Document:LNC Minutes 7 July 1996

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Minutes. 
Libertarian National Committee. 
Regular Meeting, Sunday, July 7, 1996. 
[Second Draft.]
The first meeting of the newly-elected Libertarian National Committee was held on Sunday, July 7, 1996, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Present for all or part of the meeting were the following:

chair, Stephen L. Dasbach;
vice chair, Karen A. Allard;
secretary, Gary E. Johnson;
treasurer, Hugh A. Butler;
at-large, Sharon A. Ayres;
at-large, Ron Crickenberger;
at-large, Steven I. Givot;
at-large, William W. Hall;
at-large, Steve Winter;
Region 1 representative, Joseph W. Dehn III;
Region 2 representative, Chris Gardiniere;
Region 3 representative, Ken Bisson;
Region 4 representative, Candi Copas;
Region 5 representative, Tim Moir;
Region 6 representative, Mark A. Tuniewicz;
Region 7 representative, Robert H. Franke;
Region 8 representative, Geoffrey J. Neale;
Region 1 alternate, Scott Lieberman; and
Region 2 alternate, Bennett Rutledge; and
Region 5 alternate, Daniel M. Karlan.
Sharon Ayres moved to hold the next LNC meeting on November 16 and 17 in Washington, D.C. The motion passed.
Steve Dasbach noted that the LNC Executive Committee consisted of the four officers plus one member appointed by the LNC and that the current LNC-appointed member, Sharon Ayres, did not want to continue.

Bob Franke moved to increase the size of the LNC Executive Committee from 5 members to 6, with at least one member being a Regional Representative.

Steve Givot moved to substitute to make the LNC Executive Committee consist of the four officers and any number of other individuals the LNC appoints. The motion to substitute passed. The substituted motion passed by more than a 2/3 majority.

Bill Hall reported that the New York state affiliate wanted to make an arrangement for the national party to promise to pay half of the cost of a petition drive in 1998 if the New York state affiliate would agree to pay for half of a petition drive in 1996. The 1998 campaign for Governor could attain ballot status for future elections.

In the discussion that followed, concern was expressed about the current LNC making a commitment for a future LNC to keep. Without objection, the Ballot Access chair, Bill Redpath, was allowed to address the LNC.

Steve Givot moved to authorize the Ballot Access chair and the LNC Executive Committee to negotiate with the New York state affiliate on an agreement for ballot access for 1996 and 1998. Steve Winter moved to amend the motion for the expenditure to be an amount not to exceed $20,000. The amendment passed and the amended motion passed.

Without objection, Don Ernsberger and Dave Walter were allowed to present a report on the 1996 national convention. Don Ernsberger said the party owed the convention contractor, FEE, for costs of the stage, the media room, and the Scantron vote counting system. He said the party should rent its own photocopy machine at future conventions.

The chair of the Convention Oversight Committee, Dan Karlan, noted that the previous LNC had delegated authority to the LNC Executive Committee to make arrangements for the 1998 national convention in Atlanta.

Steve Givot moved to reaffirm the delegation of authority to the LNC Executive Committee to make arrangements for the 1998 national convention in Atlanta between the Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July weekend. The motion passed.

Steve Dasbach noted that members of the Convention Oversight Committee and other standing committees would be appointed at the next LNC meeting in November.

The national director, Perry Willis, reported that the national headquarters could pay all of its outstanding vendor debt with the funds raised at the national convention. But he recommended that the party spend some available funds on advertising.

Perry Willis reported that a petitioning firm, National Voter Outreach, had offered to allow the party to defer some of the payments due for ballot access until next year. In effect, the company would be extending the party a loan with interest. There would be advantages for both the party and the company due to the "seasonal" nature of campaign revenue and expenses.

Steve Dasbach noted that, under the party bylaws, this would be additional debt and would have to be approved by a 2/3 vote of the LNC.

Steve Givot moved to increase the Ballot Access line item in the budget $30,000. The motion passed.

Steve Givot moved to authorize the LNC to incur debt with National Voter Outreach not to exceed $35,000 with all payments to be made by the end of 1997. The motion passed by more than a 2/3 majority. Gary Johnson and Tim Moir asked the record to show they voted against the motion.

Steve Givot moved to increase the Paid Staff line item in the budget $75,000 and the Revenue from the Presidential Campaign line item $75,000. The motion passed.

Karen Allard nominated Bill Hall for the LNC Executive Committee. The motion passed. Steve Givot nominated Ron Crickenberger for the LNC Executive Committee. The motion passed. This gave the Executive Committee 6 members.

Bennett Rutledge moved a resolution on "fusion" by J. Robert Latham of Utah. Without objection, the chair, Steve Dasbach, was allowed to participate in the debate. Steve Winter moved to table the motion indefinitely. The motion to table passed.

Joe Dehn moved a resolution on "curfews" by Sandi Webb of California. Geof Neale moved to amend to change the word "minors" in the last sentence to "persons." The amendment passed and the amended motion passed.

Scott Lieberman moved a resolution on "smart cards" by Tom Stahl. Without objection, Tom Stahl addressed the LNC. Bennett Rutledge moved to add the words "or other identity documents" at the end of the first paragraph. The amendment failed and the motion failed.

The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Gary E. Johnson, secretary.

RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE LIBERTARIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE,
SUNDAY, JULY 7, 1996
"CURFEWS"
(Written by Sandi Webb, California)
(As amended)
Whereas, Bill Clinton and Bob Dole and Republican and Democratic politicians at all levels are trying to outbid each other with demagogic demands that ever more draconian curfew laws be imposed on our young people; and,

Whereas, curfew laws restrict the freedoms and Constitutional rights of the vast majority of honest law-abiding young people, while having very little effect on teenage crime or gang activities; and,

Whereas, curfew laws effectively place all teenagers under house arrest even though they have done nothing wrong, thereby intruding government controls into family responsibilities and decisions; therefore,

Be it resolved, that the Libertarian Party calls for the elimination of all curfew laws which limit the times and places at which persons may be present, based merely upon their ages rather than harmful behavior.

"FUSION" RESOLUTION
(Written by J. Robert Latham)
(Tabled)
Whereas, the majority of delegates attending the 1996 Libertarian Party Presidential Nominating Convention have chosen a Presidential candidate that they believe will best serve the people of the United States of America; and

Whereas, other political organizations in our country share the Libertarian Party's mission to create a more limited and accountable federal government; and

Whereas, it has been reported that the Reform Party has sent approximately one million forms to its members requesting suggestions for Presidential nominees; and

Whereas, multiple-party or "fusion" candidacies are an effective way to challenge incumbents;

Be it therefore resolved, that the Libertarian National Committee applauds those members of the Reform Party who will join the cause of liberty by selecting the Presidential nominee of our convention, Harry Browne, as their choice for President.

"SMART CARDS" RESOLUTION
(Written by Tom Stahl)
(Failed)
Whereas, the State of New Jersey is experimenting with "smart card" drivers' licenses containing computer chips that could give government instant access to citizens' fingerprints, medical records, financial data, and other personal information;

Be it resolved, that the Libertarian National Committee supports the right of citizens to refuse government mandated "smart cards" that contain computer chips or magnetic strips.