For Immediate Release:

St. Louis, MO – Frank Gilmour, Libertarian candidate for the US Senate announced today that he, too, has positions on the ballot initiatives that have been proposed for the November ballot.

In news stories earlier this week, Senator Jim Talent was reported to take a position on only one of the six initiatives.  His presumed Democratic opponent, Clair McCaskill, was cited as taking positions on five of the proposals.  "They didn't ask me," said Frank Gilmour, who is running unopposed in the Libertarian primary.

Gilmour would welcome the opportunity to make his views known to the public.  "Talent says that these are State-level issues," noted Gilmour, "but telling the public about our positions can help voters know who we are.  For me, these are pretty fundamental issues."

Gilmour's strongest views regard the proposed constitutional amendment on stem cell research:  "Opponents of stem-cell research, including Jim Talent, bring up crazy science-fiction horror stories to try to scare people." Gilmour notes that the proposition forbids human cloning, and only allows research that falls within Federal guidelines.  "I would go further," he says, "we need to look at relaxing the regulations at the Federal level.  When I see all the pain and suffering that could be relieved by this research, I just can't believe that we are letting our fears put limits on progress."

On the proposal to limit the abuse of eminent domain, Gilmour distinguishes himself from McCaskill: "She says that the legislation making its way through the State Assembly is good enough.  Well, it isn't.  We need to have meaningful reform that will stop local governments from taking peoples' homes and businesses just to have them turned over to a developer."  Gilmour proposes a resolution by the U.S. Congress to refute the Supreme Court's Kelo decision.

On the other four potential ballot proposals, Gilmour also has firm positions:

•    Tobacco tax increase: "The backers of this proposal say that the money will be used for smoking education programs, but the State is already squandering the money it receives from the lawsuit settlement with the tobacco companies," notes Gilmour.  "Besides, cigarette taxes are among the most regressive taxes there are.  I don't like tax increases in general, and this one is no different."

•    Government spending cap: "I am in favor of any limit placed on government spending.  Politicians from the two main parties have shown us that they will spend any tax money they can get their hands on.  We need to set some limits!"

•    Minimum wage increase: Gilmour notes that minimum wage laws tend to hurt the very people they are intended to help.  "Younger, inexperienced workers are priced out of the market.  How does that help them?"

•    Medicaid spending: "We need to honor the promises we have made to our seniors," says Gilmour.  "But we also need to look at ways to keep spending in check.  The problems with our healthcare system can't be solved by more government intervention, they are caused by too much government involvement already."

Gilmour points out that his positions on these issues demonstrate that his candidacy represents a unique opportunity for voters: "There is another choice!"