News
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- Written by: Walter M. Luers, Esq.
- Category: Open Government Advocacy Project
Citizen oversight of government is essential. To perform adequate oversight of New Jersey public agencies, which include public schools, municipal, county, and much of State government, citizens must have information. In New Jersey, one of the tools citizens can use to acquire information is the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”). Under OPRA, citizens have the right to inspect or request copies of “public records,” which are broadly defined as:
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- Written by: Sean Colon
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
The Supreme Court is hearing District of Columbia v. Heller which will decide whether the 2nd Amendment gives rights to bear arms to the people or to the militia, or both for that matter. Right now the NY Times is reporting that a majority of the justices seem to be interpreting the 2nd Amendment as the right of the people to bear arms. This will be a great moment in history where one of our most vital rights, that of our right to have the ability to defend ourselves, family, and country, by bearing arms will be reinstated. There is one problem though, the Supreme Court is not so ready to decide what that means for gun control laws.
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- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Candidates and Elections
The highlight of the convention was the LP Presidential Candidate debate. There were 9 candidates present. Most of them are pretty good. I'll leave it to the website viewer to decide which of candidate is worthy of our nomination. Click the Read More link to view the debate. When done be sure to vote in our poll.
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- Written by: Chris Wuestefeld
- Category: Letters to Editor
The following was sent to the Star-Ledger’s letters-to-the-editor in response to an article that appeared on today’s front page.
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- Written by: Sean Colon
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
In NJ anyone younger than 19 years old cannot buy cigarettes and now they are passing a law that will make it illegal to smoke in public if you are under 19. This is a very sad state of affairs. With all the pressing issues which our great state must deal with our elected officials are focusing on attacking our right to buy and smoke cigarettes. Now I don't smoke myself and I discourage all my loved ones from smoking, but to tell a legal adult, someone who can vote and die for their country, that they cannot buy or smoke cigarettes is ludicrous. It's the Nanny state telling its little children what they should do and what they shouldn't do, except instead of being sent to your room you are being fined and imprisoned. They are taking our freedoms one year at a time and it is unacceptable.
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- Written by: Sean Colon
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), who's office I drive by quite often since it is near where I work, is crafting a bill that will bring Universal Health Care to NJ. It will force everyone in the state to buy health insurance and will require the raising of taxes to fund this program on a continual basis. And here is the kicker... Corzine is supporting this bill despite the fact that he has sworn to freeze state spending. Hmmmm... you mean to tell me that Universal Health Care won't raise state spending? And how about the $56 billion or so hole in the state pension fund? How does the state of NJ plan to plug all its holes in the budget by making the largest sinkhole of all?
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- Written by: Sean Colon
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
I attended the joint convention and it was a great experience. I met an array of VIP Libertarians, watched the presidential debate, and got elected to the position of Vice Chairman of the NJ Libertarian Party. I have to thank Lou Jasikoff for all the work he has done last year as Chairman and also for the opportunity that he and the rest of the party are giving me this year to further the cause of liberty in the state of NJ. I was also elected Chairman of the joint Somerset, Middlesex, and Union Libertarian County Committee. I have always believed that the key to success in our state is to establish strong local grassroots organizations and I am glad that I am now in a position to head up that effort. The slate of elected officials of the NJLP for this year is as follows:
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- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Student Rights
Recently Mike Gomba, a Senior at my town's High School (Allentown/Upper Freehold), wrote a letter to the editor arguing that suspicionless drug testing is a perfectly acceptable practice for society to embrace. He claims that “it is for our benefit, our safety”. He gives the common statist excuse that if you have nothing to hide then you should gladly give up your rights.
While I applaud his choice not to partake in drugs, I find his attitude sickening and immoral. Our Constitution defines the moral underpinnings of our nation. It was written not to grant us rights, rather it enumerate rights that are fundamental and existed prior to government.
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- Written by: Sean Colon
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
Bristol, Middletown, and Falls police departments are going to institute check points to catch DUI drivers between now and 3/19. Now this may sound like a good idea at first but this is akin to random drug testing or random audits by the IRS. It is a very clear violation of our rights. A few months ago I saw Scotch Plains police officers establish a check point to check the inspection stickers on people's cars. The reason behind this? For money! They wanted to rack up the fines they were handing out to increase the amount of money that the municipality was bringing in.
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- Written by: Sean Colon
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
Bridgewater, NJ is going to have to increase taxes due to the need to expand affordable housing based on state requirements. Here is a quote from a Star Ledger article that outlines the situation.
The rules require that for every four market-rate housing units, a town must provide one housing unit that is for low- or moderate-income individuals. Using a calculation that combines projected growth rates and other factors, Bridgewater owes about 1,000 more units in affordable housing under the rules, said officials in the sprawling township.
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- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
The citizens of New Jersey are being subject to over-taxation and over-regulation while our civil liberties are disappearing.
The actions of our state government are chasing business out of the state. Those who can afford to get out are leaving as fast as they can. Our state population is evolving to include only the poor and the very rich.
In the name of security our liberties are being stripped away. Our Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches are being taken away in the name of fighting drugs.
Fortunately however, NJ citizens are waking up! Our legislature must act quickly to drastically reduce the size of state government and make doing business in NJ more profitable for the small business person and individuals alike. Returning to business as normal is not an option.
What can the NJLP do to help? Absolutely nothing without YOU. Get involved! Run for office, write letters to the editor, join the party, donate, write for the newsletter, write for this website, or come up with your own way to help! We are looking for candidates to run at all levels.
If you are not coming to our annual convention, contact us and let us know how you would like to help.
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- Written by: Sean Colon
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
I think I am going to start a "Ridiculous Crime Of The Week" post since the state of NJ supplies me with enough of them. On Friday a man was arrested in Cranford for possessing a hypodermic needle. I wasn't even aware that this was illegal, I don't even know why this is illegal though I can imagine. My guess is that the government believes that anyone with a hypodermic needle is going to use it to administer illegal drugs to themselves or someone else. If this is true then my question is what happened to innocent until proven guilty? Is it right to arrest someone for something they might do illegally because I can't think of anything else you can do with a hypodermic needle which would be illegal.
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- Category: Candidates and Elections
A recent commentary in the Wall Street Journal explained why Barack Obama is beating Hillary Clinton- the answer is, not surprisingly, SALES. The article sums it up, "With no disagreement on policy, Democrats opt for a top salesman…if you are selling a dream you need the best possible salesman to make it seem somehow possible. They found him in Barack Obama." If it is true that the Democrats have found their salesman (unfortunately to sell a corrupt, damaging and dysfunctional liberal tax and spend dream), then I believe that the Libertarian Party has a once in a lifetime opportunity standing before them. You see I am not just Barack's match as a salesman and communicator of a political message. I am Barack Obama's college classmate. Yes, we are graduates of the same college (Columbia University), same class (Class of '83), same major (Political Science). We graduated on the same day 25 years ago. Never before in the history of American politics have two college classmates run against each other for President. Talent aside, sometimes you just need a bit of luck. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined running for President in the same election as my college classmate.
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- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Student Rights
The following letter to the editor appeared in the Examiner. It is reprinted here with Brendan Benedict's permission.
Subcategories
NJ Libertarian Blog
Imported from NJ Libertarian News from the published feed
Videos
This is a page of various videos that we have either created or found interesting. Be sure to check out and follow our YouTube page.
Open Government Advocacy Project
The Open Government Advocacy Project is a committee of the NJ Libertarian Party. Its goal is to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels of government. Articles posted here are a subset of the work of the committee. For more information visit the Open Government Advocacy Project blog.
If you would like to demand accountability and ensure that your local governing body or school board adheres to the Open Public Records Act we can help you request information from them. Contact John Paff, the project chair here.
Insight New Jersey
NJ government is huge and complex. Private industry is shrinking while the size and cost of government bureacracy continues to grow. The articles posted here provide a guide of the NJ State Government and can be used by citizens and candidates for office to evaluate what departments can be reduced drastically in size.
We'll start with just some of the departments and provide a breakdown on what they do (or purport to do), how many employees they have and how big their budget is.
Preempted Ordinance Repeal Project
The New Jersey Libertarian Party's Preempted Ordinance Repeal Project (“the Project”) seeks to get New Jersey municipalities to repeal loitering ordinances that should have been -- but were not -- repealed when the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice was enacted in 1979. The Project has successfully had loitering ordinances repealed in over 30 towns. For a summary listing of all the towns see Preempted Ordinance Repeal Project page.
Police Accountability Project
The Police Accountability Project is a committee of the NJ Libertarian Party. Its goal is to search out cases of police misconduct, file former Internal Affairs (IA) complaints when appropriate, and to publicize violations of rules and laws by the police. There may be other stories posted on the NJLP Police Internal Affairs Complaint Blog page.
If you would like to help or know of a case we should be looking at, contact the committee at
Legislative Affairs Committee
The Legislative Affairs Committee was created to allow a select core of Volunteers to take action on legislation and policies which directly affects the people of New Jersey.
[INTRO VIDEO - HOSTED ON NJLP STATE YOUTUBE AND EMBEDED HERE]
Staff
Legislative Director and Committee Chair
Volunteers: