Good News on Annexation?

Maybe. On Wednesday, the House Select Committee on Municipal Annexation voted to recommend a 1-year moratorium on involuntary annexation. This committee recommendation is just the first step towards reform of annexation laws in NC.

Involuntary annexation is currently a legal power in North Carolina, but it's not a just power, because the people living in communities targeted for annexation are not given a choice.

If General Assembly members act on the principle of just powers being derived from the consent of the governed, they will stop forced annexation in the state. If they are persuaded by the lobbying efforts of the League of Municipalities*, they won't.

More about annexation in NC and the April 23rd meeting of the House Select Committee on Annexation is available on this page at StopNCAnnexation.

StopNCAnnexation will be holding a rally for annexation reform on June 4th in Raleigh.
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* Americans for Prosperity pointed out that the League of Municipalities is funded with taxpayer money. They're using this taxpayer money to lobby the General Assembly to keep state laws that allow involuntary annexation by municipalities. Take a look at the league's membership list and the dues on their application for membership (pdf). It goes up to $3718/year for large organizations.

Related post: Annexation without Representation

Ruwart Speaks Out Against Expanded DNA Collection

In an article posted today, Feds Want Your Blood, Mary Ruwart, a candidate seeking the Libertarian Party's nomination for President, speaks out against routine DNA collection of anyone arrested or detained by Federal agents:

The Federal government wants the power to forcibly collect DNA samples from any citizen they arrest or any non-citizen they detain, pounding yet another nail in the coffin for the Bill of Rights. They have no more right to take a DNA sample from you than they do to search your home or car without permission. But the Bush Administration doesn't recognize any limit on its power.

President Bush is obviously missing the meaning of the 'unreasonable searches and seizures' clause of the Fourth Amendment. It's unreasonable to perform invasive medical procedures on anyone, especially someone who may been arrested by mistake and poses no threat to society.

This expansion of Federal law enforcement power was authorized by Congress as an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act. ...

Read the rest on Mary's website.

A Plan to End Federal Income Taxes Forever

On April 15, Wayne Allyn Root, a candidate seeking the Libertarian Party's nomination for President, announced a plan to end Federal income taxes forever. This plan proposes "eliminating the income tax and all other sources of federal tax revenues, including payroll taxes, excise taxes and import duties, and replacing it with only one tax: a tax on each state in proportion to its population, with each state deciding for itself how to raise its share of the money."

"Our vision for dramatic change in U.S. tax policy is as simple as it is revolutionary in scope. With our plan there will be only 50 taxpayers in our country writing checks to the U.S. Treasury each year. With no other source of revenue to the U.S. Government, the balance of power would be forever dramatically reversed back to the states (just as our Founding Fathers envisioned)."

The entire 2-part plan to stop un-Constitutional spending and end Federal income taxes is available on Root's blog.

Brian Irving for NC Senate District 17

The Libertarian candidate for North Carolina Senate in District 17, Brian Irving wants to reform NC election laws, restrain municipal aggression, and give parents and students more control and choice in education. Mr. Irving was interviewed by Pete Kaliner of WBT about the recent LPNC Convention and ballot access issues in NC. This conversation begins about 38 minutes into the 4/13/2008 episode of Common Sense with Pete Kaliner (News Talk 1110 WBT).

Brian Irving: Libertarian for NC Senate District 17

Highlights of the LPNC Convention

The primary items of business of North Carolina Libertarians attending the annual LPNC convention last weekend were to nominate candidates for state and local offices, consider amendments to the party platform, and select delegates to the national Libertarian Party Convention in Denver.

Michael Munger was nominated as the Libertarian candidate for governor of North Carolina. Chair of the Political Science department at Duke, Mike Munger is running as a reformer who, if elected as governor, would use that office to counter the waste and corruption in state government. In addition, three Wake County Libertarians were nominated for the North Carolina General Assembly:

Susan Hogarth for NC House District 38;
Brian Irving for NC Senate District 17;
Stephanie Watson* for NC Senate District 16;

and Mark McMains was nominated for Commissioner of Insurance.

In other business, convention delegates amended their platform. They added a plank calling on the state to refuse to implement national identification programs like Real ID. Additional new platform planks address state and local issues including water rights, local sign ordinances, and fluoridation of public water supplies.

Convention attendees heard from several candidates for the Libertarian nomination for President, including former Senator Mike Gravel and Wayne Allyn Root. Former Congressman Bob Barr also spoke to the convention as our regional represenative to the Libertarian National Committee. Having recently launched a presidential exploratory committee, Barr is another possible Libertarian nominee for President.

Of the possible presidential nominees attending, Dr. Mary Ruwart was the favorite of this convention. A libertarian activist since 1982 and the author of Healing Our World in an Age of Aggression, she won the straw poll, receiving a whopping 68% of the vote.

* The Watson campaign has been postponed till 2010.

Pictures from the LPNC Convention in Burlington

Pictures from the LPNC Convention in Burlington

Annexation without Representation

According to Wake LP Chair, Fernie Williams, there was standing room only at the public hearing on annexation Wednesday, with more than 300 attending this meeting in Raleigh. A major concern voiced at this hearing was that the people living in communities targeted for annexation have no choice.

Most of the speakers at this hearing were there to oppose NC's annexation laws. For many, the main problem is the burden of additional taxes that the cities impose when they annex their property. Larry Wright, a speaker at this hearing, summed it up:

It is all about money: they want it; we have some; and they take it.

Another concern is that the cities often won't annex poorer neighborhoods that would stand to benefit from city services. Unless there's money to be gained, the cities just aren't interested.

Fernie noticed that most of the pro-annexation speakers were there on behalf of cities or other organizations. He said:

The cities and their representatives believe that they are the engines of economic prosperity. But in that hunt, they are no more than the tick on a hound dog's back. It's the individuals that take the risks that really drive the economy.

Involuntary annexation is one of Michael Munger's key campaign issues. He points out that NC is one of only seven states that permit cities to annex private property without the owner's consent. From his website:

As Governor, I would work to persuade the General Assembly to pass legislation to curb this assault on freedom and property.

Law's Foes Decry Annexation Without Representation
WRAL.com, Apr. 9, 2008
Munger on Annexation
StopNCAnnexation

Related posts:
Good News on Annexation? (4-24-2008)
Resisting Annexation in Wake County (5-5-2008)

LPNC Convention this Weekend

Root for Ruwart, Barr, Gravel

Libertarian Party of North Carolina
Brian Irving, Communications Director
Contact: 919.538.4548

RALEIGH (April 9) -- Former Democratic Senator Mike Gravel, who recently joined the Libertarian Party and is seeking its nomination for president, will attend the State Libertarian Convention this weekend in Burlington. Sen. Gravel will arrive Friday evening and attend most of the convention session Saturday.

Another defector from the so-called major parties, former Republican Rep. Bob Barr, will also attend the Saturday sessions. Barr recently formed a exploratory committee to gauge support for seeking the Libertarian presidential nod.

The convention will open Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. in the La Quinta Inn, Burlington.

The primary order of business will be nomination of candidates for Governor, Council of State seats and the General Assembly, especially in the unopposed districts. The party is on the verge of completing its petition drive to regain its spot on the ballot.

Nominations for the gubernatorial candidate will take place Sunday morning. There will also be a Presidential Candidates Forum and Straw Vote.

In addition to nominating candidates, delegates will also consider changes to the LPNC Platform on Saturday, including a proposal to oppose "Real ID," a scheme for a national ID card.

In addition to Gravel and Barr, three announced presidential candidates also will attend. They are Dr. George Phillies of Massachusetts, a physics professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Dr. Mary Ruwart of Texas, a biochemist, nutraceutical company consultant and author of the best-selling "Healing Our World in an Age of Aggression," and Wayne Allyn Root, a TV sports commnentator know as "America's Oddsmaker."

Munger on News 14 Carolina

Libertarian candidate for NC Governor, Michael Munger, was featured as part of a News 14 Carolina report about third parties and the struggles they face in NC. News 14 archives their stories online, so you can still view this interesting discussion.

Asked what issues he would raise in the gubernatorial race, Munger mentioned same-sex marriage, the death penalty, and education reform. About the proposed Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in NC, he said:

"We need to stop that Constutional amendment. That sort of legislation about morals shouldn't be in the Constitution.”

He supports a moratorium on capital punishment, and he wants to lift the limit on charter schools.

Political Connections: Third parties (video)
News 14 Carolina, 3-22-2008

Michael Munger's Issues

Munger on Fox 8

Michael Munger, Libertarian candidate for NC Governor, made an appearance on Fox 8 about halfway through Bob Buckley's report on Michael Crichton's view of environmentalism as a new religion.

Munger didn't exactly agree with this view; instead, he stated that “a lot of the environmentalist movement and the anti-global warming movement is just a way of repackaging anti-capitalist sentiment.”

Buckley Report: Church of Environmentalism (video)
MyFox WGHP, 24 Feb 2008

Public Hearing on Annexation Study

This public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, at 5 p.m. in the third floor auditorium of the Legislative Building on Jones Street, downtown Raleigh. For more information, see the StopNCAnnexation post about this hearing.

The Libertarian Party of Wake County opposes involuntary annexation of private property by municipalities.

Background and resources on forced annexation can be found on the websites of StopNCAnnexation and the Fair Annexation Coalition.

Local Issues and Priorities

Stephanie Watson, Chair of our Wake LP Issues Committee, presented the Wake LP Convention with a panel of local issues produced by the Issues Committee. Convention attendees individually selected priorities from this issues list. The priorities were tabulated, resulting in these five top local issues:

1. Spending: Stop squandering taxpayer money on high-priced projects like convention centers, entertainment facilities, and recreational facilities, all of which can be provided more economically by private entities when a true market exists for them.
2. Eminent Domain: Support protection for landowners against eminent domain.
3. Assignment of Students to Public Schools: Public school assignments should be based on a combination of proximity and parental choice, and they should not be subject to social engineering projects.
4. Crime: Stop wasting law enforcement resources on prosecuting victimless crimes such as drug use, gambling, and prostitution while violent crimes and property crimes remain unsolved.
5. Smoking Bans: Support the right of property owners, including owners of restaurants and bars, to prohibit or allow smoking on their own property.

Wake LP – Positions on Local Issues