LPNY Opposes LPUS Mandatory Convention Registration Fee

On Sunday, February 7, 2010, the Libertarian Party of New York passed the following motion opposing the institution of a mandatory convention registration fee imposed upon all elected delegates seeking to attend the Libertarian Party's National Convention in St. Louis over Memorial Day Weekend:

MOTION: Whether or not the Libertarian Party's National Committee has the legal right to assess a registration fee upon all duly elected delegates attending the LPUS National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri over Memorial Day Weekend, the payment of which is being treated as a mandatory prerequisite to the Credentials Committee seating said delegates, it is the opinion of the Libertarian Party of New York that such a mandatory registration fee should not be assessed for delegates who wish to attend and vote exclusively at the business sessions of the LPUS National Convention.

Dr. Tom Stevens, who serves as the State Representative of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, drafted and proposed the motion. During debate, he said: "putting aside the issue of whether the Libertarian Party's National Committee has the legal right to assess a mandatory registration fee on duly elected delegates, the payment of which has become a prerequisite to the Credentials Committee seating said delegates, this motion merely expresses the opinion of the LPNY that such a fee should not be assessed for delegates who wish to attend and vote exclusively at the business sessions of the LPUS National Convention. While this motion will have no impact on the rules adopted for this convention, I hope that national takes our opinion into account when establishing the rules for the 2012 LPUS National Convention."

Sam Sloan, State Representative of the Manhattan LP, supported the motion stating that "some of our most important activists make an extraordinary effort to simply attend the convention" and that "requiring a mandatory registration fee would effectively exclude these individuals from participation during the business sessions of the national convention."

Blay Tarnoff, State Representative of the Nassau LP, in opposing the resolution called the language of the motion "bellicose" and stated that "a $25.00 mandatory registration fee" was acceptable to him. Joseph Dobrian, LPNY Vice-Chair, who spoke in favor of the motion stated, "there is nothing "bellicose" in the language of the motion". Dr. Stevens then spoke again pointing out that the mandatory convention registration fee is $99.00, not $25.00. M Carling, who serves as LPNY Secretary and in a number of appointed positions on the national level, warned that although he will ask for national's financial help with upcoming statewide petition drives both this year and in 2012, he fears his requests will fall on "deaf ears" if the LPNY expresses its opposition to the mandatory convention registration fee. In the end, Chris Edes, LPNY Chair, broke a tie and voted in favor of the motion. He will be informing national of the LPNY's opinion on this issue.

Dr. Stevens stated: "It is important that the Libertarian Party of New York express itself on this issue. In my opinion, the LPUS can charge for its cocktail parties, for convention materials, for access to the vendor floor or even to hear speakers. However, it should not require a mandatory registration fee be paid before the Credentials Committee will seat a duly elected delegate. In my opinion, every duly elected delegate should be credentialed and should have the right to vote during the business sessions of the LPUS National Convention."