Category Archives for "news"

Resources for starting your county’s Libertarian County Party or Organization

Affiliate Resources

Every county in Oregon is eligible to start an official Libertarian Party if they meet the requirements. 

The requirements are 0.5% of registered Libertarians in the county meet in person or remotely to adopt a set of bylaws  

Resources are here:

We recommend you start with a social meetup, and contact the Vice Chair will.hobson@lporegon.org to get your events listed on the LP Oregon events page.

We encourage you setup a Twitter, Instagram, Facebook page and let us know what you have contacting chair@lporegon.org.

We also encourage you to come to the LP Board Meetings and provide us updates about what is going on in your county. 

Press Release: LPO Resolution Concerning Defending the Guard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/22/22

Sonja Feintech – LPO Public Policy Board Secretary

Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board

541-231-4293

sonja.feintech@lporegon.org

Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board
Resolution 22-03 Concerning Defending the Guard

“Considering that Congress alone is constitutionally invested with the power of changing our condition from peace to war, I have thought it my duty to await their authority for using force in any degree which could be avoided”- Thomas Jefferson

Oregon: The Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board announced Resolution 22-03 Concerning Defending the Guard, a resolution voted on by the elected Public Policy Board. 

This resolution addresses the immediate need for action to protect our National Guard and calls on the state of Oregon to prohibit the release of our National Guard into federal service without the permission of the U.S Congress.” says Sonja Feintech, Public Policy Board Secretary at the Libertarian Party of Oregon. “The Libertarian Party of Oregon believes the federal government’s unauthorized war powers can and should be superseded by state rights.

This resolution declares:

The Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board calls upon the Governor of Oregon not to comply with any order from the federal government to release the Oregon National Guard into federal service unless the U.S. Congress has declared war pursuant to Article I, § 8, Clause 15 of the U.S. Constitution, and only for the express and explicit purposes enumerated in the Constitution: to “execute the Laws of the Union,” repel an invasion, or suppress an insurrection; and

Further, calls upon the State to bring home said National Guard troops already so deployed to foreign conflicts immediately.

This Resolution will be available starting 10/22/22, for public dissemination. For more

information on PPB resolutions, visit www.lporegon.org/category/public-policy/.

About the Libertarian Public Policy Board: The Public Policy Board is a newly created body of the Libertarian Party of Oregon and acts as the public outreach and policy creator branch of the Oregon Libertarian Party. Article 6, Section 2 of the Libertarian Party of Oregon’s Bylaws allows the Public Policy Board to, by three quarters vote, adopt positions on specific matters of public policy.

LPO Resolution Concerning the Death Penalty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/22/22

Sonja Feintech – LPO Public Policy Board Secretary

Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board

541-231-4293

sonja.feintech@lporegon.org

Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board
Resolution 22-04 Concerning the Death Penalty

The Libertarian Party Platform, Plank 1.8 adopted in 2016 as reaffirmed in Convention, May 2022, states, “We oppose the administration of the Death Penalty by the state.”

Oregon: The Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board announced Resolution 22-04 Concerning the Death Penalty, a resolution voted on by the elected Public Policy Board. 

This resolution is declaring that in accordance with the non-aggression principle we hold that killing a human being when there is no clear and present danger is unjust; and litigation will tie up Oregon death penalty appeals in costly taxpayer-funded appeals at a time when the state is experiencing a crisis in public defense. 

Oregon has set a precedent since Governor Kitzhaber declared a moratorium on executions in 2011.” says Sonja Feintech, Public Policy Board Secretary at the Libertarian Party of Oregon. “The Libertarian Party of Oregon opposes state funded and sanctioned executions of our citizens.

This resolution includes;

The Oregon Dept. of Corrections dismantled death row in Summer 2020. 

Oregon houses 22 individuals sentenced to execution, in Oregon the current average length of time on death row is 19.6 years. 

Litigation will tie up Oregon death penalty appeals in costly taxpayer-funded appeals at a time when the state is experiencing a crisis in public defense. 

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED the Public Policy of the Libertarian Party of Oregon is to appeal to Governor Brown to commute all current death sentences before the end of her term of office.

This Resolution will be available starting 10/22/22, for public dissemination. For more

information on PPB resolutions, visit www.lporegon.org/category/public-policy/.

About the Libertarian Public Policy Board: The Public Policy Board is a newly created body of the Libertarian Party of Oregon and acts as the public outreach and policy creator branch of the Oregon Libertarian Party. Article 6, Section 2 of the Libertarian Party of Oregon’s Bylaws allows the Public Policy Board to, by three quarters vote, adopt positions on specific matters of public policy.

Press Release: LPO Yemen Resolution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/22/22

Sonja Feintech – LPO Public Policy Board Secretary

Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board

541-231-4293

sonja.feintech@lporegon.org

The Libertarian Party of Oregon calls for the end of all US Support for Saudi Arabia’s horrific war in Yemen

Statement of the Public Policy Board: 

We, the Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board, hereby support H.J. Res. 87 and S.J. Res. 56 to end all US support for Saudi Arabia’s horrific war in Yemen. 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/56/text

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/56

Writing for Just Security, Priyanka Motaparthy, director of the Counterterrorism, Armed Conflict, and Human Rights Project at Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute, and SFM’s Tony Wilson noted Saturday (06/04/2022) “during seven years of war, coalition airstrikes have killed nearly 9,000 civilians in Yemen.”

“Human rights groups and the United Nations-mandated Group of Eminent Experts have documented more than 300 airstrikes that are likely war crimes or violations of the laws of war,” they continued. “These strikes have hit hospitals and other medical facilities, markets, a school bus filled with children, and a funeral hall filled with mourners.”

According to The Washington Post – which along with the Security Force Monitor (SFM) at Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute analyzed thousands of news reports and images to identify warplanes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that have attacked Yemen – “a substantial portion of the air raids were carried out by jets developed, maintained, and sold by US companies, and by pilots who were trained by the US military.”

This, despite a February 2021 pledge by President Joe Biden to end US support for “offensive operations” in the Saudi-led war – a promise that has been repeatedly sidestepped via arms sales and a $500 million maintenance contract.

None of this is to comment on the still unknown but much higher number of people who have died from Cholera, malnutrition, or outright starvation due to the Saudi-led blockade of the country that has existed for most of the war. Unicef reports that, “Yemen remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with around 23.7 million people in need of assistance, including almost 13 million children. Since the conflict escalated in March 2015, the country has become a living hell for the country’s children. Less than half of health facilities are functioning, and many that remain operational lack basic equipment. Many health workers have not received a regular salary in several years.”

Credit: https://www.antiwar.com/blog/2022/06/07/new-demands-for-yemen-war-powers-resolution-as-report-reveals-depth-of-us-complicity-in-airstrike/

https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis

This Resolution will be available starting 10/22/22, for public dissemination. For more

information on PPB resolutions, visit www.lporegon.org/category/public-policy/.

About the Libertarian Public Policy Board: The Public Policy Board is a newly created body of the Libertarian Party of Oregon and acts as the public outreach and policy creator branch of the Oregon Libertarian Party. Article 6, Section 2 of the Libertarian Party of Oregon’s Bylaws allows the Public Policy Board to, by three quarters vote, adopt positions on specific matters of public policy.

Press Release: LPO Resolution Concerning Oregon Medical Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/22/22

Sonja Feintech – LPO Public Policy Board Secretary

Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board

541-231-4293

sonja.feintech@lporegon.org

Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board
Resolution 22-02 Concerning the Oregon Medical Board

Libertarians support the right of every person to earn an honest and peaceful living through the free and voluntary exchange of goods and services.

Oregon: The Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board announced Resolution 22-02 Concerning the Oregon Medical Board, a resolution voted on by the elected Public Policy Board. This Resolution is a declaration opposing occupational and other licensing laws that infringe on this right or treat it as a state-granted privilege. This resolution specifically highlights the Oregon Medical Boards campaign of harassment and defamation of top family doctor Dr. Paul Thomas in the State of Oregon.

This resolution is a great step forward in addressing the gross overreach of government entities regarding healthcare workers and their ability to conduct free trade,” says Sonja Feintech, Public Policy Board Secretary at the Libertarian Party of Oregon. 

This resolution regards declarations including;

Whereas, the Hippocratic Oath holds, “First do no harm;”

Whereas, Medicine is “practiced” wherein a physician’s experience and lifetime learning informs his/her practice; 

Whereas, Libertarian National Committee Plank 1.1 holds, “Individuals own their bodies and have rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate. Individuals have the freedom and responsibility to decide what they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety, or life;

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, the Libertarian Party of Oregon has NO CONFIDENCE in the Oregon Medical Board and its authorizing statute;

This Resolution will be available starting 10/22/22, for public dissemination. For more

information on PPB resolutions, visit www.lporegon.org/category/public-policy/.

About the Libertarian Public Policy Board: The Public Policy Board is a newly created body of the Libertarian Party of Oregon and acts as the public outreach and policy creator branch of the Oregon Libertarian Party. Article 6, Section 2 of the Libertarian Party of Oregon’s Bylaws allows the Public Policy Board to, by three quarters vote, adopt positions on specific matters of public policy.

LP Oregon Call for Public Policy Board Applications

Friday, August 19th, 2022 - CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

LP Oregon call for Public Policy Board Applications

The Libertarian Party of Oregon Primary resulted in changes to the Bylaws to create a Public Policy Board to help the LPO message the libertarian positions on Oregon issues.

We are calling for applications for consideration of appointment to the Libertarian Party of Oregon Public Policy Board. Please email pablo.serrato@lporegon.org to get notifications on application process requirements.

Please review the Public Policy Board Bylaws to understand the requirements and duties of the board.

The full bylaws text are pasted below as well:

Article 6 – Public Policy Board

 

Sec 1: Composition

 

A. Eligibility

1. To stand for election to or remain a member of the Public Policy Board, a person must meet the same qualifications as those set for the Board of Directors, and must pledge in writing “I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals.”

 

2. No person may simultaneously be a voting member of the Board of Directors and a voting member of the Public Policy Board. One position must be resigned before that person may exercise their vote in the other. A person elected simultaneously to both boards may resign from one before the start of their term, allowing election runnersup to earn the position as if the resigning person had not been a candidate.

 

3. A person who no longer meets the eligibility requirements to serve is automatically and immediately removed from the Public Policy Board.

 

4. A member of the Public Policy Board who fails to attend two regularly scheduled consecutive meetings may be removed by a two-thirds vote at the next meeting. If then present, the member facing removal may not vote on this question.

 

B. Maintenance

1. The Public Policy Board shall be elected by the LPO membership at large, using the same schedule, voting method, electors, and balloting as for the election of the Board of Directors.

 

2. The Public Policy Board shall have 11 members, whose terms start and end concurrently with the those of the Board of Directors.

3. Vacancies may be filled by appointment by the remainder of the Public Policy Board. 4. Vacancies persisting for more than 90 days may be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors.

 

 

 C. Non-voting Members

 The Public Policy Board may appoint or remove non-voting members to serve as advisers, writers, subcommittee chairs, or any other role they deem useful to the business of the Public Policy Board. Non-voting members enjoy every privilege of membership on the Public Policy Board except voting.

 

 

Sec 2: Authority

A.Duties

The Public Policy Board shall:

1. in their first meeting of a new term, select from among the regular members a Chair and Secretary.

2. submit written meeting minutes to the Board of Directors within one week of adoption.

3. advise the Board of Directors on the exercise of its power in Article 8, Sec. 1 (A) to choose a nominee for election to public office.

4. maintain records of public policy positions adopted in convention.

5. maintain the public policy platform.

6. oversee public communications related to LPO public policy positions and platform.

 

B. PowersThe Public Policy Board is empowered, with a two-thirds quorum requirement, to:

1. upon a three-fourths vote, adopt positions on specific matters of public policy.

2. upon a three-fourths vote, create and amend the public policy platform of the LPO.

3. upon a three-fourths vote, issue candidate and ballot measure endorsements.

4. upon a three-fourths vote, approve statements for the Voters’ Pamphlet in support of or in opposition to ballot measures.

5. approve a political party statement for the Voters’ Pamphlet. 

6. upon a two-thirds vote, provide feedback and public testimony on legislative bills and administrative rules, or authorize LPO members to do so.

7. recommend LPO members to serve in government organizations.

8. recommend LPO members to fill vacancies in public office.

9. veto the nomination of any non-member of the LPO to election for public office.

10. veto the nomination of any LPO member to election for public office, but only with the concurrence of the Board of Directors, and requiring a two-thirds vote of each board.

11. delegate any of these powers to subcommittees, the motion to do so being subject to the same vote margin requirement as the power(s) thus delegated, and to set the policies by which the subcommittee members and leadership are seated.

 

 C. Exclusions

The Public Policy Board has no authority to:

1. conflict with the Libertarian Party Statement of Principles.

2. conflict with public policy positions adopted in convention.

 

D. Funding

The Public Policy Board may request funding from the Board of Directors to:

1. pay for approved Voters’ Pamphlet statements.

2. transfer to an LPO nominee or their candidate committee.

3. transfer to a political action committee that is not a candidate committee.

4. fund other political advocacy of the LPO.

Sec 3: Transition

The officers of the outgoing Public Policy Board shall convey to the incoming members pending business items, unapproved minutes, recent drafts, and any other materials they deem to be of importance or urgency. These items shall be conveyed no later than the date of the incoming Public Policy Board’s first meeting, which in turn shall be no earlier than the corresponding transitional meeting of the Board of Directors that marks the beginning and end of the term of office.

Sec 4: Meetings

The Public Policy Board must adopt a policy establishing regular meetings. In the absence of such a policy, the Public Policy Board meets at the call of its Chai