April 2005 - Report from the Issues Committee:

The ad hoc Issues Committee met on Thursday, April 14, 2005 to select those issues that will become the foundation of the Liberal Party's policies and program.

Our thanks to Ms. Elide Michel for generously hosting this meeting.

The following issues were selected for primary consideration and development at this time:

These issues will be couched in the Liberal Party's concerns about national budgetary policies designed to starve the country of funds for program services.

Anyone interested in submitting substantive materials, thoughts, comments, opinions on the above issues are invited to forward their comments to Issues Director, Martin Hassner at libleader@hotmail.com.



Membership STATUS Update Report(s):

March 2005

Great News!

A final stipulation and order has been filed in the lawsuit brought by the Brennan Justice Center on behalf of a number of the minor parties who, according to the New York State Board of Elections, lost both their automatic ballot access as well as their ability to register voters under their name.

The order mandates that both the New York State and local Board of Elections must provide, on their voter registrations, an "other" line and instructions that registrants may enroll in political organizations other than those listed on the registration form.

In addition, the State Board must instruct all local Boards of Election effective March 1, 2005 that they must supply registration lists of people enrolled in the applicant organizations to the same extent as such lists are provided to officials of "parties" recognized by the State enrollment scheme.

Finally, the State Board is directed to notify county and local Boards that annually they must notify our voters that their party registration has been recorded.

The cost to us, as well as all the other plaintiff/intervenor parties, in receiving this consideration  is that we must put a gubernatorial candidate on the General election ballot. However, if we then do not get the sufficient number of votes to qualify as an "official" party we will still be able to maintain the above privileges. We intend, of course to get much more than the necessary 50,000 votes to regain official "party" status and automatic ballot access.

Our thanks again to our able counsel, Herb Rubin, and to all the people at the Brennan Justice Center, especially Jeremy Creelan, who have made this possible!

February 2004

As you may know, the New York State Board of Elections continues to challenge the original decision regarding the loss of legal status of the parties that failed to receive at least 50,000 votes in the last gubernatorial election.

The Board appealed the original decision to the United States Court of Appeals, and on March 10, oral arguments were held.  Hon. Herb Rubin, with Jack Olchin attending, represented us before Chief Judge Walker, Judge Cardmone, and Judge Keith. Lead counsel for our side was Mr. Creelan of the Brennan Justice Center.

It was established that the relief provided (maintenance of voter registration) added no significant burden for the Board. In general, Mr. Rubin is very optimistic that a final decision will continue to maintain the relief.

We'll keep you apprised as things develop, and we are cautiously optimistic!!