The Friends of Liberty mission is to present libertarian ideas to Greater Clevelanders so they may encounter, evaluate and when appropriate embrace the ideas of self-government. We are non-political, though we discuss politics and are always looking for new ways to bring libertarian concepts to Greater Clevelanders.

On June 23, Greg Bell, of the Coalition to Repeal Ohio E-Check (CROE) explained how Sub. HB 172 was revised and voted out of the Senate Energy committee. On the Senate floor, several additional changes were approved. Some of the overall effects of the Senate's changes include less protection for motorists, more tax money being wasted, extra profits for existing E-Check contractors, and more power delegated to OEPA bureaucrats. Some examples are: no tax credit for the $19.50 testing fee; no 15 minute maximum wait time guarantee; no contracting oversight by the Controlling Board; no control over the OEPA director, who would decide if and when to expand E-Check into additional counties, and could cancel basic testing and resume enhanced testing in existing E-Check counties. Unfortunately, on final passage, the bill received a veto-proof (greater than 2/3 majority) vote. This vote tally was therefore significant in that the governor has threatened to veto any bill to modify the current E-Check program.

Dave Krug from Hempfield's and John Hartman from Cannabis Connections will address the July 28th Friends of Liberty meeting. Dave Krug started Hempfield's in 1995. They offer Addias shoes made with hemp. In 1996, Dave invented hemp coffee. In fact, Mercedes will be using hemp in its new cars shortly. Plus, Dave was attracted to hemp’s non-explosive nature; it does not destroy the soil, it has a high yield compared to other crops, such as those harvested for fuel or paper. John Hartman became involved in the marijuana reform movement in 1990 by founding the NorthCoast chapter of NORML. This small collective of marijuana sympathizers has since grown into a organization of 320 dues paying members by 1997. John has several experiences lobbying state officials about marijuana law reforms and educating people on freedom issues.

Don't miss our meeting on July 28th at Denny's restaurant, 1600 Snow Road (398-7076). Get off at I77 at Rockside, turn West on Rockside, continue for about 2 1/2 miles and Denny's is on the right. Dinner is from 6PM to 7PM, and the speaker starts at 7PM. For more information about Friends of Liberty visit http://www.logan.com/liberty or call (216) 248-8620.

The cigarette settlement puts us in a perilous precedent: That the government can levy massive punitive damages against a popular product because of the so-called public health consequences," said Dasbach of the LP. "Ask yourself: Who's next? Will the government go after the fast-food industry for selling fatty hamburgers? Ban dangerous sports like hang-gliding and skate boarding? Outlaw alcohol again? Make it illegal to get a suntan?

Ron Paul (R-Texas) has sponsored H.R. 2029, The Selective Service Registration Privacy Act, to prohibit Americorps (federally subsidized 'volunteerism') from using any Selective Service Administration resources, including draft registration information.

An employee of J&J Snack Foods in Pennsauken, NJ, was awarded $4.2 million after a male supervisor made sexual jokes and grabbed him from behind.

On June 4 a petition was served to Ohio's Athens county prosecutor Biddlestone expressing their disgust and disdain for his paramilitary-style organization. Hooded raids on high schools, midnight assaults on private homes, and gathering evidence using invalid search warrants and dubious informants have gained SECO little if any favor in Athens County.

Bill Mercer of Cincinnati in Civil No. C-1-95-461 successfully beat a challenge by the U.S. Attorney for a copy of his books and records, for the IRS using the 5th Amendment!