Spangle: Pay Attention to Your Legislatures

Often, it is very easy to focus on national politics solely. There is a wealth of accessible and entertaining information on the Federal government and national politics. The focus of our site is mostly focused on national politics? Why? We want to have as broad of an audience as we can so we can educate as many people as possible about a libertarian point of view on the issues.

The problem is that we as Libertarians can exercise real power. Over the last eight years, I have seen countless groups of people pass or kill bills and ordinances by protesting, blogging, online organizing, letter writing, phone banking, and in some cases, just SHOWING UP to a meeting. So few people pay attention to state and local governments that libertarians have a great opportunity to explain and influence policy if they’d just show up. It would mean better government, better press and better candidates for libertarians.

Two years ago, I launched the Libertarian Legislative Think Tank on facebook. I figured if we had 10 people join and help me find some good or bad legislation for blog content on LPIN.org and press releases, it would be a success. It’s now going in to its third session with over 200 Hoosier libertarians that have supported and killed bad legislation. Several State House and Senate lawmakers are in the group and appreciate the feedback. I believe it has moved those legislators in a libertarian direction based on their proposed bills in 2013.

If you are in a state other than Indiana, STEAL THIS IDEA. PLEASE.

Evan McMahon, the Executive Director of the LNCC, shared this in there tonight. (He also recently launched a new page, Indiana Drone Watch):

“Here are 11 Senate bills that have been introduced in the General Assembly that I thought the group would like to keep up on. These are bills that we may want to focus on.”

SB 0037 — Precinct Committeemen
Author — Sen. Banks
Bill Status – bit.ly/VlzL3c 
Full Text – bit.ly/Wh0Ym0

SB 0020 — Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Author — Sen. Tomes
Bill Status – bit.ly/XnY19O 
Full Text – bit.ly/VyltP3 
Facebook Page – on.fb.me/Xoof8D 

SB 0035 — Recording Law Enforcement Officer Activities
Author — Sen. Banks
Bill Status – bit.ly/10VuDsv 
Full Text – bit.ly/VymLJF 

SB 0051 — Straight Ticket Voting
Author — Sen. Delph
Bill Status – bit.ly/Un0mMb 
Full Text – bit.ly/RvnZVJ 

SB 0156 — Downloading of Cell Phone Information by Police
Author — Sen. Waltz
Bill Status – bit.ly/VFH0lH 
Full Text – bit.ly/YZJUD7 

SB 0054 – Redistricting
Author — Sen. Delph
Bill Status – bit.ly/131Wd6R 
Full Text – bit.ly/WopguU 

SB 0097 — Possession of Firearms on State Property
Author — Sen. Banks and Tomes
Bill Status – bit.ly/YZLZ26 
Full Text – bit.ly/136Pibs

SB 0130 — Indiana Firearms Freedom Act
Author — Sen. Kruse
Bill Status – bit.ly/Rvqibf 
Full Text – bit.ly/ZhxIT6 

Bills to oppose?

SB 0151– Passenger restraint systems for children
Author – Sen. Skinner
Bill Status – bit.ly/ZhzuDJ 
Full Text – bit.ly/ZhzDXG 

SB 0137 — Independent sales representative commissions
Author — Sen. Hume
Bill Status – bit.ly/TzFrIr 
Full Text – bit.ly/131ZZNE 

SB 0023 — School prayer
Author — Sen. Kruse
Bill Status – bit.ly/TLu7rE 
Full Text – bit.ly/Ur6nJl

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Chris Spangle is the host of the Chris Spangle Show, History of Modern Politics, and Liberty Explained, podcasts on the We Are Libertarians Podcast Network. He is also the co-host of the Patdown podcast, a comedy podcast with comedians Ms. Pat and Deon Curry. Chris Spangle has been podcasting since 2007, and now teaches podcasting at PodcastingAndPlatforms.com. He also hosts the public affairs radio show “We Thought You Might Like To Know...” on Indiana radio stations which focuses on nonprofits.

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