LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF COLORADO BLOG

The economy would really boom if everyone were a census worker (NOT)

The 2010 census is gearing up to employ about 8,000 Coloradans, providing a timely boost to an economy that has shed more than 10 times that many jobs in the past year.

"We still need people," said Lee Ann Morning, manager of the Denver Local Census Office. "And people want to work for us."

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14643411

Somebody at this paper really needs to read up on the broken window fallacy. I can't think of hardly any jobs as worthless as being a head counter for the government. It may not be as worthless as digging holes and filling them back in, but it adds about as much value to most peoples lives as hole digging would.

Sheriff Richard Mack To Host Fundraiser For Rob McNealy

Sheriff Richard Mack To Host Fundraiser For Rob McNealy
Constitutional Sheriff Activist Coming to Colorado to Support Rob McNealy for CD6

AURORA, CO, March 8th, 2010 – Rob McNealy, Libertarian candidate for Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, is proud to announce that Constitutional crusader, Sheriff Richard Mack, will be in the Denver area to help raise money for his congressional campaign.

In 1994, Sheriff Mack successfully filed and won a Federal lawsuit challenging the Brady Bill. This stopped the Federal government from forcing an unfunded mandate onto individual states. Sheriff Mack has continued to fight to limit the power of the Federal government and increase the power to the states. And he supports candidates for higher office who will join him in this fight.
 
Details
 
What: Candidate meet and greet
When: Thursday, March 18th from 7:00PM to 9:00PM
Where: Castlewood Public Library - 6739 South Uinta Street, Englewood, CO 80112.
Special Guest Speaker:  Matt Arnold of Clear the Bench Colorado

Appetizers will be served and door prizes from Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey will be given away. A suggested donation of $50 is asked of all guests, although donations of any size will be accepted and be appreciated. This will be a great opportunity to help a candidate who believes in individual liberties and states rights, and to meet Sheriff Richard Mack.
McNealy said, “As a long time fan of Sheriff Mack’s work and accomplishments, I am truly honored and humbled by his support of my campaign.  It has really motivated me to continue my fight for liberty.”
 
About Rob McNealy
 
Rob McNealy, is a small business owner and community activist. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Geography and Marketing from Central Michigan University, and his MBA from Colorado State University.  Rob and his wife Kristie McNealy, MD moved from the Midwest and settled in Colorado a decade ago to fulfill their dream of living in the Rocky Mountain West. Together, they run their family business and homeschool their four children while enjoying the Colorado lifestyle.
 
For more information:
 
Rob McNealy
www.RobMcNealy.com

Amazon Tax may actually decrease state revenue

Citing significant budget shortfalls and the inability to collect sales taxes on many Internet-based transactions, a number of states are considering the adoption of "Amazon taxes." Such laws, nicknamed after their most visible target, require retailers that have contracts with "affiliates"—independent persons within the state who post a link to an out-of-state business on their website and get a share of revenues from the out-of-state business—to collect the state's sales tax.

Contrary to the claims of supporters, Amazon taxes do not provide easy revenue. In fact, the nation's first few Amazon taxes have not produced any revenue at all, and there is some evidence of lost revenue. For instance, Rhode Island has seen no additional sales tax revenue from its Amazon tax, and because Amazon reacted by discontinuing its affiliate program, Rhode Islanders are earning less income and paying less income tax.

read the rest:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/25949.html

*Religious Use of Cannabis Case Heads to Trial in Georgetown, Colorado*

Press release about the trial of Trevor Douglas, he is being charged with possession of  marijuana which he claims he uses for religious purposes. I am on his side in this cause and believe he should be able to smoke marijuana if that is what he wishes to do. However, I am also getting tired of these various gimmicky defenses. The fact is that if you own and control your own body then what goes in it should be your business and nobody else.

*Religious Use of Cannabis Case Heads to Trial in Georgetown, Colorado*
 
{Georgetown, CO} -- Trevor Douglas, a 25-year-old Avon, Colorado resident,
is fighting his charges of marijuana possession based on his religious use
of cannabis as a sacrament. His case goes to trial on Tuesday, March 9,
2010, in the Clear Creek Courthouse in Georgetown at 2pm.

Red light cameras, tools for good or evil?

Since 2005, Greenwood Village has issued 44,000 citations and pocketed $700,000 for the general funds from operating photo red light camera systems at three intersections.

"I think any city in difficult financial times wants to have positive revenues coming in," said Greenwood Village Police Lt. Joe Harvey.

Harvey said the number one goal of the city is safety and to reduce the amount of accidents and injuries from accidents.

http://cbs4denver.com/local/red.light.cameras.2.1541069.html

This may be what this particular cop  (revenue generation agent) believes, but the facts are that in many other cities as the revenue from these cameras has decreased so has the yellow light time and the number of accidents have increased at intersections with red light cameras. If it were really about safety they would add an extra second onto the yellow light time. In Georgia the cameras were being misused so much by localities that the state legislators ended up having to mandate yellow light time, and when they did red light camera violations dropped from 624 February 2008 to 125 in February 2009. 

Here is the Georgia story:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-01-17-red-light-side_N.htm

Tiny dog in Lafayette charged with being a vicious dog, because he nipped at the vet

The Whited Sepulchre covers the story, better than I would:
http://thewhitedsepulchre.blogspot.com/2010/03/vicious-dachshund-bites-vet-tech.html

Brief run down, Lafayette is asserting home-rule to charge this tiny dog with being a vicious dog after the dog "attacked" a veterinarian.

New Colorado Liberty Newsletter online:

http://lpcolorado.org/coloradoliberty/HTML/colib039-03.html

Aurora Activist Group to Oppose TIF Corporate Welfare Subisdies for New Development

CRAG press release, copied in full. CRAG is doing good work in Aurora.

Aurora Activist Group to Oppose TIF Corporate Welfare Subisdies for New Development
 
March 4, 2010

For Immediate Release: (Aurora)

On Monday, March 8th, at 7:30 PM, the Aurora City council will hold a public hearing on a measure that would provide for a Tax Increment Financing designation for the Lend Lease Horizon Uptown development, in east Aurora.  See Schedule.

The eventual vote will decide whether the raw ranch land will be "blighted" under "urban renewal" state statutes. Citizens For Responsible Aurora Government (CRAG) has asked Aurora voters to contact their city council representatives and encourage them to vote NO to subsidizing a private real estate development, when this issue comes up for a vote.

The City of Aurora hired its own consultant, BBC Research & Consulting (BBC), to analyze the impact of this development on the city.  See report . BBC questioned many of the assumptions from the developer, and noted:

The "…remote site presents costly operating burdens to service providers." Page 5
Different development scenarios "…would have been an instructive addition to the analysis and a reasonable expectation for a project of this scale and uncertainty." Page 6
BBC questions what the developers' model does not reveal for "…fiscal effects, and the implications of diverting Horizon tax revenues for other purposes." Page 7
The analysis also notes "Required Off-site households not included in cost." Page 7
"The Horizons's fiscal benefits cannot be achieved without a large amount of new, off-site residential development…" Page 9
…"the public service costs associated with this off-site development is not represented in this [developers] study." Page 9
"…Horizon's retail component will require 20,900 new households by 2017 and 25,100 new households in the immediate market area at build out."  Page 10
"These households will require City services and will be a financial burden to the community." Page 10
"The market feasibility of the project is brought into question when one considers its reliance on the development of over 25,000 households in the immediate area over a seven-year period." Page 11
When analyzing the fiscal impact, BBC states "We have rarely seen the levels of efficiency in government service provision implied in the DCS" [City of Aurora Development Cost Study] Page 9
"…this regional draw [for retail mix] raises questions about the road system around the project and its ability to handle the retail and office commuting suggested in this model." Page 12
The reports states "It should be noted that the success of the retail and office portions of the project would be at risk if costly transportation improvements were not completed. This could affect the vast amounts of sales tax revenue projected."  Page 12.
BBC notes the probable requirement for additional police and fire facilities. Page 12
"Market support for both the on- and off-site development requirements is uncertain." Page 13
CRAG encourages Aurora voters to read the 13 page BBC report. Private development should be undertaken on its own merits, with 100% of its own money and not require a taxpayer TIF subsidy.

For additional information, you can access the CRAG website at concernedaurora.com or contact Greg Golyansky at 720.201.8789.

Christine Smith's interview on KLRN now online

Audio of the 27-minute interview with Christine Smith conducted by KRLN's News Director Dennis Bloomquist on his Morningline Radio Show, February 11, 2010 (was heard live on KRLN 1400-AM from Canon City, CO) is now available.   Christine discussed her background, candidacy and platform; she was also asked about and talked a few minutes about the libertarian philosophy and the Libertarian Party of Colorado. It can be listened to here:

http://electchristinesmith.com/2010/03/03/audio-of-the-morningline-radio-show-interview-on-krln-1400-am/

Also there's a new page on her website featuring 8 endorsements of her candidacy: 
http://electchristinesmith.com/endorsements/

Stupidest medical marijuana regulation proposed, require growers to use "wind power"

Boulder mayor Susan Osborne was particularly impressed by the idea of potentially requiring grow operations to purchase wind-power credits -- a way to make greens operations greener.

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2010/03/medical_marijuana_regulations.php

It seems stupid to take one business and apply special rules to them for no real reason except that the government can. Just because it is a new industry doesn't mean that they should have to jump through special hoops. Sure growing marijuana in a basement takes a lot of energy, but in a greenhouse, it doesn't take much (no more than any other plant depending on how warm the greenhouse is) and outside it takes no extra energy than what the sun provides. The real problem seems to be the semi-legal nature that marijuana finds itself in. You won't hear the Boulder mayor praising requirements for tomato farmers to be required to buy special types of electricity.

Christine Smith has positive feedback at gun show

I attended the Buena Vista Sportsman's Club Gun Show yesterday and among the several hundred attending, I estimate I met between 100-150 people  - shaking hands, introducing myself, giving them a business card, and discussing my candidacy with them. It was great!

Read the rest:
http://electchristinesmith.com/2010/02/28/gun-show-feb-27-2010/

Liquor stores win, consumers lose

DENVER (AP) — Conveniences stores have lost their bid to sell full-strength beer.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100225/UPDATES01/100225009/Colorado+convenience+stores+lose+fight+to+sell+full-strength+beer

Liquor stores currently enjoy a monopoly enforced by the government. It hurts consumers in the same way monopolies always do. It is a shame this bill failed and the government decided to continue to enforce artificial restrictions on the sale of alcohol at the expense of Colorado residents.

Christine Smith gets 2 more radio interviews

On Feb. 11, 2010 Christine Smith was interviewed live for approximately 30 minutes on KRLN 1400 AM-Radio, Canon City, Colorado (in her district), discussing her candidacy and platform; she was also asked about and talked a few minutes about the libertarian philosophy and the Libertarian Party of Colorado.(Unfortunately no audio recording of this is available online at this time).

On Feb. 26, 2010) Christine Smith was interviewed on the Freedom Works! Radio show discussing "Individual Rights, The 10th and 17th Amendments, & States."  That audio (19 minutes) is here:  http://electchristinesmith.com/2010/02/26/the-10th-17th-amendments-individual-rights-states-audio/

Evidence, we don't need no stink'n evidence - DA goes after innocent man to save face

Detectives' methods seem coercive at best. Sanchez's so-called confession mirrors details about break-ins that investigators told him as they wore him down during 38 hours with little food or sleep.

What prosecutors say is a pattern of escalating behavior is nothing more than a deferred judgment from a 2007 juvenile graffiti case followed by a probation violation when Sanchez was caught with the smell of alcohol on his breath.

"This is not an isolated incident," prosecutor Brian Sugioka said in court. "He said he did these things."

District Attorney Carol Chambers' office should have dropped the case when the state released its DNA report in November. Instead, the 18th Judicial District official keeps pressing charges because she says the results don't prove anything.

 

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14441758

You have to read the whole article. This is a travesty of justice that seems typical these days. It looks like a mentally challenged kid is being charged just so the police and DA and others in government can save face.

Guns allowed in National Parks, were they ever really illegal?

MOSCA, Colo. - A new federal law goes into effect Monday, making it legal for anyone with a permit to carry a loaded handgun, rifle or shotgun into a National Park.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=133169&catid=339

I am not sure why this was ever made illegal in the first place. You generally drive your car into a national park and there is no search of your vehicle upon entry. I have never heard of much gun violence in a national park, and  allowing or disallowing guns in a park will have little or no effect on illegal poaching/hunting. It seems like this is a non-issue, but it is interesting that it was ever even considered prudent to create such a law.

DEA Protest Thursday at Noon at Obama Visit in Denver

WHAT:   Medical Marijuana Protest at Event Attended by President Obama

WHO:    Sign-Waving Medical Marijuana Patients, Providers, and Supporters.

WHEN:  Thursday, February 18 from 12 - 1 pm

WHERE:  Across from the Fillmore Auditorium, at the corner of Colfax and Clarkson in Denver, CO.

Click here for More Information

Tax payers out 4.1 million, prosecutors promoted!

Larimer County, Colorado will pay Tim Masters $4.1 million for his 1999 wrongful murder conviction. Masters was released last year after he was exonerated by DNA testing. The money will come from the county's risk management fund and from a payment from the county's insurer. The former is funded by taxpayers, and the latter will almost certainly raise the county's premiums, also paid by taxpayers.

More interesting is who won't be paying. Former prosecutors Terry Gilmore and Jolene Blair convicted Masters on flimsy evidence

http://reason.com/blog/2010/02/17/taxpayers-underwrite-prosecuto

Lots of Colorado stories drawing national attention. It is a shame it isn't because of how cool and libertarian leaning our state is, no it is because of abuses by Colorado and Federal legal agencies.

Colorado Springs service cuts overblown

Make no mistake about it: The city of Colorado Springs has money problems.

The city has turned off streetlights, cut bus service, put its police helicopters up for sale, let go of dozens of employees and yanked about 400 trash cans from neighborhood parks.

But the situation isn’t so dire that regular folks are being encouraged to use their own lawn mowers to cut the grass in the city’s parks.

http://citydesk.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/16/media-paints-inaccurate-picture-of-colorado-springs/1793/

The whole story about the “severe” cuts in the Springs seemed to me to be a bunch of fear mongering put out by some bureaucrat. Will there be a little pain if some public services are eliminated or reduced? Perhaps, but that is more due to the fact that what tends to happen in these cases is that the government will cut various services while simultaneously preventing other non-governmental parties from stepping in to fill the gap. This is done intentionally so the government can point to the problems and say "see this is why we need more money".

Reason's Hit & Run on Medical Marijuana grower bust in Highlands Ranch

Friday the Drug Enforcement Administration busted Chris Bartkowicz, a medical marijuana grower in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, despite the Justice Department's announcement that it would stop prosecuting such individuals if they are complying with state law.

http://reason.com/blog/2010/02/16/was-that-colorado-pot-grower-c

So much for Obama's direction to the DEA to not bust medical marijuana related operations that comply with state law. Almost everyday there is a new story about some injustice being perputrated against  growers, sellers, doctors, and users.

Rogue DEA Agents Arrest Colorado Medical Marijuana Grower

Press release from the Cannabis Therapy Institute

Rogue DEA Agents Arrest Colorado Medical Marijuana Grower
 
Attorney Rob Corry today released a letter to the Department of Justice accusing the DEA of "waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct" for their continued harassment of medical marijuana caregivers in Colorado.
 
Click here to read Rob Corry's letter:
http://www.cannabistherapyinstitute.com/dea/corry.dea.letter01.pdf
 
The Cannabis Therapy Institute concurs with Corry's assessment of the DEA as a rogue agency. The DEA are agents of the federal government charged with upholding the U.S. Constitution and protecting civil rights. They are in violation of Obama's policy to let state's rights take precedence in medical marijuana cases.
 
Click here to read the Denver Post Story about the DEA arrest:
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14393797
 
Click here to see the 9News/KUSA Investigative Report that lead to the DEA bust:
http://www.9news.com/news/investigative/article.aspx?storyid=132606&catid=207
 
Cannabis supporters are encouraged to call President Obama and tell him to have the DEA stop harassing medical marijuana patients and caregivers in Colorado.

White House Comment Line
202-456-1111

92% of Americans don't like a congress filled with republicans and democrats, so why not give Libertarians a chance?

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Just 8 percent of Americans want the members of Congress re-elected, according to a CBS News-New York Times poll taken nine months before roughly one-third of the Senate and the entire House face voters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20100212/pl_bloomberg/aesowriv31_g

If you are part of the 92% of the population dissatisfied with the state of the government and congress, please consider supporting libertarian voices in Congress the next election. Currently there are no Libertarians in Congress and frankly even if you have some reservations about libertarians, if you don't have reservations about those currently in Congress then you have not been paying attention. The question you might ask yourself if the congress was 100% filled with libertarians would there be a 92% dissatification rate with the job they are doing. If your answer is no, then what do you have to lose by supporting LP candidates in this next election?   

Sheriff Richard Mack Endorses Rob McNealy

Sheriff Richard Mack Endorses Rob McNealy
Constitutional Sheriff Activist Endorses Libertarian Rob McNealy for CD6

AURORA, CO, February 9th, 2010 – Rob McNealy, candidate for Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, is proud to announce that Constitutional crusader, Sheriff Richard Mack, endorsed him.

From his home in Arizona, Mack said "In this day and age, with our economy faltering, with the Republicans and Democrats giving out massive bailouts to banks and their Wall Street friends, government eroding our liberties and exceeding the scope of their true authority, we need someone in office who understands the Constitution and the principles of freedom our country was based on. Colorado's 6th Congressional District (CD6) is fortunate to have Rob McNealy, a candidate who understands those principles. Rob McNealy is a true American, and that is why I proudly endorse Rob McNealy for Congress. Why would any citizen waste their vote on another tax and spend Republican or Democrat?”

In 1994 Sheriff Richard Mack filed a lawsuit challenging the Brady bill, to stop the federal government from forcing another unfunded mandate down our throats. He won a decision at the US Supreme Court on the issue of States' rights. This suit catapulted him to national attention, with television appearances on the Donahue Show, Good Morning America, Crossfire, Nightline, CNBC, and SHOWTIME'S the AMERICAN CANDIDATE. He’s been featured on over 500 radio talk shows nationwide, ranging from G. Gordon Liddy and Charles Goyette to Derry Brownfield and Pat Buchannan. He has traveled the country extensively and has seen first hand the horrible side effects from politicians who have replaced the Constitution with their own political agendas and party platforms.

McNealy said, “As a long time fan of Sheriff Mack’s work and accomplishments, I am truly honored and humbled by this endorsement of me and my campaign.  It has really energized me.”

  

For more information:

www.RobMcNealy.com

Fairplay Flume interview with Christine Smith

The Park County Republican and Fairplay Flume Newspaper interviewed Christine Smith regarding medical marijuana as part of a larger article on the subject. Christine has condensed her portion on her page, I tried to locate the article online, but the Flumes website is not very friendly for searching out articles.

http://electchristinesmith.com/2010/02/11/the-park-county-republican-and-fairplay-flume-newspaper-interview/

Full strength beer in the corner gas station?

DENVER—A bill to allow convenience stores to sell full-strength beer got initial approval despite opposition from a coalition of liquor store owners and craft breweries.
A Colorado House committee passed the bill Wednesday on a 7-4 vote. It now goes to a full House vote.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14372945

It is not the governments job to decide what a store should sell, it should be the owners of the business to determine what they should sell based on their clients needs and wants.

Tax increases move forward in Colorado Senate

The Colorado Senate gave final approval to all nine bills in Gov. Bill Ritter’s tax-exemption package that it took up Wednesday, putting most just one step from the governor’s desk. The bills suspend or eliminate various tax breaks that benefit business.

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/02/08/daily44.html

This seems to be a train that won't stop. If TABOR needs reformed, it needs to be made stronger so the government cannot pull this kind of stuff that might not be against the exact wording of TABOR, but it definitely is contrary to the spirit of TABOR.