a lottery. The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Division of the Department of Finance and Administration would regulate the program and provide for cannabis business licensing.

"Marijuana legalization measures are certified to appear on the 2022 ballot in Maryland, Missouri, and South Dakota. Marijuana legalization measures could also appear on the ballot in Oklahoma and North Dakota. Currently, 19 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Eleven states and D.C. had legalized marijuana through the ballot initiative process."

Read more: https://news.ballotpedia.org/2022/08/12/arkansas-marijuana-legalization-initiative-to-appear-on-november-ballot-votes-may-not-be-counted-pending-state-supreme-court-ruling/

 

Wyoming and Alabama to end mask mandates

Wyoming Becomes Latest GOP-Led State To Drop Mask Mandate | Forbes - Alison Durkee:

March 8, 2021 - "Wyoming will lift its statewide mask mandate on March 16 along with other restrictions on businesses including restaurants and bars, Gov. Mark Gordon announced Monday.... In addition to lifting the mask mandate, restaurants, bars, gyms and theaters will be allowed to resume 'normal operations,' Gordon said, with more details on the lifted orders to be announced later this week. Gordon’s office cited the state’s 'continually improving health metrics' as the reason behind the change, as well as the governor’s 'approach of balancing public health with protecting livelihoods.'

"The governor had previously lifted some restrictions in the state starting March 1, including on businesses like salons and barber shops, but the mask mandate stayed in effect. Wyoming imposed its mask mandate in December as Covid-19 cases in the state surged, and it requires people to wear masks indoors in businesses, government facilities, healthcare settings and on public transportation, with some exceptions. The state currently has social distancing guidelines in place for restaurants that do not restrict capacity, but directs tables to be spaced apart and requires people to be seated at tables or booths, among other social distancing recommendations....

"Wyoming follows Texas and Mississippi in dropping their mask mandates, which has sparked controversy and been decried by President Joe Biden as 'Neanderthal thinking.' Montana, Iowa and North Dakota have also lifted their mask orders in recent months. The rescinded guidance is part of a broader trend of states getting rid of various Covid-19 restrictions as cases have dropped following a holiday season surge and as more Americans get vaccinated. 

"The wave of reopenings, which public health officials have opposed, has been seen in both Republican and Democratic-led states: Connecticut’s Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont lifted the state’s capacity restrictions on businesses like restaurants and gyms last week, for instance, while New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday the state would raise capacity for indoor dining to 75% outside of New York City.

"Arkansas is poised to lift its mask mandate on March 31 if certain health metrics are met, and Alabama will follow April 9, after Gov. Kay Ivey extended her mask order last week for another month but said she will not extend it further. 

"A number of other Republican governors have been hesitant to follow suit and overturn their own mask mandates, however, with leaders in West Virginia, Utah, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland and Massachusetts all signaling last week they had no intention to immediately revoke their orders."

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/03/08/wyoming-becomes-latest-gop-led-state-to-drop-mask-mandate/

Libertarian Burt elected to Wyoming state House

Libertarian Candidate Marshall Burt Wins Wyoming State House Race | Reason - Brian Doherty: 

November 4, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party (L.P.) had high hopes for a win in the Wyoming state House in two different races — and one of them came through. Marshall Burt has won in District 39 against Democrat Stan Blake, 1,696 to 1,420, according to Apollo Pazell, who was running the L.P.'s campaigns in the state. This is only the fifth time the L.P. has won a state legislative seat with a candidate running only under the Libertarian label. 

"In Wyoming's House District 55, Bethany Baldes, who in 2018 lost a state House race against an incumbent GOP majority leader by only 53 votes, lost to Republican Ember Oakley by only 32 votes, 2,058 to 2,026.

"In other L.P. races of note around America, Donald Rainwater, in a three-way race for governor of Indiana, has earned 13.1 percent of the vote with well over 90 percent of the results in. That is right in line with polling from last month, even though third-party results tend to fall precipitously from earlier polls when actual votes are cast. Rainwater came in ahead of Democrat Woody Myers in nearly two dozen counties around the state. Republican incumbent Eric Holcomb won reelection.

"In Arkansas, with 81 percent of the vote counted, the L.P.'s Ricky Harrington got 33.3 percent in his race to dethrone Republican Sen. Tom Cotton. (No Democrat was on the ballot.) Harrington won outright in two counties. In Pulaski County, which contains the state capitol of Little Rock, Harrington leads Cotton 59 percent to 41 percent.

"In Kentucky's Senate race, which Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won with 58 percent of the vote, Libertarian Brad Barron got 4 percent while losing Democrat Amy McGrath earned 38 percent.

"In Montana, L.P. gubernatorial candidate Lyman Bishop currently has around 3.5 percent with about 52 percent of the votes counted. That's more than 10,000 votes in a race where the declared winner — Republican Greg Gianforte — is presently ahead of Democrat Mike Cooney by about that many votes."

Read more: https://reason.com/2020/11/04/libertarian-candidate-marshall-burt-wins-wyoming-state-house-race/

Libertarian polls at 38% in Arkansas Senate race

Tom Cotton Won't Debate His Libertarian Challenger. The Event Will Happen Anyway | Reason - Eric Boehm: 

October 12, 2020 - "Sen. Tom Cotton (R–Ark.) is ducking a chance to debate his Libertarian challenger, even as a new poll shows the race tightening in the final weeks of what could be a rough election season for Republicans. The debate, scheduled to be broadcast by Arkansas' PBS station on Wednesday night, will take place even without Cotton's participation. That means it will basically be an hour-long opportunity for Ricky Dale Harrington, Jr., to speak directly to the voters who will decide next month whether Cotton deserves another six years in the Senate.

"Cotton, who has emerged in recent years as one of the loudest voices in the GOP's ascendant authoritarian nationalist wing, appeared to be heading for an easy reelection bid when the only Democrat to enter the race dropped out late last year. Enter Harrington, a 34-year-old prison chaplain running a campaign that gives voters about as stark a choice as they are likely to find in any two-way contest this year. Where Cotton has claimed that America has an 'under-incarceration problem' and called for deploying more heavy-handed police tactics against protesters, Harrington wants to reduce mandatory minimums and demilitarize the police. That contrast would provide fertile ground for serious debate between the two men — if Cotton would agree to show up.

"Even before this week's debate, Harrington has made a splash. According to a poll released last week by American Research Group (a polling firm that FiveThirtyEight grades well), Cotton leads 49 percent to 38 percent. That's a comfortable enough lead — and every professional prognosticator has the race listed as a 'safe' Republican win, even as the tide has turned against the GOP in the presidential race and some key Senate battlegrounds. Still, Cotton is polling at less than 50 percent in a two-way race, and 13 percent of voters say they remain undecided....

"This week's non-debate is an opportunity for Harrington to appeal to those undecided voters. Failing to show up means Cotton stands to gain nothing.

"When Cotton rejected the invitation to the debate, his campaign released a statement saying he was 'spending time on the campaign trail when the Senate is in recess, and looks forward to making his case to Arkansans across our state before this November's election.' What Cotton won't do, apparently, is go head-to-head with a challenger that nearly four out of 10 Arkansans say they support."

Read more: https://reason.com/2020/10/12/tom-cotton-wont-debate-his-libertarian-challenger-the-event-will-happen-anyway/ 

Why it matters
by George J. Dance

I would love to see Ricky Harrington win, but I think that is very doubtful by the poll numbers. Even if the undecideds broke 11:2 for him, Tom Cotton wiould still win. On the other hand, for Herrington to get over 30% should be big news. Let's hope Libertarians get as much news out of it as possible. 

Libertarians may not have won that many elections in the USA, but they have been the most successful interest group fighting for free and fair elections in that country, and it is time to shine a light on that success. Harrington's candidacy shows two ways they do that.  

First, Libertarians counter the worrying trend in America of two-party elections turning into one-party coronations. As the country grows more polarized and campaigns get more expensive, both Democratic and Republican parties are finding it more and more necessary to stop contesting seats they are sure they cannot win. In those cases, all semblance of the voters having any say in who gets elected goes out the window. However, Libertarians — who run low-cost campaigns, not to win (at this time) but to recruit (so we can win later) — can provide one thing representative democracy needs in order to function, an opposing choice for voters dissatisfied with a single option.  

Second, if Harrington gets at least 25%, that will be more than 10 times the 2% threshold the state requires for major party status (including automatic ballot access). In all fairness, Harrington's vote should qualify the party.  However, the state counts only the governor's race, not other statewide races, which is unfair; and if the party loses its status this time, that unfairness will be manifest to all (or at least to all besides Cotton supporters).  

The Libertarians are often subject to unfair and arbitrary laws like this; and their success in fighting them, by both lobbying state legislatures and initiating court challenges, has given them a solid record of achievement over the past five decades. This year's election may give them a golden opportunity of adding to that record. 

8th Circuit puts Libertarians on ballot in Arkansas

Eighth Circuit Sides With Arkansas Libertarians in Ballot-Access Suit | Courthouse News - Joe Harris:

June 18, 2020 = "Arkansas’ stringent election requirements to get on the ballot as a third party are likely unconstitutional, the Eighth Circuit ruled Thursday.

"Recent amendments to the law at issue nearly tripled the number of signatures needed for a new political party to appear on a ballot. State law previously dictated that a new party needed 10,000 voter signatures to get on the ballot. Now, parties seeking whole-ballot access need an amount that equals or is greater than 3% of the total votes cast in the state’s last gubernatorial election — which amounts to nearly 27,000.

"The Libertarian Party of Arkansas filed the lawsuit challenging the requirements in the Eastern District of Arkansas in March 2019. Arkansas appealed to the Eighth Circuit after U.S. District Judge Kristine G. Baker, a President Barack Obama appointee, granted preliminary injunctive relief, finding that the law was likely unconstitutional.

"Attorney James C. Linger, who represented the Libertarian Party, lauded the unanimous decision by the three-judge panel. 'It ends the thing for this election,' Linger said in an interview. 'The Libertarian Party will be on the ballot; all their candidates will be on the ballot. If it would have been reversed, they would have lost their candidates and everything for this election'....

"'We harbor serious doubt that the generalized desire to maintain the integrity of elections and prevent ballot overcrowding can be viewed as a compelling state interest when the prior version of the statute undisputedly succeeded at preventing ballot overcrowding,' Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Michael J. Melloy, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in the 21-page opinion. 'The evidence at the hearing showed that no party previously achieved access during the years in which Arkansas had a 3% requirement, and even during the many years in which Arkansas had a 10,000 signature requirement coupled with a more forgiving deadline, there was no crowding of the ballot.' Melloy continued, 'The state’s own expert witness acknowledged that only one or two new parties had ever qualified by petition under the 10,000 signature requirement. In fact, he opined that a ballot with two major parties and two additional parties appearing on a whole-ballot basis would not be crowded'....

"Arkansas passed similar laws in 1996 and 2006, only to have them both found to be unconstitutional. Linger said the state has been attempting to impose similar restrictions on third parties off and on for decades.... Linger plans on following up with motions for summary judgment to officially end the matter."

Read more: https://www.courthousenews.com/eight-circuit-sides-with-arkansas-libertarians-in-ballot-access-suit/

Civil asset forfeiture ended in Arkansas

Arkansas Halts Civil Asset Forfeiture and Closes Federal Loophole - Steve Byas, The New American:

July 24, 2019 - "'There shall be no civil judgment under this subchapter and no property shall be forfeited unless the person from whom the property is seized is convicted of a felony offense that [is] related to the property being seized and that permits the forfeiture of the property,' said State Senator Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs), the sponsor of a bill that went into effect July 24 to abolish civil asset forfeiture in practically all cases in the state of Arkansas.

"The vote was unanimous in both houses of the Arkansas Legislature, and Governor Asa Hutchinson signed the bill into law back in March. According to the new law, the state is prohibited from taking a person’s property unless there is a criminal conviction first.

"Previously, the state had already taken action to withdraw from a federal program known as 'equitable sharing' [under which] state and local police, and prosecutors, were able to essentially ignore state restrictions on the practice known as civil asset forfeiture (CAF) by passing cases off to the federal government via what is known as adoption....

"CAF is a legal process by which law-enforcement agencies take assets from persons they suspect of having committed a crime, without necessarily even charging the owners of the property with any crime.... This is contrasted with criminal asset forfeiture, where the accused is afforded all of the constitutional and statutory procedural safeguards available under criminal law, and must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt before any property is forfeited.

"Some states, recognizing the inherent injustice involved in civil forfeiture, have passed laws to rein in the practice....  Enter adoption forfeiture, or 'equitable sharing,' the practice by which local law enforcement can circumvent state laws against CAF by 'sharing' part of their seized cash or property with federal authorities.

"The Arkansas Legislature has moved to curtail this effort to circumvent state sovereignty. Under their law, ... No state or local law-enforcement agency may transfer any property seized by the state or a local agency to any federal entity for forfeiture unless the circuit court having jurisdiction ... enters an order, upon petition by the prosecuting attorney, authorizing the transfer.... [T]he transfer shall not be approved unless it reasonably appears that the activity is giving rise to the investigation or the seizure involves more than one state, or if the nature of the investigation or seizure would be better pursued under federal law.

"Unfortunately, a compliant judge could still circumvent state law by, as the Tenth Amendment Center warns, simply becoming a 'rubber stamp' to the requests of law enforcement. The Tenth Amendment Center suggests that Arkansas needs to tighten up this loophole by withdrawing from the federal equitable sharing program completely."

Read more: https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/32950-arkansas-halts-civil-asset-forfeiture-and-closes-federal-loophole
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Federal judge halts Arkansas ballot access law

Arkansas Libertarians get injunction that will likely assure its candidates have spots on 2020 ballot | Opinion | magnoliareporter.com:

July 6, 2019 - "Federal Judge Kristine G. Baker has issued an injunction overturning requirements imposed on 'new political parties' by Act 164 of the Arkansas General Assembly, adopted and signed into law in February.

"Act 164 increased the requirements for third parties to place their candidates on the ballot from 10,000 petition signatures to 3% of the vote in the last Gubernatorial election, presently 26,746 signatures. The Libertarian Party had argued that raising the bar for ballot access was unwarranted and unnecessary. Libertarians also complained about the limited 90-day window required for collecting petition signatures, as well as the fact that the deadline for turning in petitions had been moved forward to September 2019.

"Baker’s ruling agreed. 'There is no record evidence before the court that explains the state’s interest – let alone a compelling one – in requiring new political parties to meet the three percent requirement, file a petition more than a year in advance of the general election, and collect signatures in a 90-day window.'

"Michael Pakko, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Arkansas, said Act 164 was 'nothing more than an effort to restrict competition in the political process.... The judge’s ruling gives us an opportunity to put Libertarian candidates before the voters in 2020, and I’m confident that a final ruling will help us level the playing field for all alternative political parties in the future.'

"The preliminary injunction stops Secretary of State John Thurston from enforcing Arkansas statutes that impose the three percent requirement, and from restricting ballot access to the Arkansas Libertarians as a new political party if it meets a 10,000-signature requirement. The ruling did not extend the time period for collecting petition signatures, nor did it change the contested deadline.

“The important thing is that our petitions will be counted and Libertarians will most assuredly be on the Arkansas ballot in 2020, Pakko said. In late June, the state Libertarian Party turned in a total of 18,667 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office. Election officials received the petitions but had not yet accepted them for validation, awaiting clarification from the court....

"A full hearing of the case, Libertarian Party of Arkansas et al v. Thurston (4:19-cv-00214) is scheduled for trial before Judge Baker May 11, 2020."

Read more: http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/opinion/article_fafdea6e-a01d-11e9-a291-f7a067c78ce7.html
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1st Amendment protects panhandling, judge rules

Judge Throws Out Panhandling Law, Says Physical Interaction Is Free Speech
"When a panhandler approaches a car in the intersection — his hand out, his eyes wide — that physical interaction is protected by the First Amendment, a federal district judge ruled Monday when he threw out an Arkansas city's panhandling ban.

"It's the latest such ban to be found unconstitutional since a 2015 Supreme Court decision made it harder for the government to pass laws regarding the content of speech. That case, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, had to do with regulating church signs, but courts around the country have cited the case as they strike down panhandling laws.

"To contend with an increase in panhandling at busy intersections, the city of Hot Springs in 2016 passed an ordinance imposing 'an absolute ban' on solicitation on streets or in medians. After the American Civil Liberties Union sued, the city repealed the ordinance.... In 2017, the city passed a new version [that] eliminated all references to panhandling and instead made it illegal for pedestrians [and] the occupant of a motor vehicle to 'interact physically' while the engine was running on a public roadway.

"But that language was still constitutionally problematic, Judge Robert Dawson wrote.... physical interaction between pedestrians and the occupants of a vehicle clearly has free speech implications, the judge wrote. 'The Court can think of no reason why a pedestrian would intentionally attempt physical interaction with a motor vehicle or its occupants other than to communicate a message'....

"Hot Springs attorney Brian Albright said via email ... it's too early to say whether the city will appeal the ruling.

"The Reed case 'has placed literally every panhandling ordinance in the United States at least under risk,' said First Amendment scholar Enrique Armijo, associate dean for academic affairs at Elon University School of Law.... Hot Springs 'did a better job than most cities with respect to defining the banned activity in a way that refers more to the conduct than the speech,' said Armijo, who thinks the judge's ruling could be overturned on appeal."

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2019/04/02/709251256/judge-throws-out-panhandling-law-says-physical-interaction-is-free-speech

Arkansas house votes to scale back civil forfeiture

Arkansas Legislature Effectively Votes To Abolish Civil Asset Forfeiture - Hit & Run : Reason.com - C.J. Ciaramella:

March 14, 2019 - "The Arkansas legislature unanimously passed a significant asset forfeiture reform bill Wednesday. The new law will require police and prosecutors to obtain a criminal conviction in most cases before they can seize someone's property.

"The bill, S.B. 308, passed the Arkansas Senate by a unanimous vote last month. On Wednesday, the bill similarly sailed through the Arkansas House by a vote of 93-0. If the bill is signed into law by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas will join three states — North Carolina, New Mexico and Nebraska — that have severely curtailed or abolished asset forfeiture.

"The new law would require prosecutors to obtain a criminal conviction to forfeit property. There are a list of exceptions, however, including if the property owner is deceased, deported, flees the jurisdiction or fails to challenge the forfeiture, or if the property is abandoned....

"Under civil asset forfeiture laws, police can seize property suspected of being connected to criminal activity, even if the owner is never charged or convicted of a crime. Law enforcement groups say it is a vital tool that disrupts drug trafficking and other organized crime.... However, civil liberties groups argue there are far too few procedural protections for innocent property owners, who may lose their car, their cash, and even their house....

"The proceeds of asset forfeiture are often then split between local prosecutors' offices and police departments. The federal government also partners with state and local police on forfeiture cases, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the Justice Department's asset forfeiture fund....

"Arkansas law enforcement agencies seized nearly $88 million in cash from 2010-18, about $9.7 million per year, according to data collected by Jeremy Horpedahl, assistant professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas. That does not include the value for roughly 4,900 vehicles, at least 3,300 weapons and 1,000 other pieces of property confiscated in that span, according to numbers provided by Horpedahl....

"More than half of all U.S. states have passed some form of asset forfeiture reform over the past decade in response to bipartisan concerns."

Read more: https://reason.com/blog/2019/03/14/arkansas-legislature-unanimously-votes-t

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Arkansas bill to raise bar for ballot access

Arkansas Bill to Increase Petition for New Party Ballot Access | Ballot Access News - Richard Winger:

January 24, 2019 - "Arkansas State Senator Trent Garner (R-El Dorado) has introduced SB 163. It increases the petition requirement for new or previously unqualified parties in Arkansas from 10,000 signatures, to 3% of the last gubernatorial vote, which would be 26,746 signatures for 2020.

"The Arkansas party petition was 3% of the last gubernatorial vote between 1977 and 2006, and in all those years, no group successfully completed the party petition. The Reform Party tried in 1996 and failed, but then went to court and won a lawsuit against that law, and was put on the ballot.

"The legislature ignored the 1996 court decision, as to the number of signatures, so in 2006, the Green Party sued and won the new lawsuit. The legislature then lowered the petition requirement to 10,000 signatures....

"The bill has an emergency clause, saying 'It is found by the General Assembly that the current laws concerning the signature requirement are insufficient to reflect the will of the voters of Arkansas.' This is an absurd statement, given that the only party that used the petition in 2018 was the Libertarian Party, which polled 2.90% for Governor, and for the two statewide races with no Democrat, polled 27.65% for Auditor and 29.11% for Treasurer. The Libertarian vote for Treasurer was 250,943 votes."

Read more: https://ballot-access.org/2019/01/24/arkansas-bill-to-increase-petition-for-new-party-ballot-access/
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Arkansas pastor nominated for governor

Libertarian Mark West Enters Arkansas Governor's Race | KUAR Little Rock -Jacob Kauffman:

February 26, 2018 - "Mark West is throwing his hat in the ring for the race for Arkansas governor. The pastor and business manager out of Batesville filed to run on Monday after being nominated over the weekend at the Libertarian Party of Arkansas’s convention in Little Rock. The governor’s office tops the Libertarian ballot for a number of reasons. Notably, the party’s gubernatorial or presidential candidate has to get three-percent of the vote if it is to retain ballot access in the next election. For the past four election cycles its fallen short of that threshold and had to petition its way on the ballot. West thinks he’ll be the candidate to breakthrough.

"'The percentages we receive in the races go up every election and right now we are at the point where we are going to be able to push through. I think we’re going to be able to get the right coalitions together to be able to blow right past the three-percent,' said West.

"In 2012 the party’s presidential nominee Gary Johnson drew 1.52-percent of the vote. In 2014, gubernatorial candidate Frank Gilbert drew 1.92-percent of the vote. And in 2016 Johnson ran again, garnering 2.65-percent of Arkansas’s vote. The Libertarian Party of Arkansas is hoping in-part  to draw votes from down the ballot by fielding more candidates than it ever has before, with 33 office seekers from the state Legislature to the governor’s office.

"West says he’s got a message of 'government accountability' that’ll resonate with the electorate.

"'We are going to run with COST, which is our Committee on Spending and Taxation. We believe that using that we’ll be able to target different agencies where you have duplication or abuse going on, or where there is inappropriateness or unethical behavior going on and we’re going to crack down on that because government should serve the citizens,' said West.

"He continued, 'We’ll find expenses and things we’ll be able to cut on a budgetary nature and regulations that we’ll be able to cut so that we can free up Arkansans to be the masters of their own domain, to be the chief deciders to their lives, and to be able to pull themselves up with us getting the government out of everybody’s way and out of everybody’s personal lives.'”

Read more: http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/libertarian-mark-west-enters-arkansas-governors-race

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15,000 sign to put AR Libertarians on 2018 ballot

Libertarian Party turns in petitions to get on '18 ballot - Brian Fanney, Arkansas Online:

June 13, 2017 - "The Libertarian Party of Arkansas delivered more than 15,000 signatures to Secretary of State Mark Martin's office Monday to once again become a 'new political party.'

"In a news release, the party said this is the fourth consecutive election cycle in which it has registered as a new party.... Arkansas Libertarian Party Chairman Michael Pakko is asking for a change.

"'Libertarians are giving the voters a choice in races up and down the ballot. Moreover, people are choosing to cast their votes for Libertarians,' he said in a statement. 'In total, Libertarian candidates received 356,287 votes in 2016 -- over 7.5 percent of all votes cast....
Yet the election laws of the State of Arkansas say that's not good enough to remain a state-recognized political party.'

"In Arkansas, the party needs its presidential candidate to garner 3 percent of the popular vote to retain ballot access. Pakko said a more reasonable standard would be 2 percent.

"In 2016, the party's candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, received 2.6 percent of the vote in Arkansas. In 2012, he received 1.5 percent of the vote.

"Libertarians won recognition as an official Arkansas political party for the first time after collecting more than 16,000 signatures in 2011.

"The secretary of state's office has 30 days to validate the party's signatures to verify that at least 10,000 registered voters have signed the petitions.

"After some final paperwork to be filed, the Libertarian Party of Arkansas expects to be declared a 'new political party' sometime before the end of July."

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jun/13/libertarian-party-turns-in-petitions-to/?f=news-arkansas
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Arkansas Libertarians have best election ever

Libertarians lose but see gains | NWADG - Frank E. Lockwood, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

November 10, 2016 -  "Arkansas Libertarians had their best election night ever on Tuesday, capturing 2.6 percent of the vote in the presidential race and topping 20 percent in three of the four congressional races.

"But they needed 3 percent of the presidential votes in order to keep their status as a political party in Arkansas.

"As a result, Libertarians won't automatically qualify for the state's 2018 elections. They'll have to collect 10,000 valid signatures and submit them to the secretary of state's office in order to regain ballot access.

"Frank Gilbert, the party's U.S. Senate candidate, said it's a ritual that Libertarian activists are already familiar with.

"'It takes a lot of time and money to get back on the ballot,' the former Tull mayor said. 'We've done it three times. Now we'll start on the fourth'....

"William Brackeen, the group's secretary, said the party's trajectory is encouraging, despite Tuesday's results.... Libertarian candidates made gains despite losing, he said.

"Their presidential nominee, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, received 29,593 votes, according to unofficial state returns. That's nearly double the 16,276 votes he captured in 2012.

"Gilbert, who got 1.9 percent of the vote when he ran for governor two years ago, claimed 4 percent of the vote in his latest race.

"Overall, the four Libertarian U.S. House candidates garnered nearly 200,000 votes statewide. In three of the districts, they were the only obstacle between Republicans and re-election....

"With the 2016 election over, Libertarians will need to start raising money again. It takes between $30,000 and $40,000 to finance the signature drive, Brackeen said.

"'That would buy a lot of yard signs and TV advertising,' Brackeen noted."

Read more: http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/nov/10/libertarians-lose-but-see-gains-2016111/?news-arkansas
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California, Massachusetts, & Nevada cannabis legalization initiatives pass

Voters Legalize Marijuana in Three States - The New York Times - Thomas Fuller:

November 9, 2016. - "Voters in California, Massachusetts and Nevada legalized marijuana on Tuesday in what advocates said was a reflection of the country’s changing attitude toward the drug.

"A similar measure in Maine led by less than a point with 98 percent of precincts reporting. Voters in Arizona defeated a legalization measure.

"Leading up to the election, recreational marijuana use was legal in four states: Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, along with the District of Columbia.

"With the addition of California, Massachusetts and Nevada, the percentage of Americans living in states where marijuana use is legal for adults rose above 20 percent, from 5 percent.

"A Gallup poll in October found nationwide support for legalization at 60 percent, the highest level in the 47 years the organization has tracked the issue. Support is rising even though some public health experts warn that there have been insufficient studies of the drug’s effects, and that law enforcement agencies lack reliable tests and protocols to determine whether a driver is impaired by marijuana.

"Supporters in California portrayed legalization as both a social justice and a criminal justice issue, saying the measure would help redress the disproportionate numbers of arrests and convictions among minorities for drug crimes.

"A bill to legalize marijuana in Vermont, supported by Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat, failed this year. But in Massachusetts, public support for legalization rose during the fall, even with bipartisan opposition from the state’s top elected officials and an organized anti-legalization campaign.

"In addition to Tuesday’s votes on recreational marijuana, Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota all passed medical marijuana initiatives."

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/election-ballot.html?_r=0
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Arkansas LP nominates 23 before early deadline

Arkansas Libertarians Nominate 23, Including Full Congressional Slate - Steve Brawner, KUAR Public Radio:

 October 26, 2015 - "The Libertarian Party of Arkansas selected 23 candidates to run for office Saturday in a special nominating convention, including individuals to run for the five congressional races on next year’s ballot.

"Frank Gilbert was nominated to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. Gilbert won 2% of the vote running for governor in 2014.

"Nathan LaFrance, who won 2% of the vote running for Senate in 2014, will campaign for the 3rd District House seat held by U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers. Chris Hayes, who won 6% of the vote campaigning for state treasurer in 2014, will run for the 2nd District House seat held by U.S. Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock. Mark West of Oil Trough is the party’s nominee for the 1st District House seat held by U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro. Kerry Hicks of Mena is campaigning for the 4th District House seat held by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs....

"In a press release, the party said it could nominate more candidates if it wins a lawsuit asking for more time.

"Third parties must nominate candidates for the 2016 general election by the first week of November, which is the end of the filing period for Republican and Democratic candidates. The early deadline is a result of a law passed this year in order to make it possible for Arkansas’ primaries to be on March 1, the so-called 'SEC primary' involving other Southern states.

"Attorney James Linger will represent the Libertarian Party in the case in U.S. District Court, where Judge James Moody will preside.....

"Libertarians finished their ballot access drive in June by gathering the required signatures of 10,000 registered voters. To avoid collecting signatures again in 2018, the Libertarian candidate for president must receive 3% of the popular vote in the 2016 general election.

 "The party also nominated two candidates for the Arkansas Senate and eight candidates for the Arkansas House."

Read more: http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-libertarians-nominate-23-including-full-congressional-slate#stream/0

Arkansas LP sues to stop ballot access deadline change

Libertarian Party sues over early ballot filing deadline | Arkansas Blog | Arkansas news, politics, opinion, restaurants, music, movies and art - Max Brantley:

"The Libertarian Party of Arkansas said it has filed a federal lawsuit seeking more time to nominate candidates for the 2016 election.

"The state legislature this year moved filing to Nov. 2-9, a year ahead of the election, so the primary could be [held] in March to help Republican presidential primary candidates. The party complained this requires it to have its final candidates ready even before the major political parties begin their presidential candidate selection process.

"In a release, James Linger, attorney for the party, said, 'It is hard for me to understand what compelling state interest Arkansas would have in having the nominees of minor parties chosen so far in advance of the general election and significantly earlier than the date for picking the nominees of the major parties.'

"The Libertarian Party qualified for a spot on the ballot by a petition drive completed in June.

"The party will hold a nominating convention Oct. 24 at the Wyndham Riverfront in North Little Rock to nominate candidates for Congress, state legislature and other offices."

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/10/14/libertarian-party-sues-over-early-ballot-filing-deadline
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Arkansas LP's ballot access petition accepted

Libertarian Party of Arkansas meets petition requirements for 2016 election | Business, Political, and Cultural News in Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas:

June 23, 2015 - "There will be another party on the 2016 general election ballot, according to information from the Secretary of State’s office Tuesday.

"The Libertarian Party of Arkansas met the signature requirement for a new party in the state, Secretary of State spokesman Chris Powell said.

"The party – which advocates limited government on economic and social issues – turned in their petitions June 2 to Secretary of State Mark Martin to be a part of the 2016 campaign.

"Powell said the party turned in 15,619 signatures, with 11,918 valid. The number – which must be signed by registered voters in Arkansas – was more than the 10,000 required to become a new political party.

"Before the Secretary of State can provide a certificate officially recognizing the Libertarian Party of Arkansas as a new political party, they must submit an affidavit, signed by the officers of the party, under oath, that complies with the provisions of Arkansas Code Annotated § 7-3-108(b)....

"During the 2014 elections, the party fielded candidates for every statewide federal and state office. Most of the candidates received between 2 and 6% of the vote. One ... received nearly 20% of the vote against incumbent Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, in the Third District."

Read more: http://www.thecitywire.com/node/37939
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15,000 sign Arkansas LP ballot access petition

Libertarian Party Aims For Ballot Recognition, Greens To Forgo 2016 State Races | KUAR - Jacob Kauffman:

June 2, 2015 - "The Libertarian Party of Arkansas stopped by the state Capitol Tuesday to deliver 15,000-plus signatures to be recognized an official party, allowing its candidates to be placed on the 2016 ballot. State party chairman Michael Pakko said this year Libertarians began the petition process early to mitigate what third-party supporters often characterize as an unfair initial requirement for recognition.

"'These are petitions requesting that we become a new political party in Arkansas, once again, for the third time,' said Pakko.

"The $34,000 petition effort finished two weeks in advance of a 90 day deadline, with 5,000 signatures above the required 10,000, to help ensure a sufficient number will be verified as valid.

"'It’s a huge chunk of our effort. We’re already behind the game by the time we get on the ballot. Of course it requires fundraising and volunteer hours to accomplish this task and that really does take a lot of the resources that could otherwise go toward candidates and campaigns,' said Pakko.

"That’s an effort the state’s other minor party, the Green Party, won’t be able to match this year. The Green Party of Arkansas has succeeded in ballot recognition drives for 10 years but state coordinator Mark Jenkins said in 2016 it won’t be able to field any state-level candidates."

Read more: http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/libertarian-party-aims-ballot-recognition-greens-forgo-2016-state-races
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Hair braiders sue three states over licensing laws

Libertarian-backed hair braiders sue three states over license requirements | Fashion | theguardian.com - Amanda Holpuch, The Guardian:

June 18, 2014 - "Hair braiders in three US states filed lawsuits this week calling cosmetology licensing regulations unconstitutional, in part because the licensing process does not require certificants to learn hair braiding techniques.

"With help from the libertarian Institute for Justice, plaintiffs in Washington, Missouri and Arkansas said the licensing process puts an unnecessary burden on braiders who would have to pay for and attend cosmetology or vocational school to obtain a license.

"'I think that it might reflect a lack of awareness of the nuances of black hairstyles by the people that are focused on establishing these type of regulations,' said Adia Harvey Wingfield, an associate professor at Georgia State University.

"Hair braiding is a natural technique that does not require chemicals or technical equipment and relies on specific, centuries-old processes that can take several hours to complete.

"But hair braiders in 24 states must still adhere to cosmetology regulations, even if they do not offer hair cutting, dying or other services that alter the structure of hair.

"After a similar lawsuit in 2005, Washington said it would not require hair braiders to obtain such licenses because braiding doesn’t include processes that alter hair structure in the way that haircuts and coloring services do. However, Salamata Sylla, the owner of a hair braiding salon and plaintiff in the new Washington suit, was told she could only continue braiding if she got a state license – which would require 1,600 hours of training and two examinations on services she does not offer, like beard-trimming."

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/jun/18/hair-braiders-licensing-plawsuits
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