[570] in libertarians
LP ADVISORY: Challenge Details
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (William Winter)
Fri Jan 13 10:17:38 1995
Date: 13 Jan 95 10:11:17 EST
From: William Winter <73163.3063@compuserve.com>
To: *Jim Conk <jim.conk@theorem.clark.net>, Angel Prouty <angel@dash.com>,
*Jim Merritt <presbyte@aol.com>,
"Alachua Co. LP" <libparty@freenet2.freenet.ufl.edu>,
*Jim Solomon <solomon@comm.mot.com>,
Vernon Imrich <libertarians@MIT.EDU>,
"*John T. Paff" <j.paff1@genie.geis.com>,
*Matthew Platte <73150.470@compuserve.com>,
Kay Shiel <74633.614@compuserve.com>,
*Randy Langhenry <71610.3614@compuserve.com>,
Roger Erickson <RogErick@aol.com>, *Tom Edwards <tedwards@wam.umd.edu>,
David Sparks <BurlyLad@aol.com>, Gail Lightfoot <sufficit@aol.com>,
Wayne Parker <75024.3345@compuserve.com>,
"J. Miranda" <j.miranda3@genie.geis.com>,
LP of Arizona <safe@indirect.com>,
"\"G. Thomas Rush\"" <thomasr@cpqhou.compaq.com>,
David Nolan <73303.1612@compuserve.com>,
*Don Henson <Don_Henson@delphi.com>,
NH Politics Online <71233.255@compuserve.com>
-----------------------------------------
PRESS ADVISORY
The Libertarian Party
1528 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington DC 20003
January 13, 1995
-----------------------------------------
For additional information:
Bill Winter, Director of Communications
(202) 543-1988
-----------------------------------------
Here are more details about the Libertarian Party's 21-item "hit list"
from the "Challenge to the Republicans."
Each item is followed by a brief description, the cost to taxpayers
(where available), and the bill number of the most recent attempt to abolish
or reduce funding for it. (In a few, more recent cases, the bill number is
from the legislation that created the program.)
"The Libertarian Party challenges the Republican Party to live up to
its 'libertarian' promises, and immediately abolish or defund every one of
these programs, agencies, and policies," said National LP Chair Steve Dasbach.
* Amtrak: Railroad subsidies. $505 million. HR 4556, amendment by
Hefley (R-CO) to cut Amtrak assistance by $77 million, June 16, 1994. LP
Position: Eliminate it.
* Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Subsidy "for collectivist value
broadcasting at the taxpayers' expense," said Dasbach. $273 million. HR 4606,
amendment by Crane (R-IL) to terminate funding, June 28, 1994. LP Position:
Eliminate it.
* Civilian Marksman Program: Subsidy of bullets to shooting groups and
gun sportsman. "The Second Amendment does not guarantee free bullets any more
than First Amendment guarantees free newspapers," noted Dasbach. $2.5 million.
HR 3116, amendment to end program, September 30, 1993. LP Position: Eliminate
it.
* Steamtown USA: For the operation of the Steamtown USA railroad
museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania. $3.1 million. HR 2520, amendment to cut all
funding, July 15, 1993. LP Position: Eliminate it.
* National Endowment for the Arts: Subsidy to museums, artists, and
exhibits. $171 million. HR 4602, amendment by Crane (R-IL) to eliminate all
appropriations, June 22, 1994. LP Position: Eliminate it.
* Selective Service: Draft registration for 18-year-old males. $28
million. HR 4301, amendment by Dellems (D-CA) to eliminate program, May 23,
1994. LP Position: Eliminate it.
* Economic Development Administration: Gives grants to local
governments, public institutions, and non-profit organizations. "A creature of
Congressional Pork Barrel barons who distribute money to their own districts,"
said Dasbach. $350 million. HR 4603, amendment by Hefley (R-CO) to abolish the
agency, May 12, 1994. LP Position: Abolish it.
* The Appalachian Regional Commission: Funds Appalachian Mountain
projects. $249 million. HR 2442, amendment by Goss (R-FL) to kill
authorization of the agency, May 11, 1994. LP Position: Abolish it.
* Fossil Energy Research: Funds the Fossil Energy Research Advanced
Computational Technology Initiative. $428.5 million. HR 4602, amendment by
Bradley (D-NJ) to cut $10 million, July 26, 1994. LP Position: Eliminate it.
* The Davis Bacon Act: Requires federal contracts to use the
"prevailing union wage rates" for federal construction projects. Estimated
yearly cost to taxpayers: $700 million. S 1513, amendment by Craig (R-ID) to
limit David Bacon Act for school construction. August 2, 1994. LP Position:
Repeal it.
* The Interstate Commerce Commission: Regulates trucking, airfreight
and rail shipping rates. "The ICC has historically served the interests of the
established railroad and trucking firms by keeping prices high and competition
down," said Dasbach. $45 million. HR 4556, amendment by Kasich (R-OH) to
abolish the ICC, June 16, 1994. LP Position: Abolish it.
* The National Service Program: Gives education grants to young people
in exchange for community service programs. "Typically, the bill spends more
on administration of the program than in direct educational awards to
participants," said Dasbach. $389 million. HR 2010, July 28, 1993. LP
Position: Abolish it.
* FCC controls on 900-telephone lines and cable TV: 1) Gives the FCC
the power to regulate the 900-number industry, with expanded powers of
censorship. HR 3490, February 25, 1992. 2) Gives the FCC the power to regulate
cable TV rates and service. S 12, January 31, 1992. LP Position: Repeal these
First Amendment violations.
* Subsidized grazing fees: Below market-priced grazing "subsidies" for
western farmers on government land. R 2520, bill to raise grazing fees to
market levels, October 20, 1993. LP Position: End subsidies, sell the land to
private owners.
* The space station: "A $16.5 billion gift to the space industry,"
said Dasbach. $2.2 billion (in 1995). HR 4624, amendment by Roemer (D-IN) to
terminate the project, June 29, 1994. LP Position: End it.
* DC Domestic Partners regulation: Specifically prohibits the District
of Columbia from offering domestic partners (unmarried gay or straight
couples) group health insurance, even at higher premium rates. "The government
should not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation," said Dasbach. HR
4649, amendment by Barton (R-TX), July 13, 1994. LP position: Overturn ban,
end government discrimination.
* Shipping quotas and subsidies: 1) Policy requiring US flag-flying
ships for the shipment of any goods subsidized by the US taxpayer. "The result
is inflated transportation costs - more than twice the world average rate for
shipping most goods," said Dasbach. HR 2750 from Senator Brown (R-CO) to end
the policy, October 5, 1993. LP Position: Eliminate it. 2) $1.2 billion
program (over 10 years) to subsidize US-flag cargo vessels. HR 2151, November
4, 1993. LP Position: Eliminate it.
* Overseas Marketing Board: Gives money to large U.S. corporations to
advertise agricultural products overseas. $75 million. HR 2493, bill from Sen.
Bryan (D-NV) to eliminate the program, July 2, 1993. LP Position: Eliminate
it.
* The semi-automatic weapons ban: Bans the manufacture and sale of 19
specific semi-automatic weapons, plus other similar weapons. HR 4296, May 5,
1994. LP Position: Repeal it.
* "War On Drugs" civil liberties violations: 1) Treats non-violent
drug dealers like violent criminals in mandatory minimum sentencing. HR 3355,
July, 20, 1994. 2) Amendment codifying the "good faith" exemption to the
exclusionary rule. "This is used almost completely in Drug War enforcement,
and represents an erosion of Fourth Amendment rights," said Dasbach. HR 3371,
March 17, 1992. LP Position: Repeal these Bill of Rights violations.
* NATO and UN military expenses: 1) Would make European NATO counties
and Japan increase their share of defense costs. HR 4301, amendment by Bryant
(D-TX), May 18, 1994. LP Position: Yes, make other countries pay for their own
defense. 2) $1.2 billion fund for UN "peace keeping" operations. HR 3759,
amendment by Frank (D-MA), February 3, 1994. LP Position: Yes, eliminate
unnecessary UN funding.
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