7 U.S. governors say no to vaccine passports

Governor Kristi Noem bans “vaccine passports” in South Dakota | KCRG - Austin Goss"

Apr. 21, 2021 - "In an executive order issued Tuesday evening, Governor Kristi Noem banned government entities in South Dakota from requiring 'vaccine passports'.... In the executive order, Noem bans any government entity, to include local governments, within the state from requiring vaccine passports. Noem says that requiring vaccine passports could ultimately lead to 'improper disclosure of private health information.'

"'I’m going to do everything I can to protect people from getting mandates like this out of governments,' Noem [earlier in April].... 'This kind of provision is a fundamental threat to our freedoms.'"

Read more: https://www.kcrg.com/2021/04/21/governor-kristi-noem-bans-vaccine-passports-in-south-dakota/

Ducey bans ‘vaccine passport’ use by Arizona governments | Arizona Mirror - Jerod MacDonald-Evoy:

April 19, 2021 - "Gov. Doug Ducey on Monday banned state and local governments from requiring a 'vaccine passport' to receive service or enter an area.Ducey’s executive order also applies to any business that has a government contract, and bars them from requiring any customer to provide information on their vaccination status to receive any government services they provide. The executive order does allow for hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities to ask about documentation of a visitor’s, patient’s, employee’s or resident’s vaccination status. Universities, child care centers, home schools and other schools are also exempt. The executive order does not apply to private businesses. 

"'The residents of our state should not be required by the government to share their private medical information,' said Governor Ducey in a press release about the executive order. 'While we strongly recommend all Arizonans get the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s not mandated in our state — and it never will be. Vaccination is up to each individual, not the government.'"

Read more: https://www.azmirror.com/2021/04/19/ducey-bans-vaccine-passport-use-by-arizona-governments/

Arizona Becomes Sixth State To Ban Coronavirus Vaccine Passports — See The Full List Here | Forbes - Carlie Porterfield:

Apr 19, 2021 - "Ducey['s] ... executive order ... mak[es] Arizona the sixth state to denounce the passes that allow holders to prove they’ve been vaccinated against coronavirus....

"Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, in isolation after testing positive for coronavirus, signed an executive order April 14 that will ban both the state government and businesses from requiring proof of vaccination to protect 'individual liberty and personal privacy,' though he added he still encourages constituents to receive a vaccine. It’s a sentiment he shares with Idaho Gov. Gov. Brad Little (R) who issued an order April 9 banning state government entities from requiring proof of coronavirus vaccination to receive public services, in which he noted vaccines are the 'best shot at protecting jobs and saving lives.'

"On Tuesday, April 6, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a similar executive order to block Texas state departments and groups that use public funds from issuing vaccine passports or mandating proof of immunization to receive services. On Friday, April 2, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order with an even further reach — under the order, the state government will punish private businesses that opt to require proof of vaccination by barring them from state grants or contracts.

"In February, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law that bans the Utah state government from requiring or issuing vaccine passports, though private businesses remain free to mandate them for patrons if they wish. Other Republican governors have not issued executive orders regarding vaccine passports, but have indicated they do not support their use, like Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R), Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R).... 

"The White House has pledged it will not pursue a vaccine passport sponsored by the federal government.... The majority of vaccine passports in development are being spearheaded by private companies in hopes it will embolden customers to feel safe traveling and pursuing in-person entertainment again at places like sports arenas, restaurants and live music venues. So far, New York is the only state to launch its own vaccine passport."

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/04/19/arizona-becomes-sixth-state-to-ban-coronavirus-vaccine-passports---see-the-full-list-here/

Utah legislators seek to curb emergency powers

Bill on public health orders moves forward in Utah legislature | Fox News - Ben Winslow:

February 16, 2021 - "A bill that puts limits on the governor's ability to issue a state of emergency or public health orders is advancing on Capitol Hill with bipartisan support.... Senate Bill 195 ... puts up a number of guardrails on the governor's ability to enact public health orders and state of emergency declarations. It is in direct response to a public dispute between then-Governor Gary Herbert and legislative leadership on COVID-19 health orders. When lawmakers sought to end his state of emergency, he allowed it to expire and then issued a brand new one every 30 days....

"The bill would allow a governor to issue a state of emergency. However, only the legislature can agree to extend it and has the ability to terminate it. There's a provision for public hearings on extensions. The bill also sets limits on fines for violation of public health orders and reins in the power of some restrictions, including 'stay at home' orders....

"'Every power and order that the executive branch and the health department have been using, are legislative powers,' Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, told FOX 13. 'The legislature has allowed them to use those, so I think it’s appropriate that the legislature would have oversight.'

"Lawmakers have complained about Gov. Herbert's public health orders, including mask mandates and limits on gathering sizes. Provisions in the bill also block restrictions on religious gatherings....

"But the bill also allows counties to issue orders as they deem necessary. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson had difficulty getting Gov. Herbert to issue a mask mandate. He finally relented and allowed her to issue her own, then allowed other communities to do the same before finally issuing a statewide mask mandate that has been in place since November.

"Governor Spencer Cox's office told FOX 13 on Friday that it is working with the legislature to find a 'balance' on the bill. But some public health groups have expressed concerns about it. 'We have concerns about the ability of an elected official to override the rules and authority of a health department to make medically and scientifically based decisions in the best interest of public health,' said Maryann Martindale, the executive director of the Utah Academy of Family Physicians, in a statement.... 'We are concerned that this bill will shift the balance away from sound health-based decisions—especially during emergencies—to the whims of political influence.'

Asked if the Senate was inserting itself into public health decisions, the senate president insisted they were not. 'Those policy things I think come back to those elected officials, not those appointed," Sen. Adams said. "Surely, we need to be aware. We’d have the political consequences of ignoring recommendations, but we haven’t taken them totally away.'

"Senate Democrats were also involved in negotiations over the bill. Senate Minority Whip Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said they were in support of the bill. '"I think this bill will provide transparency and allow the public to engage and the public, I feel, haven’t been able to engage fully,' she said."

Read more: https://www.fox13now.com/news/coronavirus/local-coronavirus-news/bill-on-public-health-orders-moves-forward-in-utah-legislature

Cannabis prohibition defeated in 3 more states

The Growing Consensus for Legalizing Marijuana - Reason.com - Steve Chapman:

November 9, 2018 - "The United States remains starkly divided between red and blue, with Republicans and Democrats each registering some gains and some setbacks in the elections. But on one important issue, a national consensus is emerging....

"On Tuesday, Michigan became the 10th state, along with the District of Columbia, to decide to legalize marijuana for purely recreational use. A quarter of Americans will live in states that let them get stoned.... Then there are the states that allow marijuana to be used for medical needs. On Tuesday, Missouri and Utah  ... voted to join the club. That brings the total number of states that allow pot to be legally consumed in some circumstances to 32, according to the Drug Policy Alliance, plus D.C....

"Illinois elected a governor, J.B. Pritzker, who favors allowing recreational cannabis. So did Connecticut (Ned Lamont), Maine (Janet Mills), Minnesota (Tim Walz), and New Mexico (Michelle Lujan Grisham)....

"Cannabis has already run away with the contest for public favor. In 2000, according to the Pew Research Center, only 31 percent of Americans supported legalizing recreational pot. Today, 62 percent do.

"But even in states where cannabis is legal, it isn't. Federal law still bans weed, with penalties that include prison time even for mere users. Sick people smoking it to relieve chronic pain, muscular dystrophy, or epilepsy, in faithful compliance with their state laws, are not exempt from prosecution.... Under Barack Obama, the Justice Department adopted a hands-off policy...  But ... die-hard prohibitionist Jeff Sessions reversed course [and] ordered prosecutors to fully enforce federal laws....

"This ought to be an issue on which the two parties can come together — not on whether marijuana should be legal but on whether states should be allowed to make the ... choices. Last year, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) joined with Democratic colleagues Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to propose ending the federal prohibition on medical cannabis....

"Republicans might gain politically from eliminating the federal role. Taking a more moderate position on a matter that millions of people regard as no business of politicians could soften their image among independent voters. Passing an important measure with bipartisan support would demonstrate that the 2018 election results didn't prevent our lawmakers from getting anything useful done."

Read more: https://reason.com/archives/2018/11/09/the-growing-consensus-for-legalizing-mar
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Cannabis initiatives on 4 state ballots

4 More States Could Legalize Medical or Recreational Marijuana Next Week - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Jacob Sullum:

Michigan
"Proposal 1 would allow adults 21 or older to possess 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana in public, transfer that amount to other adults "without remuneration," possess up to 10 ounces at home, and grow up to 12 plants for personal consumption. The initiative also would establish a licensing system for commercial production and distribution.... Support for Proposal 1 averaged 54 percent in six polls conducted from late February to early October....

North Dakota
"Measure 3 would go further than any initiative enacted so far by ... legalizing 'any nonviolent marijuana activity, except for the sale of marijuana to a person under the age of 21'.... The North Dakota initiative is also unique in requiring 'automatic expungement of the record of an individual who has a drug conviction for a controlled substance that has been legalized'.... North Dakota voters approved medical marijuana by a 28-point margin in 2016, but  ... [s]urveys conducted in February and August put support for legalizing recreational use at 46 percent and 38 percent, respectively....

Utah
"Proposition 2 would authorize the production and distribution of marijuana for medical use by patients with any of 10 qualifying conditions and recommendations from their doctors. As of 2021, state-approved patients would be allowed to grow up to six plants at home if they do not live within 100 miles of a licensed dispensary. Support ... averaged 68 percent in nine polls conducted from mid-February to mid-October. Even after the LDS church joined the coalition opposing the initiative, two polls put support at 64 percent....

Missouri
"Amendment 2, Amendment 3, and Proposition C would all authorize production and distribution of marijuana for medical use....The measures differ mainly in the way they define qualifying conditions, ... maximum amounts ... home cultivation, ... tax rates ... limits they would impose on the number of dispensaries, and the power they would give local governments to ban them. A poll conducted in August found that 54 percent of Missouri voters think the medical use of marijuana should be permitted."

Read more: https://reason.com/blog/2018/10/29/4-more-states-could-legalize-medical-or
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Utah lets children walk to school by themselves

Utah Gives Parents the Right to Parent | Intellectual Takeout - Kerry Macdonald:

March 29, 2018 - "For parents in Utah, it is now legal for their children to walk or bike to and from school without an accompanying adult. They can also let their kids play outside unsupervised, and be allowed to stay at home unattended.

"These newfound freedoms are the result of the 'Free-Range Parenting Bill,' unanimously passed by the Utah legislature and recently signed into law by Utah governor, Gary R. Herbert. Utah’s law is said to be the first of its kind in the nation.

"State officials and lawmakers told the Washington Post that authorities in Utah were 'not in the business' of arresting parents who allowed their children to roam freely, but lawmakers felt compelled to pass the legislation after Child Protective Service in other states opened criminal cases against parents who did....

"We likely walked to school on our own, played outside in our neighborhoods without adults watching, and stayed at home from time to time while our parents were away.... Increasingly, these parenting practices are considered suspect, and even criminalized. The high-profile 2015 case of the Meitiv family in Maryland brought national attention to this issue when the parents were indicted by Child Protective Services for allowing their children to walk home together from a park without an adult. They were subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing, but the incident revealed just how much has changed....

"Parents increasingly get caught up in a government dragnet of child protective services for exercising standard parental judgment.It’s a sad commentary on American childhood when we need laws to protect parents from persecution for letting their kids walk, play, or stay unsupervised. But if that’s what it takes, then call your legislators."

Read more: http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/utah-gives-parents-right-parent
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Buchman runs on tax reform in UT special election

Op-ed: Why you should consider the Libertarian candidate for the 3rd District | Deseret News - Joe Buchman:

August 18, 2017 - "On Aug. 16, Republicans in the 3rd District finally chose a candidate to fill the empty seat formerly held by Jason Chaffetz. Because this was a three-way race with no run-off, the fiscally responsible voters of the 3rd District were divided, and as a result, the GOP candidate for this fall will be the least fiscally responsible, least free market oriented of the three. And this is in Utah’s most fiscally responsible congressional district.

"On the Democratic side, we have a candidate advocating an even more aggressive federal government micromanaging of health care from D.C., raising the tax and debt burden on every American....

"[T]he records and statements of the Democrat and the Republican in this race present two candidates with only slight differences in their tax and spending policies. With Congress discussing the critical issue of tax reform in the coming year, it is critical that the fiscally responsible people of Utah are represented by a true voice for substantive tax reform....

"Despite what you are hearing from the media and the political elite, there is another option, a reasonable option that will give the 3rd District a determined and knowledgeable voice on tax reform for one year.... If you vote for the Libertarian candidate in this election, you will be voting for principled tax reform you can trust that no matter what happens, your representative will represent your interests and not be beholden to the Democrats and Republicans who keep their freshman members on a tight leash.

"If you vote for the Libertarian, you will have a representative for one year who will not be forced to focus on re-election, and who will instead work every day to provide real reform in Washington....

"Here is the bottom line, this candidate will only hold office for one year before a new election is held. By sending the Libertarian to Washington, you will have the time to focus on finding a candidate for the 3rd District that truly represents Utah values. You have an opportunity to vote for the only candidate who was nominated at a convention rather than in a well-funded primary. A candidate with an MBA in finance, a career in education and a principled stand. A candidate who will enjoy the support of the leaders of the national Liberty Movement. There are so many reasons to vote for the Libertarian this November, take a risk and vote for Dr. Joe Buchman."

Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865687017/Op-ed-Why-you-should-consider-the-Libertarian-candidate-for-the-3rd-District.html
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Johnson & Weld offer character and experience

Drew Clark: Johnson and Weld bring experience as well as character for Utah voters | Deseret News:

October 14, 2016 - "Politics is about more than policy positions. When electing our president, we also need to choose a candidate who brings character and experience in governance.

"Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, and Bill Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts, are the only candidates this year that meet all of these necessary qualifications. They are on the ballot in all 50 states. Among independent voters, they are leading in the polls over Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"As a Utahn who believes in common-sense conservative solutions, I’ve noticed a number of my friends express some interest in Provo native Evan McMullin, the former CIA agent who declared his candidacy for president in August. He seems to be a conservative, and his positions are superficially appealing to people of my political background.

"But here’s why I’m supporting Johnson, not McMullin: The presidency is about more than one’s positions. Executive experience in government matters, as does honesty. And while Trump and Clinton fail on both of these tests, McMullin fails on experience. He and his newly-named vice-presidential candidate Mindy Finn, a Republican political consultant, don’t have presidential-level credentials.

"By contrast, both Johnson and Weld were two-term governors. But that doesn’t mean they came to government via politics, the way Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton did. Johnson was a handyman entrepreneur who grew from a one-man shop to a 1,000-employee construction company in New Mexico. He ran for governor as a political outsider, and won.

"Weld’s first elective office was also governor. But he brought experience as an attorney at the highest levels of government, heading the criminal division of the Justice Department under President Ronald Reagan. He came home to upset the Democratic lock on the statehouse in the land dubbed 'Taxachusetts.' Like Johnson, he also upset the state’s high-tax reputation. That was a great benefit to another former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney.

"In fact, Romney has said he would vote for Weld for president....

"McMullin isn’t even on the ballot in enough states to have even a mathematical chance at winning the White House.... According to Ballot Access News, he’s on the ballot in grand total of 11 states.... The electoral votes of those states total 84, not even one-third of what a candidate will need to win.... And his vice presidential pick will be on the ballot in exactly zero states.

"Instead, the McMullin presidential campaign has all the trappings of a vanity effort seeking to raise the profile of a person rather than speaking to a principled set of beliefs."

Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865664793/Johnson-and-Weld-bring-experience-as-well-as-character-for-Utah-voters.html?pg=all
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Why is Evan McMullin running for President?

#NeverNeverTrump: What’s Evan McMullin Really After? - Thomas Knapp, Counterpunch:

August 10, 2016 - "For months, voices from the #NeverTrump movement have confidently promised Americans a fifth credible presidential candidate.... Echoing those promises, a shadowy group calling itself 'Better For America,' funded by Mitt Romney associate John Kingston III, has been doing prep work for that unnamed candidate.

"On August 8 the suspense, such as it was, came to an end. The candidate is David Evan McMullin, a name unfamiliar to voters but well-known on Capitol Hill. Starting as an adviser to congressional Republicans on national security issues, he rose to the position of GOP House policy chief. Now he’s running for president.....

"The conventional wisdom says that he’s there to keep Trump out of the White House – even at the cost of a Hillary Clinton presidency – by giving anti-Trump Republican voters somewhere else to go.

"I think the conventional wisdom is wrong. When we look at what McMullin and Better For America are up to, and where, two far more likely reasons leap into focus. Those reasons are:

"First, to help Trump get elected, but with plausible deniability so that the GOP wins the White House without #NeverTrump leaders having to lose face by kissing the ring ('we did our best but he won anyway, guess we have to live with it').

"Secondly, to ensure that Libertarian Gary Johnson doesn’t become the first independent or third party presidential candidate to carry a state since ... 1968.

"McMullin is custom-made for Utah – a native, a Mormon and a graduate of Brigham Young. Better for America seems focused on promoting him there. The organization [has] also made a seemingly unsuccessful ballot access attempt in New Mexico.

"Johnson is the former two-term Republican governor of blue New Mexico. He’s going toe-to-toe with Trump and Clinton in Utah’s polls and endorsements contest. If he’s going to win anywhere, it will be in New Mexico or Utah.

"The most likely purpose of the McMullin campaign is to fragment the anti-Trump vote in New Mexico, Utah and perhaps other states, allowing Trump to win those states with smaller pluralities than he’d need in a race with fewer significant opponents – and to contain the threat of a third party breakout that might carry over into, and expand in, future elections."

Read more: http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/08/10/nevernevertrump-whats-evan-mcmullin-really-after/

Utah state senator joins Libertarian Party

Utah Pol Bolts GOP After RNC: Party's Direction ‘Makes Me Want To Cry’ - Allegra Kirkland, Talking Points Memo:

July 26, 2016 - "A Utah state senator announced that he was leaving the GOP in despair after attending the Republican National Committee last week.

"Sen. Mark Madsen (R-UT) said Monday that his experience as a Utah delegate confirmed all of his concerns about the future of the party.

"'Every decision and inclination I had before was reinforced,' Madsen said in a press conference where he announced he would become a Libertarian, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

"Madsen, a three term senator from District 13, supported Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and was disappointed by convention-goers booing Cruz off stage when he urged Republicans to vote their conscience.

"Like Cruz, Madsen seems himself as a strict constitutional conservative and believes that 'the scales tipped' away in the Republican Party from an emphasis on states’ rights and entitlement reform.

"The current direction of the party, he said Monday, 'makes me want to cry.'

"'I've invested a lot in that party,' Madsen said, according to the Tribune.

"The Utah senator will retire at the end of this year and acknowledged that his announcement was “largely symbolic."

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/utah-state-senator-leaves-gop-after-convention
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Libertarians sense opportunity in Utah

Utah Republicans are sour on Trump, Libertarians sense opportunity - LA Times - Melanie Mason:

June 17, 2016 - "Utah is one of the handful of states where Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson plans to focus his energies, hoping to capitalize on the revulsion against Trump felt by many ... conservative Mormons.

"Winning the state, or even getting a significant share of the vote, will hardly be easy for the Libertarians. But the very fact that they’re being seriously discussed  — Mitt Romney, the Republican’s 2012 nominee, who remains a highly popular figure here, recently said he would not rule out voting for the party — has Libertarian activists dreaming big.

"The party faces some serious hurdles: Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, remains unknown to many Utah voters, as he is nationwide. And while the party’s fiscally conservative platform may attract Republicans, its permissive social views on drugs, abortion and gay rights may turn off staunch conservatives.

"'On too many of the social issues, they go against the basic grain that conservatives in Utah want,' said Dave Hansen, a veteran GOP strategist. 'When you get to legalization of marijuana, that alone kills Gary Johnson here.'

"That may eventually prove true. For now, however, a poll released this week  by the Salt Lake Tribune and the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah found 13% of voters backing Johnson while Clinton and Trump deadlocked at 35% apiece....

"The most visible face of Trump resistance is Romney’s. Last week, he reiterated his opposition, warning on CNN that Trump could inspire 'trickle-down racism' Romney also sounded open to the Libertarian ticket as an alternative, heaping praise on Johnson’s running mate Bill Weld, who, like Romney, served as a Republican governor in Massachusetts.

'I'll get to know Gary Johnson better and see if he's someone who I could end up voting for,' Romney said.

"Hamstrung by a lack of money and traditional political infrastructure, the Libertarians here are relying on media coverage and word of mouth to power their campaign. So Romney’s support could be an enormous boost; his mere mention of researching Johnson inspired Utahns to do the same."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-utah-trump-libertarians-20160617-snap-story.html

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Utah LP first to qualify under new election law

Utah Libertarians become first 'qualified party' under new election law | Salt Lake Tribune - Lee Davidson:

May 12, 2015 - "The Utah Libertarian Party has become the first official 'qualified political party' under a controversial new election-reform law.

"So far, the party is the only one qualified to appear on future ballots with an official roster of candidates — with the party affiliation listed by their names.

"The Utah Republican Party and the Constitution Party have filed a lawsuit challenging the new law, called SB54, contending that it is unconstitutional because it infringes on their ability to select their nominees as they choose.

"Libertarian Party Chairman W. Andrew McCullough filed a letter with the lieutenant governor's office saying his organization intends to comply with SB54, and thereby became the state's first qualified political party under that law....

"A party also must allow candidates to qualify for the primary ballot either by gathering signatures, or through the old caucus-convention system.

"McCullough wrote that Libertarians "will maintain our present convention system, and acknowledge that candidates may alternatively seek ballot status through petitions. For our party, we do not think that is likely.' The Libertarian Party has only 8,728 registered members.

"A qualified party also must allow either participation by alternate convention delegates for those who are absent, or remote voting....

"SB54 also requires parties to allow unaffiliated voters to participate in party primaries. That is important because 43.5 percent of all Utah voters are unaffiliated, and reformers sought to give them a greater role in determining who appears on the final general election ballot

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/2505133-155/utah-libertarians-become-first-qualified-party
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Utah legislators unveil "Right to Try" drug bill

Bill would allow terminally ill to use experimental drugs - Beaumont Enterprise - Michelle Price, Associated Press:

January 13, 2015 - "A handful of Utah lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a proposal that would make Utah the latest state to let terminally-ill patients obtain experimental drugs that have not been federally approved.

"So-called 'Right to Try' legislation has been pushed by those who say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval process takes too long.

"Huntsville Republican Rep. Gage Froerer held a press conference at Utah's Capitol on Tuesday to announce the bill he'll sponsor in the upcoming legislative session.

Not all patients can qualify for experimental drug trials through the FDA, and this will allow patients and doctors to cut through red tape, Froerer said....

"The Goldwater Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Arizona, is pushing the issue in Utah and other states. 'Right to Try' laws have already been approved in five states: Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Missouri and Michigan. Lawmakers in Kansas and Wyoming are considering similar provisions this year."

Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Bill-would-allow-terminally-ill-to-use-6012407.php
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Libertarian highlights from the 2014 midterms

Libertarian Election Results 2014 - J. Wilson, A Libertarian Future:

November 5, 2014 - "Libertarian candidates may not have won very many elections this year, but we’ve had some high percentage victories. In some states, that means we’ll get the ballot access we deserve for the next election. Guaranteed ballot access is important because it’s time and money that we won’t have to waste next time. Libertarians will be able to spend more time and money campaigning, and less time getting arbitrary signature counts.

"These high percentage Libertarian election results also send a clear message to both of the two parties. Voting Libertarian tells them they won’t receive our consent, and will have to work harder if they ever want our votes. If they don’t, we’re more than happy to keep voting Libertarian.

"These Libertarian election results show just how many Americans are fed up with the two party system and want a third major party.

• Top Voter Percentage: Randall Lord from Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District with 26.56% (55,224 votes) 
• Runner Up: Lucas Overby from Florida’s 13th Congressional District with 24.75% (55,273 votes) 
• Top Vote Total: Adrian Wyllie for Governor of Florida with 222,565 votes (3.75% of the vote) 
• Runner Up: Bill Wohlsifer for Attorney General of Florida with 168,946 votes (2.9% of the vote) 

"Ballot Access: Hawaii, for winning more than 4% of the vote in all State Senate races. Maryland, for winning more than 1% in the Governor’s Race. Mississippi, for winning more than 2% of the vote in House elections. North Dakota, for winning more than 5% of the vote in a Statewide Race. Utah, for winning more than 2% in a Statewide office. Wisconsin, for receiving more than 1% of the vote in a Statewide Race. Wyoming, for winning more than 2% of the vote in the House election....

"More to come!"

Read more: http://alibertarianfuture.com/2014-election/libertarian-election-results-2014/#sthash.ToC0ljkF.dpbs
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Libertas Institute sues in Utah over Common Core

Lawsuit claims State School Board violated law by adopting Common Core | Deseret News - Benjamin Wood::

July 31, 2014 - "The State School Board violated Utah law by adopting the Common Core State Standards without substantive input from parents and educators, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by the Libertas Institute.

"The lawsuit includes six educators and parents as plaintiffs who allege they were denied an opportunity to be consulted prior to the Common Core's adoption, and seeks an order barring further implementation of the education standards.

"'Utahns almost unanimously will say that they favor local control in education,' said Connor Boyack, president of the libertarian advocacy organization funding the suit. 'The question is: What does that mean? Does it mean having elected officials in Utah managing a multi-state or a federal program, or does it mean that everyone affected by that system in the state plays a part in it?'....

"Education officials have long maintained the board's adoption and review of the standards were conducted in accordance with established policies and during public meetings, but because the issue of Common Core had not yet become a cause célèbre, participation in those meetings was sparse.

"But Boyack said holding a public meeting and expecting parents to involve themselves is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the law.

"Having an open meeting is not the same thing as consulting proactively with specifically identifiable groups," he said."

Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865607853/Lawsuit-claims-Utah-State-School-Board-violated-law-by-adopting-of-Common-Core.html
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Paul passing torch to supporters in speech at UVU

Paul passing torch to supporters in speech at UVU - Billy Hesterman, Provo Daily Herald:

October 19, 2012 - "OREM - Texas Congressman Ron Paul called on his supporters to keep carrying his fight for personal liberty as he moves closer to retirement from public life.

"Speaking at Utah Valley University on Thursday Paul encouraged the crowd -- that gave him multiple standing ovations, chanted his name and waved signs that promoted his failed presidential bid -- to keep pushing for freedom and for change that will bring less government intrusion in their lives. He pushed for what has been branded as his version of revolution."

"Paul called on the crowd to spread the message of freedom any way they could. He stated that technology has evolved so much that people now have a greater possibility to make change if they simply try. He told the crowd to have fun working for change and urged them to keep marching his message forward.

Read more: http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/paul-passing-torch-to-supporters-in-speech-at-uvu/article_a4101461-6b3c-5f5b-81be-a9c3481b21da.html
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