North Carolina is one of thirteen states where income tax forms ask if a taxpayer wants to donate to a ballot-qualified party. Because of North Carolina’s requirements, only the Republican and Democratic parties were listed as options.
In 2008, somebody added the Libertarian Party despite how they fell short of the required voter registration, by .4%. The Libertarian Party asked that the donation requests, on the forms being filed this year, be honored. At first they said no, but now they have changed their mind. The Libertarian Party will be receiving a check in August.
Source: Ballot Access News.
And really what they should be doing anyhow would be to have one voluntary check box on the forms to help political parties, then distribute any funds collected to the parties in proportion to the number of registered voters.
I disagree. I know personally several Ds, Rs, and Unafilliated who preferred that $3 of their tax money go to the LP. Why not give them that simple choice? Also, nearly 20% of NC’s voters are ‘unafilliated’ – where should -their- contributions go?
d.eris and rah62,
Not exactly. The money is going to be collected by the state. It (the state) ‘allows’ people to designate how $3 (I think) of their tax money is spent.
If the LPNC were to refuse this money, then the taxpayers who *wanted* the LP to receive $3 of their tax dollars would instead see that money go into the general fund where it would be used on typical government dumbassery.
And all of the money goes to the state, not national, party.
I was with the Chair when she walked out of the BoE office after hearing (essentially) “Sorry, suckers!”. I suppose they heard her say “Another lawsuit for us, I guess” (or words to that effect) and hastily reconsidered their ill-advised raid.
More parties, more democracy!
The North Carolina Libertarian Party IS ballot qualified. But to be on the tax return takes more than being a qualified party.
It looks like North Carolina is opening itself up to help whoever asks for it. And really what they should be doing anyhow would be to have one voluntary check box on the forms to help political parties, then distribute any funds collected to the parties in proportion to the number of registered voters.
I totally agree with Rah.
Also, @Donald, how is this fair? This party isn’t ballot-qualified.
rah nailed it.
It’s more “We would abolish your agency the moment we got into power, but as long as you’re there, could you act as United Way for us?”
ah, ok, I misunderstood, is basically amounts to a private donation then, just mediated by the tax form.
d.eric,
I don’t believe this would really be public funding of parties. You have the option to donate a fund to the political campaign. It is not forced upon you so I wouldn’t see a problem with it.
I thought the Libertarian Party was against public funding of parties, no?
**Correction – meant to put LPNC.
The edit plugin needs to be added to this site.
The real question is will the NCLP be receiving any of that money. I’d say that is far more important than the LNC taking it and misusing it.
My post accurately says the North Carolina Libertarian Party only had .06% of the total state registration last October, not .6%. So when you re-wrote it, you should have said the party fell short by .94%, not .4%.
Good deal, a smidgen of fair ness, ’bout time!