Post by RS Davis on Jul 27, 2004 15:40:30 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]===============================
NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: www.LP.org
===============================
For release: July 27, 2004
===============================
For additional information:
George Getz, Communications Director
(202) 333-0008
================================[/glow]
Democrats should reimburse taxpayers $40 million for cost of Boston convention, Libertarians say
WASHINGTON -- In light of a surprising new poll showing that 62 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer-funded conventions, Libertarians say the Democratic Party should immediately reimburse taxpayers for the $40 million cost of staging their Boston event.
"Let's hope the American people love this convention, because they paid for it," says Libertarian Party National Chair Mike Dixon. "There's something terribly wrong when two rich guys running for office can force ordinary Americans to pay for their televised advertising campaign.
"If John Kerry and John Edwards really care about the little guy, here's their chance to prove it: Give the money back."
The organizers of the Democratic and Republican national conventions have each received checks for $14.5 million from the Federal Election Commission to finance their events. That, combined with an estimated
$25 million in security costs that each will incur, means that taxpayers will foot the bill for nearly $40 million for each event.
The Libertarian convention, held over Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta, was financed entirely with private funds.
"In a Rasmussen poll released on Sunday, Americans made it clear that they want to kick politicians off the welfare wagon," Dixon said.
The survey, commissioned by the Libertarian Party, asked: "Should tax money be spent to stage the Democrat and Republican national presidential nominating conventions?" An overwhelming majority of 62 percent said no, 24 percent said yes and 14 percent weren't sure.
Libertarians are proposing two alternatives to taxpayer-financed
conventions:
One: Let corporate sponsors and other donors, who already gave a record $103.5 million to the two major parties' host committees, pick up the entire tab.
Dixon said: "Former Democratic National Chairman Don Fowler is quoted as saying, 'Some of the best lobbying in the world is done at these conventions. It is a tremendous boon for special interests.'
"As long as Democrats and Republicans have something to sell, special interests will have something to buy. It's better to charge these fatcats up-front than to send taxpayers the bill for their weeklong bribe-a-thon."
Two: Make Kerry and Edwards pay the $40 million personally.
"Kerry's personal fortune is estimated at $60 million, and Edwards is a multi-millionaire trial lawyer, so both can afford it," Dixon noted.
"It's simply outrageous for these two wealthy politicians to bilk ordinary Americans to pay for an event at which they're scheming for yet more ways to bilk us if they get elected. They should have the decency to give the money back."
NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: www.LP.org
===============================
For release: July 27, 2004
===============================
For additional information:
George Getz, Communications Director
(202) 333-0008
================================[/glow]
Democrats should reimburse taxpayers $40 million for cost of Boston convention, Libertarians say
WASHINGTON -- In light of a surprising new poll showing that 62 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer-funded conventions, Libertarians say the Democratic Party should immediately reimburse taxpayers for the $40 million cost of staging their Boston event.
"Let's hope the American people love this convention, because they paid for it," says Libertarian Party National Chair Mike Dixon. "There's something terribly wrong when two rich guys running for office can force ordinary Americans to pay for their televised advertising campaign.
"If John Kerry and John Edwards really care about the little guy, here's their chance to prove it: Give the money back."
The organizers of the Democratic and Republican national conventions have each received checks for $14.5 million from the Federal Election Commission to finance their events. That, combined with an estimated
$25 million in security costs that each will incur, means that taxpayers will foot the bill for nearly $40 million for each event.
The Libertarian convention, held over Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta, was financed entirely with private funds.
"In a Rasmussen poll released on Sunday, Americans made it clear that they want to kick politicians off the welfare wagon," Dixon said.
The survey, commissioned by the Libertarian Party, asked: "Should tax money be spent to stage the Democrat and Republican national presidential nominating conventions?" An overwhelming majority of 62 percent said no, 24 percent said yes and 14 percent weren't sure.
Libertarians are proposing two alternatives to taxpayer-financed
conventions:
One: Let corporate sponsors and other donors, who already gave a record $103.5 million to the two major parties' host committees, pick up the entire tab.
Dixon said: "Former Democratic National Chairman Don Fowler is quoted as saying, 'Some of the best lobbying in the world is done at these conventions. It is a tremendous boon for special interests.'
"As long as Democrats and Republicans have something to sell, special interests will have something to buy. It's better to charge these fatcats up-front than to send taxpayers the bill for their weeklong bribe-a-thon."
Two: Make Kerry and Edwards pay the $40 million personally.
"Kerry's personal fortune is estimated at $60 million, and Edwards is a multi-millionaire trial lawyer, so both can afford it," Dixon noted.
"It's simply outrageous for these two wealthy politicians to bilk ordinary Americans to pay for an event at which they're scheming for yet more ways to bilk us if they get elected. They should have the decency to give the money back."
...when he's around