Potential Libertarian Presidential Candidate and former congressman Bob Barr was recently interviewed.

Two Order to Show Cause hearings regarding the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) will be heard during the next few days.

An article concerning the NJLP's Open Government efforts in Washington Borough (Warren County) appeared in today's Express-Times.

The party's letter to the Mayor and Council, the Borough's new form of closed session resolution, and a memorandum by the Borough attorney are all on the NJLP Open Government Website.

In 2000, three principled youths, Shaun Joye, Melissa Greiner, and Anna Zdepski, refused a mandatory govenment school drug test based on libertarian beliefs. All three believed that they had the right not to be searched without due process. The administrators at Hunterdon cared little about their beliefs. They were thrown out of all school activities. Shaun had been working hard all year on the school play, his part was quickly given to someone else.

The effect of drug testing polices like this is that no libertarian minded youth shall be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities without compromising on their beliefs.

I'd like to invite you to see IJ in action in a major New Jersey eminent domain case.  The case involves homeowners in Long Branch, NJ, who stand to lose their homes to a private developer seeking to build beachfront condos.  Because New Jersey continues to be one of the worst abusers of eminent domain, this case is being closely watched across the nation. 

In a Friday, April 25, 2008 editorial, the Express Times (covering Warren County, New Jersey) wrote favorably about the NJLP's Open Government Advocacy Project's work.

Officials should know laws about open government

Friday, April 25, 2008

Shining a light

Most elected officials in New Jersey cringe when John Paff shows up at public meetings. He's been hop-scotching across the state pointing out the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which municipalities and school boards fail the public when it comes to open government. ...

Read the entire story HERE

Former Congressman Bob Barr recently appeared on Fox's Hannity & Colmes.  At about 3:20 into the clip below, Hannity asks, "Would you vote to legalize heroin and crack?"  Barr, agitated by the question, answered, "No, I would not vote to legalize heroin and crack!"

Undoubtedly, Barr supporters will say it is because Barr wants to focus on the bigger issue of getting the federal government out of the drug war.  Hopefully, Barr opponents will see that the bigger issue is that Barr has not fully embraced the non-initiation of force principle of the Libertarian Party.

Libertarians and liberty lovers of all stripes will gather in Gilford, New Hampshire in June for the 5th annual Porcupine Freedom (and Music) Festival (aka PorcFest).

As the premier event of the Free State Project (FSP), PorcFest welcomes pro-liberty activists from across the nation to see why New Hampshire was selected by FSP’s membership to be the destination for those who are willing to work effectively in a concentrated effort towards “Liberty in Our Lifetime.”

This article appeared in the Express Times about the NJLP's effort to get Washington Borough in Warren County to: a) give the public more detailed reasons why it goes into closed session and b) to advertise the amounts of its no-bid contract awards.

You can read my letters to the Borough HERE and HERE.

Open-records activist targets Washington

Borough urged to give specific reasons for closed sessions.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

By LYNN OLANOFF

The Express-Times

WASHINGTON | A state advocate for open public records who last year raised questions about Washington Township's closed-session policies is raising similar questions in the borough.

John Paff, chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy ...

Read the full article on the Express Times website.

The LP convention is coming up quickly. On May 22-26th, delegates from each state shall be meeting to decide the future direction of the National Libertarian Party. On Saturday there will be a debate between "qualified" candidates and then the delegates shall select our Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees.

At this time only three candidates have qualified for the debate! It would be a travesty if the debate only featured Root, Imperato, and Jingozian. Visit Liberty Decides, donate to your choice of candidate and ensure that there is a real debate. See Delegation FAQ #35 for explanation of "qualifying."

Also let us know who your favorite is by commenting in the forum and voting in our poll. Our delegates want to know how you feel. 

UPDATE:  I don't think the original striken out text is correct. It came from the Delegation FAQ #35, however the Chair's Manual page 15 states that qualification shall be based on collecting "signature tokens" from the delegates.