(click here to download as an MS Word file)

U.S. President - A vote for either Al Gore or George Bush is a vote for bigger government. We fully expect the federal budget to grow under either administration and so are unenthusiastic about a vote for either. This being said, George Bush is clearly the lesser of evils. One compelling reason to vote for Bush is that the next president is likely to appoint two or even three new justices to the Supreme Court. Another is that Bush has committed himself to partial privatization of Social Security. This would be a major policy shift and triumph for fiscal conservatives and libertarians who have argued for such a move for a generation. He also supports an across-the-board tax cut essential to our continued economic expansion. For those who refuse to cast a vote for bigger government despite these issues, we recommend Libertarian Harry Browne. A vote for Browne can only be interpreted as a vote for much smaller government and individual liberty, and hence your vote is a clear statement of your beliefs that will not be obscured by campaign noise.

U.S. Senate - Senator-wannabe Bill McCollum has disqualified himself in our view due to his outrageous spending record in the U.S. Congress. According to the National Taxpayers Union's latest VoteTally* rankings, Rep. McCollum is among the biggest spenders in the Florida delegation, outspending Rep. Robert Wexler (Dist. 19), Rep. Alcee Hastings (Dist. 23) and other Florida Democrats (only Boyd and Diaz-Balart outspent him). In fact, he was the 43^rd biggest spender in the entire U.S. Congress! It is difficult to imagine his Democratic opponent being much worse, although apparently he is (Nelson also gets an F grade from the National Rifle Association, compared to McCollum's A-). A symbolic vote for limited government can be cast for Darrell McCormick, a Libertarian running under No Party Affiliation.

U.S. Congress District #1 - Incumbent Joe Scarborough is one of the most fiscally conservative of the Florida delegation according to the NTU and is one of the highest-rated by the Republican Liberty Caucus (73 on economic issues, 78 on personal issues), landing him in the Libertarian area of their ranking scale (see descriptions at bottom of page). NRA grade: A

U.S. Congress District #2 - Incumbent Allen Boyd is the biggest spender in the Florida delegation and the 15^th biggest spender in the U.S. Congress. He was ranked an Authoritarian by the RLC (27 economic, 17 personal). Repairman Doug Dodd is his opponent, and he has vowed to vote against any and all tax increases, vote for an across-the-board tax cut, repeal the death tax, oppose internet taxation and work for a national sales tax to replace the income tax. Both Boyd and Dodd have NRA grades of A.

U.S. Congress District #3 - Incumbent Corrine Brown is another NTU big spender and an RLC-rated Authoritarian (22 economic, 17 personal), not to mention a habitual criminal offender. Jennifer Carroll, a retired Navy Lt. Commander, has pledged to support an across-the-board tax cut, repeal the death tax, oppose internet taxation and push for a flat tax. However, Carroll would NOT commit to vote against any and all tax increases. Carroll gets an A from the NRA; Brown gets an F.

U.S. Congress District #4 - Voices was part of the successful effort to convince Tillie Fowler to live up to her term-limit vow and step down after eight years of prodigious spending. Ander Crenshaw, former State Senate president and banker, DID pledge (to the NTU) to vote against any and all tax increases, support an across-the-board tax cut, repeal the death tax, oppose internet taxation and push for a flat tax. NRA grade: A.

U.S. Congress District #5 - Incumbent Karen Thurman has the lowest RLC ratings of any Florida Congress member (6 economic, 13 personal). Her opponent, Peter Enwall, opposes a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds majority to raise taxes, but has pledged to vote against any and all tax increases. He opposes fundamentally reforming the income tax, but opposes internet taxation and the death tax. Enwall gets a C from the NRA; Thurman an F.

U.S. Congress District #6 - Incumbent Cliff Stearns is another fiscally conservative (per NTU) incumbent with high marks from the RLC (85 economic, 74 personal), earning him a Libertarian label. He is also a friend of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, the (by far) most fiscally conservative and highest RLC-rated representative in the U.S. House. NRA grade: A+

U.S. Congress District #7 - Incumbent John Mica is a fairly fiscally conservative (the 307^th top spender) with decent RLC ratings (67 economic, 56 personal), earning him the Enterpriser label. NRA grade: A+.

U.S. Congress District #8 - Political novice Ric Keller beat veteran State Rep. Bill Sublette in a runoff, which startled the district's establishment politicos. It shouldn't have - Keller is an articulate and principled advocate for lower taxes and limited government and deserves to win. Keller is backed by the Club for Growth, the new PAC created by the Cato Institute's Stephen Moore and economist Larry Kudlow. Vote for Keller! NRA grade: A.

U.S. Congress District #9 - Incumbent Mike Bilirakis is an RLC-rated Enterpriser (61 Economic, 65 Personal) and the 68^th biggest spender in Congress according to NTU's latest VoteTally. NRA grade: B. No recommendation.

U.S. Congress District #11 - Insurance salesman Charlie Westlake is a Libertarian running a two-way race with a big spending (per NTU) Democrat, Jim Davis, who is earned an Authoritarian rating from the RLC (economic 27, personal 12) and an F grade from the NRA. No contest - vote for Charlie!

U.S. Congress District #15 - Incumbent Dave Weldon voted to spend less last session than any other Florida Congressman (per NTU) except for Joe Scarborough and is rated highly by the RLC (77 economic, 78 personal). Another recipient of the coveted Libertarian label by the RLC. NRA grade: A

U.S. Congress District #16 - Incumbent Mark Foley (NRA grade A-) is in the middle of the Congress in terms of spending and a weak Conservative according to the RLC (77 economic, 43 personal). Ironically, Foley became an RLC Advisory Board member in his earlier, more idealistic days. Now he's a successful professional politician known more for his Washington parties than for principled votes. He did, however, give all the "right" answers on the NTU candidate survey - no to death and internet taxes, pro-flat tax, pledged to vote against any and all tax increases that his spending record by necessity requires. And he did get an A- from the NRA. Besides the Democrat (not a serious candidate in this race), Foley's opponent is John McGuire, a populist Reform party candidate who believes in more government intervention in trade and elections (he's big on so-called campaign finance reform) and takes a dim view of immigration, but good on some issues (he is for partial Social Security privatization and promises to quit after three terms). Foley's the better choice.

U.S. Congress District #19 - Incumbent Robert Wexler - yet another RLC-rated Authoritarian (16 economic, 29 personal) - made his name as a embarrassingly slavish defender of Bill Clinton during the impeachment process. Wexler also earns an F from the NRA. His opponent, Morris "Kent" Thompson has not campaigned much, but he has listed his positions in some detail on his website (no new taxes, tax cuts, no death penalty, goofy big government campaign finance reform and health care plans, opposes drug war, pro-vouchers, pro-Second Amendment, pro missile defense, etc. ) He is not Robert Wexler, which is a big plus. Vote for Kent.

U.S. Congress District #21 - Unfortunately, there is no opponent to the manic Lincoln Diaz-Balart (NRA grade: B-), the 26^th biggest spender in the U.S. House and the biggest spending Republican from Florida. Even so, Diaz-Balart's lack of restraint should not go unnoted. Next time - Please!

U.S. Congress District #22 - Another weak RLC-rated Conservative (72 economic, 42 personal), Clay Shaw is in the middle of the Congressional pack as far as spending (per NTU) and got a D+ from the NRA. His clumsy Social Security reform bill was a cure worse than the disease and earned a solid rebuke from CATO analysts who are certainly pro-privatization. His opponent is even worse - Elaine Bloom is a big government fanatic calling for a government takeover of health care. Should we vote for the lesser of evils here? Your call.

U.S. Congress District #23 - Incumbent Alcee Hastings (NRA grade: F), an impeached federal judge is a big spender (per NTU) who was rated an Authoritarian by the RLC (6 economic, 32 personal). With the exception of Karen Thurman in District 5, this was the worst RLC ranking in the state. His opponent is Bill Lambert (NRA grade: A), who has vowed to vote against any and all tax increases, vote for an across-the-board tax cut, repeal the death tax, oppose internet taxation and work for a national sales tax to replace the income tax. However, Lambert has no website and no voice mail, so we have to wonder if he is actually running a campaign.

 STATE RACES

Supreme Court Justices - Vote NO! - Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince are all up for a merit retention vote. It is very important we all vote AGAINST retention of all three justices. This politicized court is merely an extension of the legislature and is consumed by partisan politics. These three are among those responsible for the delaying tactics and then ultimate ejection of the Florida Civil Rights Initiative from the Florida ballot as well as the previous rejection of Tax Cap. We must clean house in this shamelessly corrupt court. Vote Against Retention.

Proposition #1 (High Speed Train) - This is corporate welfare at its worst. After being vetoed due to a devastating study by the James Madison Institute, the greedy developer of the project is crawling back to the public trough. Vote No!

State Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner - Tom Gallagher was a very helpful Education Commissioner for the last several years. He is seeking his old job back as Treasurer and Insurance chief. Gallagher is not a passionate or principled man, but he has been largely on our side so far and was key in promoting the governor's A+ voucher plan and charter school plans. We give him a lukewarm endorsement over the big government crusader Cosgrove, a passionate advocate of socialized medicine. He also voted against the voucher bill last year.

Commissioner of Education - The best reason to vote for Charlie Crist is that Lt. Gov. Frank Brogran wants us to. That's the best we can do. Crist is expected to be a team player in the ongoing effort to reform Florida education using charter schools and vouchers. Crist is a lukewarm voucher supporter and does not mention them on his website's list of positions, although he advocates nice-sounding increased education funding, seat belts on school buses, smaller class sizes. Yuck. His Democratic opponent is the teacher union favorite and rejects education reform outright. A third choice is independent Vassilia Gazetas, a teacher from Boynton Beach. Her issues are largely the nuts and bolts of running better schools and are impressive. However, she is weak on the big picture issues (vouchers, etc.) that is of prime importance to the state's top education post.

State Senate District 27 - Ken Pruitt, supporter of state pension reform and sponsor of Voices-backed bill to make Dec. 15 Bill of Rights Day in Florida.

State House District 85 - Cheryl Carpenter (NRA grade A-), challenger to the fanatical Lois Frankel (NRA grade: F-, yes F-minus).

State House District 87 - Bill Andrews (NRA grade: A+), incumbent, supported voucher bill and a friend of Voices

State House District 108 - Reggie Thompson (NRA grade: A), RLC member.

 LOCAL RACES (PALM BEACH COUNTY)

Ballot Proposition - Should we double the taxes the Children's Services Council is allowed to impose? Vote No! - This council is an unelected board and bureaucracy and its taxing authority is a clear case of taxation without representation. Our elected county commissioners have authority to tax and spend on behalf of children, and voters have the right to punish them at the ballot box if they do so unwisely. The Children's Services Council, on the other hand, is an appointed bureaucracy run amok, with a 10-member board and 50-member staff and $37 million budget. The primary purpose for the new money is not to feed and shelter needy children but to provide day care services for busy parents! They are asking for a 100% increase in their taxing authority. As Hunter S. Thompson once advised, "Don't feed the greedheads." Vote no on this pleasant sounding grasp for cash.

Tax Collector - Bob Williams - He'll let us pay our tribute to the leviathan over the internet.

School Board District 7 - Bryant Culpepper is opposing incumbent Sandra Richmond, an enemy of education reform.

Palm Beach County Soil and Water Conservation - Frank Longo, group 4. Frank is the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County and will make a committed and practical member of this board.

Flagler County Sheriff - Oscar Celico

Seminole County Clerk of Court - Steve Snipper

Seminole County Commission - James Coakley, seat 1; Zea Proctor, seat 3; and Franklin Perez, seat 5

Hillsborough County Commission - Joe Redner

Lee County Commission - Bob Lehman, seat 1

Orange County Soil and Water Conservation - Lisa Bullion, district 1; Jim Warmke, district 4; and Dave Barron, district 5

Palm Beach County Soil and Water Conservation - Frank Longo, group 4

Okaloosa County Property Appraiser - Richard Vajs

Feel free to offer additions to this list!

SOURCES USED IN THIS REPORT

The 2000 Liberty Index of the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) is a survey of 20 key votes on economic freedom issues and 20 key votes on personal liberty issues from the 1999 session of the U.S. Senate and Congress. High scores are given for pro-individual freedom votes in both categories and mapped on a two-dimensional political spectrum. Their highest grade is Libertarian, followed by Enterpriser  the two categories that make up the Northeast quadrant (see below). Please note the rating describes the 40 votes not the politician himself, who may not be a principled libertarian in the sense the word is commonly used. Ditto for "Conservative" and all the others. The RLC is an organization dedicated to 1) getting libertarians elected to public office on the GOP ticket and 2) attempting to influence the Republican Party in a libertarian direction. For more information, see www.rlc.org.

The National Taxpayers Union VoteTally ranking system is the best, most objective ranking system we know. Rather than choosing key votes, the NTU used all votes in the previous session to determine the total cost of a politicians voting pattern. The VoteTally does not tell us how the money is spent, only how much. See www.ntu.org.

The National Taxpayers Union Responses from Florida Primary Winners is a series of 11 tax questions that really boxes a candidate into a principled position, assuming they arent just lying. In our view the key questions were whether the candidate would pledge to vote against any and all tax increases, whether they would oppose internet taxation, whether they will vote for death tax repeal, whether they support a across-the-board tax cut, and if they support fundamental reform of the income tax system. See www.ntu.org.

The National Rifle Association voter guide - see www.nrapvf.org/states/florida.html for the entire on-line version.

Club for Growth - see www.clubforgrowth.org

 We urge you to send a link to this page to everyone in your personal address book who lives in Florida. Let your voice be heard!