Today is the last day to comment on the FDA's future regulation of tobacco. As you may recall, tobacco was moved under FDA regulation earlier this year.

Regardless of how you personally feel about tobacco use, it is important to remember that liberty means that some people will be doing things, with which you may disagree, and as long as you're not forced or fraudulently coerced to participate, it should be legal for them to do so.

Steps to Comment

Commenting on this proposed regulation is somewhat painful, but here are the steps.

Today is a sad day for Kentucky Politics. Pat Crowley, political reporter for the Kentucky Enquirer for the past 17 years, has announced his resignation, effective September 25th.

Here are some of my miscellaneous thoughts.

First, we wish our former Vice-Chair, Josh Koch, good luck in his new endeavors. Josh is leaving the leadership of LPKY to participate in an FEC-regulated campaign. Because the LPKY doesn't file FEC paperwork, we are forced to part ways. I'm sure we'll continue to see Josh on the "Liberty Circuit" in Kentucky.

Now, for some lighter stuff.

Effective at noon today, August 29, 2009, I tender my resignation as vice-chairman of the Libertarian Party of Kentucky. Some of us have discussed this in private, but I will make the explanation clear for the record. In order to protect the LPKY, we must comply with the draconian and tyrannical mandates of the FEC and the McCain-Feingold Incumbent Protection Act of 2003. I will be working as a volunteer for Rand Paul's campaign, so I must step down.

For my part, I am glad to have served with such a bright and motivated collection of freedom activists as yourselves. It has been an honor to work with you, and I'm sure we will continue to advance the cause of liberty side-by-side in the years to come. I remain committed to the ideals that we all hold dear, and I look forward to seeing the growth of the LPKY over the years. Our beliefs that the individual will always be more important than the state constitute the only path to a brighter and freer tomorrow, and I am glad that Kentucky has a party dedicated to that belief. Thank you for all that you do.

Liberty forever,

K. Joshua Koch

UPDATED: The election for Kentucky House District 96, which encompasses Carter and Lewis counties, has been declared by the governor to occur on December 8th. If you are interested in running in this race as a Libertarian, please contact Ken Moellman or Matthew Keefe immediately.

Requirements:

• Must have lived in the state for the last 2 years.
• Must have lived in the district for the last year.
• Must be 24 years of age at the time you would take office.

Many of the elected US Congressmen are avoiding their constituents. They are using the outbursts at other Town Hall meetings as an excuse not to go home.

Personally, I find this outrageous. If you're unable to face your constituents, in the face of controversial legislation, then you do not belong in the role of a US Representative.

UPDATE: Now that Webb has apparently won the Senate seat in Kentucky Senate District 18, it is very likely that this race will happen!

We are searching for a candidate for KY Senate in District 14. This will likely be the next place Beshear will create a special election, by appointing the sitting Republican senator to a new position.

This district encompasses the following counties: Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor and Washington.

Requirements:

* Must have lived in the state for the last 6 years.
* Must have lived in the district for the last 2 years.

An independent candidate has entered the race for the 18th Kentucky Senate District. I spoke with this candidate this morning. He's an interesting guy who seems committed to making Kentucky better.

Governor Beshear has declared a special election in Kentucky Senate District 18.

If you, or someone you know, is a liberty-minded person and would like to take a chance and run in the August 4th Special Election, please contact us immediately.

Counties in Senate District 18 are: Bracken, Carter, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson.

This process happens VERY quickly, so if you're interested, at all, we need to know right now.

The majority of the public believe roads are better left to government management. I often ponder this myself, but I find myself having less and less faith in government's ability simply to maintain roads.

I'm sure the situation is not the same everywhere, but the roads are falling apart in my part of Kentucky.