Front page - Top right - Arizona Republic
The Arizona Libertarian Party has been criticized for accepting the taxpayer funded voter list from the government as "Political Welfare". What is not widely known (but definately not a secret) is that since we have had the voter data in 1994 it has always been made available for free (or at a low cost of getting it to them) to anyone that has asked. Even United we Stand has taken advantage of this offer. The reason that the Republic made such a big deal about this info on the internet (Front page top right) is that they sued the government claiming that the information was public property since the taxpayers paid for it. They came to me years ago to get it. But they would not sign a document stating that they would only use it for "political purposes" as the law restricts the data. Their position was that it can not be restricted and they would not voluntarily put limits on the 1st Amendment use of publicly funded data collection,.... very good point. But, I felt a little shy of their real intentions. At about this time was when they had twisted the story about witches being used by the Libertarian Party to hex the Diamondbacks. I feared that they may try to "sting" us into violating the law.
The difference now is that technology has given us the opportunity to make the info available to anyone without violating the law. Just as you accept conditions for downloading a file or installing Windows 98, you must agree to only use the data in accordance with the law (only for political purposes). When the county recorder sells the data to someone that uses the data in violation of the law they are not then charged with a crime, the person that violated the law is.
The R's & D's created the law to make money, Duh! This was part of my election law lawsuit that went to the 9th circuit in 1994. For an individual that was running for state office to get the voter database, they would have to pay 10 cents per name in electronic form ($300,000) for a 30 cent cd-rom. Do you think that there was line at the recorders office to get this data? NO. The line was at the Republican and Demoratic offices where they could get the data for less,... again , DUH!
Now that the Libertarians have access to this political welfare, what do we do with it? Do we join in the bidding process of providing taxpayer financed assets to any buyer at a penny less than the R's or D's are willing to sell it for? Is this what Peter Schmerl had in mind if he had won the lawsuit? Is this the same as our benefiting from a taxpayer financed poll called the Presidential Preference Primary on the 22nd of February? The date of the 23rd release of the data is no fluke. It is the day after the State of Arizona will force the Libertarian Party of Arizona to steal tax dollars to be included in this blood money poll, even though we won in court in 1996 not to be included in the tax rape. And this was done in spite of the fact that we could have kicked some major butt in Arizona with the former state chairman of the Arizona Libertarian Party, Rick Tompkins running against Browne. Principle won out. 2000 saw the winning of another lawsuit that stated that we still controled the direction of the party. But the government is ignoring the court rulings. Why? Because they NEED the Libertarians to help them justify this taxpayer rip off. Why do you think they call it a "Preference" election? It has no binding effect and is all for show. Since when did this type of political welfare cause even a moment of hesitation from libertarians? I'll tell you when. When individuals saw that they could enrich themselves at the taxpayer's expense. We will not willingly be part of this rip off. Nor will we benefit from a database that is public record. The R's and D's will freak because they will be denied a revenue source that they have created for themselves in law. And some so called Libertarians will bitch because they have been denied their place at another tit of the government sow.
I may very well go to jail for this one. Karen Osborne, Maricopa County Elections Dirtector, will make the attempt, that is for sure. I say bring that shit on.
Either we always stand for freedom or we don't.
(story in the Republic follows)
Ernie
Private voter data may go on Net
'Over my dead body,' county official says
By Mike McCloy The Arizona Republic Feb 9, 2000
A Libertarian Party leader plans a "blow for freedom" by posting on the Internet personal information of 1 million Maricopa County voters on Feb. 23.
"Over my dead body," County Elections Director Karen Osborne responded, as she sought a court order to stop Ernie Hancock.
Hancock, Maricopa County Libertarian chairman, wants to give away at no cost what political campaigns must currently pay the GOP and the Democratic parties dearly for: mailing lists of registered voters.
Hancock's plan followed a ruling Jan. 27 by presiding Superior Court Judge Robert Myers. Settling a 5-year-old legitimacy dispute between Valley and Tucson Libertarians, the judge recognized Hancock's group as official and granted it access to the voter-registration database.
The taxpayer-funded databases are provided to political parties, which process them into mailing lists for sale to election campaigns.
"We will not benefit from taxpayer rip-offs," Hancock said.
The personal data in Osborne's computer database include addresses, telephone numbers, dates and places of birth, the final four digits of Social Security numbers and a record of when people voted.
Releasing the list invades privacy of people who gave information in exchange for the right to vote, Osborne said. She is concerned that the data could be used for marketing lists and to impersonate voters at the polls.
Even possessing the database for anything except political activities provided in law is a misdemeanor, punishable by 120 days in jail.
"I'll put in a disclaimer that it's only intended for political uses," Hancock said. "Make my day."