Spangle

***For Immediate Release

Libertarian Party of Indiana Calls for an End to Partisan Redistricting; Urges Public to Attend Upcoming Seminar to Get Informed and Join Forces with Reform Coalition

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Today in Indianapolis the Libertarian Party of Indiana reaffirmed its long-time support for changing the way that federal and state legislative districts are drawn.  Redistricting reform has finally become a hot topic in Indiana recently, starting with Secretary of State Todd Rokita’s push for a less partisan process and followed by Senate President Pro Tem David Long’s announcement that he will work for a set of redistricting criteria and the eventual creation of a non-partisan redistricting commission. 

By Chris Spangle, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana

First, thank you for an amazing year. I have loved every minute of serving you in my role as Executive Director over the last 12 months. I can assure you that 2010 will be a year that will forever transform both the LPIN and Indiana politics. I thank you for all the hard work that you have put in beside me in the last 12 months to grow the LPIN. But Thanksgiving is not just a day to give thanks for our friends, families, and blessings.

It is also a day to remember the sacrifice that generations before us made in the name of liberty. 

From the 1600's to now, generations have fought powers that seek to maintain power. They've fought for religious freedom, personal freedom, freedom to associate, freedom to write and speak what you wish, against racial injustice, the freedom to cast a ballot, and now financial freedom and personal choice.

For Immediate Release:

Libertarian Party Reaction to Voters Defeating the RTD

On November 3, 2009, the voters of Porter and St. Joseph counties voted against the creation of a Regional Transit Authority, and against increasing taxes.

“I am glad that the citizens of these two counties voted against this referendum,” said Ron Cenkush, St. Joseph County resident and an organizer of the effort to stop this tax increase. Cenkush is also seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for House District 5.

Cenkush continued, “This was a convoluted plan to continually raise taxes for a public transportation system that would have been sparsely used. If Northern Indiana residents want a public transportation system, it should use a series of tax incentives for entrepreneurship, not income tax increases. Increasing the cost of living in a region that has been hit hard by the shrinking economy is wrong headed. It’s time for new leadership both here, and in Indianapolis.”

Written by Chris Spangle, LPIN Executive Director. Click the Publication's name for a link to the whole story.

It's been a rough news week for those in the Indiana Congressional Delegation. Four out of 10 of the Indiana Representatives and Senators found their name in the press for less than admirable reasons.

First is Pete Visclosky, a Democrat representative from District 2. Readers of the Washington Post found an article detailing a questionable link between a technology firm, lobbyists, and the Congressman's earmarks. From the Washington Post:

"It takes a while for most start-up companies to gain the confidence of a U.S. congressman and the promise of federal funds. But last year, a small Illinois company accomplished its goal in 16 days with the help of Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, a little-known Indiana Democrat who sits on the House committee that funds the Pentagon."

"In rapid succession, the three-employee technology firm, NanoSonix, filed its incorporation papers in Skokie, Ill., and hired a Washington lobbying firm, K&L Gates, which boasted to clients of its close relationship with Visclosky. A week later, Visclosky wrote a letter of support for a $2.4 million earmark for NanoSonix from the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee."

District four Republican Steve Buyer came under fire from the Indianapolis Star after an investigation into Buyer's scholarship foundation:

"The biggest accomplishment so far of U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer's scholarship foundation has been to send the Indiana congressman to play golf with donors at luxury locales such as the Bahamas and Disney World."

"The fundraising golf outings have raised more than $880,000 for the Frontier Foundation that Buyer founded in 2003. Almost all the contributions are from 20 companies and trade organizations that have interests before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on which Buyer serves."

"The foundation has yet to award its first scholarship, and it has handed out only $10,500 in charitable grants."

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Becoming a candidate can be a daunting thing, in the face of tangled election laws and the task of building an organization that will help execute a candidate’s plan. In recognition of the challenges of being a candidate, the Libertarian Party of Indiana is hosting a candidate training seminar, on Saturday, October 10, at 11am, in downtown Indianapolis.

Executive Director Chris Spangle talks about the hurdles facing candidates, and the support the LPIN will be giving in this event. Spangle turns the tables on host Mike Kole, who gives a sneak preview of his presentation at the event.

Listen to the new podcast here: LPIN Podcast: 039 LPIN Candidate Training Event Upcoming

The LPIN podcast is a feature of the LPIN, highlighting candidate and member efforts through direct interviews. The program is hosted by Libertarian Party of Hamilton County Chair Mike Kole. You can also subscribe through iTunes by clicking here. You can also search for this podcast in the iTunes directory.

Audio can be used freely if attributed to LPIN and www.lpin.org.

The role of the Libertarian Party within the larger libertarian movement is sometimes the source of contention, even for luminaries such as LP founder David Nolan. While winning may not be the only thing, it is important, as Executive Director Chris Spangle explains. Spangle points out that there are several things that political parties can do that think tanks cannot, and shows that the two are best complementary, and not redundant.

Podcast note: We are back on a regular weekly schedule after a Summer hiatus.

Listen to the new podcast here: LPIN Podcast: 032 Chris Spangle on LP’s role - to educate or to win elections?

The LPIN podcast is a weekly feature of the LPIN, highlighting candidate and member efforts through direct interviews. The program is hosted by Libertarian Party of Hamilton County Chair Mike Kole. You can also subscribe through iTunes by clicking here. You can also search for this podcast in the iTunes directory.

Audio can be used freely if attributed to LPIN and www.lpin.org.

Regular podcast host Mike Kole is also the Hamilton County Chair, so he found himself on the other side of the microphone, with LPIN Executive Director Chris Spangle, an ex-radio producer, conducting the interview.

Kole has a plan for his county affiliate that is all about the basics: running as full a ballot as possible, reaching out to disaffected business owners, and appealing to voters at the precinct level. Kole cites the Indiana counties where Libertarian vote percentages are highest as examples where the “bottom-up” approach brings the votes. Kole, also a former candidate for Secretary of State, hopes to provide coattails to the top of the ticket in 2010, in the hopes of propelling the Libertarian Party to major party status.

Listen to the new podcast here: 030 Kole’s County Plan: Fill the ballot, work at the precinct level

The LPIN podcast is a weekly feature of the LPIN, highlighting candidate and member efforts through direct interviews. The program is hosted by Libertarian Party of Hamilton County Chair Mike Kole. You can also subscribe through iTunes by clicking here. You can also search for this podcast in the iTunes directory.

Audio can be used freely if attributed to LPIN and www.lpin.org.