[Lnc-business] Policy citations for our review

[Alicia Mattson]

Below I'm going to quote a number of LNC policies that we should keep in
mind for evaluating the subject of the day.

There is a large body of LNC policy establishing a framework of keeping
things on an even playing field.  Some of the policies were specifically
written after real-life experience with a situation that generated
objections.

Our policies require fairness regarding use of party assets by
pre-nomination candidates for public office, or for internal party office.
Our policies forbid giving some national convention delegates financial
advantages over others.  Our policies require that "special" agreements
with affiliates (agreements not offered to all) require LNC approval.  Our
policies require advance approval of related party transactions and then
various financial disclosures beyond just FEC reporting.

Earlier this term, Mr. Sarwark instructed staff to provide to Ms. Harlos
the login information for the LNC's Adobe Connect account so that the
Radical Caucus could use it for their caucus meeting.  Staff then sent me a
request to remind them of the login information.  We don't have an LNC
policy specifically about the use of party assets by caucuses, however I
objected based on the recurring theme of the other LNC policies, and this
offer was not being extended to all caucuses, and the idea died there with
Ms. Harlos agreeing that the Radical Caucus would find another meeting
option.

I think the current situation may run afoul of some of our policies below,
but we shouldn't have to write a policy to anticipate every potential idea
that might arise.  There's enough collective experience on this board that
good judgment should be able to spot the bad optics here.


Policy Manual Section 2.03.4 :  Conventions

"The Party shall not directly or indirectly compensate or otherwise
underwrite or subsidize the convention travel, lodging (excepting room
upgrades which the Party received at no cost), entertainment costs or
speaker fees/honorariums of any Convention delegates. This policy shall not
prohibit the Party from underwriting organized convention events offered to
all donors of a particular level.  Nor shall it prohibit delegates from
receiving complementary meals or access to convention events in rough
proportion to their level of volunteer work.  All volunteer compensation
must be approved by the Convention Oversight Committee, and
contemporaneously published when actual compensation is received."


Policy Manual Section 2.03.5 :  Credit Card and Expense Reimbursements

"... Travel expenses incurred by officers for the explicit purpose of
conducting Party business (excluding those incurred for the purpose of
attending LNC meetings) may be reimbursed.  Business travel expenses not
pre-authorized by the LNC must be deemed necessary and approved in writing
by the Chair to qualify for reimbursement. All travel expense reports are
to be audited by the Treasurer, and approved by the Treasurer and the
Chair."

NOTE:  This allows travel reimbursements for "officers".


Policy Manual Section 2.03.9 :  Related Party Reporting

"For each related party engaging in one or more financial transactions with
the Party, all interim financial statements shall include a report of the
status, nature and current and year-to-date amounts with respect to such
transactions, including contributions, expenses, loans, commitments,
guarantees or any other transaction."


Policy Manual Section 2.04.3 :  Contracts and Contract Approval

"All contracts or modifications thereto shall be in writing and shall
document the nature of the products or services to be provided and the
terms and conditions with respect to the amount of
compensation/reimbursement or other consideration to be paid. ... No
agreement involving a financial transaction with a related party shall be
executed unless first approved by the LNC. Any such agreement shall be
disclosed in a conflict of interest statement."


Policy Manual Section 2.08.2 :  Limitations on Party Support for Public
Office

"Party resources shall not be used to provide information or services for
any candidate for public office prior to the nomination unless:

   - such information or services are available and announced on an equal
   basis to all Libertarians who have declared they are seeking that
   nomination,
   - such information or services are generally available and announced to
   all party members, or
   - the service or candidate has been approved by the state chair."


Policy Manual Section 2.09.6 :  Limitations on Party Support for Party
Office

"Party resources shall not be used to provide information or services for
any candidate for party office unless:

   - such information or services are available and announced on an equal
   basis to all Libertarians who have declared they are seeking that office,
   or
   - such information or services are generally available and announced to
   all party members."


Policy Manual Section 3.03.1 :  Affiliate Relationships

"Special agreements with states require the approval of the LNC."


NOTE:  I am not certain the exact motivation for adding this language, but
it may have been one of the following.  It could have been during Project
Archimedes in which states with partisan voter registration were targeted
for membership drives because there already existed a list of people in
that state who are philosophically aligned with the party.  It could have
been a situation during the Unified Membership Program in which an
affiliate combined state-specific mailings with LP News.  It didn't cost
the LNC additional expense.  The affiliate paid the marginal cost of the
extra postage, and the LNC paid the same postage they would have otherwise
incurred for LP News.


-Alicia
-------------- next part --------------
   Below I'm going to quote a number of LNC policies that we should keep
   in mind for evaluating the subject of the day.
   There is a large body of LNC policy establishing a framework of keeping
   things on an even playing field.  Some of the policies were
   specifically written after real-life experience with a situation that
   generated objections.
   Our policies require fairness regarding use of party assets by
   pre-nomination candidates for public office, or for internal party
   office.  Our policies forbid giving some national convention delegates
   financial advantages over others.  Our policies require that "special"
   agreements with affiliates (agreements not offered to all) require LNC
   approval.  Our policies require advance approval of related party
   transactions and then various financial disclosures beyond just FEC
   reporting.
   Earlier this term, Mr. Sarwark instructed staff to provide to Ms.
   Harlos the login information for the LNC's Adobe Connect account so
   that the Radical Caucus could use it for their caucus meeting.  Staff
   then sent me a request to remind them of the login information.  We
   don't have an LNC policy specifically about the use of party assets by
   caucuses, however I objected based on the recurring theme of the other
   LNC policies, and this offer was not being extended to all caucuses,
   and the idea died there with Ms. Harlos agreeing that the Radical
   Caucus would find another meeting option.
   I think the current situation may run afoul of some of our policies
   below, but we shouldn't have to write a policy to anticipate every
   potential idea that might arise.  There's enough collective experience
   on this board that good judgment should be able to spot the bad optics
   here.
   Policy Manual Section 2.03.4 :  Conventions
   "The Party shall not directly or indirectly compensate or otherwise
   underwrite or subsidize the convention travel, lodging (excepting room
   upgrades which the Party received at no cost), entertainment costs or
   speaker fees/honorariums of any Convention delegates. This policy shall
   not prohibit the Party from underwriting organized convention events
   offered to all donors of a particular level.  Nor shall it prohibit
   delegates from receiving complementary meals or access to convention
   events in rough proportion to their level of volunteer work.  All
   volunteer compensation must be approved by the Convention Oversight
   Committee, and contemporaneously published when actual compensation is
   received."
   Policy Manual Section 2.03.5 :  Credit Card and Expense Reimbursements
   "... Travel expenses incurred by officers for the explicit purpose of
   conducting Party business (excluding those incurred for the purpose of
   attending LNC meetings) may be reimbursed.  Business travel expenses
   not pre-authorized by the LNC must be deemed necessary and approved in
   writing by the Chair to qualify for reimbursement. All travel expense
   reports are to be audited by the Treasurer, and approved by the
   Treasurer and the Chair."
   NOTE:  This allows travel reimbursements for "officers".
   Policy Manual Section 2.03.9 :  Related Party Reporting
   "For each related party engaging in one or more financial transactions
   with the Party, all interim financial statements shall include a report
   of the status, nature and current and year-to-date amounts with respect
   to such transactions, including contributions, expenses, loans,
   commitments, guarantees or any other transaction."
   Policy Manual Section 2.04.3 :  Contracts and Contract Approval
   "All contracts or modifications thereto shall be in writing and shall
   document the nature of the products or services to be provided and the
   terms and conditions with respect to the amount of
   compensation/reimbursement or other consideration to be paid. ... No
   agreement involving a financial transaction with a related party shall
   be executed unless first approved by the LNC. Any such agreement shall
   be disclosed in a conflict of interest statement."
   Policy Manual Section 2.08.2 :  Limitations on Party Support for Public
   Office
   "Party resources shall not be used to provide information or services
   for any candidate for public office prior to the nomination unless:
     * such information or services are available and announced on an
       equal basis to all Libertarians who have declared they are seeking
       that nomination,
     * such information or services are generally available and announced
       to all party members, or
     * the service or candidate has been approved by the state chair."

   Policy Manual Section 2.09.6 :  Limitations on Party Support for Party
   Office
   "Party resources shall not be used to provide information or services
   for any candidate for party office unless:
     * such information or services are available and announced on an
       equal basis to all Libertarians who have declared they are seeking
       that office, or
     * such information or services are generally available and announced
       to all party members."

   Policy Manual Section 3.03.1 :  Affiliate Relationships

   "Special agreements with states require the approval of the LNC."

   NOTE:  I am not certain the exact motivation for adding this language,
   but it may have been one of the following.  It could have been during
   Project Archimedes in which states with partisan voter registration
   were targeted for membership drives because there already existed a
   list of people in that state who are philosophically aligned with the
   party.  It could have been a situation during the Unified Membership
   Program in which an affiliate combined state-specific mailings with LP
   News.  It didn't cost the LNC additional expense.  The affiliate paid
   the marginal cost of the extra postage, and the LNC paid the same
   postage they would have otherwise incurred for LP News.

   -Alicia