October 29, 2002

Libertarians Oppose Proposal K

Berkley MI—Coming as no surprise to those present, Libertarian Party of Oakland County members voted UNANIMOUSLY this evening to oppose Proposal K in the November General Election.

LPOC members emphasized their difference from Oakland county Republicans with the unanimity of their opposition. "You won't see me in a commercial urging people to vote for Proposal K," stated LPOC chair, Fred Martin-alluding to the Proposal K television ad featuring his couterpart, Oakland county GOP chair, L. Brooks Pattereson, conducting a symphony. "His behavior is more like that of Marie Antoinette saying 'Let them eat cake.' We are in a recession and most people can barely pay their bills and Patterson wants to raise taxes to pay for 'the arts,'" Martin added.

"The arts have flourished in southeast Michigan with little or no government funding. Now, while families are cutting their budgets to make ends meet, government is looking for ways to consume those savings," noted LPOC Communications Director, Greg Dirasian.

"Hazel Park and other communities are having severe budget problems due to cutbacks in state revenue sharing. We are forced to cut our budgets to meet declining revenues, even forced to lay off staff, but Oakland county Republicans think this is the ideal time to tax the poor to pay for the opera," observed Hazel Park city coucilman and Libertarian Party member, Andy LeCureaux.

Even more striking is the apparent hypocrisy of Oakland county Republicans. Proposal K was placed on the ballot by the Republican controlled Oakland County Board of Commissioners and is being advocated by the Oakland county Republican chair, L. Brooks Patterson, yet the newspapers report that the Oakland GOP Executive Committee opposes Proposal K. Tax-loving Republicans who want to have it both ways should no longer be surprised by their dwindling support in Oakland Couny.