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:

State raids clinic vaccinating teachers, seizes jabs

Rural community in shock after Georgia raids clinic vaccinating teachers | NBC News - Stephanie Gosk, Laura Strickler, Lisa Cavazuti and Corky Siemaszko:

February 5, 2021 - "ELBERTON, Ga. ... was still in shock Friday, days after state health workers raided the busiest medical clinic in the county and seized its Covid-19 vaccine supply because staffers had given doses to teachers. Some 470 shots of the Pfizer vaccine were confiscated from the Medical Center of Elberton, a private clinic that had been the largest provider of vaccinations in Elbert County, leaving behind just enough medicine to guarantee second doses to people who have already been inoculated. 'Everything that we had tried to do up until now to vaccinate our county was just laid to waste,' Dr. Jonathan Poon, who works at the clinic, told NBC News.

"'DPH took the action after learning the provider had been vaccinating individuals in the Elbert County School District who were outside of the current Phase 1A+ eligible population,' the agency said in a statement.... In an interview, Dr. Chris Rustin of the Department of Public Health, said the clinic's actions left them no choice. 'Going outside of the phase in almost a deliberate manner was something that we could not ignore," he said. "And we needed to make sure that others that are vaccinating understand that we have such limitations on our vaccine supply that we have to follow a plan that's been clearly communicated.'

"Still, as recently as Dec. 7, educators were considered by the state to be in that 'essential group,' Poon said, adding that they were able to vaccinate about 177 school workers before the public health department shut them down.... 'The first inkling that they might have run afoul of the state was Jan. 26 when the department called 'asking whether or not we had vaccinated teachers,' the doctor said. 'And at the time we, of course, believed that that was part of the proper procedure, so we said yes,' Poon said. 'And in less than 48 hours, the state handed down a ruling that our vaccine status was suspended and that we would no longer be able to vaccinate individuals.'"

"Terrie Glaude, a teacher in Elbert County, managed to squeeze in her second shot just days before the department descended on the clinic.... 'Everyone wants their kids in school,' Glaude said. 'And the way to keep them in school is to let our teachers be vaccinated along with the elderly population'....

"Marlene Lord, who is 68 and got her second dose at the clinic Thursday, said she would have gladly given her vaccination to a teacher. 'Being retired, I have the ability to stay away from it more than they do,' she said. 'I want the kids in school. And I think the more protection there is, the better it is.' Lord also said the public health department did a disservice to the community by taking the vaccines from the clinic.'

"DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam said they gave the clinic 30 minutes notice Tuesday that they were coming to collect the vaccines... The Medical Center of Elberton has filed an appeal to overturn the suspension, claiming it did not knowingly break any rules or regulations and blamed the error on 'a lack of clarification from the state,' the NBC affiliate reported....

"Under Georgia’s guidelines, teachers aren’t eligible for the vaccine unless they’re also health care workers, first responders or 65 and older. But the Medical Center of Elberton began vaccinating school employees last month after administering doses to the high priority workers 'but before completing the vaccination of seniors,' The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in January....

"Covid-19 vaccinations are already being provided to teachers from kindergarten through high school in 25 states and Washington, D.C., although in some of those states it’s limited to select counties, according to a New York Times survey of vaccination eligibility rules. In a separate NBC News survey, teachers are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination in 22 different states. Georgia, however, is not one of those states on either list."

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rural-community-shock-after-georgia-raids-clinic-vaccinating-teachers-n1256858

11th Circuit gives GA LP new ballot access hearing

11th Circuit Vacates District Court Ruling, Says Georgia Must Revisit Third Parties’ Exclusion From Elections | AllOnGeorgia - Jessica Szilagyi:

June 4, 2020 - "The Libertarian Party of Georgia [LPG] has made a substantial gain in a matter against the Georgia Secretary of State. While the case was filed by the LPG, the potential for improved access will impact all third party candidates in Georgia. The 11th Circuit Court issued a ruling on Wednesday requiring a Georgia district court to consider whether candidates of the Libertarian Party of Georgia had been unconstitutionally excluded by Georgia’s ballot access laws.

"In the Peach state, any third party candidates (those outside Republicans and Democrats) must obtain thousands of signatures and submit those signatures to the Secretary of State, a partisan office, for approval. These measures are not measures required of the two main parties, which merely pay a qualifying fee and complete paperwork. Surprisingly, even if no candidate from one of the two major parties runs for a particular office, a third party candidate must still clear the hurdles of signature collection and submission before even being considered for the ballot....

"In a separate matter, the LPG made a request for injunctive relief once social distancing guidelines were implemented in the state, claiming mandates requiring signature collection via door-to-door interactions and other public appearances would be next to impossible, therefore barring third party candidates from the ballots all together. In a news release, the LPG called the signature requirements 'both illegal and immoral'....

"'Today’s ruling from the Court of Appeals means that the Secretary of State is going to have to justify a ballot-access scheme that has deprived Georgia voters of choice in congressional elections for more than 70 years,' said Bryan Sells, the attorney for the Libertarian Party and its co-plaintiffs in both suits. Sells has handled the case pro-bono, but the Georgia LP has raised $13,000 to cover expenses and court fees. You can  read the ruling here.

"The Party has tried more traditional means of affecting change, including seeking a change to the law itself. House Bill 191, sponsored by Representative Dar’Shun Kendrick, was filed in 2019 with bipartisan support to lower the number of petition signatures required for all third-party and independent candidates from 5% of votes cast in the previous election to 200. The Chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee ... blocked attempts to even give the bill a hearing for discussion."

Read more: https://allongeorgia.com/georgia-state-politics/libertarian-party-of-ga-claims-victory-after-ruling-in-ballot-access-case-against-sec-of-state/

Monds declares for Libertarian POTUS nomination

Former Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Announces Presidential Campaign | Georgia Public Broadcasting- Sharon Rose:

February 4, 2020 - "John Monds, a 2010 Georgia gubernatorial candidate, has announced that he will seek the Libertarian nomination for president. Monds was also the first Libertarian candidate to receive more than 1 million votes at the state level during his 2008 campaign for Georgia public service commissioner.

“'John Monds has been an incredible voice for Libertarians in Georgia,' said Ryan Graham, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Georgia. 'I look forward to seeing him extend that influence to a national scale, energizing supporters of libertarian principles.'

"Monds said the decision was one he had weighed for the past several years. 'Just recently I've made up my mind that this is exactly what I want to do,' Monds said. 'This is the right time.'

"Monds said his focus right now is not about President Trump, but securing the nomination of the party.... The Libertarian Party nominates their candidate through registered delegates at their national convention, which will take place in Austin, Texas, in May. Monds said he’s open to reforming the Libertarian nomination process, but believes ballot access restrictions for third parties have been a factor in preventing that....

"He believes the biggest way the Libertarian Party can make its case in 2020 is in sticking to its core [principles]. 'I definitely believe ... we don't need to water down our message and we have to be very careful about that,' Monds said.

"The Libertarian’s 2016 presidential nominee, Gary Johnson, received 3.27% of the popular vote in the last election, but did not win any electoral votes."

Read more https://www.gpbnews.org/post/former-georgia-gubernatorial-candidate-announces-presidential-campaign
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Georgia Libertarians appeal ballot access ruling

Georgia Libertarian Party appeals ballot restriction ruling | Georgia | thecentersquare.com - Nyamekye Daniel:

October 15, 2019 - "The Georgia Libertarian Party ... and other plaintiffs in a case against the state have appealed a federal judge’s ruling to uphold current election qualifying law for third-party candidates. The law requires U.S. House candidates who are not Democratic or Republican to file a petition with signatures from 5 percent of the voting population to appear on the ballot. U.S. District Judge Leigh May ruled in favor of the state being able to maintain the restrictions....

"'Georgia’s ballot barriers are so strict that no independent or third-party candidates have qualified for U.S. House general elections since their passage in 1943,' said Bryan Sells, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Georgia has the strictest ballot regulations in the nation, ballot access expert Richard Winger told Politifact.

"There are similar restrictions for countywide and statewide races. To get on the ballot for state government position, a third party candidate must collect signatures from 1 percent of the voting population. County seats also require 5 percent of signatures....

"About 40 percent of state lawmakers had challengers in the 2018 elections. Two independent candidates made it on the ballot for congressional seats during the primary election, but they didn’t make the cut for the final election. Half of the Congressional districts had write-in votes from the Libertarian Party and Independents....

"House Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, D–Lithonia, attempted to change the law during the 2019 legislative session. Kendrick filed House Bill 19, which would have required candidates in any election to get 200 signatures to appear on the ballot. The bill stalled in the House after its second reading in February.

"The Supreme Court has found legal grounds to overturn similar restrictions in Illinois. The court ruled in 1979 that a law, which required candidates to obtain more signatures to run for a city seat than a statewide seat, violated equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. A second case in 1990 successfully challenged the same law."

Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/georgia-libertarian-party-appeals-ballot-restriction-ruling/article_1e2f04a6-ef6e-11e9-a411-dfc98f0bb6bc.html
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Georgia Libertarian voting Democrat in runoff

Libertarian Candidate Offers Support - But No Endorsement - in Georgia PSC Runoff to 'Combat Cronyism' - AllOnGeorgia - Ryan Graham:

November 26, 2018 - "As a candidate for state office in Georgia this fall, I heard from thousands of voters feeling left behind by Georgia politics. Those voices of dissent and discontent voted for libertarian candidates.... They rejected the status quo and corrupt bureaucrats. Many of those voters, myself included, will be faced with that status quo again in December 4 run-offs.

"I campaigned against the outrageously disingenuous incumbent failing to represent District 3 on the Public Service Commission (PSC). His campaign was overwhelmingly funded by companies he is elected to regulate, most notably Georgia Power, Southern Company. Donations are disguised through lobbyists and law firms who represent those special interests.

"The PSC’s duty is to advocate for consumers against state-appointed monopolies. When competition is illegal, prices rise and quality falls.... Monopoly power companies are not only charging Georgians higher prices and special fees, they’ve successfully convinced incumbent politicians to allow them to profit from power they haven’t produced. The $28 Billion boondoggle in Waynesboro guarantees Georgia Power ... $5 Billion in profits without a single kilowatt generated.....

"I’ve fielded many calls and emails this month asking if my campaign – 100,000+ voters strong – would endorse either the sitting Republican or the challenging Democrat. I will not. Were either candidate on the right side of enough issues to earn my endorsement, my own campaign would not have been necessary. But I will cast a vote in this run-off: I will vote for Lindy Miller....

"Democrats usually count on the support of unions and ‘organized labor’ in exchange for make-work projects at public expense. Miller has not received those endorsements, and that’s a good sign. Unions see she’ll question cost overruns and wasted dollars – exactly what the PSC should be doing but hasn’t....

"The PSC, designated to represent your interests and stand up to its own crony donors, has 5 commissioners all of whom are big government, tax-and-spend Republicans. Lindy Miller will challenge discussions that routinely end in 5-0 or 0-5 decisions. The strength of Miller’s campaign is her fierce advocacy for consumers and apparent willingness to fight the status quo.

"Customers forced to do business with just one power provider need a champion bulldog, not a corporate lapdog. We need someone on the PSC asking the hard questions. I genuinely hoped it could be me, and I thank the tens of thousands of you who joined me in voting for that vision. At least one candidate has endorsed consumer choice, because your concerns tipped an election."

Read more: https://www.allongeorgia.com/georgia-column-politics/opinion-libertarian-candidate-offers-support-but-no-endorsement-in-georgia-psc-runoff/
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Libertarian Metz gets into GA governor debate

Predicting a runoff, Libertarian wants protest vote - Jill Nolin, CHNI - WALB 10 News:

October 25, 2018 - "Tired of two-party politics? The lesser-known third-party candidate in the closely watched Georgia gubernatorial race says he wants your 'protest' vote.

"'This is going to be a runoff anyway,' Ted Metz, who is running as a Libertarian, said during the first televised debate. 'If you’re tired of the two-party system and the two-party tyranny of the oligarchs running the planet, then a vote for me is a protest vote to show them that you are sick and tired of the same ol’ stuff.'

"Metz, a Mableton retiree who worked in the insurance industry, used candidate-to-candidate questions during Tuesday night’s Atlanta Press Club debate to highlight the flaws of both Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams. The debate aired live on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

"Abrams and Kemp are running neck and neck with just a couple weeks left before the Nov. 6 election, according to recent polls.... Metz has lagged far behind ... mustering just 1 or 2 percent of support from likely voters in recent polls. And he’s raised just $6,000 in a race that has smashed state fundraising records.

"But if Metz cobbles together enough votes to deny Abrams and Kemp the votes needed for a majority, the race to name Georgia’s next governor could run into December....

"Metz used his time on screen to laud the usefulness of industrial hemp, call for smaller government and decry the two-party political system.

"He said lower voter turnout – which he attributed to disinterested independent voters – is a bigger issue than voter suppression, which has become a major election issue in the homestretch of the race.

"'They’re trying to pull us apart [to] vote for one of the two teams,' Metz said. 'There are more people that are more interested in hearing a third voice than voting for team red or team blue.'"

Read more: https://www.walb.com/2018/10/25/predicting-runoff-libertarian-wants-protest-vote/
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Georgia Libertarians sue for ballot access

Libertarian Party lawsuit opposes Georgia's ballot restrictions - Mark Neely, Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

November 21, 2017 - "Georgia’s restrictions on third-party candidates trying to run for Congress should be declared unconstitutional, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday by the Libertarian Party of Georgia.

"No third-party candidate in Georgia has ever collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate since the state passed an election qualifying law in 1943.

"That law requires at least 5 percent of registered voters to sign a petition — that’s about 19,000 signatures needed to field a third-party candidate in any of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts. Meanwhile, candidates nominated by the Republican and Democratic parties automatically appear on the ballot....

"Georgia requires more signatures for a third-party congressional candidate to appear on the ballot than any other state in the nation, according to the lawsuit. Thirty states require 10,000 or fewer signatures for a third party to run a full slate of candidates statewide for U.S. House.

"The lawsuit lists 27 third-party candidates since 1982 that declared their intention to qualify for election to the U.S. House but were unsuccessful.

"The Libertarian Party is asking a judge to declare that Georgia’s ballot access laws violate the First Amendment and 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee freedom of speech and due process. It also alleges the state’s laws run afoul of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

"The requirement for third-party candidates to gather signatures from 5 percent of a district’s voters was originally enacted 74 years ago for the purpose of preventing Communist Party candidates from appearing on Georgia ballots, according to the lawsuit."

Fielding third-party candidates for statewide elected offices is easier.... In a previous case, a federal judge lowered the signature requirement for presidential candidates to appear on Georgia ballots. U.S. District Judge Richard Story ruled in 2016 that third-party and independent presidential candidates must collect 7,500 signatures rather than about 50,000, or 1 percent of the state’s registered voters."

Read more: http://www.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/lawsuit-seeks-end-georgia-restrictions-third-party-candidates/KNhV9teHrvqb0hHcpzT9jP/
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Downtown Atlanta revitalized by private enterprise

How Policing Works in a Privatized City | Foundation for Economic Education - Jeffrey Tucker:

June 10, 2015 - "'All the common areas of Atlantic Station including the streets, sidewalks, parks, and alleys are private property.'

"Thus reads one line buried in the Rules of Conduct for Atlantic Station, Atlanta, Georgia: a marvelous city within a city. But it’s this one line that makes the critical difference. It’s why this one-square mile in the heart of this great city has done more to model beauty, prosperity, diversity, and happy living than 50 years of 'urban renewal' and other government programs.

"The entire community was built on top of the old Atlanta Steel Mill, which opened in 1901 and closed in the 1970s, leaving desolation in its wake. Atlantic Station opened 10 years ago as a visionary entrepreneurial venture — the brainchild of The Jacoby Group, headed by Jim Jacoby — funded mostly with private money (the city helped with tax breaks and some infrastructure funding).

"It is not a gated community walled off from the public for only the elite. There is no charge to get in. Everything is public access, and subject to all the laws governing commercial property. The difference between the public and private city, however, is huge.

"You can tell when you have entered the space. Whereas many areas of Atlanta struggle, this area in the heart of the city is clean, bright, ebullient, bustling with enterprise and life.

"On an evening recently, on the way to the movies in the spectacular theater there, I sat outside on the patio of a Mexican food restaurant and watched adults and children playing games and having fun on the green space that serves as a mini-park in the middle of this urban experiment in capitalism. There were people from all races, classes, and ages. They listened to the live band and sang along....

"It was a typical evening, and it was all taking place in a place that was, only twenty years ago, a burned out, low-rent, disaster zone, the kind of place people flee. Now, the migration patterns have changed. Atlantic Station is a place where you want to live and work.

"I was walking along and a uniformed police office greeted me good evening. I responded with delight, and we had a nice conversation. She wanted to know if I was enjoying the evening, made a few bar recommendations, we chatted about the weather, and I went on. She was uniformed, yes, and probably armed, but in a non-threatening way. She looked sharp and helpful, as well as official.

"Then it struck me: the police in the community are privately employed by main stakeholders in the community, which are the merchants, apartment owners, and other service providers. (The streets are also private but public access.) For this reason, the police themselves have a deep investment in the well-being of the community and the general happiness of the consumers who shop there. They are employees of the free enterprise system. In particular, Atlantic Station owners contract with Chesley Brown for experienced service."

Read more: http://fee.org/articles/how-policing-works-in-a-privatized-city/
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Major cannabis reform bill introduced in Congress

Path-Breaking Bill Would Legalize Medical Marijuana In States That Allow It - Jacob Sullum, Forbes:

March 26, 2015 - "This week Georgia’s legislature overwhelmingly approved a bill that allows people suffering from certain medical conditions, including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, to treat their symptoms with cannabis oil that is low in THC but high in cannabidiol (CBD)....  But like the CBD laws adopted by 11 other states, Georgia’s bill ... does not legalize production or sale of the medicine it permits patients to take....

"A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on March 10 and in the House on Tuesday would address that problem by decriminalizing transportation of CBD oil from states that allow its production to states that allow its use. The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act also would help patients in the 23 states that allow medical use of cannabis itself. The bill, which has bipartisan support, would amend the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) so that the federal ban on marijuana does not apply to people who grow, distribute, or use the drug for medical purposes in compliance with state law. Since this is the first time a bill legalizing medical marijuana has been introduced in both houses of Congress, the CARERS Act could represent a turning point in the national debate about this much-maligned plant.

"The bill’s chief Senate sponsors are Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)....So far the CARERS Act has attracted two additional cosponsors in the Senate ... Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). The bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Don Young (R-Alaska)....

"The bill would eliminate a Department of Veterans Affairs rule prohibiting physicians who work in its medical facilities from recommending marijuana to their patients....

"The bill would eliminate the extra layer of review by the U.S. Public Health Service that is required specifically for studies involving marijuana, and it would instruct the Drug Enforcement Administration to license three sources of cannabis in addition to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA’s marijuana monopoly is a major barrier to research....

"The CARERS Act also would move marijuana from Schedule I, supposedly reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use, to Schedule II, the most restrictive category for prescription drugs.... [M]oving marijuana to a lower schedule would officially acknowledge the evidence that it is a safe and effective treatment for symptoms such as nausea, pain, and muscle spasms....

"Borrowing language from the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act of 2013, the bill would bar federal prosecutors and regulators from penalizing financial institutions for serving 'marijuana-related legitimate businesses.' It would also relieve banks of the requirement to file “suspicious activity reports' on such customers.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2015/03/26/path-breaking-bill-would-legalize-medical-marijuana-in-states-that-allow-it/
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Negative GA governor's race helping Libertarian

Libertarian offers alternative to veteran politicians in Georgia governor's race | Online Athens:

"The barrage of negative advertisements about Republican Nathan Deal and Democrat Jason Carter is helping Libertarian Andrew Hunt make his case for a third alternative in the governor’s race.

"'It’s a very, very night-and-day choice here. I am very different,' Hunt said in his only televised debate with the other two. 'I am a small businessman, PhD in engineering. I have about 50 patents, and I want to put all that to work for you. ... I have 1 percent or less of the money they do. You’re going to be seeing lots of ads run by them. We have the news of who they’re being supported by, the special interests that paid for these tens of millions (of dollars) in ads. You have to, if you want to support me, talk to other people.'

"Like Carter, he supports Medicaid expansion, but like Deal, he favors so-called tort
reform that limits malpractice payouts. He agrees with Carter on ending the ban on same-sex marriage, but is in sync with Deal on wanting to adhere to the original interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. He’s an advocate of school choice and educational savings accounts for tuition like Deal, and he joins Carter in attacking the incumbent’s ethics."

"The central plank on Hunt’s platform is job creation through a unique proposal to have the state cover the payroll-related taxes for full-time jobs paying more than $11 per hour.... He argues that will create incentives to hire because the costs will be lower for employers.

"As a result of skilled workers getting those new jobs, he predicts that unskilled workers will also find more opportunities."

Read more: http://onlineathens.com/election/2014-10-25/libertarian-offers-alternative-veteran-politicians-georgia-governors-race
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Dalton GA mayor endorses Libertarian for governor

Former GOP governor candidate backs Libertarian | Georgia News - Kathleen Foody,  Associated Press:

October 3, 2014 - "A former Republican candidate for governor is backing the Libertarian candidate on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"Dalton Mayor David Pennington lost a long-shot bid to replace Gov. Nathan Deal as the party's nominee in May, earning about 17 percent of the primary vote. He attacked the governor's fiscal policy during the campaign, appealing to conservative voters.

"Libertarian candidates could play a role in both the race for governor and Georgia's open U.S. Senate seat....

"On Friday, Pennington endorsed Andrew Hunt and says voting for a third-party candidate isn't a waste. Pennington says he won't tell anyone else who to support and expects people to vote their conscience."

Read more: http://www.news4jax.com/news/georgia-news/former-gop-governor-candidate-backs-libertarian/28394208
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LP candidate for governor hopes to force runoff

Libertarian candidate trying to force runoff in governor’s race | www.wsbtv.com:

August 6, 2014 = "The libertarian candidate in the Georgia governor's race is trying to force a runoff that could delay the outcome until December.

"Newcomer Andrew Hunt spoke to Channel 2’s Lori Geary about his background and reasons for running for governor.

"'I have a PhD in material sciences and engineering from Georgia Tech.  I immediately started up a nontechnology company,' Hunt said....

"It's his first run for political office.

"'The reason I did, the majority of the people who are polled say they're dissatisfied with both parties,' he said....

"Hunt said he knows he has an uphill climb but wants to force a runoff in Georgia’s governor's race.
The two leading candidates, Republican incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal and democrat Jason Carter are fighting it out on the airwaves and in interviews.

"Hunt said his main issue is wasteful spending and points to the massive overhaul of the Interstate 285/Georgia 400 interchange. 'That’s going to be $1 billion that's going to tie up traffic for years, rather than putting it into light sequencing systems which alleviate traffic much quicker and smoother,' Hunt said.

Read more: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/libertarian-candidate-trying-force-run-governors-r/ngw57/
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GA Libertarian cut from ballot due to "notary error"

Libertarian candidate sues state for ballot access | www.ajc.com - Nicholas Fouriezos, Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

August 5, 2014 - "A Libertarian candidate has sued after he was left off the ballot to challenge State Rep. Scot Turner, R-Holly Spings, due to a notary error.

"Jeff Amason filed a lawsuit last week to gain a spot on the ballot. He also announced plans to file Tuesday for an emergency motion in Fulton County Superior Court, to make sure the case is addressed before state law requires the ballot to be printed on Aug. 29.

"The Georgia Engineering Foundation president had collected 1,800 valid petition signatures, enough to be placed on the ballot.

"However, Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s office disqualified the majority of those signatures.
That’s because Amason’s wife served as a notary and distributor of many of the petition’s pages, Kemp said, which she also signed. That would seemingly go against a Georgia law which requires that 'no notary public may sign the petition as an elector or serve as a circulator of any petition which he or she notarized.'

"Amason disagrees with Kemp’s reading of the law, saying that a conflicting notary statute made the signatures valid.

He also said the interpretation was made to restrict third-party candidates."

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/libertarian-candidate-sues-state-for-ballot-access/ngwFf/

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Georgia LP nominee offers different approach as governor

Georgia Libertarian nominee offers a different approach as governor | Online Athens - Walter C. Jones, Morris News Service:

June 14, 2014 - "Andrew Hunt is as experienced in working wonders with small things as anyone.

"He earned 50 patents and two decades ago founded a 20-person nano-technology company that provides films, powders and other products for manufacturers. This newspaper page is 100,000 nanometers thick, and he’s accustomed to producing films only 10 nanometers thick. So, he may feel right at home in a campaign for governor that appears just as small.

"He’s up against the sitting governor, Republican Nathan Deal, who has already raised more than $8 million ...  and Jason Carter, the grandson of a U.S. president who’s already garnered more than $1 million.... Hunt hopes to raise $300,000, which would be more than 10 times what the last Libertarian raised....

"Hunt has some innovative proposals. He wants to save money on prisons by no longer locking up people convicted of “victimless crimes” like possession of marijuana. He would also effectively do away with the Department of Economic Development because he feels it’s wrong to give more attention, tax breaks, employee training or other benefits to any one company over another.

"Instead, to boost job creation he proposes having the state reimburse all employers for the employment taxes they pay because of federal laws, such as social security and unemployment insurance.... He stops short at picking up their penalty for not providing health insurance even though he acknowledges the Supreme Court ruled it was a tax."

Read more: http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2014-06-14/georgia-libertarian-nominee-offers-different-approach-governor

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Libertarians shaking up 3 southern U.S. races

Southern-Fried Freedom Lovers Propel Libertarian Candidates - The Daily Beast - Patricia Murphy:

June 5, 2014 - "Drawing surprisingly high support, a trio of Libertarian candidates has the potential to disrupt already tight races in the Deep South, where Democrats and Republicans are waging epic battles for Florida governor, Georgia governor, and one of North Carolina’s seats in the U.S. Senate.

"In Georgia, nanotechnologist Andrew Hunt is polling at 9 percent in the governor’s race, which is otherwise a dead heat between incumbent Republican Nathan Deal and Democratic state Sen. Jason Carter. In North Carolina, the headlines have focused on the Thom Tillis-Sen. Kay Hagan face-off in November, but quietly amassing 11 percent in the contest is Sean Haugh, the Libertarian candidate running on an anti-war agenda. And in Florida, Adrian Wyllie will be on the November ballot with Gov. Rick Scott and former governor Charlie Crist. Although Wyllie is polling at 4 percent, he’s at 10 percent with Florida’s all-important independent voters and will be on the same November ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana....

"'I think it’s more of a positive identification with Libertarian ideas more than just a willingness to try something different,' Haugh said of his race this time around. 'The word is not new anymore. They know it’s out there and they know what it means.'

"All three Libertarian campaigns said they see the rest of the country coming around to longtime Libertarian positions on federal spending, gay marriage, the war on drugs, privacy, and ending wars overseas. But it is the disgust with both major parties that seems to be animating many of their new voters."

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/05/southern-fried-freedom-lovers-propel-libertarian-candidates.html
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Barr finishes 2nd; in July runoff for nomination

Barr, Loudermilk pull away in crowded field - Marietta Daily Journal, Haisten Willis:

May 21, 2014 - "Bob Barr and Barry Loudermilk outlasted four other candidates and head to a July 22 runoff for the 11th Congressional District.

"Barr, a former U.S. Rep., and Loudermilk, a former Georgia state senator (R-Cassville), edged out four others to make the second round.

"The winner of the runoff is expected to take the seat given there are no Democratic candidates.

"Barr took 26 percent of the statewide vote, while Loudermilk took 37 percent.

"Barr said his record and name recognition got him this far.

"'We were able to keep the attention focused on the important issues, the substance of what’s going on in Washington and what needs to be done to correct those problems,' said Barr.... “I was up there and have experience to solve these things. I’ve been there and done it. That’s a message that really resonates with the people of the 11th District.'

"Earlier in the day, former Georgia Republican Party Chairman Chuck Clay predicted a runoff.... Clay said there’s a deep Libertarian streak in Republican primaries that could boost Barr, but also gave credit to Loudermilk."

Read more: http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/25140071/article-Barr--Loudermilk-pull-away-in-crowded-field

Bob Barr leading in GOP House primary in Georgia

Bring Bulldog Bob Barr Back to Washington: We Endorse Barr for Congress in GA-11 | ConservativeHQ.com:

May 16, 2014 - "Few people can say that the establishment of both political parties colluded to run them out of Congress.... Bob Barr can proudly claim that distinction.

"In 2002, Democrats in Georgia, aided by the Republican establishment, redrew district lines eliminating Congressman Barr’s congressional seat.... Democrats had a vendetta against Barr while establishment Republicans saw his unwillingness to toe the Party line as a large thorn in their side.

"Today, ... Barr is the leading candidate in a congressional primary next week in Georgia.  If he wins the primary and the possible run-off, Bob 'The Bulldog' Barr will be reclaiming his seat in the House of Representatives – a probability feared by the DC establishment of both political parties....

"While Barr has been criticized for voting for the Patriot Act by libertarians, few know that his vote came with a hard-fought provision to sunset the act – Bob has testified repeatedly to oppose the reauthorization of the intrusive set of laws.

"Another example of his refusal with go with the status quo is the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which ... was proposed and passed at a time when social conservatives were gaining ground on an ill-conceived constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.... DOMA was an end run around what would have been a historic mistake."

Read more: http://www.conservativehq.com/article/17261-bring-bulldog-bob-barr-back-washington-we-endorse-barr-congress-ga-11
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LP of Georgia nominates candidate for open Senate seat

Hall County woman gets Libertarian Senate bid | AccessNorthGa:

March 14, 2014 - "Former Flowery Branch City Council member Amanda Swafford has been nominated by the Libertarian Party of Georgia for the open Senate seat being created by the retirement of Senator Saxby Chambliss.

"Swafford garnered the nomination at her party's March 8th convention in Marietta....

"She is a 1998 graduate of Agnes Scott College and works as a paralegal. She also attends 12 Stone Church.

"Prior to her term on the Flowery Branch City Council she was an elected Libertarian in Sacramento County, California.

"Those interested in finding out more about Ms. Swafford and her campaign can visit her website www.AmandaSwafford.net."

Read more: http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=272421
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Bob Barr campaigns on individual liberty

Bob Barr Campaigns on Individual Liberty – The Political Alternative - Dennis "DJ" Mikolay, Independent Voter News:

August 23, 2013 - "Had former Congressman Bob Barr decided to simply retire and return to private life upon leaving Congress in 2003, nobody would have blamed him.... Rather than relaxing during his post-electoral career, however, the sixty-four year old attorney spent a decade writing, advocating, and speaking on behalf of liberty-minded issues.

"As the years progressed, Barr became increasingly worried by what he saw occurring in Washington: the erosion of civil liberties, the expansion of federal power, and the unwillingness of the Legislature to stand up to the Executive Branch. Consequently, a full decade after leaving office, Barr has decided he is ready to make a comeback.

"'As many Americans have, over the past five and a half years, my concerns for the future of the country was heightened considerably,' said Barr. 'Knowing the Congress and how to get things done up there, and having very strong conservative views on public policy issues, I was very interested in seeking election back to Congress.'"

Read more: http://ivn.us/the-political-alternative/2013/08/23/bob-barr-campaigns-on-individual-liberty/
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