Platform of the Missouri Libertarian Party

(As revised by the State Committee at convention, March 6, 2010)

In affirmation of the traditional respect for individual life, liberty, and property, the members of the Missouri Libertarian Party do establish our Platform and Program for the people of Missouri, in accordance with our State Constitution, to ensure harmony, abundance, and self-government to all citizens of our State. To accomplish these goals, we propose the following:

EDUCATION

• Restore local control of all schools.

• Remove restrictions on home schooling.

• Move toward privatization of government public schools.

• Repeal all Federal and State education mandates.

HEALTH CARE

• Establish tax-free Health Savings Accounts.

• Make all medical and dental expenses income tax deductible.

• Restore patient choice in medical care by removing interference from the State including access to nurse practitioners, midwifery, alternative medicine, and self-medication.

• Restore a true free market in health care by removing federal and state regulations which restrict competition.

• Oppose federal regulation of health care and government health care options.

TAXES

• Initiate ceilings on personal property taxes.

• Repeal the state income tax provision of the Missouri Constitution.

• All state and local government functions should, where possible, be funded by user fees.

• By Constitutional Amendment require 75% voter approval for all tax increases or new taxes.

• Enact 100% property tax credits for those who send their children to non-government schools.

• Pass enabling legislation to permit voters to repeal, and in the future prohibit sales taxes on food and prescription drugs for Counties, Municipalities and all other political entities in the state which have authority to levy sales taxes. This includes the State-wide 1% sales tax for public schools.

PROPERTY RIGHTS AND EMINENT DOMAIN

• End the practice of using eminent domain powers to seize property for the benefit of private developers.

• Repeal the ability of local governments to turn over condemnation authority to independent parties.

• Eliminate the use of  "blight" as a rationale for using eminent domain to seize private property.

• Oppose the National Animal Identification System.

JUSTICE

• Eliminate mandatory sentencing.

• Restore Second Amendment rights.

• Repeal statutes regarding victimless crimes.

• Enact legislation supportive of victims' rights and restitution.

• Privatize prison and parole programs and demand accountability.

• Add an explicit right to a Fully Informed Jury to the State Constitution.

• Amend Missouri's Constitution to require a 'sunset clause' for every new law.

• Require criminals to make restitution to their victims as a condition of parole or early release.

• Prohibit all jurisdictions from seizing property in connection with an alleged crime until such time as the accused is tried and convicted.

• Require Prosecutors to produce actual victims in court as witnesses subject to cross examination when prosecuting so called victimless crimes.

JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Repeal all subsidies.

• Eliminate mandated benefits.

• Eliminate taxes, do not abate them for certain groups.

• Eliminate the abuse of Tax Increment Financing  (TIF).

• Sell all State agencies that duplicate services provided by businesses or charitable organizations.

• Give responsibility for licensing drivers and vehicles over to auto insurers, including standards for vehicle inspections.

• Oppose the use of government mandates to dictate the smoking policies of privately-owned businesses.

ELECTIONS

• Support fair ballot access and free and open elections.

• Support reduction of signatures required for ballot initiative.

• Support proportional representation of popular vote for electors in presidential elections.

• Support legislation requiring a "None of the above" option on all election ballots for public officials.

• Support legislation requiring a "Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail" when using electronic voting equipment.

• Repeal all Federal and State campaign finance laws which restrict Free Speech.

• Support legislation requiring the use of an objective scientific metric when comparing alternatives for district boundaries to eliminate gerrymandering.

PRIVACY

• Define an explicit right to privacy in the Missouri Constitution.

• Allow citizens to sue public officials individually and personally for violations of citizens' rights.

• Oppose implementation of the "Real ID Act," which requires enhanced security for state drivers licenses –  essentially establishing a national ID card.

STATE SOVEREIGNTY

• Support efforts to assert state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment of the US Constitution for all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government under the Constitution.